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Confessions of an Eels fan: When a player you love to hate joins your team

8th September, 2014
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Filled with rage and four foot tall, Anthony Watmough could be a Looney Tunes character - maybe the Tasmanian Devil? (Photo by Charles Knight copyright © nrlphotos.com).
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8th September, 2014
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5341 Reads

Rugby league – it’s a game of drama. We all have our favourite team. We also have our rugby league heroes and our villains.

I am a proud Parramatta supporter, but still have many other favourite players from other teams. I admire talent like Johnathan Thurston’s. I admire new talent, like Aidan Guerra. I also admire a good head of hair, which is why I admire Aaron Woods.

However, as strongly as I feel for these players, there are also players in the NRL which I strongly dislike. This dislike stems from many reasons: because of their attitude, because I am jealous of their talent, or just because they play for a team like I love to hate.

One player that I have loved to hate over the last few years is Anthony Watmough. Anthony is a very talented player and a true competitor in our game. He is fierce, strong and determined but I know I have yelled ‘grub’ at the screen multiple times as he runs the ball up.

He also plays for Manly, the team that most of Sydney loves to hate and I am no exception to that rule. The Parramatta versus Manly is a rivalry which stretches back many years and they are one of the teams that I relish having a victory over.

So, you can imagine my surprise today when it was announced by the Parramatta Eels that Anthony Watmough had agreed to join Parramatta on a three-year deal from 2016.

Watmough could come over earlier if he is granted a release from the Sea Eagles.

Anthony has a strong relationship with our current coach, Brad Arthur, and on the back of what has been a purported falling out between Watmough and Daly Cherry Evans, it may come as no surprise that Watmough wanted out.

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I now find myself with a dilemma as one of my most disliked players comes to Parramatta, the club that I love.

I’m not sure how to feel.

Despite being quite critical of Watmough in the past, I am a fan that puts my club first and will undoubtedly welcome Watmough with open arms when he comes to my club. The minute Watmough puts on that blue and gold jersey, I am sure my feelings towards him will change and however begrudgingly, I will welcome him as a player at my club.

One of my criticism’s of Parramatta over the years has been one of the reasons that I have loved them. We are a team of genuine nice guys and as a result of men like Tim Mannah and Ben Smith leading the way, I have often wondered whether Parramatta show enough mongrel on the field. Anthony Watmough should change this – and quickly.

This is Parramatta’s version of Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin in the AFL – who has since become a Swans hero, showing how quickly feelings toward a player can change once they don your teams colours.

I’m very interested to hear some views on this one. Has a player you have actively disliked ever come to your club? How long has it taken you to fall in love with them?

Seeing Watmough in a blue and gold jersey is certainly going to take some getting used to.

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