SPORT

ISSUE 3 | October 2020 SporT

Eels bow out, rebuild for 2021

FOR the third time in four NRL seasons, Parramatta has been knocked out in the second week of the top 8 finals series.

The Eels went down last Saturday night at Bankswest Stadium, 38-24, after leading 18-8 at halftime, against South Sydney.

The Bunnies hopped along in the second half scoring 30 points, with their ‘’machine gun’’ style ‘’rat a tat tat ‘’ attacking style which has been a feature of their play the past eight weeks, too much to overwhelm the Eels in the second half.

Parramatta has reached the second week of the fi nals in 2017, 2019 and this year _ but couldn’t progress to the grand fi nal qualifying stage again this weekend.

The Eels, under coach Brad Arthur, did fi nish third after this year’s 20-round premiership _ but lost consecutive fi nals to Melbourne and Souths _ to depart the competition.

Two of the club’s best

The loss of wingers Maiko Sivo and Blake Ferguson (both with knee injuries) and the shock suspension of star centre Michael Jennings, on the morning of the game, for allegedly failing a drugs test, threw a big spanner into the works, dramatically aff ecting the Eels’ personnel. Jennings’ future remains clouded as he and his management, the Eels and the NRL await the results of a B sample, for performance enhancing drugs. Jennings said in a prepared statement he will fi ght to clear his name.

In the heart-breaking loss to Souths, inspirational skipper and fullback Clint Gutherson was outstanding and so too was mighty prop Junior Paulo – they were two of the club’s best all season.

Clint Gutherson leads his team out and below, David Gower.

NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler has named Gutherson, Paulo, Nathan Brown and Reagan Campbell-Gillard, in a provisional squad for next month’s interstate series versus Queensland.

The quartet deserve their selection. Gutherson could be used as a right centre. While Gutherson loves fullback, he started as a winger at Manly, he can centre and fi ve-eighth too, making him the ideal utlity player for NSW.

In other news, the Eels have cut 11 players from their squad for next season.

Several of the departures have signed elsewhere the others didn’t have their contracts renewed.

The 11 Eels exiting are: veteran forward David Gower, Peni Terepo, Kane Evans (New Zealand Warriors), Jai Field, Stefano Utiokamanu,(Wests Tigers), Andrew Davey (Manly), Rys Davies, Jaeman Salmon, Brad Takairangi, and Watson Heta and Kyle Schneider.

Gower has retired and is taking up a job with the Eels in welfare and wellbeing development.

Terepo hasn’t not played for three months and is considering his future as he has battled health issues for most of the season.

Kane Evans joins New Zealand Warriors in 2021 and Andrew Davey has signed with Manly for the next two years.

Eels football manager Mark O’Neill said all departing players had made positive contributions to the club.

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