If being deserted by your supposed saviour was dirt, the Parramatta Eels would be six feet under at the moment. Which actually isn’t that far from the truth.

Fans must be looking to the west and wondering how the Panthers got it so right when they had gotten it so wrong.

As if Ricky Stuart walking out after 12 months wasn’t heartache enough for the Parramatta loyal, a year on and the favourite son abandons them.

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Jarryd Hayne is off to a bigger bowl to pursue bigger dreams. Whether he becomes a shark or gets turned into sushi remains to be seen. Either way he won’t return to Australia the same man, I’m not sure where an Eel tucks its tail when it wanders back in from the cold, but we may yet find out.

So Brad Arthur is left to contemplate exactly how to fill a mountain-sized hole on such short notice. Will Hopoate will surely need a second pair of socks to fill the boots left by Parramatta’s best ever player.

Outside of Hayne’s departure the Eels recruited reasonably. Anthony Watmough is a born leader and will add much needed experience to the forward pack. Richie Fa’aoso is another quality addition and will be hoping to spend a little less time in the sick bay this year.

All eyes will be on halfback Chris Sandow’s midsection and this may well be a good gauge for the Eels’ chances in 2015. If he can start the season in peak physical condition he has enough skills to take this team anywhere.

His halves partner, Corey Norman, is another player with skills so silky he could be in a Pantene ad. Unfortunately he is limited by having almost no vision. If he can learn to play without the blinkers he could be a superstar. Time will tell.

Brad Takairangi finished 2014 as one of the Titans’ best and will run out for the Eels this year after making a pit stop at Tiger town, where he was unceremoniously told he didn’t fit into Jason Taylor’s plans. Brad will find himself with some competition for starting spots with Vai Toutai and John Folau also looking to nail down a spot in the outside backs.



Folau, already a star of Youtube fame, will look to further step out from his older brother’s shadow this year and cement himself a spot in the Parramatta backs. The young centre is already an international, having been selected for Tonga in their match against Papua New Guinea last year.

Semi Radrada exploded onto the field at the end of the 2013 season and has been dynamite ever since, picking up the Dally M Winger of the year award in 2014 and securing a new four-year contract with the Eels. He will play a big part in any success the Eels see over the coming years.

Reece Robinson might grab the other wing spot if he can learn to catch and hold onto the ball. Lightning quick, I get the sense that this could be a break-out year for the player dumped from a struggling Raiders side.

Hopoate will be taking over the custodian role and if reports of his $800,000 per season contract are to be believed he deserves to be under pressure. Assuming he can get his fitness to where it needs to be he shouldn’t have too many issues. A quality outside back, Eels fans will need to avoid the temptation of comparing him to the departed Hayne. How their back three combine may go a long way to determining how life after Hayne unfolds.

The Eels have a quality pack with the introduction of Watmough and Fa’aoso and the re-signing of enforcers Manu Ma’u and Kenny Edwards.

David Gower was another re-signing and will be hoping to play a key role this year after what was probably the best season of his career in 2014.

Danny Wicks will be looking to resurrect his playing career after serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking. There has been almost no media attention on his signing compared to fellow orange overall enthusiast Russell Packer.

Darcy Lussick, Tim Mannah, Pauli Pauli as well as Joseph and Junior Paulo mean there is also decent depth to the forward rotation.



Nathan Peats and Isaac De Gois will be pushing each other in the pre-season with Peats likely to win out and become starting hooker in 2015. Young Kaysa Pritchard is another number 9 who may be given a chance if either or both of these two are injured.

Looking forward the Eels are favourites to sign champion Manly and New Zealand five-eighth Kieran Foran, which would be colossal. Foran is still young enough to build a team around and will no doubt be the buy of the decade for whichever team manages to nab his autograph.

The team looks good for 2015 however fans will be holding their breath, knowing the Eels have previously been very ordinary without star fullback Jarryd Hayne. Arthur will have to shift their entire game plan back to the halves and this move will be key to their chances in 2015.

Losses

Jarryd Hayne (NFL) Willie Tonga (Catalan Dragons) Ken Sio, Mitchell Allgood (Hull Kingston Rovers) Ben Smith (retired) Kelepi Tanginoa (Cowboys) Liam Foran (London Broncos) Lee Mossop (Wigan Warriors) Fuifui Moimoi (Leigh)

Additions

Anthony Watmough, Richie Fa’aoso (Sea Eagles) Brad Takairangi, Cody Nelson (Titans) Reece Robinson (Raiders)Danny Wicks (Glenn Innes All Stars) Beau Champion (Rabbitohs)) Ben Crooks (Hull FC) Shannan McPherson (Salford Red Devils)

2014 finish: 10th

2015 prediction: 13th