Optimists may suggest Parramatta’s 14th-place finish in 2011 was a case of missed opportunities instead of yet another annus horribilis.
It was a season punctuated by three golden point defeats with eight of the team’s 17 losses coming by a margin of six points or less, as the Eels comfortably missed out on the finals.
However, it would be remiss to think bad luck played a big part in such a dismal season, and coach Stephen Kearney is fully aware crucial errors and the inability to keep possession were the key factors.
Kearney also understands that another season without reaching the finals would place him under massive pressure from a board not shy in showing the door to under-achieving coaches.
Despite being rated as one of the best young minds in the game, the 39-year-old knows his honeymoon period is definitely over.
“It’s a results business, and like every coach there’s pressure to succeed,” Kearney told AAP.
The Eels only avoided last year’s wooden spoon with a 32-12 win over the Gold Coast in the final round of the season.
However, Kearney said that victory was a huge lift for the club’s younger players and potentially a catalyst to a brighter future.
“That win allowed us to finish a difficult year on a positive note,” Kearney said.
“We lost a lot of games by small margins last year but the lads never let their heads drop and kept turning up, which is all you can ask.
“The youngsters will have learned a hell of a lot from that and will be better this season from the experience.”
One positive light in a poor year was the blooding of several young guns.
Prop Mitchell Allgood, centres Ryan Morgan and Jacob Loko, lock Pat O’Halon and winger Ken Sio all made their debuts last year.
Powerful second-rower Taniela Lasalo became a regular member of the side and Justin Horo produced some strong displays in the second-half of the season.
The development of youth allowed Kearney to offload 16 players including the ageing Carl Webb, Chris Walker and Chris Hicks.
Halves Jeff Robson and Daniel Mortimer were allowed to join Sydney Roosters and Cronulla respectively and replaced by Chris Sandow and Ben Roberts from South Sydney and Canterbury.
Sandow is the club’s highest-profile signing along with Queensland and Australia centre Willie Tonga who rejoins the club where he began his career.
Tonga’s younger brother Esi has also signed with utility Taulima Tautai and prop Jon Mannah returning to the club from spells at Cronulla.
Kearney is confident Sandow can fit into the structured style he wants from his side and concedes his arrival takes the pressure off Jaryd Hayne.
However, he denies the Eels’ rely too much on their superstar fullback.
“Chris has really impressed me,” he said.
“He brightens up the place and that enthusiasm is infectious.
“His job will be to go out there and be creative, and he gives us another option in attack.
“The same goes for Jarryd. Since I’ve been here we’ve never put pressure on him to win games for us. Everyone needs to play their part.”
The arrival of Roberts gives the Eels an experienced five-eighth after Hayne, Casey McGuire, Robson and Daniel Mortimer were handed the No.6 shirt last year with limited success.
Although the former New Zealand international struggled for game time in his final year with the Bulldogs, Kearney is confident he’ll prove to be a shrewd acquisition.
“He’s a good player, who lost his way a little bit last year. He can do a good job for us.”
