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Parramatta Eels 2016 NRL season preview

13th January, 2016
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Brad Arthur has apparently lost the dressing room. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
Roar Guru
13th January, 2016
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With Kieran Foran joining the club, the Parramatta Eels finally have their much sought-after star half, and are out to make their first finals appearance since their 2009 grand final loss.

In recent years, the Eels have seen the retirement of club legends such as Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt, while poor coaching decisions led to wooden spoons, bad halves and the loss of some of their most marketable players in Jarryd Hayne and Fuifui Moimoi.

However with a rebuild underway, they are looking like once again becoming competitive.

They have also created new cult figures in Semi Radradra and Manu Ma’u, while solving both their halves problem, with Corey Norman and Kieran Foran, and their coaching problem, with Brad Arthur taking charge.

Parramatta are on the edge of a new era in the club’s distinguished 70-year history, with plenty of new talent coming through the lower grades.

While they may not make the finals in 2016, the year will be looked back upon as a defining season in the Eels’ impressive rebuild.

Rookie watch
Parramatta have a batch of rookies ready to burst onto the scene, with four players yet to make their debut currently attached to their first grade squad.

The most promising of those is young centre and backrower Tyrell Fuimaono, who has already represented the Junior Kangaroos and NSW U-20s at the age of just 19. Fuimaono offers plenty of promise in the Eels’ backline and could easily earn his NRL debut in the event of injuries.

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However he won’t be without competition. New recruits and fellow rookies Kieren Moss, Scott Schulte and Honeti Tuha have joined the club in the hope of receiving a first grade cap.

Tuha lined up in the Knights’ victorious NSW Cup side, scoring a hat-trick in their grand final victory over the Wyong Roos. Moss and Schulte are also close to a debut, however with so much depth at the Eels in their respective positions of fullback and wing, it seems unlikely 2016 will be the year either make their mark.

Under pressure
Parramatta’s $1.2 million man, Kieran Foran, will be carrying the hopes and dream of Eels fans on his shoulders, with plenty of pressure mounting on the Kiwis Test star.

Foran is untested on his own, having previously played alongside quality halfbacks Daly Cherry-Evans and Shaun Johnson, however with Corey Norman having carried the Eels since Chris Sandow’s departure in the middle of 2015, Foran will have less on his plate than if he was going in with an inexperienced half.

Still, Foran has not proven himself as a dominant half. While it remains to be seen how he will carry the new responsibility of playing at halfback, the Eels may have finally found the missing piece of the puzzle that could propel them into the finals.

Can the Eels return to the finals in 2016?
The Eels have a talented roster, with depth in almost all positions.

With fullback Michael Gordon and centre Clinton Gutherson, Arthur has a well-rounded backline, which also features 2015 top try-scorer Radradra. There’s also impressive depth with the likes of John Folau, Vai Toutai and Tuha putting pressure on the established stars, as well as Brad Takairangi and Ryan Morgan.

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The Parramatta forward pack is also greatly improved, with Beau Scott, James Hasson and Rory O’Brien joining the club, while Kelepi Tanginoa returns.

Scott will add plenty of experience, while fierce backrower Manu Ma’u will surely show improvement having spent team with the New Zealand Kiwis train-on squad at the back end of last season.

Is Kieran Foran the right man to wear the No.7 jersey?
The Eels’ biggest problem since their glory days in the 1980s has been the halfback position, with no one able to make their jersey their own since Peter Sterling retired in 1992.

Over 20 years later, Parramatta still haven’t found a capable replacement for the former New South Wales and Australia representative, however they are confident Foran is the right man for the job.

Foran is set to take Tim Mannah’s captaincy and lead the Eels’ charge to the finals. If he can get the rest of his team working for one common goal, Foran could become a legend at his new club, and bring Parramatta their first premiership since 1986.

Sea Eagles five eighth Kieran Foran

How will Beau Scott fit into the forward pack?
One of Parramatta’s most exciting signings for the 2016 season is New South Wales Blues backrower Beau Scott.

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The Eels boast one of the most underrated packs in the National Rugby League, with Scott set to make them even more feared.

The 11-time State of Origin representative, known for his niggling, is going into his 12th season and is bound to make an impact.

Alongside Tongan force Ma’u, former Blues representatives Mannah and Anthony Watmough, and young Cook Islander Tepai Moeroa, Brad Arthur’s forwards are sure to terrorise opponents in 2016.

The Eels’ big men for the upcoming season look the club’s best since the 2010 pack featuring club legends Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh and Fuifui Moimoi, as well as current Sea Eagles lock Feleti Mateo and incumbent captain Mannah.

Must watch

Round 1 versus Broncos
Thursday, March 3, 8:05pm at Pirtek Stadium

The Eels will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their home ground, Pirtek Stadium, when they launch the 2016 NRL season against 2015 NRL grand finalists the Brisbane Broncos.

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It will likely be the debut game of new recruits Foran, Gordon, Scott and Gutherson, with a sell-out crowd expected.

Parramatta’s halves will be given a huge challenge in their first NRL game, with Foran and Corey Norman to go head-to-head with Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford.

The forwards will also receive a workout, with the Broncos boasting some of rugby league’s toughest forwards, including Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday and Corey Parker.

Parramatta may struggle against the Broncos in the season opener, but it shapes as a game every Eels fan should get to, with the event sure to be celebrated in style.

Round 7 versus Sea Eagles
Thursday, April 14, 7:50pm at Brookvale Oval

Foran won’t have to wait long before coming up against his old club, with the Eels recruit squaring off against former partner Daly Cherry-Evans in Round 7.

Both Foran and Cherry-Evans will be keen to get the win, with Test jumpers and pride on the line.

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The on-field battle will not be limited to the halves, with Sea Eagles junior Gutherson and Manly life member Watmough also set to feature against their old club.

Predicted best XVII
1. Michael Gordon, 2. Semi Radradra, 3. Clinton Gutherson, 4. Brad Takairangi, 5. Ryan Morgan, 6. Corey Norman, 7. Kieran Foran, 8. Tim Mannah, 9. Nathan Peats, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Beau Scott, 12. Manu Ma’u, 13. Anthony Watmough
Interchange: 14. David Gower, 15. Tepai Moeroa, 16. Peni Terepo, 17. Danny Wicks

2016 signings
Mitchell Cornish (Canberra Raiders), Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles), Michael Gordon (Cronulla Sharks), Clinton Gutherson (Manly Sea Eagles), James Hasson (Manly Sea Eagles), Cameron King (North Queensland Cowboys), Kieren Moss (Penrith Panthers), Rory O’Brien (St George Illawarra Dragons), Scott Schulte (North Queensland Cowboys), Beau Scott (Newcastle Knights), Kelepi Tanginoa (North Queensland Cowboys), Matthew Woods (Wests Tigers)

2016 draw (AEST)
Round 1: Eels versus Broncos (Thursday, March 3, 8:05pm at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 2: Eels versus Cowboys (Saturday, March 12, 7:30pm at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 3: Bulldogs versus Eels (Friday, March 18, 8:05pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 4: Wests Tigers versus Eels (Monday, March 28, 4pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 5: Eels versus Panthers (Sunday, April 4, 4pm at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 6: Eels versus Raiders (Saturday, April 9, 3pm at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 7: Sea Eagles versus Eels (Thursday, April 14, 7:50pm at Brookvale Oval)
Round 8: Cowboys versus Eels (Saturday, April 23, 7:30pm at 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 9: Eels versus Bulldogs (Friday, April 29, 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 10: Eels versus Rabbitohs (Friday, May 13, 7.50pm at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 11: Eels versus Storm (Monday, May 23, 7pm at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 12: Knights versus Eels (Monday, May 30, 7pm at Hunter Stadium)
Round 13: Bye
Round 14: Eels versus Titans (Saturday, June 11, 5:30pm at TIO Stadium)
Round 15: Rabbitohs versus Eels (Friday, June 17, 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 16: Bye
Round 17: Sharks versus Eels (Saturday, July 2, 7:30pm at Shark Park)
Round 18: Eels versus Roosters (Friday, July 8, 7:50pm at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 19: Panthers versus Eels (Sunday, July 17, 4pm at Pepper Stadium)
Round 20: Titans versus Eels (Saturday, July 23, 5:30pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 21: Eels versus Wests Tigers (July 28-August 1 at ANZ Stadium)
Round 22: Eels versus Sea Eagles (August 4-August 8 at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 23: Broncos versus Eels (August 11-August 15 at Suncorp Stadium)
Round 24: Raiders versus Eels (August 18-August 22 at GIO Stadium)
Round 25: Eels versus Dragons (August 25-August 29 at Pirtek Stadium)
Round 26: Warriors versus Eels (September 1-September 4 at Mt Smart Stadium)

Prediction
The Eels’ on-field performance will be much better in 2016 with Foran carrying the team. While they will fail to make the eight, they will improve one spot, finishing 12th.

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