2012 Parramatta Eels season

2012 saw the retirement of Eels legends Luke Burt and Nathan Hindmarsh. It would also mark the first time since 1972 that the team would succumb to the dreaded wooden spoon. The Eels struggled all year, securing just their first win of the season in Round 5 against defending premiers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles before ending a six-game losing streak against the Cronulla Sharks. This horror start to the season, and a win rate of less than 25% over almost two seasons with the club, coach Stephen Kearney was forced to resign and Assistant Coach Brad Arthur would become caretaker. The team responded to this producing 3 wins from 4 games, including competition front-runners Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos to give the fans some hope for the rest of the season. However this was short lived and following a 38-6 thumping to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 25 of the Telstra Premiership were officially unable to avoid the wooden spoon.

Whilst Parramatta’s problems were largely attributed to their relatively poor defence, numerous pundits claimed Parramatta’s problems in 2012 were largely credited to the recurring absences of star fullback Jarryd Hayne. Even whilst producing higher per-match statistics than any other fullback in the game (8 tries, 14 try-assists), Hayne only managed to complete 10 games from the season’s 24, due to both injury and State of Origin duty.

Throughout the season many of the Eels players came under scrutiny and were dropped to the NSW Cup, including high profile recruit Chris Sandow, who at the time was touted as overweight and unfit,[1] and veteran Luke Burt. As a result players Matt Ryan, Jake Mullaney and Nathan Smith were called up to the top squad and have impressed in their roles of Second-Row, Fullback and Hooker respectively, making a suitable replacement for injured stars Jarryd Hayne and Matt Keating.

Towards the end of the season Ricky Stuart was announced as the new coach for the Parramatta Eels from 2013.[2]

In:

Nat.	Pos.	Name	From
	SO	Ben Roberts	Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
	HK	Nathan Smith	Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
	PR	Taulima Tautai	Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
	PR	Jon Mannah	Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
	CE	Esikeli Tonga	Gold Coast Titans
	CE	Willie Tonga	North Queensland Cowboys
	LF	Joseph Paulo	Penrith Panthers
	SR	Daniel Penese	St George Illawarra Dragons
	SH	Chris Sandow	South Sydney Rabbitohs
	WG	Cheyse Blair	Sydney Roosters
	FB	Jake Mullaney	Wests Tigers

Out

Nat.	Pos.	Name	To
	PR	Manase Manuokafoa	Bradford Bulls
	SH	Jeff Robson	Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
	SO	Daniel Mortimer	Sydney Roosters
	WG	Daniel Tupou	Sydney Roosters
	WG	Etu Uaisele	Penrith Panthers
	CE	Joel Reddy	Wests Tigers
	FB	Tom Humble	Wests Tigers
	PR	Pele Peletelese	Burleigh Bears

Retirees

• Chris Hicks
• Chris Walker
• Paul Whatuira
• Carl Webb

Note: Former Manly player and NSW representative, William Hopoate will join the Eels in 2014 after completing a two-year religious mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[37]

Player statistics as of 26 August 2012.[5]

• Round 4 — Four losses marked the Eels' worst season opening since 1991
• Round 5 — The Eels broke their losing streak in to 2011 Premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Part-way through the season it was announced that head coach Stephen Kearney would depart the club, with his assistant Brad Arthur taking over for the remainder of 2012. About a week later Ricky Stuart was announced as the Eels' head coach for the 2013 NRL season.

Parramatta retain Pirtek Fluid Systems as major sponsor in 2012. The team is often referred to as the Pirtek Eels. Apparel sponsors for 2012 are Law Partners Compensation Lawyers, the University of New England, and Capital Corporation.[38]

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