The 2021 Parramatta Eels season was the 75th in the club's history. Coached by Brad Arthur and captained by Clinton Gutherson, they competed in the NRL's 2021 Telstra Premiership.

Summary Similar to the 2020, Parramatta started the 2021 season in good form winning nine of the opening ten games. Towards the back end of the season however, Parramatta once again displayed inconsistent form and were hit with heavy losses against South Sydney and Manly. They also suffered an embarrassing 28-0 loss against an understrength Sydney Roosters side in round 20. In round 24, Parramatta produced the biggest upset of the season defeating Melbourne 22-10 who were on a 19-game winning streak. Parramatta would finish the regular season in sixth place. In the elimination final, they defeated Newcastle 28-20. The following week, they played Penrith in what would turn out to be the lowest scoring game of the season. Parramatta would lose the match in controversial circumstances 8-6.

Squad information The playing squad and coaching staff of the Parramatta Eels for the 2021 NRL season.

Transfers In: Name From Transfer window Date CE Tom Opacic North Queensland Cowboys Pre-season October 2020 LK Isaiah Papali'i New Zealand Warriors Pre-season October 2020 HK Joey Lussick Salford Red Devils Pre-season October 2020 CE Michael Oldfield Canberra Raiders Pre-season November 2020 LK Keegan Hipgrave Gold Coast Titans Pre-season November 2020 HK Nathaniel Roache New Zealand Warriors Pre-season November 2020 SR Bryce Cartwright Gold Coast Titans Pre-season November 2020 PR Wiremu Greig North Queensland Cowboys Mid-season March 2021 CE Hayze Perham New Zealand Warriors Mid-season April 2021

Out: Name To Transfer window Date PR Stefano Utoikamanu Wests Tigers Pre-season January 2020 PR Kane Evans New Zealand Warriors Pre-season August 2020 SR David Gower Retired Pre-season October 2020 PR Peni Terepo Retired Pre-season October 2020 FE Jai Field Wigan Warriors Pre-season October 2020 SR Andrew Davey Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Pre-season October 2020 HK Rhys Davies Mount Pritchard Mounties Pre-season October 2020 HB Jaeman Salmon Penrith Panthers Pre-season October 2020 CE Brad Takairangi Hull Kingston Rovers Pre-season October 2020 HK Kyle Schneider Released Pre-season October 2020 FB Watson Heleta Mount Pritchard Mounties Pre-season October 2020 WG George Jennings Melbourne Storm Pre-season November 2020 PR Daniel Alvaro St. George Illawarra Dragons Pre-season December 2020 CE Michael Jennings Released Mid-season May 2021

Pre-season RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and time (local)VenueAttendance 1 St George Illawarra Dragons 6 – 28 Parramatta EelsThursday, 18 February, 6:00 pmNetstrata Jubilee Stadium 0 2 Penrith Panthers 16 – 6 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 27 February, 7:30 pmPanthers Stadium Source:

Home and away season

League table

Matches

RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and time (local)VenueAttendance 1 Brisbane Broncos16 – 24 Parramatta EelsFriday, 12 March, 8:05pmSuncorp Stadium28,313 2 Parramatta Eels16 – 12 Melbourne StormThursday, 18 March, 8:05pmBankwest Stadium10,416 3 Parramatta Eels28 – 4 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSaturday, 27 March, 7:35pmBankwest Stadium19,236 4 Wests Tigers 22 – 36 Parramatta EelsMonday, 5 April, 4:00pmStadium Australia 29,056 5 Parramatta Eels 12 – 26 St George Illawarra DragonsSunday, 11 April, 6:15pmBankwest Stadium 24,384 6 Canberra Raiders 10 – 35 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 17 April, 7:35pmGIO Stadium 20,089 7 Parramatta Eels 46 – 6 Brisbane BroncosFriday, 23 April, 7:55pmTIO Stadium12,056 8 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10 – 32 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 1 May, 5:30pmStadium Australia13,273 9 Parramatta Eels 31 – 18 Sydney RoostersFriday, 7 May, 7:55pmBankwest Stadium25,711 10 New Zealand Warriors18 – 34 Parramatta EelsSunday, 16 May, 1:50pmSuncorp Stadium33,175 11 Parramatta Eels6 – 28 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesSunday, 23 May, 4:05pmBankwest Stadium24,411 12 South Sydney Rabbitohs38 – 20 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 29 May, 5:30pmStadium Australia20,743 13 Newcastle Knights4 – 40 Parramatta EelsSunday, 6 June, 4:05pmMcDonald Jones Stadium23,015 14 Parramatta Eels40 – 12 Wests TigersSunday, 13 June, 4:05pmBankwest Stadium23,417 15 Parramatta Eels36 – 10 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSunday, 20 June, 2:00pmBankwest Stadium17,276 16 Penrith Panthers13 – 12 Parramatta EelsFriday, 2 July, 7:55pmBlueBet Stadium0 17Bye Round 18 Gold Coast Titans8 – 26 Parramatta EelsFriday, 16 July, 6:00pmCbus Super Stadium15,038 19 Parramatta Eels10 – 12 Canberra RaidersThursday, 22 July, 7:50pmCbus Super Stadium2,566 20 Sydney Roosters28 – 0 Parramatta EelsThursday, 29 July, 7:50pmBB Print Stadium4,926 21 Parramatta Eels12 – 40 South Sydney RabbitohsFriday, 6 August, 8:05pmCbus Super Stadium0 22 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles56 – 10 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 14 August, 7:35pmSunshine Coast Stadium3,613 23 Parramatta Eels32 – 16 North Queensland CowboysSaturday, 21 August, 7:35pmCbus Super Stadium3,013 24 Melbourne Storm10 – 22 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 28 August, 7:35pmSuncorp Stadium10,246 25 Parramatta Eels6 – 40 Penrith PanthersFriday, 3 September, 8:05pmCbus Super Stadium8,580 Source:

Notes: aFor rounds 16 and 21, matches were played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finals series

Bracket

Matches RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and time (local)VenueAttendance Parramatta Eels 28 – 20 Newcastle KnightsSunday, 12 September, 4:05pmBrowne Park5,087 Penrith Panthers 8 – 6 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 18 September, 7:50pmBB Print Stadium6,011 Source:

References