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.
Summary 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,Sterling Slams Overweight Sandow The Daily Telegraph 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.Ricky Stuart To Coach Parramatta Eels For Next Three Seasons Herald Sun
Standings National Rugby League
National Youth Competition
Fixtures Pre-season Date Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report11 February Wests TigersBluetongue Stadium, GosfordLoss20–12E. Tonga, ToutaiBurt 217 February Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium, PenrithLoss26–12Sio, SandowBurt 218,511
Home and away season
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report2 MarchRound 1 Brisbane BroncosParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss6–18SandowBurt 1/111,33912 MarchRound 2 New Zealand WarriorsParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss20–36Sio, Blair, Sandow (2) Sandow 2/412,10218 MarchRound 3 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleLoss42–6O'HanlonSandow 1/18,23923 MarchRound 4 Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss6–39MaituaSandow 1/113,788 31 MarchRound 5 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesParramatta Stadium, ParramattaWin29–20 Hayne (2), Keating, Sio Sandow 6/6 & FG: 1/1 13,518 8 AprilRound 6 Newcastle KnightsHunter Stadium, Newcastle Loss 14–6 T. Mannah Sandow 1/1 24,15815 AprilRound 7 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Stadium, Woolooware Loss 24–18 Hayne (2), Blair Sandow 3/3 14,32729 AprilRound 8 Wests TigersParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss30–31 Blair, Hayne, Ryan, Sio, W. Tonga Burt 5/5 19,6544 MayRound 9 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic ParkLoss 12–46 Morgan, Sio Burt 2/2 28,214 13 MayRound 10 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraLoss 40–34 Morgan (2), Sio (2), Blair, Sandow Burt 5/6 9,210 18-21 MayRound 11Bye26 MayRound 12 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN Jubilee Oval, KogarahLoss 14–12 McGuire, Ryan Burt 2/2 12,756 4 JuneRound 13 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksParramatta Stadium, ParramattaWin29–20 Burt (2), Hayne (2), Morgan Burt 4/5; Sandow FG: 1/1 10,009 8-11 JuneRound 14Bye16 JuneRound 15 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic ParkLoss 6–24 Maitua Burt 1/1 14,212 23 JuneRound 16 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium, Penrith2012 NRL season results: Round 16Win 19–18 Burt, Hayne, Morgan Burt 3/3; Sandow FG: 1/1 15,275 30 JuneRound 17 Newcastle KnightsParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss 12–20M. Keating, SioBurt 2/212,0228 JulyRound 18 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, Brookvale2012 NRL season results: Round 18Loss40–24Sio (2), Burt, MullaneyBurt 4/416,06513 JulyRound 19 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park2012 NRL season results: Round 19Loss12–32 Morgan, Sio Burt 2/231,10221 JulyRound 20 Melbourne StormParramatta Stadium, ParramattaWin16–10Hindmarsh, Sio, B. SmithBurt 2/39,02930 JulyRound 21 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane2012 NRL season results: Round 21Win22–42Sandow (2), Burt, Moimoi, Poore, Sio, N. SmithBurt 7/722,6266 AugustRound 22 Wests TigersCampbelltown Sports Stadium, CampbelltownLoss51–26Mullaney (2), Roberts, Sio, TautaiBurt 3/514,82211 AugustRound 23 Sydney RoostersParramatta Stadium, ParramattaWin36–22Morgan (2), Sandow (2), Blair, HindmarshBurt 6/712,19319 AugustRound 24 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold CoastLoss24–16Burt, Lasalo, SandowBurt 2/314,15926 AugustRound 25 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park2012 NRL season results: Round 25Loss6–38BurtBurt 1/124,1212 SeptemberRound 26 St. George Illawarra DragonsANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic ParkLoss8–29MorganBurt 1/1, Hindmarsh 1/145,863
Players and staff
Transfers In: 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 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 Chris Hicks Chris Walker Paul Whatuira Carl Webb
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.
Player statistics Player statistics as of 26 August 2012. NameAppTGFGPts170000205002018651012612800322120084000015200840000101004111000192008221004211004178003253001221004210000211004171004172008219143672213005281004710049100430000121004
Milestones 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 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.
References