After a surprisingly good 2019 season, expectations have risen for the Parramatta Eels in 2020. Most punters have them finishing the season in the top four, with some even have them winning the premiership. Their reasoning being that the Eels have the best side – at least on paper – heading into the 2020 NRL season.

The Eels spine is led by captain Clinton Gutherson who returned to form in 2019 after a shaky 2018 season when returning from injury. At five-eighth you have Dylan Brown who only broke into first grade last year yet ended the season a New Zealand International. Halfback Mitchell Moses finished 2019 as the Dally M Halfback of the Year and finally Reed Mahoney, who proved to be one of the game’s best defensive hookers and a serious contender for the Queensland Origin hooker role in 2020.

Reminder about our upcoming 2020 Blue & Gold Army Festival! A huge day planned with player autographs and photos, corporate and community activations, rides, fun activities and much more!

Details: https://t.co/MbeohF83GW #PARRAdise pic.twitter.com/IukcAZma2X

— Parramatta Eels (@TheParraEels) February 16, 2020

On the edges you have the 2019 NRL top try scorer Maika Sivo and New Souths Wales representative Blake Ferguson in the wing positions, with Tongan International Michael Jennings and Fijian International Waqa Blake inside them in the centre’s.

They also have an imposing forward pack which is to be spearheaded by new signing Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Samoan International Junior Paulo, New South Wales 18th man Ryan Matterson and Shaun Lane playing outside of them in the second-row with Prime Ministers XIII representative and Italian International Nathan Brown playing at lock.