2007 Parramatta Eels season

2007 Parramatta Eels season
NRL	5th
Play-off result	Preliminary Final
2007 record	Wins: 13; Draws: 0; Losses: 11
Points scored	For: 573; Against: 481
Team information
Coach	Michael Hagan
Captain	Nathan Cayless & Nathan Hindmarsh
Stadium	Parramatta Stadium
Top scorers
Tries	Krisnan Inu & Jarryd Hayne (12)
Goals	Luke Burt (59)
Points	Luke Burt (154)
< 2006 2008 >

The 2007 Parramatta Eels Season was the 61st in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 5th position, and came within one match of the grand final only to be knocked out by eventual premiers, Melbourne Storm, who would later be stripped of this title after being found guilty of salary cap breaches.

Summary

Under new coach Michael Hagan, the Eels saw a great performance in season 2007, spending most of the season in third place (behind the Storm and the Sea Eagles) before a late season form slump, only stopped with a huge 68-22 demolition of defending premiers Brisbane saw them settle for fifth position at the end of the season. In the first week of the Finals, they defeated the New Zealand Warriors away, 12–10 to set up a huge clash with the Bulldogs the following week. In an incident-filled match at ANZ Stadium in front of 50,621, the Eels ran out 25–6 winners booking them in a Preliminary Final clash with Minor Premiers Melbourne Storm. In a gruelling match at Melbourne's Telstra Dome, the Storm eventually won 26–10 ending the Eels' 2007 season, one win away from their first Grand Final appearance since 2001. Later it was revealed by the NRL that the Melbourne Storm had in fact breached the salary cap that season, and they were stripped of their minor premiership and their title for the 2007 season. The Eels spent most of the season inside the top four, however a patch of poor form late in the season saw them finish 5th despite a last round 68-22 thrashing of the Brisbane Broncos at home. Late season losses to the Knights, Sharks, Storm and the Dragons proved costly.

Fixtures

Regular season

Round	Opponent	Result	Eels	Opponent	Date	Venue	Crowd	Position
011	New Zealand New Zealand Warriors	Loss	18	34	17 March 2007	Mt Smart Stadium	13,587	1414/16
022	South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs	Loss	6	31	25 March 2007	Telstra Stadium	15,165	1414/16
033	Wests Tigers Wests Tigers	Win	22	20	30 March 2007	Parramatta Stadium	18,142	1313/16
044	Canberra Canberra Raiders	Win	38	6	7 April 2007	Parramatta Stadium	10,091	099/16
055	Penrith Penrith Panthers	Win	27	14	13 April 2007	CUA Stadium	18,756	066/16
066	Bulldogs Bulldogs	Loss	18	21	22 April 2007	Parramatta Stadium	18,285	088/16
077	Gold Coast Gold Coast Titans	Loss	12	38	29 April 2007	Metricon Stadium	18,021	1111/16
088	Sydney Sydney Roosters	Win	28	10	5 May 2007	Parramatta Stadium	13,021	1010/16
099	Manly Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Loss	12	22	11 May 2007	Brookvale Oval	19,944	1010/16
1010	North QueenslandFile:North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys	Win	44	14	19 May 2007	Parramatta Stadium	10,182	077/16
1111	New Zealand New Zealand Warriors	Win	30	6	28 May 2007	Parramatta Stadium	11,160	066/16
1212	Wests Tigers Wests Tigers	Win	38	8	4 June 2007	Telstra Stadium	22,245	044/16
1313	Canberra Canberra Raiders	Loss	38	10	9 June 2007	Canberra Stadium	11,232	066/16
1414	St George St George Illawarra Dragons	Win	20	12	17 June 2007	Parramatta Stadium	12,658	033/16
1515	Sydney Sydney Roosters	Win	36	16	23 June 2007	Sydney Football Stadium	12,211	033/16
1616	Bye	–	–	–	–	–	–	033/16
1717	Newcastle Newcastle Knights	Loss	10	34	9 July 2007	Parramatta Stadium	10,363	044/16
1818	South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs	Win	18	12	15 July 2007	Parramatta Stadium	15,202	033/16
1919	Brisbane Brisbane Broncos	Win	20	16	23 July 2007	Suncorp Stadium	25,762	033/16
2020	Manly Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Loss	24	32	29 July 2007	Parramatta Stadium	20,113	033/16
2121	Bulldogs Bulldogs	Win	34	22	3 August 2007	Telstra Stadium	27,201	033/16
2222	Cronulla Cronulla Sharks	Loss	24	25	11 August 2007	Parramatta Stadium	13,376	033/16
2323	Melbourne Melbourne Storm	Loss	10	14	17 August 2007	Olympic Park Stadium	11,549	055/16
2424	St George St George Illawarra Dragons	Loss	6	14	27 August 2007	WIN Stadium	13,488	066/16
2525	Brisbane Brisbane Broncos	Win	68	22	2 September 2007	Parramatta Stadium	17,112	055/16
26QF	New Zealand New Zealand Warriors	Win	12	10	7 September 2007	Mt Smart Stadium	28,745	–
27SF	Bulldogs Bulldogs	Win	25	6	15 September 2007	Telstra Stadium	50,621	–
28PF	Melbourne Melbourne Storm	Loss	10	26	23 September 2007	Telstra Dome	33,427	–

Ladder

National Rugby League

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Melbourne	24	21	0	3	1	627	277	+350	44
2	Manly-Warringah	24	18	0	6	1	597	377	+220	38
3	File:North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland	24	15	0	9	1	547	618	−71	32
4	Warriors	24	13	1	10	1	593	434	+159	29
5	Parramatta	24	13	0	11	1	573	481	+92	28
6	Bulldogs	24	12	0	12	1	575	528	+47	26
7	South Sydney	24	12	0	12	1	408	399	+9	26
8	Brisbane	24	11	0	13	1	511	476	+35	24
9	Wests Tigers	24	11	0	13	1	541	561	−20	24
10	Sydney	24	10	1	13	1	445	610	−165	23
11	Cronulla-Sutherland	24	10	0	14	1	463	403	+60	22
12	Gold Coast	24	10	0	14	1	409	559	−150	22
13	File:St. George Illawarra colours.svg St George Illawarra	24	9	0	15	1	431	509	−78	20
14	Canberra	24	9	0	15	1	522	650	−128	20
15	Newcastle	24	9	0	15	1	418	708	−290	20
16	Penrith	24	8	0	16	1	539	607	−68	18

Statistics

Player	Games	Tries	Goals	F. Goals	Points
Burt, LukeLuke Burt	1616	099	5959/70	00	154154
Inu, KrisnanKrisnan Inu	2020	1212	3737/45	00	122122
Hayne, JarrydJarryd Hayne	2525	1212	00/1	00	04848
Grothe, Jr., EricEric Grothe, Jr.	2323	1111	00	00	04444
Mateo, FeletiFeleti Mateo	2525	099	00	00	03636
Smith, BenBen Smith	2323	088	00	00	03232
Hindmarsh, NathanNathan Hindmarsh	2222	077	00	00	02828
Tahu, TimanaTimana Tahu	1818	077	00/1	00	02828
Riddell, MarkMark Riddell	2323	055	00/1	00	02020
Hindmarsh, IanIan Hindmarsh	2424	044	00/1	11	01717
Smith, TimTim Smith	2727	033	11/1	00	01414
Cayless, NathanNathan Cayless	2222	033	00	00	01212
Reddy, JoelJoel Reddy	1010	033	00	00	01212
Wagon, DanielDaniel Wagon	2222	033	00	00	01212
Finch, BrettBrett Finch	2525	022	00	11	0099
Marsh, PJPJ Marsh	2727	022	00	00	0088
Robinson, ChadChad Robinson	2020	022	00	00	0088
Cannings, AaronAaron Cannings	2121	011	00	00	0044
Cordoba, JoshJosh Cordoba	2525	011	00	00	0044
Moimoi, FuifuiFuifui Moimoi	2121	011	00	00	0044
Taia, ZebZeb Taia	033	011	00	00	0044
Green, BlakeBlake Green	066	00	00	00	00
Hauraki, WellerWeller Hauraki	055	00	00	00	00
Paulo, JuniorJunior Paulo	033	00	00	00	00
Lowrie, ToddTodd Lowrie	022	00	00	00	00
Fa'aoso, RichardRichard Fa'aoso	011	?4	00	00	00

Transfers

In:

Player	Previous Club	Years Signed	Until the End of
Joe Galuvao	Souths	2	2009

Out:

Player	Notes
Blake Green	Cronulla Sharks
Aaron Cannings	Gold Coast Titans
Richard Fa'aoso	Newcastle Knights
Peter John Marsh	Brisbane Broncos
Justin Tsoulos	Bulldogs
Zeb Taia	Mid Season to Newcastle Knights
Timana Tahu	Rugby Union
Ian Hindmarsh	Retired

Awards

• Michael Cronin clubman of the year award: Ian Hindmarsh
• Ken Thornett Medal (Players' player): Nathan Hindmarsh
• Jack Gibson Award (Coach's award): Luke Burt
• Eric Grothe Rookie of the Year Award: Krisnan Inu