Parramatta sat mid table after the first seven rounds, before enduring a winless streak of six games during the middle of the season. A coaching change in Round 14 saw NSW Cup Brett Cook switch positions with Holden Cup coach Steven Hales. Under Cook, the Eels won three in a row but again slumped, winning just two of their next eight games to finish in 14th and missing the finals.
Finishing in the bottom four for attack and defence, the Eels just never clicked in 2015. On four occasions they conceded 50 or more points, and another conceded 40 or more points on four other occasions. A number of their players, Josh Aloiai, Nathan Davis, Zach Dockar-Clay, spent time in the NSW Cup, while Tepai Moeroa played just the one Holden Cup game.
Standout Players
Junior Kangaroo Tyrell Fuimaono was one of the Eels’ hardest working players in 2015. Playing in the centres or second row, Fuimaono ran for 3, 172 metres, averaging 151 per game. Winger Abbas Miski played every game, scoring 12 tries and averaging 132 metres per game. Fullback Bevan French looks destined for a big future. One Parramatta’s best each week, he scored 16 tries in 22 games.
Top Pointscorer
Nathan Davis graduated to Parramatta’s NSW Cup side in 2015, but not before he finished the year as their leading NYC pointscorer. With 134 points this season, to go with his 234 last year, Davis is now also Parramatta’s all-time leading NYC pointscorer
Top Tryscorer
Bevan French finished on 16 tries, as did centre Atini Gafa. He reached it in just 18 games, scoring four tries in the Eels’ Round 6 loss to the Gold Coast and a hat trick against Cronulla in Round 25.
Best Win
Round 14 – defeated Melbourne 48-12.
It was one of the few instances in 2015 where the Eels’ truly clicked and played to their potential. Not having won since Round 7, Parramatta travelled to Melbourne and ran riot. Captain Alex Twal ran for over 200 metres as did Abbas Miski, who scored a double.
Graduates
Daniel Alvaro (2013 – 6 games)
Joining the Eels from the Broncos in 2013, Alvaro played just 6 NYC games before moving up to the NSW Cup. A Qld U18 representative, Alvaro made his NRL debut in Round 12.
John Folau (2012-2014 – 48 games, 18 tries, 72 points)
The younger brother of Israel, Folau burst onto the NRL scene in 2015, scoring a double against Souths in his second game. He would play 7 games in his rookie year, scoring 4 tries.
Leva Li (2014 – 13 games, 9 tries, 36 points)
Joined from the Tigers in 2014 and played 13 games before linking with the Gold Coast Titans, with whom he made his NRL debut in Round 23.
Player to Watch in 2016
He played 22 games and established himself in the Holden Cup in 2015, but Bevan French is worth keeping an eye on in 2016. Many out Parramatta way expect big things from this Tingha Tigers junior and he may spend a fair amount of time in NSW Cup, if not the NRL, next year.
Representative Honours
Zach Dockar-Clay – Junior Kiwis (captained the side – 2 goals, 4 points)
Tyrell Fuimaono – Junior Kangaroos, New South Wales under-20s
Tepai Moeroa – Junior Kangaroos (1 try, 4 points)
Alex Twal – Junior Kangaroos, New South Wales under-20s
18TH MAN 