2016 Parramatta Eels season

The 2016 Parramatta Eels season was the 70th in the club's history. Coached by Brad Arthur and co-captained by Kieran Foran and Tim Mannah, they competed in the NRL's 2016 Telstra Premiership.

2016 Parramatta Eels season
NRL Rank14th
Play-off resultDNQ
World Club ChallengeDNQ
Auckland NinesChampions (Won 22–4 vs New Zealand Warriors, Grand Final*)
2016 recordWins: 13; draws: 0; losses: 11
Points scoredFor: 298; against: 324
Team information
CEOJohn Boulous
CoachAustralia Brad Arthur
Captain
StadiumPirtek Stadium (Capacity: 20,741)
ANZ Stadium (Capacity: 83,500)
TIO Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Avg. attendance13,929 (Home)
16,739 (Home & Away)
Agg. attendance167,144 (Home)
401,740 (Home & Away)
High attendance31,815 (24 March vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Round 9)
Top scorers
TriesAustralia Bevan French (19)
GoalsAustralia Michael Gordon (71)
PointsAustralia Michael Gordon (162)
← 2015 List of seasons 2017 →

Summary

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Prior to the start of the 2016 NRL season, the Parramatta club faced the prospect with starting the season on -4 points due to salary cap indiscretions in 2015, however the NRL was satisfied with governance changes at Parramatta and no points were deducted.[1]

Parramatta started the season with a 17-4 loss against the previous years runners up in Brisbane. The club would win their following three matches in a row including a 20-16 victory over the reigning premiers North Queensland. On 3 May 2016, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg announced that the club would be docked the twelve competition points they have accrued so far this season, as well as fined $1 million and stripped of the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines title it won in February.[2] In addition, the NRL also announced that the Parramatta club would not be able to accrue any further competition points until they fell under the salary cap, which they were reported to be $500,000.[3] Five officials, including chairman Steve Sharp, deputy chairman Tom Issa, director Peter Serrao, chief executive John Boulous and football manager Daniel Anderson, were also sacked.[4]

On 9 July 2016, after over two months of club officials contesting the preliminary penalties, Parramatta were handed their punishment with the addition of their for/against points tally accumulated from rounds 1-9 being deducted. At the time of the points deduction, Parramatta sat just outside the top four on the table.[5] Although the points deduction had been handed down, Parramatta were still mathematically able to make the finals if they could win 12 of their remaining 15 games. The first match after Parramatta were stripped of the competition points was against South Sydney at Parramatta Stadium. Parramatta would narrowly lose the match 22-20. It was around this time that star recruit Kieran Foran was released by the club having just played nine games for personal reasons and multiple off-field issues.[6][7]

On 29 August 2016, Parramatta played their final ever game in the top grade at Parramatta Stadium against St. George Illawarra as it had been announced earlier the club would move into a new ground which would later be known as the Western Sydney Stadium. Parramatta would win the game 30-18 with Bevan French scoring a hat-trick. Parramatta finished the season with a 40-18 victory over the New Zealand Warriors to finish 14th on the table.[8]

Standings

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National Rugby League

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Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Melbourne Storm 24 19 0 5 2 563 302 +261 42
2   Canberra Raiders 24 17 1 6 2 688 456 +232 39
3   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (P) 24 17 1 6 2 580 404 +176 39
4   North Queensland Cowboys 24 15 0 9 2 584 355 +229 34
5   Brisbane Broncos 24 15 0 9 2 554 434 +120 34
6   Penrith Panthers 24 14 0 10 2 563 463 +100 32
7   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 14 0 10 2 506 448 +58 32
8   Gold Coast Titans 24 11 1 12 2 508 497 +11 27
9   Wests Tigers 24 11 0 13 2 499 607 −108 26
10   New Zealand Warriors 24 10 0 14 2 513 601 −88 24
11   St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 10 0 14 2 341 538 −197 24
12   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 9 0 15 2 473 549 −76 22
13   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 8 0 16 2 454 563 −109 20
14   Parramatta Eels 24 13 0 11 2 298 324 −26 181
15   Sydney Roosters 24 6 0 18 2 443 576 −133 16
16   Newcastle Knights 24 1 1 22 2 305 800 −495 7

1 Parramatta were deducted 12 competition points and their for/against tally accumulated between rounds 1-9 for gross long-term salary cap breaches.

National Youth Competition

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Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Penrith Panthers 24 18 2 4 2 851 382 +469 42
2   North Queensland Cowboys 24 16 1 7 2 770 520 +250 37
3   St George Illawarra Dragons 24 15 1 8 2 737 545 +192 35
4   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 15 1 8 2 670 607 +63 35
5   Sydney Roosters (P) 24 14 1 9 2 710 642 +68 33
6   Wests Tigers 24 12 4 8 2 680 541 +139 32
7   Parramatta Eels 24 14 0 10 2 579 562 +17 32
8   Canberra Raiders 24 13 1 10 2 608 694 -86 31
9   Brisbane Broncos 24 11 1 12 2 660 576 +84 27
10   Newcastle Knights 24 11 1 12 2 589 678 -89 27
11   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 9 1 14 2 604 694 -90 23
12   Melbourne Storm 24 8 2 14 2 700 758 -58 22
13   Gold Coast Titans 24 9 0 15 2 627 698 -71 22
14   New Zealand Warriors 24 8 1 15 2 466 680 -214 20
15   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 7 0 17 2 468 742 -274 18
16   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 24 3 1 20 2 483 883 -400 11


Fixtures

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Auckland Nines

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Match No. Home Score Away Match Information
Date and time (Local) Venue Attendance
1   Parramatta Eels 4 – 14   Melbourne Storm Saturday, 6 February, 12:55 PM Eden Park 70,000+ over two days[9]
2   Sydney Roosters 11 – 14   Parramatta Eels Saturday, 6 February, 4:25 PM
3   South Sydney Rabbitohs 11 – 24   Parramatta Eels Sunday, 7 February, 11:00 AM
QF   Parramatta Eels 12 – 8   Newcastle Knights Sunday, 7 February, 1:55 PM
SF   Parramatta Eels 17 – 8   Melbourne Storm Sunday, 7 February, 4:40 PM
GF   Parramatta Eels 22 – 4   New Zealand Warriors Sunday, 7 February, 6:40 AM
Source:[10][11][12][13][14][9]

Pre-season

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Match No. Home Score Away Match Information
Date and time (Local) Venue Attendance
1   Parramatta Eels 20 – 20   Gold Coast Titans Saturday, 13 February, 7:40 PM ANZAC Oval 2,405
2   Penrith Panthers 8 – 22   Parramatta Eels Saturday, 20 February, 7:10 PM Pepper Stadium 5,580
Source:[15][16]

Home and away season

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Round Home Score Away Match Information
Date and time (Local) Venue Attendance
1   Parramatta Eels 4 – 17   Brisbane Broncos 3 Mar 2016, 8:05PM Pirtek Stadium 17,324
2   Parramatta Eels 20 – 16   North Queensland Cowboys 12 Mar 2016, 7:30PM Pirtek Stadium 12,194
3   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6 – 20   Parramatta Eels 18 Mar 2016, 8:05PM ANZ Stadium 30,018
4   Wests Tigers 0 – 8   Parramatta Eels 28 Mar 2016, 4:00PM ANZ Stadium 36,112
5   Parramatta Eels 18 – 20   Penrith Panthers 3 Apr 2016, 4:00PM Pirtek Stadium 15,600
6   Parramatta Eels 36 – 6   Canberra Raiders 9 Apr 2016, 3:00PM Pirtek Stadium 12,947
7   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10 – 22   Parramatta Eels 14 Apr 2016, 7:50PM Brookvale Oval 14,633
8   North Queensland Cowboys 32 – 16   Parramatta Eels 23 Apr 2016, 7:30PM 1300SMILES Stadium 19,308
9   Parramatta Eels 20 – 12   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 29 Apr 2016, 7:50PM ANZ Stadium 31,815
10   Parramatta Eels 20 – 22   South Sydney Rabbitohs 13 May 2016, 7:50PM Pirtek Stadium 16,013
11   Parramatta Eels 6 – 18   Melbourne Storm 23 May 2016, 7:00PM Pirtek Stadium 8,941
12   Newcastle Knights 18 – 20   Parramatta Eels 30 May 2016, 7:00PM Hunter Stadium 12,856
Bye Round
14   Parramatta Eels 22 – 12   Gold Coast Titans 11 Jun 2016, 5:30PM TIO Stadium 7,722
15   South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 – 30   Parramatta Eels 17 Jun 2016, 7:50PM ANZ Stadium 11,860
Bye Round
17   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 34 – 24   Parramatta Eels 2 Jul 2016, 7:30PM Southern Cross Group Stadium 19,124
18   Parramatta Eels 22 – 18   Sydney Roosters 8 Jul 2016, 7:50PM Pirtek Stadium 8,464
19   Penrith Panthers 22 – 18   Parramatta Eels 17 Jul 2016, 4:00PM Pepper Stadium 15,251
20   Gold Coast Titans 34 – 14   Parramatta Eels 23 Jul 2016, 5:30PM Cbus Super Stadium 15,273
21   Parramatta Eels 8 – 23   Wests Tigers 30 Jul 2016, 5:00PM ANZ Stadium 14,428
22   Parramatta Eels 10 – 9   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 5 Aug 2016, 7:50PM Pirtek Stadium 8,143
23   Brisbane Broncos 38 – 16   Parramatta Eels 12 Aug 2016, 7:50PM Suncorp Stadium 30,189
24   Canberra Raiders 28 – 18   Parramatta Eels 21 Aug 2016, 1:30PM GIO Stadium 18,825
25   Parramatta Eels 30 – 18   St. George Illawarra Dragons 29 Aug 2016, 7:00PM Pirtek Stadium 13,553
26   New Zealand Warriors 18 – 40   Parramatta Eels 4 Sep 2016, 3:30PM Mt Smart Stadium 11,129
Source:[17]

Players and staff

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First grade staff

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  • This section lists players who were in Parramatta's first grade squad at any point during the 2016 season
  • Asterisks indicates player left mid-season
  • Caret symbol indicates player joined mid-season
  • Hash symbol indicates player retired mid-season
Nat. Name Position Joined Signed from
  Daniel Alvaro PR 2015 Youth
  Mitch Cornish HB / FE / FB 2016   Canberra Raiders
  Isaac De Gois HK 2014   Cronulla Sharks
  Kenny Edwards SR / LK 2013 Southport Tigers
  Bureta Faraimo WG 2014 Mackay Cutters
  John Folau WG / CE 2015 Youth
  Kieran Foran* HB / FE 2016   Manly Sea Eagles
  Bevan French FB 2016 Youth
  Tyrell Fuimaono CE / SR 2016 Youth
  Michael Gordon FB / CE / WG 2016   Cronulla Sharks
  David Gower SR / LK / PR 2014   Manly Sea Eagles
  Clinton Gutherson FB / CE / WG 2016   Manly Sea Eagles
  James Hasson SR / PR 2016   Manly Sea Eagles
  Michael Jennings CE 2016   Sydney Roosters
  Luke Kelly HB / FE / HK 2012   Melbourne Storm
  Cameron King HK 2016   North Queensland Cowboys
  Manu Ma'u SR 2014 Wentworthville Magpies
  Tim Mannah PR 2009 Youth
  Tepai Moeroa SR 2014 Youth
  Ryan Morgan* CE 2011 Youth
  Kieren Moss* FB 2016   Penrith Panthers
  Cody Nelson SR / FE 2015   Gold Coast Titans
  Corey Norman FE / FB 2014   Brisbane Broncos
  Rory O'Brien PR 2016   St George Illawarra Dragons
  Junior Paulo* SR / CE 2016 Youth
  Nathan Peats* HK / LK 2014   South Sydney Rabbitohs
  Kaysa Pritchard HK 2013 Youth
  Semi Radradra WG 2013 Youth
  Jeff Robson^ HB / FE / HK 2016   New Zealand Warriors
  Scott Schulte WG 2016   North Queensland Cowboys
  Beau Scott SR / CE 2016   Newcastle Knights
  Brad Takairangi SR / CE 2015   Gold Coast Titans
  Kelepi Tanginoa SR / LK 2016   North Queensland Cowboys
  Peni Terepo PR / SR / LK 2013 Youth
  Vai Toutai CE / WG 2013 Youth
  Honeti Tuha WG 2016   Newcastle Knights
  Alex Twal PR 2016 Youth
  Joseph Ualesi SR / LK 2013 Youth
  Anthony Watmough SR / LK 2015   Manly Sea Eagles
  Danny Wicks PR / SR 2015 Unattached
  Matthew Woods LK / SR 2016   Wests Tigers

Coaching staff

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  • This section lists members of staff who were in Parramatta's first grade squad at any point during the 2016 season
  • Asterisks indicate member of staff left mid-season
Position Nat. Name
Head coach   Brad Arthur
Assistant coach   Peter Gentle
Assistant coach   Steve Murphy
Chief Medical Officer   Dr Louis Shidiak
Physical Performance Manager   Paul Devlin
Strength coach   Jarrod Wade
Contact Coach   Brett O’Farrell
Head Trainer   Craig Sultana
Assistant NRL Strength and Conditioning Coach   Nathan Beutel
NYC Head of Strength and Conditioning
Video analyst   Craig Crossman
NSW Cup Head Coach and Development Coach   Joey Grima
Under 20's Head Coach   Luke Burt

Transfers

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In:

Nat. Pos. Name From Ref.
  HB Mitch Cornish   Canberra Raiders [18][19]
  FE Kieran Foran   Manly Sea Eagles [20]
  FB Michael Gordon   Cronulla Sharks [21]
  PR James Hasson   Manly Sea Eagles [22]
  HK Cameron King   North Queensland Cowboys [23]
  FB Kieren Moss   Penrith Panthers
  PR Rory O'Brien   St George Illawarra Dragons [24]
  SR Beau Scott   Newcastle Knights [25]
  SR Kelepi Tanginoa   North Queensland Cowboys [18]
  CE Scott Schulte   North Queensland Cowboys [18]
  FB Clinton Gutherson   Manly Sea Eagles [26]
  SR Matthew Woods   Wests Tigers [26]
  CE Michael Jennings   Sydney Roosters [21]
  PR Alex Twal Youth
  FB Bevan French Youth [27]
  CE Tyrell Fuimaono Youth
  HB Jeff Robson (mid-season)   New Zealand Warriors [28]

Out:

Nat. Pos. Name To Ref.
  CE Beau Champion Retired [29]
  CE Ben Crooks   Castleford Tigers [30]
  HB Zach Dockar-Clay   Penrith Panthers [31]
  PR Richard Fa'aoso Retired
  SR Fabian Goodall   Manly Sea Eagles
  SR Tui Kamikamica Rugby union
  PR Darcy Lussick   Manly Sea Eagles
  FE Ryan Matterson   Sydney Roosters [32]
  FE Adam Quinlan   St. Helens [33]
  FB Reece Robinson Rugby union [34]
  HB Chris Sandow   Warrington Wolves [35]
  LK Joseph Paulo   Cronulla Sharks [36][37]
  SR Josh Aloiai   Wests Tigers [38]
  WG Halauafu Lavaka   Manly Sea Eagles
  PR Eric Newbigging   Illawarra Cutters [39]
  SR Pauli Pauli   Newcastle Knights [40]
  CE Ryan Morgan (mid-season)   Melbourne Storm [41]
  FB Kieren Moss (mid-season)   Bradford Bulls [42]
  SR Junior Paulo (mid-season)   Canberra Raiders [43]
  HK Nathan Peats (mid-season)   Gold Coast Titans [44]
  FE Kieran Foran (mid-season) Released [45]

Representative call-ups

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Domestic

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Player Team Call-up
Semi Radradra World All Stars 2016 All Stars Match
Beau Scott World All Stars 2016 All Stars Match
Clinton Gutherson   NSW City 2016 City vs Country Origin
Nathan Peats   NSW City 2016 City vs Country Origin
Michael Jennings   New South Wales 2016 State of Origin Series

International

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Player Team Call-up
Semi Radradra   Australia 2016 Anzac Test
Manu Ma'u   New Zealand 2016 Anzac Test
Brad Takairangi (18th man)   New Zealand 2016 Anzac Test
Vai Toutai   Tonga 2016 Pacific Test
Peni Terepo   Tonga 2016 Pacific Test
Junior Paulo   Samoa 2016 Pacific Test
Kaysa Pritchard   Samoa 2016 Pacific Test
Kaysa Pritchard   Samoa v   Fiji, 8 October 2016
Manu Ma'u   New Zealand v   Australia, 15 October 2016
Manu Ma'u   New Zealand 2016 Four Nations
James Hasson   Ireland 2017 World Cup Qualifiers

References

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  1. ^ "Parramatta Eels avoid four-point NRL penalty over governance issues". theage.com.au. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  2. ^ Gabor, Martin (3 May 2016). "Eels breaches must stop today: Greenberg". NRL.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. ^ Brunsdon, Simon (3 May 2016). "Parramatta Eels players will not be forced out amid cap drama, promises RLPA". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Parramatta Eels docked 12 competition points by the NRL for salary cap breaches". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Parramatta final determination". NRL.com. 9 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Kieran Foran back with his partner but confides he may never play league again". www.stuff.co.nz. 16 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Souths comeback breaks Eels hearts". www.nrl.com. 13 May 2016.
  8. ^ "French bags three as Eels thump Warriors". News.com.au. 2016-09-04. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  9. ^ a b "Eels crowned Auckland Nines champions". 7 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Green stars as Storm beat Eels - NRL.com". www.nrl.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-06.
  11. ^ "Eels steal late win over Roosters". 6 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Eels top Waiheke pool". 6 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Eels eliminate Knights". 7 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Eels qualify for Nines decider". 7 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Couriermail.com.au - Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". www.couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Eels down Panthers in full-strength trial". 20 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  17. ^ Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NRL 2016 - Parramatta Eels - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  18. ^ a b c "Eels sign trio for 2016 | NRL". Zero Tackle. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Top coach headhunted, veteran Titan retires and Bulldogs back re-signs". Foxpsorts.com.au. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Eels Confirm Foran Signing". Parramatta Eels. 3 July 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Eels Sign Michael Gordon". Parramatta Eels. 18 June 2015.
  22. ^ "Eels sign Hasson, re-sign Kelly". NRL - Zero Tackle. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  23. ^ "Eels announce two new signings". 13 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  24. ^ "Eels re-sign duo and sign prop". Zero Tackle. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  25. ^ NRL (20 April 2015). "Eels sign Beau Scott - Eels". Parraeels.com.au. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Eels sign Gutherson and Woods". Zero Tackle. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  27. ^ "Eels re-sign seven players". Zerotackle.com. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  28. ^ "Parramatta Eels sign halfback Jeff Robson as Kieran Foran replacement". Fox sports.com.au. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  29. ^ "Beau Champion retires from NRL". Zerotackle.com. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  30. ^ "Castleford Tigers sign former Hull FC centre". BBC Sport. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  31. ^ "Panthers sign Quartet of Young Guns". penrithpanthers.com.au. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  32. ^ SMH.com.au (2 August 2015). "Interest in late-bloomer O'Brien". Zero Tackle. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  33. ^ "Parra's Quinlan signs with Super League". Sbs.com.au. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  34. ^ "New South Wales Waratahs sign NRL journeyman Reece Robinson in Super Rugby". Abc.net.au. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  35. ^ "Chris Sandow released by Parramatta Eels effective immediately". abc.net.au. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Parramatta release Joseph Paulo". Zero Tackle. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Sharks sign Paulo on two-year deal". Zero Tackle. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  38. ^ "Wests Tigers sign Junior Kiwi". Zero Tackle. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  39. ^ "Cutters Announce Squad For 2016". St George Illawarra Dragons. 19 January 2016.
  40. ^ "Knights sign Pauli Pauli". Newcastle Knights. 29 January 2016.
  41. ^ "Morgan signs with Storm". Zero Tackle. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  42. ^ "Bradford Bulls snap up Parramatta full back Kieren Moss". Telegraph & Argus. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  43. ^ "Raiders confirm Paulo deal". Zero Tackle. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  44. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (11 May 2016). "Parramatta Eels to play for points after hooker Nathan Peats signs with Gold Coast Titans". Retrieved 14 October 2018 – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
  45. ^ "Parramatta Eels confirm club grants troubled star Kieran Foran release from contract". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.