2018 Parramatta Eels season

The 2018 Parramatta Eels season is the 72nd in the club's history. Coached by Brad Arthur, they finished the NRL's 2018 Telstra Premiership in last place, and did not qualify for the 2018 NRL Finals Series.[1]

2018 Parramatta Eels season
NRL Rank	16th
Play-off result	DNQ
2018 record	Wins: 6; Draws: 0; Losses: 18
Points scored	For: 374; Against: 550
Team information
CEO	Bernie Gurr
Coach	Brad Arthur
Captain	Tim Mannah, Beau Scott & Clint Gutherson
Stadium	ANZ Stadium
Avg. Attend.	11,175
High. Attend.	25,106 vs. Cronulla, Round 3
Top scorers
Tries	Jarryd Hayne (10)
Goals	Mitchell Moses (45)
Points	Mitchell Moses (106)
< 2017 2019 >

Ladder

2018 NRL season
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Sydney Roosters	24	16	0	8	1	542	361	+181	34
2	Melbourne Storm	24	16	0	8	1	536	363	+173	34
3	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	16	0	8	1	582	437	+145	34
4	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	16	0	8	1	519	423	+96	34
5	Penrith Panthers	24	15	0	9	1	517	461	+56	32
6	Brisbane Broncos	24	15	0	9	1	556	500	+56	32
7	St. George Illawarra Dragons	24	15	0	9	1	519	472	+47	32
8	New Zealand Warriors	24	15	0	9	1	472	447	+25	32
9	Wests Tigers	24	12	0	12	1	377	460	−83	26
10	Canberra Raiders	24	10	0	14	1	563	540	+23	22
11	Newcastle Knights	24	9	0	15	1	414	607	−193	20
12	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	8	0	16	1	428	474	−46	18
13	North Queensland Cowboys	24	8	0	16	1	449	521	−72	18
14	Gold Coast Titans	24	8	0	16	1	472	582	−110	18
15	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	24	7	0	17	1	500	622	−122	16
16	Parramatta Eels	24	6	0	18	1	374	550	−176	14

Fixtures

Trial matches

Round	Home	Score	Away	Match Information
				Date and time (Local)	Venue	Attendance
1	Newcastle Knights	6 – 26	Parramatta Eels	Saturday, 24 February, 7:00 PM	Maitland No.1 Sportsground	6,526
Source:[2]

Regular season

Main article: 2018 NRL season

Round	Home	Score	Away	Match Information
				Date and time (Local)	Venue	Attendance
1	Penrith Panthers	24 – 14	Parramatta Eels	Sunday 11 March, 3:10pm	Panthers Stadium	21,506
2	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	54 – 0	Parramatta Eels	Sunday 18 March, 3:10pm	Lottoland	10,502
3	Parramatta Eels	4 – 14	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Saturday 24 March, 6:30pm	ANZ Stadium	25,106
4	Wests Tigers	30 – 20	Parramatta Eels	Monday 2 April, 4:00pm	ANZ Stadium	30,420
5	Parramatta Eels	6 – 12	Penrith Panthers	Sunday 8 April, 4:10pm	ANZ Stadium	10,061
6	Canberra Raiders	18 – 2	Parramatta Eels	Saturday 14 April, 7:30pm	GIO Stadium	12,328
7	Parramatta Eels	44 – 10	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Sunday 22 April, 2:00pm	ANZ Stadium	11,069
8	Parramatta Eels	24 – 22	Wests Tigers	Sunday 29 April, 4:10pm	ANZ Stadium	17,555
9	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	22 – 20	Parramatta Eels	Saturday 5 May, 7:30pm	Southern Cross Group Stadium	12,073
10	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	20 – 12	Parramatta Eels	Friday 11 May, 7:50pm	ANZ Stadium	15,683
11	Parramatta Eels	14 – 24	New Zealand Warriors	Friday 18 May, 6:00pm	ANZ Stadium	9,467
12	Brisbane Broncos	18 – 10	Parramatta Eels	Thursday 24 May, 7:50pm	Suncorp Stadium	21,555
13	Parramatta Eels	4 – 30	Newcastle Knights	Saturday 2 June, 7:30pm	ANZ Stadium	7,719
14	Parramatta Eels	20 – 14	North Queensland Cowboys	Saturday 9 June, 7:30pm	TIO Stadium	8,393
15	Parramatta Eels	24 – 42	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Thursday 14 June, 7:50pm	ANZ Stadium	8,047
16	St George-Illawarra Dragons	20 – 18	Parramatta Eels	Thursday 28 June, 7:50pm	WIN Stadium	6,933
17	Bye Round
18	Newcastle Knights	18 – 16	Parramatta Eels	Friday 13 July, 7:50pm	McDonald Jones Stadium	15,860
19	Parramatta Eels	14 – 8	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Thursday 19 Jul, 7:50pm	ANZ Stadium	8,437
20	South Sydney Rabbitohs	26 – 20	Parramatta Eels	Saturday 28 July, 5:30pm	ANZ Stadium	15,542
21	Parramatta Eels	28 – 12	Gold Coast Titans	Saturday 4 August, 5:30pm	ANZ Stadium	6,158
22	Parramatta Eels	40 – 4	St George-Illawarra Dragons	Saturday 11 August, 7:30pm	ANZ Stadium	10,541
23	Melbourne Storm	20 – 4	Parramatta Eels	Friday 17 August, 7:50pm	AAMI Park	12,136
24	North Queensland Cowboys	44 – 6	Parramatta Eels	Friday 24 August. 7:50pm	1300SMILES Stadium	25,095
25	Parramatta Eels	10 – 44	Sydney Roosters	Saturday 1 September, 7:30pm	ANZ Stadium	11,543
Source:[3]

Transfers

In: Nat. Pos. Name From Transfer window Date Ref. PR Kane Evans Sydney Roosters Pre-season May 2017 [4] HB Jaeman Salmon Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Pre-season November 2017 [5] SR Tony Williams Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Pre-season November 2017 [6] LK Ray Stone Youth Pre-season November 2017 HK Reed Mahoney Youth Pre-season November 2017 CE Dane Aukafolau Youth Pre-season November 2017 WG Greg Leleisiuao Youth Pre-season November 2017 FB Jarryd Hayne Gold Coast Titans Pre-season December 2017 [7] Out: Nat. Pos. Name To Transfer window Date Ref. WG Semi Radradra RC Toulonnais (rugby union) Pre-season January 2017 [8] HK Isaac De Gois Retired Pre-season August 2017 [9] HB Jeff Robson Retired Pre-season August 2017 [9] WG John Folau Blacktown Workers Pre-season November 2017 SR Jack Morris Wentworthville Magpies Pre-season November 2017 SR Cody Nelson Blacktown Workers Pre-season November 2017 PR Rory O'Brien Released Pre-season November 2017 WG Scott Schulte Redcliffe Dolphins Pre-season November 2017 WG Honeti Tuha Blacktown Workers Pre-season November 2017 SR Joseph Ualesi Released Pre-season November 2017 LK Matthew Woods Wentworthville Magpies Pre-season November 2017 HB Troy Dargan Brisbane Broncos Pre-season December 2017 [10] PR Frank Pritchard Retired Pre-season January 2018 [11] SR Kenny Edwards Catalans Dragons Mid-season May 2018 [12] Controversies Tony Williams drink driving On 14 February 2018, Tony Williams was fined $1,000, had his driver’s licence suspended for 12 months, and was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond after appearing in Parramatta local court for mid-range drink driving. Williams had insisted on driving home when his wife came to pick him up after a birthday celebration at the Albion Hotel in Parramatta on 16 December 2016. His three young children were in the car at the time. His driving was so erratic that members of the public called the police, who discovered Williams had a blood alcohol level of 0.122. "Shame on you, Mr Williams," Magistrate Jennifer Giles said at sentencing. She said the "community does not feel safe with you with a licence; you are exceptionally lucky you did not hurt or kill someone, or yourself."[13] Williams also has handed a 2-week suspension by the club.[14] Corey Norman drinking fine In May 2018, Corey Norman was handed a breach notice by Parramatta and fined $20,000 for drinking alcohol and posting pictures of himself drinking on Instagram despite being on the injured list which is against team protocols. Norman reacted to the fine saying "I take full responsibility, I'll cop it on the chin".[15] Kenny Edwards contract termination On May 19, 2018, Edwards' contract with the club was terminated by mutual agreement as the player had been caught by police driving on a suspended licence. Edwards was alleged to have fled from police after trying to avoid a roadside breath test. Edwards subsequently failed to notify Parramatta of the incident for two weeks after it happened. Parramatta released a statement saying "Today, Kenny Edwards through his management company, request a release from his playing contract with Parramatta National Rugby League Club Pty Limited, this release was granted by the club effective immediately".[16] Tony Williams and Nathan Davis failed drug test On September 25, Davis and Williams were both terminated by Parramatta after failing a second drugs test. Both players were found guilty of testing positive for cocaine. As punishment, the NRL handed down a 12 match suspension and a fine to Davis and Williams.[17] References Brunsdon, Simon (3 September 2018). "Parramatta Eels season 2018 review: Peter Sterling's biggest fear after horror campaign". foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 8 September 2018. "Eels secure trial victory over Knights". parraeels.com.au. 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 13 July 2018. "NRL 2018 – Parramatta Eels". Rugby League Project. Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. "Parramatta Eels sign Kane Evans – Zero Tackle". zerotackle.com. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-06-22. Retrieved 13 July 2018. "Parramatta Eels welcome four new recruits to 2018 squad – Zero Tackle". zerotackle.com. 8 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 13 July 2018. "Eels sign Tony Williams ahead of 2018 season – Zero Tackle". zerotackle.com. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-06-22. Retrieved 13 July 2018. "Jarryd Hayne signs with Parramatta – Zero Tackle". zerotackle.com. 1 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-06-22. Retrieved 13 July 2018. "Semi Radradra manager confirms future". parraeels.com.au. 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 13 July 2018. "Eels pay tribute to retiring De Gois and Robson". nrl.com. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 13 July 2018. "Dargan Seeks His Chance At Broncos". broncos.com.au. 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-08-15. Retrieved 8 September 2018. "Frank Pritchard ends NRL career". nrl.com. 6 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 13 July 2018. "Eels release Kenny Edwards effective immediately". parraeels.com.au. 19 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 13 July 2018. David Sigston (14 February 2018). "Judge scolds NRL star: 'Shame on you'". Archived from the original on 2018-03-18. Retrieved 19 March 2018. "Parramatta Eels forward Tony Williams banned for two NRL games". 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-03-18. Retrieved 19 March 2018. "Corey Norman Parramatta Eels NRL 2018: Star reacts to drinking fine – Fox Sports". www.foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 30 July 2018. "NRL 2018: Kenny Edwards granted immediate release from Parramatta Eels". The Courier Mail. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2018-11-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)