The 2011 Parramatta Eels season is the 65th in the club's history. Coached by Stephen Kearney and captained by Nathan Hindmarsh, they competed in the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership. The Eels finished the regular season in 14th place, failing to make the finals for the second consecutive year.
Summary The Parramatta club made several new player signings for the 2011 season. In the forwards, the Eels added former Queensland centre Carl Webb and former Canterbury and Cronulla as well as one-time Kangaroo Reni Maitua. To bolster the backs after the retirement of Eric Grothe Jr and the departure of Timana Tahu, the Eels signed the experienced pair of Chris Walker and Chris Hicks.
2011 can be considered to have been a year of "almost" for Parramatta, with the team losing over half of their matches by four points or less, many of which were conceded after attaining leads over their opponents. The Eels pushed a record four games into Golden Point during the season, however were unable to win any, resulting in a draw against the St George Illawarra Dragons and one-point losses to the Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Throughout the 2011 season, coach Stephen Kearney motioned several reshuffles of the Parramatta side, the most high-profile change being fullback Jarryd Hayne's switch to five-eighth after his ball-playing abilities were considered by several experts including the NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart, as his strongest point. Other switches include the moving of Luke Burt to fullback, second-rower Ben Smith to right centre, and the resting of five-eighth Daniel Mortimer.
Before the final match of their season, Parramatta had won only five of their 24 games and were in contention for the dreaded wooden spoon. During their final match, the Parramatta side emerged victorious over the Gold Coast Titans who were also direct contenders for last place. The wooden spoon was awarded to the Gold Coast side, finishing 16th on the NRL ladder with Parramatta finishing in 14th position.
Standings National Rugby League
National Youth Competition
Fixtures Pre-season Date Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report12 February New Zealand WarriorsRotorua International Stadium, RotoruaLoss24–4LasaloNil8,60019 February Wests TigersCampbelltown Sports Stadium, CampbelltownWin10–30Horo (2), Robson, McGuire, HayneBurt 212,76126 February Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, PenrithWin0–30Lasalo, B. Smith, Whatuira, Horo, M. KeatingBurt 5
Home and away season
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report12 MarchRound 1 New Zealand WarriorsEden Park, AucklandWin18–24Burt (2), Hayne, RobsonBurt 4/538,40518 MarchRound 2 Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss6–20M. KeatingBurt 1/115,97425 MarchRound 3 South SydneyANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss18–32Moimoi, Robson, WalkerBurt 3/322,1532 AprilRound 4 North Queensland CowboysParramatta Stadium, ParramattaWin22–20Burt (2), Morgan, UaiseleBurt 3/412,22610 AprilRound 5 Melbourne StormAAMI Park, MelbourneLoss38–0NilNil11,80515 AprilRound 6 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss14–34Hayne (2)Burt 3/330,68724 AprilRound 7 Gold Coast TitansParramatta Stadium, ParramattaWin22–18Loko, Reddy, Robson, ShackletonBurt 3/410,0521 MayRound 8 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Jubilee Stadium, KogarahLoss30–0NilNil19,3196–9 MayRound 9Bye14 MayRound 10 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleLoss40–26Hayne, Loko, McGuire, Reddy, B. SmithBurt 3/513,61023 MayRound 11 Cronulla Sutherland SharksParramatta Stadium, ParramattaWin40–6Atkins (2), Burt (2), Horo, Walker, B. SmithBurt 6/710,62828 MayRound 12 Newcastle KnightsAusgrid Stadium, NewcastleLoss8–6McGuireBurt 1/118,7233 JuneRound 13 St George Illawarra DragonsParramatta Stadium, ParramattaDraw14–14Lasalo, MoimoiBurt 3/316,06610–13 JuneRound 14Bye20 JuneRound 15 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, ManlyLoss22–18Burt, Horo, Loko, B. SmithBurt 1/413,95925 JuneRound 16 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraLoss25–12M. Keating, B. SmithBurt 2/213,4571 JulyRound 17 Brisbane BroncosParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss12–16Burt (2)Burt 2/211,0798 JulyRound 18 Wests TigersParramatta Stadium, ParramattaWin22–6Atkins, Maitua, MorganBurt 5/519,65416 JulyRound 19 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium, PenrithLoss23–22Horo, Maitua, McGuire, UaiseleBurt 3/417,33322 JulyRound 20 Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss8–7HayneBurt 1/1, Hayne FG: 115,1261 AugustRound 21 Melbourne StormParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss18–22Lasalo, MaituaBurt 5/510,0788 AugustRound 22 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss56–6BurtBurt 1/113,90813 AugustRound 23 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss26–20Hicks, Horo, MorganBurt 4/511,10221 AugustRound 24 Wests TigersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss31–12Hicks, B. SmithBurt 2/218,62626 AugustRound 25 Sydney RoostersParramatta Stadium, ParramattaLoss12–13Hayne, HicksBurt 2/212,0973 SeptemberRound 26 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, RobinaWin12–32Morgan (2), B. Smith (2), Hayne, SioBurt 4/618,265
Players and staff The playing squad and coaching staff of the Parramatta Eels for the 2011 NRL season as of 29 May 2011.
Awards The following awards were awarded in the post-season: Michael Cronin clubman of the year award: Les 'Tex' Brooker Ken Thornett Medal (Players' player): Fuifui Moimoi Jack Gibson Award (Coach's award): Fuifui Moimoi Eric Grothe Rookie of the Year Award: Mitchell Allgood
References