The Eels’ retention and recruitment has come under fire as last year’s grand finalists face the prospect of failing to make the finals in 2023.
The Eels lost Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’i, Oregon Kaufusi and Marata Niukore from last season and currently sit 13th on the ladder with just four wins from 10 games to start the year.
James Hooper believes it is already time to start questioning the Eels’ top eight credentials.
“For Parramatta people are questioning whether they are going to be able to make the finals,” Hooper said on NRL 360.
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“I think it is a legitimate question given the form they have shown so far.”
Michael Carayannis believes the Eels are struggling to employ the power game that was the catalyst for their grand final charge last year and that has become such a big part of their identity under Brad Arthur.
“I have got doubts over Parramatta’s finals capabilities because you see their fluctuations between games,” Carayannis said.
“They are not getting much out of Josh Hodgson at dummyhalf. Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s injury doesn’t help.
“They have just lost that impetus that we saw. That power game that Dylan Brown plays off. The way Clint Gutherson plays off that and it just hasn’t been there this year.”
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Braith Anasta questioned the value of star signing Hodgson, who was signed as a replacement for Mahoney.
“How have we seen Hodgson’s season so far?” Anasta asked.
“Has it been up to par?”
Hooper believes the fact his minutes have steadily reduced and been given to rookie Brendan Hands sums up Hodgson’s season to date.
“It has been poor,” Hooper said of Hodgson’s form.
“You have only got to look at the way coach Brad Arthur has been using him in terms of the amount of minutes that he has been playing.
“Young Hands has got an opportunity and has been playing increased minutes every week.
“I think there has been some critical missed tackles in big games, particularly against the Broncos up in Darwin.”
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Carayannis believes the Eels were in damage control when Hodgson suffered an ACL after they signed him from the Raiders.
“I think they had to find a way once they signed Josh Hodgson before he did his ACL,” Carayannis said.
“That is no fault of their own, but once they realised he did his ACL they had to go and find another hooker.
“They started him playing 80 minutes in Round 1 off the back of that, so I think they have handled that poorly as well.
“We have seen his minutes reduced now, but they certainly should have started the season like that.”
Anasta questioned if the Eels could have done more to keep Mahoney at the club in hindsight.
“Should they have kept Mahoney or was there just no chance of keeping Mahoney?” Anasta asked.
Hooper believes the Eels’ recruitment and retention committee has made a number of glaring errors and Mahoney is at the top of the list.
“I think they should have fought harder because you have only got to look at what he has done with the Bulldogs,” Hooper said of Mahoney.
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“The influence he has had and the change it has made to the way that Parramatta are able to play.
“I think it was a recruitment error and I don’t think it was the only one either. I think Papali’i was an error. I think Oregon Kaufusi was an error and I think Marata Niukore was an error.
“That’s a problem for the Eels at the moment. They have got this recruitment and retention committee. Plenty of clubs have them.
“But Penrith make it work. Souths make it work. The Roosters make it work. It hasn’t worked at the Eels, so that has been an area that they have really dropped the ball.”
Paul Kent believes the Eels hoped they could fill the void of their departed players with some key signings and youngsters coming through, but they haven’t stepped up to the mark so far in 2023.
“Last year everyone was speaking about this being the year and their premiership window and all that sort of talk,” Kent said.
“When they came so close and didn’t get there, there was this optimism around the club saying, everyone else is saying it is closed but we are OK.
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“But they are clearly in trouble at the moment Parramatta and the power game is just not there, which is Parramatta’s strength.
“There is just no punch at the moment and they are just not getting the performances out of the players they need.
“I know they have had injuries and it has gutted them, but by the same token you look at some of the other clubs around the league who have also had injuries and they have been able to overcome that.
“Parramatta’s next wave of players coming through there is a little bit of concern over those.”
Anasta believes the Eels’ title window closed after the grand final last season.
“I think everyone thought their opportunity was last year because of the team they had and the position they were in, but maybe they are starting to doubt themselves if they are even a chance this year,” Anasta said.
Hooper and Kent disagreed on whether the Eels can still make the finals.
“I think they will miss out,” Hooper said.
“I think this next month is critical. They have got the Raiders and then Souths, Cowboys and a bye.
“But I think they will miss the eight.”
“I think they have still got the squad to make the eight, but I don’t think they can push for a premiership,” Kent said.
