Season Preview
Parramatta’s 2014 season fizzled out on a cold night in Canberra with a semi-final berth on the line. Not even a Jarryd Hayne 20 minute blitz could drag his young and inexperienced side to the finals for the first time since Hayne lit up the competition in 2009.
Nearly six months on and Hayne has packed his bags and headed to the United States to pursue an NFL career whilst his former side has recruited strongly and will look to launch a surprise assault on the NRL in 2015.
Headlining the Eels’ recruitment drive is Anthony Watmough, once a hated adversary, “Choc” now proudly wears the blue and gold with his role to be a mentor to his younger teammates.
Watmough has readily spoken of his excitement at once again playing under coach, Brad Arthur, and the challenge of playing for a side that is on the rise.
The loss of Hayne has opened up a chance for Will Hopoate to play in his preferred fullback position. With his first full pre-season under his belt since returning from his Mormon mission, Hopoate has impressed the Eels’ coaching staff across a range of pre-season tests.
Also joining the Eels is Danny Wicks, who is in search of redemption after a drug trafficking conviction ended his first stint in the NRL. A fit and firing Wicks has impressed this offseason with the man himself stating he simply wants to repay the club for showing faith in him.
Plenty of Eels juniors are also pushing for a crack at the NRL this season. Outside backs Halaufu Lavaka, John Folau and Fabian Goodall were amongst the most impressive in the Parramatta juniors last year so expect to see them lining up in the side later this season.
Parramatta’s back-row looks well stocked this year even with the season ending injury to Ken Edwards. The Eels’ back-row will combine experience with youthfulness and plenty of size as Brad Arthur gets his choice of Anthony Watmough, Tepai Moeroa, Pauli Pauli, Joseph Paulo and Manu Ma’u.