The 2020 Parramatta Eels season was the 74th in the club's history. Coached by Brad Arthur and captained by Clinton Gutherson, they competed in the NRL's 2020 Telstra Premiership.
Summary Parramatta started the 2020 season in fine form winning eight of their opening ten matches to sit first on the competition table. At the end of the 2020 regular season, Parramatta finished third, their best end to a season since 2005. In the qualifying final, Parramatta once again had to face Melbourne. After leading 12-0 early on in the game, Parramatta would lose 36-24. The following week in the elimination final, Parramatta went into half-time with a 18-8 lead over South Sydney but a second half capitulation which included Mitchell Moses missing a penalty goal directly in front of the posts which lead to a Souths try saw Parramatta lose 38-24 ending their season.
Standings
Fixtures NRL Nines
Match no.HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and time (local)VenueAttendance 1 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 13 – 10 Parramatta EelsFriday, 14 February, 5:20 pmHBF Park10,128 2 Parramatta Eels 15 – 7 St. George Illawarra DragonsSaturday, 15 February, 12:25 pm14,739 Newcastle Knights 7 – 14 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 15 February, 2:40 pm Parramatta Eels 6 – 8 St. George Illawarra DragonsSaturday, 15 February, 5:20 pm Did not qualify Source:
Pre-season RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and time (local)VenueAttendance 1 Parramatta Eels 24 – 28 South Sydney RabbitohsFriday, 21 February, 7:00 pmRingrose Park 2 Penrith Panthers 22 – 22 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 29 February, 4:00 pmBega Recreation Ground4,867 Source:
Home and away season
RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and time (local)VenueAttendance 1 Parramatta Eels 8 – 2 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Thursday, 12 March, 8:05pmBankwest Stadium21,363 2 Gold Coast Titans 6 – 46 Parramatta Eels Sunday, 22 March, 6:15pmCbus Super Stadium0 3 Brisbane Broncos 6 – 34 Parramatta Eels Thursday, 28 May, 7:50pmSuncorp Stadium0 4 Parramatta Eels 19 – 16 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Saturday, 6 June, 5:30pmBankwest Stadium0 5 Parramatta Eels 16 – 10 Penrith Panthers Friday, 12 June, 7:55pmBankwest Stadium507 6 Sydney Roosters 24 – 10 Parramatta Eels Saturday, 20 June, 7:35pmBankwest Stadium579 7 Parramatta Eels 25 – 24 Canberra Raiders Saturday, 27 June, 7:35pmBankwest Stadium560 8 Parramatta Eels 42 – 4 North Queensland Cowboys Friday, 3 July, 7:55pmBankwest Stadium6,730 9 Newcastle Knights 4 – 10 Parramatta Eels Sunday, 12 July, 4:05pmMcDonald Jones Stadium6,980 10 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 22 – 18 Parramatta Eels Saturday, 18 July, 7:35pmLottoland2,021 11 Parramatta Eels 26 – 16 Wests Tigers Thursday, 23 July, 7:50pmBankwest Stadium6,403 12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 – 18 Parramatta Eels Sunday, 2 August, 2:00pmANZ Stadium5,775 13 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12 – 14 Parramatta Eels Sunday, 9 August, 4:05pmNetstrata Jubilee Stadium1,714 14 Parramatta Eels 12 – 14 St. George Illawarra Dragons Friday, 14 August, 7:55pmBankwest Stadium6,290 15 Parramatta Eels 14 – 0 Melbourne Storm Thursday, 20 August, 7:50pmBankwest Stadium6,282 16 Parramatta Eels 0 – 38 South Sydney Rabbitohs Thursday, 27 August, 7:50pmBankwest Stadium7,012 17 New Zealand Warriors 18 – 24 Parramatta Eels Sunday, 6 September, 4:05pmCentral Coast Stadium 4,577 18 Penrith Panthers 20 – 2 Parramatta Eels Friday, 11 September, 7:55pmPanthers Stadium 3,955 19 Parramatta Eels 26 – 12 Brisbane Broncos Friday, 18 September, 7:55pmBankwest Stadium6,617 20 Wests Tigers 24 – 28 Parramatta Eels Saturday, 26 September, 7:35pmBankwest Stadium7,359 Source:
Notes: aFrom round 2 to round 4, all matches were played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finals series
RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and time (local)VenueAttendance Melbourne Storm 36 – 24 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 3 October, 7:50 pmSuncorp Stadium16,238 Parramatta Eels 24 – 38 South Sydney RabbitohsSaturday, 10 October, 7:50 pmBankwest Stadium14,510 Source:
Players and staff The playing squad and coaching staff of the Parramatta Eels for the 2020 NRL season as of 14 August 2020.
Transfers In: Name From Transfer window Date PR Reagan Campbell-Gillard Penrith Panthers Pre-season September 2019 SR Ryan Matterson Wests Tigers Pre-season November 2019 PR Sam Hughes Youth Pre-season November 2019 HK Kyle Schneider Youth Pre-season November 2019 HK Rhys Davies Youth Pre-season February 2020 FB Watson Heleta Western Suburbs Magpies Pre-season February 2020 FE Jai Field St. George Illawarra Dragons Mid-season May 2020 FB Jordan Rankin Huddersfield Giants Mid-season June 2020
Out: Name To Transfer window Date SR Tepai Moeroa NSW Waratahs (rugby union) Pre-season July 2019 SR Manu Ma’u Hull F.C. Pre-season July 2019 PR Tim Mannah Retired Pre-season September 2019 HK Matt McIlwrick Retired Pre-season November 2019 WG Greg Leleisiuao Gold Coast Titans Pre-season January 2020 SR Salesi Fainga'a Western Suburbs Magpies Pre-season February 2020 FB Josh Hoffman Townsville Blackhawks Pre-season February 2020 WG Ethan Parry Released Mid-season May 2020
References