2012 Parramatta Eels season

The 2012 Parramatta Eels season is the 66th in the club's history. Coached by Stephen Kearney (who was replaced part-way through the season by assistant coach, Brad Arthur) and captained by Nathan Hindmarsh, they competed in the NRL's 2012 Telstra Premiership. Parramatta finished the regular season in last place for the first time since 1972, also failing to make the finals for the third consecutive year.

2012 Parramatta Eels season
NRL Rank16th
Play-off resultDNQ
World Club ChallengeDNQ
2012 recordWins: 6; draws: 0; losses: 18
Points scoredFor: 431; against: 674
Team information
CEOBob Bentley
CoachNew Zealand Stephen Kearney (Round 1–20)
Australia Brad Arthur (Interim, Round 21–26)
Captain
StadiumParramatta Stadium (Capacity: 20,741)
ANZ Stadium (Capacity: 83,500)
Avg. attendance16,803 (Home)
17,021 (Home & Away)
Agg. attendance201,633 (Home)
408,493 (Home & Away)
High attendance45,863 (2 September vs St. George Illawarra Dragons, Round 26)
Top scorers
TriesAustralia Ken Sio (13)
GoalsAustralia Luke Burt (53)
PointsAustralia Luke Burt (134)
← 2011 List of seasons 2013 →

Summary

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2012 saw the retirement of Eels legends Luke Burt and Nathan Hindmarsh. It would also mark the first time since 1972 that the team would succumb to the dreaded Wooden Spoon. Parramatta struggled all year, securing just their first win of the season in Round 5 against defending premiers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles before ending a six-game losing streak against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. This horror start to the season, and a win rate of less than 25% over almost two seasons with the club, coach Stephen Kearney was forced to resign and assistant coach Brad Arthur would become caretaker. The team responded to this producing three wins from four games, including competition front-runners Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos to give the fans some hope for the rest of the season. However this was short lived and following a 38-6 thumping to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in round 25 of the Telstra Premiership were officially unable to avoid the wooden spoon.

Whilst Parramatta's problems were largely attributed to their relatively poor defence, numerous pundits claimed Parramatta's problems in 2012 were largely credited to the recurring absences of star fullback Jarryd Hayne. Even whilst producing higher per-match statistics than any other fullback in the game (eight tries, 14 try-assists), Hayne only managed to complete ten games from the season's 24, due to both injury and State of Origin duty.

Throughout the season many of the Parramatta players came under scrutiny and were dropped to the NSW Cup, including high-profile recruit Chris Sandow, who at the time was touted as overweight and unfit,[1] and veteran Luke Burt. As a result, players Matt Ryan, Jake Mullaney and Nathan Smith were called up to the top squad and have impressed in their roles of Second-Row, Fullback and Hooker respectively, making a suitable replacement for injured stars Jarryd Hayne and Matt Keating.

Towards the end of the season Ricky Stuart was announced as the new coach for the Parramatta Eels from 2013.[2]

Standings

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National Rugby League

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Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 18 0 6 2 568 369 +199 40
2   Melbourne Storm (P) 24 17 0 7 2 579 361 +218 38
3   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 16 0 8 2 559 438 +121 36
4   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 24 16 0 8 2 497 403 +94 36
5   North Queensland Cowboys 24 15 0 9 2 597 445 +152 34
6   Canberra Raiders 24 13 0 11 2 545 536 +9 30
7   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 12 1 11 2 445 441 +4 29
8   Brisbane Broncos 24 12 0 12 2 481 447 +34 28
9   St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 11 0 13 2 405 438 -33 26
10   Wests Tigers 24 11 0 13 2 506 551 -45 26
11   Gold Coast Titans 24 10 0 14 2 449 477 -28 24
12   Newcastle Knights 24 10 0 14 2 448 488 -40 24
13   Sydney Roosters 24 8 1 15 2 462 626 -164 21
14   New Zealand Warriors 24 8 0 16 2 497 609 -112 20
15   Penrith Panthers 24 8 0 16 2 409 575 -166 20
16   Parramatta Eels 24 6 0 18 2 431 674 -243 16

National Youth Competition

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Pos. Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Canterbury Bulldogs 24 17 1 6 2 774 517 +257 39
2   New Zealand Warriors 24 17 1 6 2 680 516 +164 39
3   Canberra Raiders 24 16 0 8 2 766 599 +167 36
4   Wests Tigers (P) 24 15 0 9 2 666 514 +152 34
5   Penrith Panthers 24 14 1 9 2 694 501 +193 33
6   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 14 1 9 2 734 592 +142 33
7   Sydney Roosters 24 13 2 9 2 694 570 +124 32
8   St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 13 1 10 2 638 553 +85 31
9   Melbourne Storm 24 12 2 10 2 547 556 −9 30
10   Cronulla Sharks 24 11 2 11 2 619 684 −65 28
11   Newcastle Knights 24 10 1 13 2 646 574 +72 25
12   Brisbane Broncos 24 9 0 15 2 629 790 −161 22
13   North Queensland Cowboys 24 7 2 15 2 545 732 −187 20
14   Manly Sea Eagles 24 6 2 16 2 519 811 −292 18
15   Parramatta Eels 24 5 0 19 2 558 814 −256 14
16   Gold Coast Titans 24 5 0 19 2 424 810 −386 14

Fixtures

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Pre-season

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Date Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
11 February   Wests Tigers Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford Loss 20–12 E. Tonga, Toutai Burt 2
17 February   Penrith Panthers Centrebet Stadium, Penrith Loss 26–12 Sio, Sandow Burt 2 18,511

Home and away season

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Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
2 March Round 1   Brisbane Broncos Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss 6–18 Sandow Burt 1/1 11,339 [4] [5]
12 March Round 2   New Zealand Warriors Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss 20–36 Sio, Blair, Sandow (2) Sandow 2/4 12,102 [4] [6]
18 March Round 3   North Queensland Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Loss 42–6 O'Hanlon Sandow 1/1 8,239 [4] [7]
23 March Round 4   Penrith Panthers Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss 6–39 Maitua Sandow 1/1 13,788 [4] [8]
31 March Round 5   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Win 29–20 Hayne (2), Keating, Sio Sandow 6/6 & FG: 1/1 13,518[9] [10]
8 April Round 6   Newcastle Knights Hunter Stadium, Newcastle Loss 14–6 T. Mannah Sandow 1/1 24,158 [11]
15 April Round 7   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Toyota Stadium, Woolooware Loss 24–18 Hayne (2), Blair Sandow 3/3 14,327 [12] [13]
29 April Round 8   Wests Tigers Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss 30–31 Blair, Hayne, Ryan, Sio, W. Tonga Burt 5/5 19,654 [14] [15]
4 May Round 9   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park Loss 12–46 Morgan, Sio Burt 2/2 28,214 [16] [17]
13 May Round 10   Canberra Raiders Canberra Stadium, Canberra Loss 40–34 Morgan (2), Sio (2), Blair, Sandow Burt 5/6 9,210 [18] [19]
18-21 May Round 11 Bye
26 May Round 12   St. George Illawarra Dragons WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah Loss 14–12 McGuire, Ryan Burt 2/2 12,756 [20] [21]
4 June Round 13   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Win 29–20 Burt (2), Hayne (2), Morgan Burt 4/5; Sandow FG: 1/1 10,009 [22] [23]
8-11 June Round 14 Bye
16 June Round 15   South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park Loss 6–24 Maitua Burt 1/1 14,212 [24] [25]
23 June Round 16   Penrith Panthers Centrebet Stadium, Penrith[26] Win 19–18 Burt, Hayne, Morgan Burt 3/3; Sandow FG: 1/1 15,275 [27] [28]
30 June Round 17   Newcastle Knights Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss 12–20 M. Keating, Sio Burt 2/2 12,022
8 July Round 18   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Brookvale Oval, Brookvale[29] Loss 40–24 Sio (2), Burt, Mullaney Burt 4/4 16,065
13 July Round 19   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park[30] Loss 12–32 Morgan, Sio Burt 2/2 31,102
21 July Round 20   Melbourne Storm Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Win 16–10 Hindmarsh, Sio, B. Smith Burt 2/3 9,029
30 July Round 21   Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[31] Win 22–42 Sandow (2), Burt, Moimoi, Poore, Sio, N. Smith Burt 7/7 22,626
6 August Round 22   Wests Tigers Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Campbelltown Loss 51–26 Mullaney (2), Roberts, Sio, Tautai Burt 3/5 14,822
11 August Round 23   Sydney Roosters Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Win 36–22 Morgan (2), Sandow (2), Blair, Hindmarsh Burt 6/7 12,193
19 August Round 24   Gold Coast Titans Skilled Park, Gold Coast Loss 24–16 Burt, Lasalo, Sandow Burt 2/3 14,159
26 August Round 25   South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park[32] Loss 6–38 Burt Burt 1/1 24,121
2 September Round 26   St. George Illawarra Dragons ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park Loss 8–29 Morgan Burt 1/1, Hindmarsh 1/1 45,863

Players and staff

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Parramatta Eels
NRL Premiership Squad Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)
  •   Injured

Updated: 27 March 2012
Source(s): Player profiles,[33] Coaching staff,[34]
Injury update,[35] Rugby League Project


Transfers

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In:

Nat. Pos. Name From
  SO Ben Roberts   Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
  HK Nathan Smith   Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
  PR Taulima Tautai   Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
  PR Jon Mannah   Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
  CE Esikeli Tonga   Gold Coast Titans
  CE Willie Tonga   North Queensland Cowboys
  LF Joseph Paulo   Penrith Panthers
  SR Daniel Penese   St George Illawarra Dragons
  SH Chris Sandow   South Sydney Rabbitohs
  WG Cheyse Blair   Sydney Roosters
  FB Jake Mullaney   Wests Tigers

Out

Nat. Pos. Name To
  PR Manase Manuokafoa   Bradford Bulls
  SH Jeff Robson   Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
  SO Daniel Mortimer   Sydney Roosters
  WG Daniel Tupou   Sydney Roosters
  WG Etu Uaisele   Penrith Panthers
  CE Joel Reddy   Wests Tigers
  FB Tom Humble   Wests Tigers
  PR Pele Peletelese   Burleigh Bears

Retirees

Note: Former Manly player and NSW representative, William Hopoate will join the Eels in 2014 after completing a two-year religious mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[36]

Player statistics

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Player statistics as of 26 August 2012.[4]

Name App T G FG Pts
Mitchell Allgood 17 0 0 0 0
Cheyse Blair 20 5 0 0 20
Luke Burt 18 6 51 0 126
Jarryd Hayne 12 8 0 0 32
Nathan Hindmarsh 21 2 0 0 8
Justin Horo 4 0 0 0 0
Matthew Keating 15 2 0 0 8
Luke Kelly 4 0 0 0 0
Taniela Lasalo 10 1 0 0 4
Casey McGuire 11 1 0 0 0
Reni Maitua 19 2 0 0 8
Tim Mannah 22 1 0 0 4
Fuifui Moimoi 21 1 0 0 4
Ryan Morgan 17 8 0 0 32
Jake Mullaney 5 3 0 0 12
Pat O'Hanlon 2 1 0 0 4
Joseph Paulo 21 0 0 0 0
Justin Poore 21 1 0 0 4
Ben Roberts 17 1 0 0 4
Matt Ryan 17 2 0 0 8
Chris Sandow 21 9 14 3 67
Ken Sio 22 13 0 0 52
Ben Smith 8 1 0 0 4
Nathan Smith 7 1 0 0 4
Taulima Tautai 9 1 0 0 4
Esikeli Tonga 3 0 0 0 0
Willie Tonga 12 1 0 0 4

Milestones

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  • Round 4 — Four losses marked the Eels' worst season opening since 1991
  • Round 5 — The Eels broke their losing streak in to 2011 Premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Part-way through the season it was announced that head coach Stephen Kearney would depart the club, with his assistant Brad Arthur taking over for the remainder of 2012. About a week later Ricky Stuart was announced as the Eels' head coach for the 2013 NRL season.

Jersey and Sponsors

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Parramatta retain Pirtek Fluid Systems as major sponsor in 2012. The team is often referred to as the Pirtek Eels. Apparel sponsors for 2012 are Law Partners Compensation Lawyers, the University of New England, and Capital Corporation.[37]

References

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  1. ^ Sterling Slams Overweight Sandow The Daily Telegraph [dead link]
  2. ^ Ricky Stuart To Coach Parramatta Eels For Next Three Seasons Herald Sun [dead link]
  3. ^ Middleton, David (ed.). 2012 Official Rugby League Annual. Sydney: NewsLifeMedia. p. 107.
  4. ^ a b c d e "NRL 2012 - Parramatta Eels". The Rugby League Project. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  5. ^ "NRL Game Report: Eels vs Broncos". League Central: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  6. ^ "NRL Game Report: Eels vs Warriors". League Central: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  7. ^ "NRL Game Report: Cowboys vs Eels". League Central: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  8. ^ "NRL Game Report: Eels vs Panthers". League Central: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  9. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 5 (PAR-MAN)". Rugby League Project. 1 April 2012. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  10. ^ "NRL Match Centre". Fox Sports. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  11. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 6 (NEW-PAR)". Rugby League Project. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  12. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 7 (CRO-PAR)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  13. ^ "NRL Match Centre: Cronulla v Parramatta, Full Time 24-18". Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  14. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 8 (PAR-WTI)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  15. ^ "NRL Match Centre: Parramatta v Wests Tigers, Full Time 30-31". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 29 April 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  16. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 9 (PAR-CTB)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  17. ^ "NRL Match Centre: Parramatta v Canterbury-Bankstown, Full Time 12-46". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  18. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 10 (CNB-PAR)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  19. ^ "NRL Match Centre: Canberra v Parramatta, Full Time 40-34". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  20. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 12 (STI-PAR)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  21. ^ "NRL Match Centre: St George Illawarra v Parramatta, Full Time 14-12". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  22. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 13 (PAR-CRO)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  23. ^ "NRL Match Centre: Parramatta v Cronulla, Full Time 29-20". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  24. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 15 (PAR-SOU)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  25. ^ "NRL Match Centre: Parramatta v South Sydney, Full Time 6-24". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  26. ^ 2012 NRL season results: Round 16
  27. ^ "NRL 2012 - Round 16 (PEN-PAR)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  28. ^ "NRL Match Centre: Penrith v Parramatta, Full Time 18-19". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  29. ^ 2012 NRL season results: Round 18
  30. ^ 2012 NRL season results: Round 19
  31. ^ 2012 NRL season results: Round 21
  32. ^ 2012 NRL season results: Round 25
  33. ^ "NRL Squad". Parramatta Eels. Telstra BigPond. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  34. ^ "NRL Coaching Staff". Parramatta Eels. Telstra BigPond. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  35. ^ "NRL Injury Update". Parramatta Eels. Telstra BigPond. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  36. ^ Massoud, Josh (4 October 2011). "William Hopoate to sign with Parramatta Eels". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  37. ^ "Sponsor Directory". Parramatta Eels. Telstra BigPond. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.