The man was an absolute superstar who in the end should have won a lot more than he did. Hayne sometimes made Parramatta look like a one-man team with his individual brilliance but it was his confidence, skill and raw talent which lifted his team-mates as well and it spurred their remarkable charge to the 2009 Grand Final. Two-time Dally M Medal winner and 2014 State of Origin winning winger; such was Hayne’s impact in 2014 he became the first player to win the Dally M without making the finals since Trent Barrett in 2000.
Luke Burt burst onto the scene in 1999 as a fresh-faced teenager capable of playing along the backline. Often questioned whether he could make it due to his size, Burt continued to defy any critics and etched his name alongside some of the best players to play for this club. An exceptional try-scorer, Burt was also a talented goal-kicker, capable of winning games with his left boot. He is one of only five players in NRL history with 100 tries and 500 goals to his name.
Jennings became a marquee signing in 2016 when he joined the Eels before the club was quickly hit by punishment as a result of their salary cap breaches. Jennings soldiered on and became a key attacking threat for Parramatta, working well with Radradra on the left wing. While not quite possessing the same pace as he had at the Roosters and Panthers, Jennings has still kept his try-scoring ability and blistering footwork. He sits behind only Michael Cronin and Steve Ella for most games played at centre for the Eels.
Timana Tahu didn’t maintain the ridiculous strike rate that made him one of the hottest prospects in rugby league when he joined the Eels. But Tahu was the ultimate signing Parra needed to light up their backline in 2005 after two seasons out of the finals. Tahu formed an electric combination on the left edge with Luke Burt and was also often paired with Eric Grothe Jr. His speed, skill and strength made him a fan favourite in his brief stay with Parra.
We’ve seen the pandemonium of one Fijian winger this season in Maika Sivo but before Sivo it was Semi Radradra tearing up the left side and sending Parramatta fans into frenzy. Radradra has an astonishing scoring record for the Eels, racking up 82 tries before he could make a century of games. Semi scored 19 in his first full season but outdid himself the following year, scoring 24 in just 18 games to break Steve Ella’s record of 23 tries in one season.
Dymock was one of the Bulldogs’ quartet that joined forces with the Eels in 1996 and he played a huge role in taking the club out of the depths into one of the elite sides of the competition. Dymock was a ball-playing lock with a solid kicking game that also spent time in the halves with the Eels. He helped lead a young side back into finals for the first time in 10 years and enjoyed some of his fittest playing days, appearing in 76 games in his last three seasons alone.
He’s only spent two and a half seasons with Parramatta, but Moses looks like the safest bet for halfback in this team given he’s guided the team to two finals appearances. The Eels have struggled to nail down a long term No.7 since the great Peter Sterling’s retirement in the early 90s but Moses, who re-signed with the Eels earlier this year, has been on the rise and showcased his maturity in game management and key decision-making helping his side finish 5th. He also conjured up 25 try assists to his name – more than any other playmaker this year.
Brian Smith spotted a leader in Nathan Cayless at the age of just 21 and the young Kiwi prop was made captain in 2000, just his fourth season in the top grade. Over his 11 seasons as captain, he would lead the Eels to two Grand Finals and seven finals appearances. Cayless’ passion and influential leadership on and off the field carried Parramatta through the club’s second most successful decade, and they struggled to replace him following his retirement.
Riddell joined in 2005 as a part of the strong recruitment drive that brought along the likes of Tahu, Glenn Morrison and the return of PJ Marsh. Riddell held off Marsh to make the No.9 jersey, which he held over four impressive seasons with Parramatta. ‘Piggy’ was a nuggety hooker who possessed some deceiving pace and agility around the ruck when he needed to. Riddell was a larrikin on and off the field and it made him a player his teammates loved playing with.
One of the greatest cult heroes to ever set foot on the turf of Parramatta Stadium, Moimoi debuted in 2004 but it wasn’t until 2007 when he cemented himself in the starting side and forming an intimidating front row partnership with Cayless. Moimoi was a consistent figure in Eels line-ups for the following seven seasons, even playing all 28 games in their remarkable 2009 campaign, scoring one of the great grand final tries in the 2009 decider.
He may still be reminded to this day by his colleagues at Fox Sports of his failure to win the Premiership, however ‘Hindy’ will always be considered a legend not just for the Parramatta Eels, but for rugby league in general. Hindmarsh racked up 330 games in his 15 seasons and was adored by his fans for his desire and hard-work and his refusal to give in. His tackling workload was always appreciated by his team-mates.
Manu Ma’u was handed a lifesaver by the Parramatta Eels in 2014 at the age of 25 after almost being lost to the game due to troubles with the law back home in New Zealand. Ma’u turned his life around however, and has become one of the Eels’ best players from the last decade. He’s been a consistent performer week in week out, with his aggression and powerful ball-running being a key asset to the team.
Wagon was a versatile player in his heyday before making the transition into full-time back-rower for the Eels. He came to Parramatta as a winger and began to shift into the centres and filled in at five-eighth at times as well before settling in at lock. Tall and lanky, Wagon was a difficult body to get to ground, and he possessed a killer offload. Tireless efforts at lock in their 2001 season led to Wagon achieving Queensland representation in the halves alongside Allan Langer.
The Queensland rake was a much-underrated hooker but perhaps it was for the best, as PJ Marsh was always the silent assassin off the bench for Parramatta. Marsh had the ability to make an impact quickly after coming on, taking advantage of slow and tired forwards with his alertness and speed around the ruck. While he played in the halves in his early career with the Eels, it was in the dummy half role where he shone the most.
Widders spent five enjoyable seasons with the Parramatta Eels, where he achieved over a century of games, 90 of which were from the bench. But like PJ Marsh, the best way for Widders to leave his fingerprints on a match was from the bench. Widders always left it all out on the field, constantly putting his heart and soul into his performances. His real breakout year was 2005 where he scored an impressive 11 tries despite not starting a single match.
Tim Mannah played his last game for the Parramatta Eels in Round 11 this season, bringing the 11-year spell of the former Eels captain to an end. Mannah came onto the scene as a baby-faced prop on the bench in 2009, and rode the wave of their run to the 2009 GF, playing in all 28 games. Mannah’s performances were a bright spot over the next few disappointing seasons, earning him four NSW Origin games. With 233 games to his name, he sits 6th for all-time Eels appearances.
Vella debuted in 1998 just a week after Nathan Hindmarsh made his debut, and the two became club legends over the next decade. Vella was an uncompromising prop, who on his day could bulldoze his opponents with an imposing hit-up. Armed with a big ‘don’t argue’ fend, Vella’s powerful runs at a young age quickly caught the eye of the selectors who called him up to the NSW and Australia sides the year after his debut. Heroically overcame cancer in 2005 to return to the side.
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