It is the 40-year anniversary nobody wants to talk about.
It has now been four decades since Parramatta last won a first grade rugby league title.
That famous 4-2 win over Canterbury sealed a golden era for the Eels, but very few would have predicted the long drought that was to come.
Before a ball was kicked in the 2026 NRL season, there was at least some hope that Parramatta would produce a solid campaign.
It was Jason Ryles’ second year at the club, more than enough time to have his feet under the desk.
The Eels had finished the 2025 season in 11th place and while it was not where anyone wanted to be, it marked an improvement from Brad Arthur’s shortened final year at the club in 2024, when they finished third last with just seven wins.
The fact the Eels went backwards this year spells trouble for a club so desperate to return to competing for trophies.
“I probably can’t question any of the effort and the fight we showed throughout the season, which is obviously really pleasing,” Ryles said as he reflected on the season following Parramatta’s last round loss to wooden spooners St George-Illawarra.
“With the injuries, we’ve been able to play a lot more of the younger players before they were ready and we learned a few things about a few of them.
“Some got up for it and some need a bit more work.
“Everyone gets injuries, just sometimes you get more than others and unfortunately we had that this year.”
The Eels are expected to be very active in the player market for 2028 when those off-contract at the end of next year start to become available.
As a stop-gap measure, they have brought Jarome Luai to the club in transit to Papua New Guinea.
He will line up alongside Mitchell Moses in the halves next season, with the duo hopeful that a quick partnership can form that will deliver results.
Parramatta have also added Dragons forward Jaydn Su’A to their squad next year, but it will be in 2028 when most of the player movement occurs.
The future of winger Josh Addo-Carr is also in doubt, with the club investigating reports he tested positive for cocaine during a roadside stop last week.
But the biggest changes ahead of the 2027 season will be off the field.
CEO Jim Sarantinos announced in August he was standing down, ending more than a decade in the top job.
“The Parramatta Eels belongs to the generations of people who have worn the Blue and Gold, filled the grandstands and passed their love of this Club on to those who follow – all connected by the badge. I have been fortunate to serve as one of the Club’s custodians for a period of that journey,” he said.
“I leave with enormous gratitude and a sense of pride, knowing the Club is stronger than when I arrived and well placed for the future.”
Ryles paid tribute to Sarantinos as a new era begins behind the scenes.
“He was heavy influentual in the changing of the governance of our club to get it to where it is today,” Ryles said.
“Financially he has left the place in a super position… to leverage us into the future.”
Ryles will likely be feeling the pressure heading into his third season at the club.
While Parramatts has traditionally given their coaches long runs and not acted abruptly in relation to changes, Ryles was brought to the club to deliver success.
Should the Eels miss the Finals again next year, or not deliver the promised recruitment results for 2028, pressure may start to build.
Ryles has brought in experienced NRL Assistant Coach Mark Russell to assist him next season.
Russell joins the Eels after more than a decade of coaching experience across elite rugby league pathways and high-performance programs, most recently with the Storm and Roosters.
“Mark is an experienced coach with a strong track record of success across several high-performing systems,” Ryles said.
“What stood out to me is his attention to detail, particularly on the defensive side of the game, and the way he genuinely cares for the people he coaches.”
Russell served as Head Coach of the Melbourne Storm’s Jersey Flegg Cup side, leading the team to the 2025 premiership.
Most recently he held key development roles as NSW Cup Head Coach and Senior Academy Coach, helping nurture emerging talent while contributing to successful high-performance environments.
He replaced Sam Moa, who departs the club.
It will be another long off-season for Parramatta Eels fans.
The Eels’ 2027 season will begin under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Fans will be hoping the glitz and glamour rubs off and the team can deliver a winning season.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.