Painful replays fuel Parramatta's Paulo

Junior Paulo reckons he sat alone and watched the replay of Parramatta's 2021 elimination-final loss to Penrith about 20 torturous times.

Even now the disappointment of the 8-6 result against the eventual premiers still hurts.

"But I guess you've got to relive that moment to move on," the NSW Origin prop said.

"It took a while to get over, but it became a massive learning curve for us and what it takes to win those big games."

The kind of passion that drives a man to continually relive and study an agonising defeat is presumably what convinced Eels coach Brad Arthur to install Paulo as co-captain this year.

Long-time skipper Clint Gutherson is happy to share the load with his good mate.

"He (Paulo) is a man of few words, but when he does talk, everyone listens - especially on the field," said Gutherson, who recently became a father.

Paulo and Gutherson are leading Parramatta into a pivotal season.

After falling in the finals for the past three campaigns, the club's quest to end a 36-year premiership drought will become harder in 2023 when Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali'i and Marata Niukore leave.

"The boys have touched on it with them departing," Paulo said.

"The boys know exactly the role and how committed they are in their last year.

"I think it's more us collectively knowing the possibilities of what we can do."

Mahoney has reiterated his loyalty to the Eels before he heads to Canterbury.

The star hooker, whose season was ended in round 21 last year due to a shoulder injury, is back in full training and ready for the trials after recovering from surgery.