Parramatta Eels player rankings 2022: Shaun Lane lands top spot after breakout season
Parramatta faces many questions heading into the NRL off-season - and chief among them will be the futures of some big-name, big-money players. VOTE FOR YOUR BEST
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We rank Parramatta’s best and worst for 2022.
25. SEAN RUSSELL
Position: Winger
Games: 1
Wins: 1
Key stat: Three tries in one game
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
Russell scored three tries in the opening game and looked destined for a successful season. However his first game heroics were soured after fracturing his ribs and puncturing his lung after collecting the knees of Titans fullback Jayden Campbell. He returned to play 15 games in reserve grade scoring 12 tries.
24. OFAHIKI OGDEN
Position: Prop
Games: 2
Wins: 1
Key stat: Average of 4.5 possessions per game
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
Thrown a lifeline by the Eels this year after splitting with the Bulldogs. Was on a development contract but earnt his way into an Eels debut after a strong of solid performances in NSW Cup. Limited to an average of just 10 minutes in his two starts off the interchange bench.
23. KY RODWELL
Position: Prop
Games: 4
Wins: 4
Key stat: 98.3 per cent tackle efficiency
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
Played one game last year but enjoyed a stretch this year where he played four straight games between round 15-18. Proved he could handle the top grade. Was limited in his game time averaging just 17 minutes in his four appearances. Can expect a bigger role next season.
22. RAY STONE
Position: Lock
Games: 3
Wins: 2
Key stat: 1 matchwinning try
Contract status: Signed with the Dolphins on a two-year deal
Could almost finish in the top five on this list off the back of his final play as an Eel. Scored a match winning try while rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the same time in the golden point win against the Storm in round three. He will join the Dolphins next season after 31 matches for the Eels.
21. HAYZE PERHAM
Position: Winger
Games: 6
Wins: 3
Key stat: 10 tackle breaks.
Contract status: Off-contract
Not seen in the top grade since round 11 where he scored two tries for the Eels against Manly in their 22-20 win. Played six consecutive matches while Maika Sivo was sidelined but did not get another look-in. Is now off-contract but is highly unlikely to remain at the Eels.
20. BRYCE CARTWRIGHT
Position: Second-rower
Games: 10
Wins: 7
Key stat: Average 36 running metres per game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
Another senior player who has spent more time in reserve grade than in the top grade. Would be free to leave the Eels if he can find a shot elsewhere but is likely running out of chances. Did not start a match all season and is now at the crossroads in his career.
19. JAKOB ARTHUR
Position: Halfback
Games: 12
Wins: 6
Key stat: Average 36 minutes per game
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
Has been a fill-in player for the Eels and largely spent time off the interchange bench. Has copped some unfair criticism from his own fans. Started in the halves in four matches for two wins and two losses. Was bench cover and spent some time at dummy half. May need to move on for a permanent starting spot.
18. BAILEY SIMONSSON
Position: Winger
Games: 20
Wins: 12
Key stat: Scored just three tries.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024, player option
Came to the club with expectation he would star given his strong performances for the Raiders. Started the year OK but fell out of favour late in the season and eventually lost his spot in the top grade. Struggled to find the tryline and did not make a dent with the football. Will need a strong off-season to turn his fortunes around.
17. NATHAN BROWN
Position: Lock
Games: 14
Wins: 8
Key stat: Started just eight games
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
The former NSW player had an unhappy season. Struggled in the pre-season after multiple off-season surgeries and never found his groove. Spent time playing reserve grade and has been given permission from the Eels to find a new club for next season. Shown in the grand final he still has something to give.
16. WAQA BLAKE
Position: Winger
Games: 22
Wins: 15
Key stat: Has played 12 games on the wing and only seven
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
Blake started the season on the left wing, had a stint at left centre and then finished the season on the right wing. The 27-year-old has struggled at times under the high ball and in defence, but still proves a handful when running the ball. He is off contract at the end of next season so the upcoming year will be crucial for his future.
15. TOM OPACIC
Position: Centre
Games: 18
Wins: 12
Key stat: Averaged more than 60 metres and 12 tackles a game
Contract status:Headed to Super League next season
Opacic has been a reliable presence for the Eels when called upon by coach Brad Arthur. A solid defender, he is bound for Super League next season after playing more than 30 games with the Eels over a two-year period. His solidity will be missed.
14. MAIKA SIVO
Position: Winger
Games: 16
Wins: 10
Key stat: Averaging nearly a try a game since his return from injury
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
The devastating Sivo started the season slowly as he recovered from a knee injury. He made his return in round 14 and has managed to keep up his cracking pace of scoring tries, hitting double figures again this season. Remains a cult figure among Eels fans.
13. MAKAHESI MAKATOA
Position: Prop
Games: 24
Wins: 17
Key stat: Tackle efficiency of more than 95 per cent this season
Contract status: Signed until end of 2024
Mankato has been a regular for the Eels this season, a significant upgrade on the five games he played the year before. A late bloomer at the age of 29, Mankato has averaged more than 60 metres off the interchange bench and provided plenty of impact.
12. OREGON KAUFUSI
Position: Prop
Games: 27
Wins: 18
Key stat: Averaged more than 18 tackles a game despite averaging less than 40 minutes
Contract status:Signed with Cronulla next season on a three-year deal.
Kaufusi has been a regular contributor to the Eels this season, making the vast majority of his appearances off the interchange bench. He has averaged close to 90 metres a game and provided solid impact when he has entered the fray.
11. WILL PENISINI
Position: Centre
Games: 28
Wins: 18
Key stat: Busted more than 60 tackles this season
Contract status: Signed until end of 2023
The 20-year-old centre has reinforced his reputation as one of the game’s rising stars with an outstanding season. Penisini has been a fixture in the side and scored eight tries. He has also made seven line breaks and been a solid defender, holding his own against some of the elite centres in the NRL. A future Origin player.
10. MARATA NIUKORE
Position: Second-rower
Games: 19
Wins: 12
Key stat: Averaged more than 80 metres a game, often off interchange bench
Contract status: Signed with Warriors from next season on four year deal
Niukore’s final season as an Eel has been lukewarm. He has played plenty of games but hasn’t had the impact that prompted the Warriors to sign him to a long-term deal on big money. Has only scored one try and contributed one line break, injury slowing him at times.
9. REED MAHONEY
Position: Hooker
Games: 28
Wins: 18
Key stat: Leads Eels in possessions and penalties conceded
Contract status:Signed with Bulldogs from next year on a three-year deal
Mahoney has been a mainstay of the Eels side in his final season at the club. He has contributed heavily to their success as well, scoring eight tries and contributing six try assists and seven line break assists. At his best, he is a quality hooker who is on the verge of State of Origin honours.
8. RYAN MATTERSON
Position: Second-rower, lock
Games: 23
Wins: 15
Key stat: More than 40 offloads.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Gave the Eels a genuine point of difference in 2022 with his ability to promote the football with an offload, ballplay at the line or out muscle the defensive line (40 tackle busts). Rolled between the bench, back row and lock in 2022, but with Papali’i likely to join the Tigers, he may just find a permanent home on the edge in 2023.
7. JUNIOR PAULO
Position: Prop
Games: 26
Wins: 17
Key stat: More than 120 metres per-game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2026
Like RCG, Paulo was crucial for laying the platform for the likes of Brown and Moses to dominate. One of the top five props in the game, Paulo was guilty of looking to ball-play during matches this year, which took away from his damaging straight and hard power game.
6. REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD
Position: Prop
Games: 28
Wins: 18
Key stat: Led from the front with more than 130 metres per-game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2025
Mainstay of the Eels pack, RCG will walk away from 2022 with fond memories of his individual output at club level and a strong response from his mid-year axing from the NSW Origin team. Finished with career high stats in metres gained and less than two missed tackles per-game.
5. ISAIAH PAPALI’I
Position: Second-rower
Games: 28
Wins: 18
Key stat: More than 80 tackle busts - the most of any Eels player.
Contract status: Signed with Wests Tigers
No wonder Parramatta fans are desperate to see the hard-running backrower backflip on his deal with the Wests Tigers. Papali’i was superb in 2022, hitting double-figures for tries, tackle busts, offloads and line-break assists. If he does go to the Tigers, the Eels are going to feel the impact of his absence in 2023.
4. CLINT GUTHERSON
Position: Fullback
Games: 28
Wins: 18
Key stat: 127 run metres per-game.
Contract status: Signed until end of 2025
The co-captain continued to stamp his leadership on the Eels in 2022. Not the most devastating of fullbacks in the NRL, compared to James Tedesco or Latrell Mitchell, but certainly Gutherson boasts as much determination. Saved the Eels time and again this year with a string of clutch plays.
3. MITCHELL MOSES
Position: Halfback
Games: 26
Wins: 17
Key stat: Almost 30 try assists - more than double anyone in the Eels.
Contract status:Signed until end of 2024, player option
Without doubt the key to Parramatta’s 2022 season. The influence of Moses was there for all to see in week one of the finals. The Eels led 8-7 when the five-eighth was stretchered from the field. They finished the game soundly beaten. The Eels have a massive few months ahead to work out how and if they extend their playmaker long-term.
2. DYLAN BROWN
Position: Five-eighth
Games: 28
Wins: 18
Key stat: Almost 80 tackle busts and 20 try assists
Contract status:Signed until end of 2023
The most influential season of his four year NRL career, Brown took his game to another level in 2022 - which he needed to. The pressure was on Brown ahead of the season to develop his attacking game and run threat. The sign of a top-class player is in his response and Brown did that.
1. SHAUN LANE
Position: Second-rower
Games: 26
Wins: 16
Key stat: Over 11 try assists, more than 50 tackle busts and 110 metres per-game.
Contract status:Signed until end of 2026
Lane was nothing short of outstanding for the Eels, proving to be an incredible buy by delivering weekly performances that embarrass his highly-paid rivals in the same position. His size, mobility and ball-skills to routinely provide for his support runners made him a genuine threat to the opposition every time he carried the footy. Was duly crowned the club’s player of the year.
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