After what was a disappointing 2023 campaign, whether or not a talented Eels side can bounce back into the top eight is one of the more “intriguing” storylines of the new season.
2024 will mark 38 years since the proud club has tasted premiership glory, and the NRL 360 panel were split on their chances this season.
“There are a lot of Parramatta fans who have never seen a premiership,” Paul Kent said.
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“Parramatta have got close a couple of times, but the good clubs break through for at least one of them.”
“They got to the grand final in 2022 but have gone backwards since,” NRL 360 co-host Braith Anasta said.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis was pretty steadfast in his belief that the Eels won’t make the eight this season, and that it will cost coach Brad Arthur his job.
“I don’t have them in my eight let alone competing for a premiership,” Carayannis said.
“They are built on that power game. As soon as they don’t have a power game, I don’t think their game’s evolved in five or ten years and once work that out, they don’t have anywhere to go to, they don’t play off the cuff.
“They have a lot of money in their 1, 6 and 7, but as soon as their forwards aren’t going forward, I think they are very one dimensional.
“It’s going to be an intriguing story. I think Parramatta and South Sydney are going to be the big stories. I think Souths to make the eight but if either of those side don’t make the eight, I don’t think the coaches will be there next year.”
Fox League’s James Hooper then put to Carayannis why he didn’t consider Eels props Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard “front line” forwards.
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“They’re good but my concern is that Junior in particular last year was off the pace. I thought off the back of a World Cup, I don’t think he replicated the form that saw him be one of the premier props of the game,” Carayannis replied.
“Have these guys peaked? Or do they have another gear in them. If they don’t, they won’t make the eight.”
Anasta and Hooper were both of the belief that the Eels were too good a side not to make the top eight, noting they were only two seasons removed from playing for a grand final.
“They got Joe Ofangauhe on the bench, Ryan Matterson on the bench, you just mentioned Junior Paulo and also Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Bryce Cartwright. Surely that team with their forward pack can get them, with the halves they’ve got, to the finals at the very least,” Anasta said.
“I’m with you Braith,” Hooper added.
“When you go over those injuries and suspensions, Campbell-Gillard missed nine games, Dylan Brown was suspended for 7 games, Shaun Lane missed 14 games. So the left edge essentially is a brand new thing this season.
“I think those two players in combination provided a lot of strike when they went to the grand final in 2022. I also think that their senior key position players, like Moses and Gutherson, they are on an upward trajectory. They are coming into the real sweet spot of their career.”
The panel also discussed the impact that five-eighth Dylan Brown is set to have on this side. with Kent believing the pivot will have his best season.
“Dylan Brown is a potential superstar. In three or four years I can see him being one of the best halves in the game,” Kent said.
“He’s still on that upward trajectory.”
Kent went onto say that there has to be pressure on Brad Arthur, but James Hooper dropped a caveat that the Eels coach has been hamstrung at times after his input around recruiting was limited.
“Parramatta have got to put it into action … Brad Arthur is a quality coach and done a terrific coach at Parra but he needs to kick them back again because if he’s anywhere near where he was last year, he’s going to start feeling the belly to the flame a little bit.
“He’s got to start strong. They’ve got to finish top four. Guarantee he’s got to finish top four.”
“The other issue though is that I don’t think Brad has full control over some of the decisions that get made there (around recruitment) which is an issue,” Hooper said.
“It’s just the way the club wanted to set it up and wanted to do it after they were pinched for the salary cap drama.
“Does that hurt him as a coach?” Anasta asked to which Kent replied, “Yes it does. It hurts him a lot.”
The Eels were stripped of 12 competition points in 2016 after it was found they majorly breached the salary cap over four seasons.
In addition to having competition points docked, Parramatta were fined $1 million.
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