# 2012 Parramatta Eels season

The 2012 Parramatta Eels season is the 66th in the club's history. Coached by Stephen Kearney (who was replaced part-way through the season by assistant coach, Brad Arthur) and captained by Nathan Hindmarsh, they competed in the NRL's 2012 Telstra Premiership. Parramatta finished the regular season in last place for the first time since 1972, also failing to make the finals for the third consecutive year.

## Summary

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. Parramatta 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-Sutherland 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 three wins from four 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 (eight tries, 14 try-assists), Hayne only managed to complete ten games from the season's 24, due to both injury and State of Origin duty.
Throughout the season many of the Parramatta 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, 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.

## Standings
### National Rugby League

2012 NRL seasonvte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 568 | 369 | +199 | 40 |
| 2 | Melbourne Storm (P) | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 579 | 361 | +218 | 38 |
| 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 559 | 438 | +121 | 36 |
| 4 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 497 | 403 | +94 | 36 |
| 5 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 597 | 445 | +152 | 34 |
| 6 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 545 | 536 | +9 | 30 |
| 7 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 445 | 441 | +4 | 29 |
| 8 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 481 | 447 | +34 | 28 |
| 9 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 405 | 438 | -33 | 26 |
| 10 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 506 | 551 | -45 | 26 |
| 11 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 449 | 477 | -28 | 24 |
| 12 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 448 | 488 | -40 | 24 |
| 13 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 462 | 626 | -164 | 21 |
| 14 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 497 | 609 | -112 | 20 |
| 15 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 409 | 575 | -166 | 20 |
| 16 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 431 | 674 | -243 | 16 |

### National Youth Competition

2012 National Youth Competition seasonvte :
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Canterbury Bulldogs | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 774 | 517 | +257 | 39 |
| 2 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 680 | 516 | +164 | 39 |
| 3 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 766 | 599 | +167 | 36 |
| 4 | Wests Tigers (P) | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 666 | 514 | +152 | 34 |
| 5 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 694 | 501 | +193 | 33 |
| 6 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 734 | 592 | +142 | 33 |
| 7 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 694 | 570 | +124 | 32 |
| 8 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 638 | 553 | +85 | 31 |
| 9 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 547 | 556 | −9 | 30 |
| 10 | Cronulla Sharks | 24 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 619 | 684 | −65 | 28 |
| 11 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 646 | 574 | +72 | 25 |
| 12 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 629 | 790 | −161 | 22 |
| 13 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 545 | 732 | −187 | 20 |
| 14 | Manly Sea Eagles | 24 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 519 | 811 | −292 | 18 |
| 15 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 558 | 814 | −256 | 14 |
| 16 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 424 | 810 | −386 | 14 |

## Fixtures
### Pre-season

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
| 11 February | Wests Tigers | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford | Loss | 20–12 | E. Tonga, Toutai | Burt 2 | | |
| 17 February | Penrith Panthers | Centrebet Stadium, Penrith | Loss | 26–12 | Sio, Sandow | Burt 2 | 18,511 | |

### Home and away season

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
| 2 March | Round 1 | Brisbane Broncos | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Loss | 6–18 | Sandow | Burt 1/1 | 11,339 | |
| 12 March | Round 2 | New Zealand Warriors | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Loss | 20–36 | Sio, Blair, Sandow (2) | Sandow 2/4 | 12,102 | |
| 18 March | Round 3 | North Queensland Cowboys | Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville | Loss | 42–6 | O'Hanlon | Sandow 1/1 | 8,239 | |
| 23 March | Round 4 | Penrith Panthers | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Loss | 6–39 | Maitua | Sandow 1/1 | 13,788 | |
| 31 March | Round 5 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Win | 29–20 | Hayne (2), Keating, Sio | Sandow 6/6 & FG: 1/1 | 13,518 | |
| 8 April | Round 6 | Newcastle Knights | Hunter Stadium, Newcastle | Loss | 14–6 | T. Mannah | Sandow 1/1 | 24,158 | |
| 15 April | Round 7 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Toyota Stadium, Woolooware | Loss | 24–18 | Hayne (2), Blair | Sandow 3/3 | 14,327 | |
| 29 April | Round 8 | Wests Tigers | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Loss | 30–31 | Blair, Hayne, Ryan, Sio, W. Tonga | Burt 5/5 | 19,654 | |
| 4 May | Round 9 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park | Loss | 12–46 | Morgan, Sio | Burt 2/2 | 28,214 | |
| 13 May | Round 10 | Canberra Raiders | Canberra Stadium, Canberra | Loss | 40–34 | Morgan (2), Sio (2), Blair, Sandow | Burt 5/6 | 9,210 | |
| 18-21 May | Round 11 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 26 May | Round 12 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah | Loss | 14–12 | McGuire, Ryan | Burt 2/2 | 12,756 | |
| 4 June | Round 13 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Win | 29–20 | Burt (2), Hayne (2), Morgan | Burt 4/5; Sandow FG: 1/1 | 10,009 | |
| 8-11 June | Round 14 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 16 June | Round 15 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park | Loss | 6–24 | Maitua | Burt 1/1 | 14,212 | |
| 23 June | Round 16 | Penrith Panthers | Centrebet Stadium, Penrith | Win | 19–18 | Burt, Hayne, Morgan | Burt 3/3; Sandow FG: 1/1 | 15,275 | |
| 30 June | Round 17 | Newcastle Knights | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Loss | 12–20 | M. Keating, Sio | Burt 2/2 | 12,022 | |
| 8 July | Round 18 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Brookvale Oval, Brookvale | Loss | 40–24 | Sio (2), Burt, Mullaney | Burt 4/4 | 16,065 | |
| 13 July | Round 19 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park | Loss | 12–32 | Morgan, Sio | Burt 2/2 | 31,102 | |
| 21 July | Round 20 | Melbourne Storm | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Win | 16–10 | Hindmarsh, Sio, B. Smith | Burt 2/3 | 9,029 | |
| 30 July | Round 21 | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Win | 22–42 | Sandow (2), Burt, Moimoi, Poore, Sio, N. Smith | Burt 7/7 | 22,626 | |
| 6 August | Round 22 | Wests Tigers | Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Campbelltown | Loss | 51–26 | Mullaney (2), Roberts, Sio, Tautai | Burt 3/5 | 14,822 | |
| 11 August | Round 23 | Sydney Roosters | Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta | Win | 36–22 | Morgan (2), Sandow (2), Blair, Hindmarsh | Burt 6/7 | 12,193 | |
| 19 August | Round 24 | Gold Coast Titans | Skilled Park, Gold Coast | Loss | 24–16 | Burt, Lasalo, Sandow | Burt 2/3 | 14,159 | |
| 26 August | Round 25 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park | Loss | 6–38 | Burt | Burt 1/1 | 24,121 | |
| 2 September | Round 26 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park | Loss | 8–29 | Morgan | Burt 1/1, Hindmarsh 1/1 | 45,863 | |

## Transfers

In:
| 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
| 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.

## Player statistics

Player statistics as of 26 August 2012.
| Name | App | T | G | FG | Pts |
| Mitchell Allgood | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cheyse Blair | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Luke Burt | 18 | 6 | 51 | 0 | 126 |
| Jarryd Hayne | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| Nathan Hindmarsh | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Justin Horo | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matthew Keating | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Luke Kelly | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taniela Lasalo | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Casey McGuire | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reni Maitua | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Tim Mannah | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Fuifui Moimoi | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Ryan Morgan | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| Jake Mullaney | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Pat O'Hanlon | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Joseph Paulo | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Poore | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Ben Roberts | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Matt Ryan | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Chris Sandow | 21 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 67 |
| Ken Sio | 22 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
| Ben Smith | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Nathan Smith | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Taulima Tautai | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Esikeli Tonga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Willie Tonga | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |

## Milestones

* 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.

## Jersey and Sponsors

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.