This is the year Parramatta finally move into their $300 million new digs.
But whether coach Brad Arthur and his band of misfits can call Bankwest Stadium home long-term depends on whether they can return as a finals force.
Anticipation is rapidly building around the club’s first match at their reconstructed home ground in round six, which boasts the steepest grandstands in the country.
However, no team has a higher mountain to climb than the Eels.
Not only is Arthur’s side coming off a wooden spoon, but they enter the year with what is expected to be the league’s youngest and most inexperienced spine.
That’s why the five weeks before their house-warming party is imperative.
“We can’t wait but I don’t want the boys to think that it’s just going to happen,” Arthur told AAP.
“We’ve got to earn the right to get fans to come watch us there.
“We’d love nothing more than for that place to be a sellout every week but the fans are going to want to watch a team that’s competing at their best.”
And that’s not all that’s at stake for the Eels this season.
Arthur is well aware that not only is he entering a contract year but so are at least nine players likely to form part of his round-one side against rivals Penrith.
Co-captains Clint Gutherson and Tim Mannah, chief playmaker Mitchell Moses, and reigning Ken Thornett medallist Daniel Alvaro are all without deals beyond 2019.
“We put ourselves in this position. Me included,” Arthur said.
“The good thing about it is it’s not like there’s two players off-contract. Everyone’s in the same situation.
“We need the players and the players need us. So we’re all in it together.
“But it can’t be about individuals.
“If everyone does their job as a team and staff, well everyone will get their rewards later on down the track for it.”
Gone from last year’s squad is five-eighth Corey Norman, who was released after he failed to fire alongside another enigmatic playmaker in Moses.
Youngster Dylan Brown will take his place after he impressed Arthur in the summer.
“Our very first session in Armidale, we pushed them and he pushed himself and chased Clint Gutherson to the point where he had exhaustion,” Arthur said.
“They had to rush him to hospital, he pushed himself that hard.”
Having also been criticised for a lack of size last year, the Eels signed Junior Paulo, Shaun Lane and former NSW State of Origin winger Blake Ferguson.
“In 2017 when our attack was really good we had a real good running mentality,” Arthur said.
“We carried strong through the middle
“And we had Semi Radradra out of the backfield.
“We’d like to think that with the people that we’ve recruited, that’ll give us something to play off.”
PARRAMATTA
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2018 – 15th; 2017 – 4th; 2016 – 14th
Coach: Brad Arthur
Captains: Clint Gutherson and Tim Mannah
Key gains: Blake Ferguson (Roosters), Shaun Lane (Sea Eagles), Junior Paulo (Raiders).
Key losses: Kirisome Auva’a, Beau Scott (retired), Tony Williams (released), Kenny Edwards (Catalan Dragons), Cameron King (Featherstone Rovers), Suaia Matagi (Huddersfield Giants), Corey Norman (Dragons).
Best team: 1. Clint Gutherson (capt), 2. Blake Ferguson, 3 Michael Jennings, 4. Brad Takairangi, 5. George Jennings, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Daniel Alvaro, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Manu Ma’u, 13. Nathan Brown. Bench: 14. Will Smith, 15. Peni Terepo, 16. Tepai Moeroa, 17. Tim Mannah.
Predicted finish: 13th