Parramatta Eels 2015 Preview

Parramatta's 2014 started extremely well until a few key injuries, coupled with general inexperience, forced a midyear slide. This was followed by a late season rally and the possibility of finals footy for the first time since 2009, after the mighty Eels smashed Manly in the round 24 home grand final. Parramatta fans burned down the old Pirtek Stadium in celebration, and spent the next week in a drunken haze along with all the players, until a very sobering capitulation in rounds 25 and 26.

Last season provided plenty of hope for the future, but also made clear that something fundamentally wrong with the squad hadn't changed from the previous back-to-back wooden spoons. Parramatta was still a club full of talent but lacking the mental hardness of more consistently successful teams.

The difference this year is that those running the club have recognised what was required and taken steps to change things. Instead of bowing to fan pressure, the club has released a number of long-serving (and very popular) Eels, and brought in one of the most hated players in rugby league. Anthony Watmough is a key component in the club's drive to change the mentality within the Eels playing group, and the main beneficiaries will be the horde of promising youngsters to have graduated from the NYC squad in the past two years, as well as those earmarked for the coming seasons.

The 2015 Eels will have their sights firmly set on making the finals, and will be well served by Sandow's long kicking game and good defensive line speed led by Peats and Watmough. The youthfulness of the squad is both a weakness and a source of potential strength, as is the number of players negotiating contracts for 2016. Anything could happen for the Eels this season.

WHY THEY'LL WIN IT
Parramatta's strengths in 2015 are their kicking game plus a quick, aggressive forward pack.

In 2014 Sandow led the NRL in 40/20s, with daylight second. However the 40/20s are just an indication of the distance and accuracy of his long kicking game. As well as regaining possession close to the opposition line (via the 40/20), this threat opens up the defensive edges late in the count, and pushes fullbacks deeper. The end result is more room to shift the ball on fourth and fifth tackle, as well as open space behind the defensive line for short kicks. However the key benefit is territorial, forcing teams to start sets closer to their tryline. Sandow used to be a great goal kicker too, so maybe that will come back to him.

While the Eels pack is not the biggest, there are plenty of aggressive blokes hungry to get off the line quickly - Peats, Watmough, Lussick, Edwards, Ma'u, Moeroa, De Gois, Fa'aoso and Wicks will all be cogs in Parramatta's fast moving defence throughout 2015.

WHY THEY WON'T
Simply put, Parramatta lack the spread of game breakers required to make a difference in close games, and the couple they do have - Sandow and Pauli - are both weak links in defence. Of course, with such a young squad all this could change in the space of an off season. Another potential weakness is the large number of off contract players in the squad. Whether this serves as a motivation or a distraction remains to be seen, but one would expect Parramatta to have the bulk of its retention sorted by round one. Persistent rumours of big name signings are probably more of a distraction for the fans than for the players.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Nathan Peats
'Peatsy' made an instant impact in 2014, providing smart service and dynamic running from dummy half and, just as importantly, dictating Parramatta's line speed in defence. The little bloke can hit, rolling up on attackers quicker than he blocks people on Twitter. It is noteworthy that prior to his season ending injury the Eels were in fourth place, winning six of the nine games (67%) where Peats played 80 minutes. Without him they won only six games from fourteen (43%).

ROOKIE TO WATCH
Tepai Moeroa 
Played nine games in 2014, so he might not qualify as an official rookie, but the guy didn't turn 19 until after the season was over - he is still eligible for the NYC this year. Moeroa stood out from the beginning, with heavy front-on defence and a powerful running game combined with slick late footwork. Over the off season he's gained the better part of ten kilos and in the Auckland Nines he showed he has lost none of his speed or agility.

KEY SIGNING
Anthony Watmough
Choc left Manly with 278 first grade games under his belt and a bad taste in his mouth. He brings plenty of footballing ability (he is a current Origin player) but the key benefit to Parramatta will be Watmough's toughness and leadership - traits required to fully develop the crop of young players that have emerged from Parramatta's development system (the NYC team finished in the top four last year). Watmough is contracted until the end of 2018, and his positive influence on the club's player culture will be felt long after he is gone.

PLAYER MOVEMENT
GAINS - Josh Aloiai (Eels NYC), Beau Champion (Souths Rabbitohs), Ben Crooks (Hull FC), Zach Dockar-Clay (Eels NYC), Richie Fa'aoso (retirement), John Folau (Eels NYC), Fabian Goodall (Eels NYC), Tui Kamikamica (Eels NYC), Halauafu Lavaka (Eels NYC), Ryan Matterson (Eels NYC), Cody Nelson (GC Titans), Eric Newbigging (Eels NYC), Adam Quinlan (St George-Illawarra Dragons), Reece Robinson (Canberra Raiders), Brad Takairangi (GC Titans), Anthony Watmough (Manly Sea Eagles), Danny Wicks (long term suspension)
LOSSES - Mitch Allgood (Hull KR), Jarryd Hayne (unknown), Justin Hunt (St George-Illawarra Dragons), Taniela Lasalo (unknown), Lorenzo Ma'afu (Townsville Blackhawks), Fuifui Moimoi (Leigh Centurions), Lee Mossop (Wigan Warriors), Api Pewhairangi (NZ Warriors), Ken Sio (Hull KR), Ben Smith (retired), Kelepi Tanginoa (NQ Cowboys), Willie Tonga (Catalan Dragons)

BEST LINE-UP
1. Will Hopoate
2. Semi Radradra
3. Beau Champion
4. Ryan Morgan
5. Reece Robinson
6. Corey Norman
7. Chris Sandow
8. Tim Mannah
9. Nathan Peats
10. Darcy Lussick
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Manu Ma'u
11. Anthony Watmough
Interchange: 14. Brad Takairangi 15. Kenny Edwards 16. David Gower 17. Junior Paulo