NRL 2023: Parramatta Eels season preview
After coming up short in last year’s grand final, many believe Parramatta’s Premiership window has closed following the departure of several key players.
Isaiah Papali’i, Reed Mahoney and Marata Niukore head a long list of players to get off the Eels, leaving Brad Arthur with a difficult task to clean up.
The club have signed some solid players but it will be difficult to finish in the top four again.
The sports news a preview of the Eels season below – including their best 17, the key to their success and the predicted end for 2023.
AALE TOP 30 SQUAD | EELS OFF-CONTRACT LIST | EALS ROUND 1 PREDICTED TEAM
BEST 17th
| POSITION | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | Clint Gutherson |
| 2 | Waqa Blake |
| 3 | Will Penisini |
| 4 | fog haze |
| 5 | Maika Sivo |
| 6 | Dylan Brown |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses |
| 8th | Reagan Campbell-Gillard |
| 9 | Josh Hodgson |
| 10 | Junior Paulo |
| 11 | Shaun Lane |
| 12 | Ryan Matterson |
| 13 | J’maine Hopgood |
| 14 | Bryce Cartwright |
| 15 | Jack Murchie |
| 16 | Nathan Brown |
| 17 | Makahesi Makatoa |
SQUAD CHANGES
WIN:
Josh Hodgson, Jack Murchie, Matt Doorey, J’maine Hopgood, Jirah Momoisea, Daejarn Asi
LOSSES:
Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’i, Marata Niukore, Oregon Kaufusi, Tom Opacic, Ray Stone, Hayze Perham
DEPTH RATING
Parramatta has lost perhaps more quality NRL players than any club going into the season, with four members of their big last 17 departing in the off-season.
While the forward losses will be difficult to replace, the Eels still have a fantastic frontline squad that includes Junior Paulo, Shaun Lane and Ryan Matterson among others.
The depth in both the center and wing positions is still pretty strong despite the losses they’ve taken, with players like J’maine Hopgood, Matt Doorey and Jack Murchie all vying for spots on the squad while unheralded Players like Ky Rodwell and Toni Mataele will be knocking on the door.
The biggest depth problem for the eels is in the outer ridge. Maika Sivo and Will Penisini are the locks for the starting line, while Waqa Blake is a veteran campaigner despite some of his Rocks and Diamonds moments.
Aside from these three men, there is a widespread lack of quality and experience. Haze Dunster is recovering from a serious knee injury, Sean Russell has barely played first grade and Bailey Simonsson will be out for half the year.
Another problem for the eels is the whore position. Reed Mahoney and Ray Stone are both gone and while the addition of Josh Hodgson is smart, the only known replacement for him is Mitch Rein, whose best football is far behind.
STRENGTHS: Forward
WEAKNESSES: Outside back/hooker
RATING: 5/10
The overall quality of their forward pack has taken a hit, but the Eels still have solid center and edge rotation. Their defense is weakened by experience and injuries, which could make it difficult to score points and defend against top-flight opponents.
THE KEY
While their front rowers are both repeat players and their halves are among the best in the competition, Ryan Matterson is perhaps the most important man for Parramatta this season.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a strong 2022 season in the lock-forward role, where his ballplay and offloading ability gave the Eels a big difference in attack.
Matterson’s ability to cover both the rim and center makes him a valuable asset, and his defensive workrate is extremely underrated.
With so many veteran and quality players moving up from the Eels, particularly in forwards, this is a year where Matterson really needs to step up and grow his role.
BEGINNERS WATCH
After a fantastic 2022 campaign which saw the Eels reach the Grand Finals, Brad Arthur is being forced into some sort of rebuild after the elimination of a number of key players.
Marata Niukore, Isaiah Papali’i, Reed Mahoney, Oregon Kaufusi and Ray Stone have all moved up from blue and gold, leaving some big gaps in the team’s forward pack.
And that’s exactly where Zweiruderer comes in Toni Mataele could fit into the equation for Parramatta. The local junior, 20, had a brief stint at Newcastle before returning to the Eels and recently re-signed until the end of 2025.
Mataele has signed a development deal for 2023, but there’s no reason why he couldn’t be upgraded or force his way into the top 17 at some point during the year.
DANGER TIME
Rounds 21-26: Cowboys [A]Storm [A]dragon [H]Broncos [A]roosters [H]Panthers [A]
Parramatta will start the season with some difficult tasks, but it will be their journey home that could give them a big headache in the finals.
In the final six rounds, the Eels take on four opponents from last year’s top-8, with three of those encounters taking place away from home.
Round 21 sees the side take on the Cowboys in Townsville before taking on the Storm in Melbourne the following week.
A bit of respite against a Dragons side likely to struggle will only last a week with their last three games including two away games against Brisbane and Penrith and a game at CommBank Stadium against the much-coveted Roosters.
Parramatta will need to be at their best if they are to secure a strong end to the season with this incredibly tough home run.
PREDICTED END: 8th
With the departure of so many fantastic players, coupled with some depth issues and a very unfavorable draw, the chance of Parramatta finishing in the top four this year is slim to none.
While they still have enough quality across the park to rival most squads, it’s hard to believe the Eels will push for a big last place like they were able to achieve in 2022.
This season is arguably the biggest test of Brad Arthur’s coaching career and Parramatta fans are hoping he can keep them in the hunt for as long as possible.