Predicted Finish: 3rd
Actual Finish: 3rd
The Eels finished exactly where I expected. They were just outside the true elite of the competition but more than good enough to finish in the top four. They entered the season with heavy expectations and I'd say they delivered.
4. Season Grading
A
Despite exiting the finals without a win, and on the back of conceding two large scores, no one can see this season as anything short of a huge step forward for the blue and golds.
They had moments where they looked like a genuine title threat on the back of an extremely powerful forward pack, two clever halves, a fullback in season-best form and outside backs crossing for buckets of tries.
There were a few negatives, mainly the lack of try-scoring form of Blake Ferguson and the up and down form of halfback Mitchell Moses, but overall the Eels excelled almost everywhere.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard returned to his damaging best and formed one of the competition's elite prop combinations with the off-load king Junior Paulo. Ryan Matterson delivered on everything he promised, while Nathan Brown became one of the competition's best in the 13. Throw in the monster Shaun Lane and that's one of the game's elite packs.
Brad Arthur will be frustrated with the back to back losses in the finals but will see 2020 as a big stepping stone to future success. Both Reed Mahoney and Dylan Brown stepped up, with the latter especially looking a future megastar.
The Jennings news was a real negative at the wrong end of the season but we'll leave that for another day.
A brilliant season for a side heading in the right direction. Expect the Eels to be huge players again in 2021.
