Optimists may suggest Parramatta's 14th-place finish in 2011 was a case of missed opportunities instead of yet another annus horribilis.
It was a season punctuated by three golden point defeats with eight of the team's 17 losses coming by a margin of six points or fewer, as the Eels comfortably missed out on the finals.
However, it would be remiss to think bad luck played a big part in such a dismal season, and coach Stephen Kearney is fully aware crucial errors and the inability to keep possession were the key factors.
The former Kiwi international also understands that another season without reaching the finals would place him under massive pressure from a board not shy in showing the door to under-achieving coaches.
Despite being rated as one of the best young minds in the game, the 39-year-old knows his honeymoon period is definitely over.
"It's a results business, and like every coach there's pressure to succeed," Kearney told AAP.
The Eels only avoided last year's wooden spoon with a 32-12 win over the Gold Coast in the final round of the season.
One positive light in a poor year was the blooding of several young guns.
Prop Mitchell Allgood, centres Ryan Morgan and Jacob Loko, lock Pat O'Halon and winger Ken Sio all made their debuts last year.
The development of youth allowed Kearney to offload 16 players including the ageing Carl Webb, Chris Walker and Chris Hicks.
Halves Jeff Robson and Daniel Mortimer were allowed to join Sydney Roosters and Cronulla respectively and replaced by Chris Sandow and Ben Roberts from South Sydney and Canterbury.
Sandow is the club's highest-profile signing along with Queensland and Australia centre Willie Tonga who rejoins the club where he began his career.
Tonga's younger brother Esi has also signed with utility Taulima Tautai and prop Jon Mannah returning to the club from spells at Cronulla.
The arrival of Roberts gives the Eels an experienced five-eighth.
Although the former New Zealand international struggled for game time in his final year with the Bulldogs, Kearney is confident he'll prove to be a shrewd acquisition.
"He's a good player, who lost his way a little bit last year. He can do a good job for us."
NZN