For most associated with Parramatta’s disastrous NRL campaign, 2012 has been a year to forget.
Not so for several just relishing the opportunity to call themselves first-grade footballers.
Discards Nathan Smith and Jake Mullaney, youngster Ken Sio and former Test player Reni Maitua are among those finding a home at Parramatta Stadium.
On the verge of being shown the door at the start of the season, young winger Sio is the proud owner of a new two-year deal.
Smith and Mullaney, deemed surplus to requirements at Canterbury and Wests Tigers respectively, have both used a fresh start at the Eels to make their NRL debuts.
Even an experienced recruit such as Maitua is starting to shine after taking a while to find his feet following last year’s return from a two-year drugs ban.
Hooker Smith, 24, said the band of players who had all faced NRL career oblivion had used their experiences to help each other.
“We’ve waited a long time to get the opportunities so we’ve taken the bull by the horns and given it absolutely everything we’ve got,” Smith told AAP.
“We talk about it quite a bit. We’ve all had different journeys and we all have a bit of a chat about them.”
Those individual stories might be uplifting but the team’s displays haven’t been – the Eels still sitting last on the ladder despite back-to-back wins over Melbourne and Brisbane.
But Smith believes a more-settled playing group will be better come next season under the new leadership of Ricky Stuart.
“A few of us guys that have just started to come in have brought even the older blokes together because we like to do things as a group and as mates,” he said.
“We’ve brought everyone on board and it’ll show next year, I’m sure of it.”
There’s still plenty to prove before Stuart takes over as coach in November.
And the NSW State of Origin mentor’s reputation as a hard taskmaster is already making waves.
“I’m excited but also nervous,” Sio told AAP.
“The boys talk about him heaps. He’s strict and all that but he’s also one of the best coaches out there and we’ve got to learn from him.”