The 2024 Parramatta Eels season was the 78th season in the club's history and the 27th in the National Rugby League. Coached by Brad Arthur for his eleventh consecutive season, and co-captained by Clinton Gutherson and Junior Paulo, the team competed in the 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership during the regular season and also participated in the Pre-season Challenge in February during their pre-season fixtures.
On 20 May, Arthur was sacked by the board after winning only one out of the previous seven games, assistant Trent Barrett took over as interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Summary Pre-season After losing several key players the previous season from their Grand Final defeat in 2022, Parramatta had a very quiet off-season in the lead up to 2024. Josh Hodgson and Andrew Davey retired at the conclusion of the 2023 season, and Jack Murchie made a move to the English club Huddersfield Giants. Waqa Blake and Samuel Loizou both did not receive contract extensions and were moved to St Helens and Wests Tigers (train-and-trial contract) respectively.
The Eels signed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles duo Kelma Tuilagi and Morgan Harper for the 2024 season. Uinitoni Mataele and Tevita Taumoepenu both received top 30 contracts, while Jock Brazel, Charlie Guymer, Luca Moretti, Ethan Sanders and Sam Tuivaiti made up the development-listed players. J'maine Hopgood was the only Parramatta player to receive a call-up to the 2024 All Stars match.
Parramatta lost 16–38 in their opening match of the pre-season against the Canberra Raiders. The Eels were captained by Shaun Lane and fielded a very youthful team, only featuring a number of first-grade players. They led the match 16–10 early in the second half before the Raiders scored 28 unanswered points to take out the match.
In their second and final pre-season match against the Gold Coast Titans in Ipswich, the Eels were welcomed with the return of an almost full-strength team and leaving victors 16–26. Parramatta led the match 8–26 mid-way through the second half, before resting several starting players in preparation for the home and away season, which started in a fortnight. With the result, the Eels finished 8th in the Pre-Season Challenge on 15 points. The match also saw Eels winger, Maika Sivo receive a 3-match ban for a high tackle on Titans five-eighth Alexander Brimson.
Regular season Parramatta opened the season with a 26–8 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in front of a record regular season crowd of 29,171 at CommBank Stadium. The Eels faced reigning premiers and arch rivals, Penrith Panthers at BlueBet Stadium in the second round of the season. Parramatta lost winger Bailey Simonsson in the opening minutes of the match, leaving forward Kelma Tuilagi have to cover the left-side edge for the remainder of the match. Despite the injury, Parramatta led the Panthers 16–18 at half time, but ultimately fell short in the second half, defeated 26–18.
In March 2024, Jirah Momoisea and Ky Rodwell were both released from their contracts.
On 20 May 2024, Arthur was sacked by the board after winning only one out of the previous seven games, assistant Trent Barrett took over as interim coach for the remainder of the season.
On 8 July 2024, the club announced that Jason Ryles would be appointed as the new head coach of the side on a four-year deal starting in 2025.
The club would manage to avoid the wooden spoon in the final game of the regular season after defeating the Wests Tigers 60–26 in the "spoon bowl" game. Due to other results going their way, Parramatta would finish 15th on the table.
Post-season On 10 September 2024, Reagan Campbell-Gillard won the Ken Thornett Medal.
Mitchell Moses (Australia), Maika Sivo (Fiji) and Makahesi Makatoa (Cook Islands) all received call-ups for their respective nations for the 2024 Pacific Championships. Jake Tago and Blaize Talagi were also selected to represent Samoa in their tour of England.
Squad information Playing squad The NRL playing squad of the Parramatta Eels for the 2024 NRL season as of 9 March 2024. Cap Player Nat. Position(s) Date of birth (age) Signed Signed from Contract until Top 30 squad 749 Junior Paulo (c) 2019 Canberra Raiders 2026 776 Clinton Gutherson (c) 2016 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2025 788 Mitchell Moses 2017 Wests Tigers 2028 798 Maika Sivo 2019 Penrith Panthers 2027 800 Dylan Brown 2019 Youth 2031 801 Shaun Lane 2019 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2026 804 Reagan Campbell-Gillard 2020 Penrith Panthers 2025 805 Ryan Matterson 2020 Wests Tigers 2026 809 Haze Dunster 2020 Youth 2025 813 Bryce Cartwright 2021 Gold Coast Titans 2025 814 Wiremu Greig 2021 North Queensland Cowboys 2025 816 Joey Lussick 2023 St Helens 2025 817 Sean Russell 2021 Youth 2025 819 Will Penisini 2021 Youth 2026 821 Makahesi Makatoa 2021 Featherstone Rovers 2024 825 Bailey Simonsson 2022 Canberra Raiders 2024 827 Ofahiki Ogden 2022 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2024 829 Matt Doorey 2023 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2025 830 J'maine Hopgood 2023 Penrith Panthers 2025 834 Brendan Hands 2023 Youth 2025 835 Joe Ofahengaue 2023 Wests Tigers 2025 837 Daejarn Asi 2023 New Zealand Warriors 2024 842 Morgan Harper 2024 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2024 843 Kelma Tuilagi 2024 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2025 844 Blaize Talagi 2024 Youth 2025 – Zac Cini 2022 Wests Tigers 2024 – Uinitoni Mataele N/A 2023 Youth 2025 Development list 836 Luca Moretti 2023 Youth 2025 845 Ethan Sanders N/A 2024 Youth 2024 848 Charlie Guymer N/A 2024 Youth 2024 – Jock Brazel N/A 2024 Youth 2024 – Sam Tuivaiti N/A 2024 Youth 2025 Extended squad 833 Isaac Lumelume 2023 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 838 Arthur Miller-Stephen N/A 2022 Youth 846 Matt Arthur 2024 Youth 847 Jake Tago 2024 North Sydney Bears 849 Lorenzo Mulitalo 2024 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 850 Dan Keir 2021 Canberra Raiders Player(s) who left the club during the season 824 Ky Rodwell 2021 Western Suburbs Magpies 2024 831 Jirah Momoisea 2023 Newcastle Knights 2024 – Tevita Taumoepenu N/A 2024 Youth 2024
Coaching staff The coaching staff of the Parramatta Eels for the 2024 NRL season as of 8 February 2024. Position NameGeneral Manager of Football Mark O’NeillNRL head coach Brad Arthur Trent Barrett Assistant coaches Trent Barrett Steve Antonelli Steve MurphyNSW Cup head coach Nathan CaylessJersey Flegg Cup head coach Craig Brennan
Squad changes
Transfers in DatePlayerFromWindowOctober 2023SR Kelma Tuilagi Manly Warringah Sea EaglesPre-seasonOctober 2023CE Morgan Harper Manly Warringah Sea EaglesPre-season
Transfers out DatePlayerToWindowAugust 2023SR Jack Murchie Huddersfield GiantsPre-seasonSeptember 2023HK Josh HodgsonRetirement Pre-seasonOctober 2023SR Andrew DaveyRetirement Pre-seasonOctober 2023CE Waqa Blake St HelensPre-seasonOctober 2023CE Samuel Loizou Wests TigersPre-seasonMarch 2024PR Jirah Momoisea Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsMid-seasonMarch 2024SR Ky Rodwell Wakefield TrinityMid-seasonMay 2024LK Tevita Taumoepenu South Sydney RabbitohsMid-season
Pre-season
Parramatta played the Canberra Raiders in Kogarah and the Gold Coast Titans in Ipswich as their pre-season fixtures. Both matches were part of the second edition of the NRL Pre-season Challenge.
Regular season
Ladder
Results by round
Matches
The league fixtures were announced on 13 November 2023.
Player statistics
Players with no appearances are not included on the list.
Player Total Matt Arthur300000 Daejarn Asi143170147 Dylan Brown24500020 Reagan Campbell-Gillard24210010 Bryce Cartwright20400016 Matt Doorey400000 Wiremu Greig700000 Clinton Gutherson2192990112 Charlie Guymer200000 Brendan Hands1910004 Morgan Harper8400016 J'maine Hopgood1210004 Dan Keir600000 Shaun Lane24400016 Joey Lussick19500020 Makahesi Makatoa1000000 Ryan Matterson1600000 Mitchell Moses84163054 Luca Moretti1110004 Lorenzo Mulitalo100000 Joe Ofahengaue2420008 Ofahiki Ogden200000 Junior Paulo1620008 Will Penisini231000040 Sean Russell21521026 Ethan Sanders200000 Bailey Simonsson10400016 Maika Sivo121700068 Blaize Talagi191100044 Jake Tago7400016 Kelma Tuilagi16300012
Awards The Ken Thornett Medal was held on 10 September to recognise the best-performed players of the season for the club.
Award RecipientKen Thornett Medal (NRL Player of the Year) Reagan Campbell-GillardNathan Hindmarsh NRL Players' Player Award Clinton GuthersonJack Gibson NRL Coaches' Award Clinton GuthersonEric Grothe NRL Rookie of the Year Award Blaize TalagiBlue & Gold Army NRL Award Clinton GuthersonRay Price NRL Community Award Shaun LaneBob O'Reilly NSW Cup Player of the Year Brock ParkerGeoff Gerard NSW Cup Coaches' Award Dan KeirSteve Ella Jersey Flegg Player of the Year Saxon PrykeBrett Kenny Jersey Flegg Coaches' Award Teancum BrownMichael Cronin Club Person of the Year Don Musson
NRL Women's team
The 2024 Parramatta Eels Women season is the 4th season in the club's history and in the NRL Women's Premiership. Coached by Steve Georgallis for his first season, and captained by Mahalia Murphy, the team compete in the 2024 NRL Women's Premiership during the season.
Squad information
Season
Ladder
Results by round
Matches The league fixtures were announced on 13 November 2023.
Player statistics
Players with no appearances are not included on the list.
Player Total Elsie Albert920008 Tyla Amiatu810004 Tafao Asaua200000 Rosemarie Beckett8400016 Kennedy Cherrington6300012 Rueben Cherrington100000 Abbi Church910004 Monique Donovan9500020 Breanna Eales400000 Zali Fay920008 Jade Fonua900000 Chloe Jackson800000 Madeline Jones900000 Boss Kapua100000 Rosie Kelly910004 Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis300000 Mahalia Murphy9300012 Rory Owen9500020 Rachael Pearson91202048 Taneka Todhunter900000 Cassey Tohi-Hiku910004 Lindsay Tui400000
References