Parramatta Eels (34 points, 16-8, +119 differential)
Ladder: 4th
Lost Grand Final 28-12 v Penrith Panthers
An incredible season came to a bittersweet end for the Parramatta Eels who were never in the contest against the Penrith Panthers in the Grand Final. The achievement to get there cannot be understated as this side overcame public scrutiny, constant rumours and innuendo targeted at the head coach and the history of finals disappointment. Despite patches of inconsistency throughout the year, the Eels managed to put it all together at the right time of year and made a fantastic finals run.
Many players had breakout campaigns yet with several players departing to rival clubs, there is an overwhelming sense that this was the best chance Parramatta would get to break that infamous 36-year premiership drought.
Highlight
The 2022 season was filled with plenty of highlights including the club’s first Grand Final appearance in 13 years, defeating eventual premiers Penrith twice in the regular season and the coming of age for several players including Dylan Brown and Shaun Lane.
The indication that this side was in line for something special was their final round victory over the Melbourne Storm. The 22-14 scoreline flattered Melbourne as they were comprehensively beaten by a clinical Parramatta outfit. In years past, the Eels would’ve surrendered this match and subsequently a top four finish. However, the maturity shown by this group and its leaders in Clint Gutherson, Mitchell Moses and Reed Mahoney ensured that the Eels secured that vital double chance.
Lowlight
One could argue that the Grand Final was the lowlight but that would ignore the extraordinary effort that it took to get there. The season lowlight was the 34-4 thrashing at the hands of the Bulldogs who were the laughing stock of the NRL when the two sides met in round 14. The Bulldogs ran in five unanswered tries before Will Penisini crossed over for the Eels’ first.
The result highlighted the gap between Parramatta’s best and worst performances and many believed that it would be another year of inconsistency and disappointment for the Eels.
Best player
Shaun Lane had an incredible 2022 season for Parramatta. In his fourth season for the club, the 27-year-old stepped up big time and posted career high numbers and added new weapons to his arsenal. Lane had 38 offloads for the year which led to the speedy ball movement that propelled the Eels this season. He had a career high 767 tackles at just under 93 per cent efficiency. He averaged 130 running metres per game and was a well deserved winner of Parramatta’s best and fairest and player’s player medals.
What do they need for 2023?
Role players to step up in 2023.
You simply can’t replace Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’i and solid role players like Ray Stone and Tom Opacic. The Eels’ 2022 season was boosted by five-eighth Dylan Brown having a career best season and Shaun Lane exploded as one of the premier second rowers in the competition. If the Eels are to get close to the heights they reached this year, more players will have to step up and make a massive impact.
2022 Report Card
A