Parramatta Eels greatest XVII

Today I continue my series by naming the Parramatta Eels’ all-time greatest team.

1. Jarryd Hayne
12 caps for Australia, 20 for NSW

Jarryd Hayne was the ultimate game-breaker, and the most complete player ever seen – he had speed, strength, agility, aerial ability, could break tackles at will, throw 35-metre-no-look spiral passes, a booming kicking game, and was amazing in defence.

Hayne probably had the best run of form ever in 2009, wining seven consecutive man of the match awards to take a mediocre team from third last to the grand final, only to lose to the Melbourne Storm (later stripped of the title due to the salary cap scandal).

Hayne is rarely mentioned in the discussion for being an all-time great as he had a dreadful team around him for majority of his career – look at who Greg Inglis and Billy Slater had as teammates compared to Hayne. Hayne’s best teammates were the backend years of Nathan Hindmarsh and an inconsistent Chris Sandow.

When he was with good players around him Hayne excelled. He won the Blues player of the series three times, twice from the wing. He won the 2013 Rugby League World Cup with Australia, was the tournament’s leading try-scorer and was named players’ player, all from the centres – a position he rarely played.

His finest moment was 2014 State of Origin Game 1 at Suncorp, where he scored and set up a try, saved numerous tries, and made breaks at will as the Blues pulled off an unlikely win.

Now he is on the verge of history by making the San Francisco 49ers’ NFL roster.

The greatest athlete and most all-round player to ever play.

2. Ken Thornett
12 caps for Australia, 3 for NSW

The ‘Mayor of Parramatta’ had to be here, even though he was a fullback. Thornett possessed the safest pair of hands, was a great ball runner, and his positional play saved many tries. He carried the Eels in the 70s and even has a grandstand named after him at Parramatta Stadium.

3. Mick Cronin
33 caps for Australia, 6 for NSW

A point-scoring machine, Cronin was picked for Australia while playing for Gerringong. Cronin was a great support player with a great football IQ, and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Cronin added class and polish to the great Eels backline of the ’80s.

4. Steve Ella
4 caps for Australia, 7 for NSW

‘The Zipzip Man’ was a freakishly gifted centre whose career was plagued by injuries. Ella was explosive off the mark and always posed a threat with the ball in his hands. Often overshadowed by stars in his backline, he was still a star in his own right.

5. Eric Grothe
8 caps for Australia, 9 for NSW

Grothe was a new breed of winger who could run over anyone, yet also had amazing balance and electric speed, making him one of the most feared players ever. The try he scored in a semi-final against the Bulldogs, beating eight players, shows why he is the greatest winger ever.

6. Brett Kenny
17 caps for Australia, 17 for NSW

Kenny was a freak of nature, he had blistering pace, cat-like reflexes, a great step and a better dummy, and was a tough defender. He is like a Blake Austin and Benji Marshall lovechild on steroids.
He scored two tries in three consecutive grand finals, showing his big-game ability, and beat Wally Lewis for the five-eighth spot in Australia sides before later playing centre to accommodate both.

With an 8-4 record over King Wally in Origin, Kenny is the best five-eighth to play for NSW, and some may argue he was better than Wally.

7. Peter Sterling
18 caps for Australia, 13 for NSW

Sterlo was the leader of the greatest backline ever assembled. He had a flawless kicking game, was a terrific ball player, strong in defence and a brilliant tactician. Sterling seemed to be one step ahead of everyone and made the most of the players around him.

He left hole in Parramatta that still isn’t close to filled. He is the second best halfback ever, just behind Andrew Johns.

8. Nathan Cayless
39 caps for NZ

Cayless was captain of Parramatta at a young age and has the record for more most games as captain, and made many metres and offloads.

9. Steve Edge
1 cap for NSW

Edge was the Eels’ captain for their three straight premierships. A leader on and off the field, his toughness and grit made him great.

10. Bob O’Reilly
16 caps for Australia, 9 for NSW

‘The Bear’ was a bruising prop, and his bone-crushing hits won him many rep jerseys.

11. Nathan Hindmarsh
23 caps for Australia, 17 for NSW

Quick and with a great offload, it’s easy to forget Hindmarsh was a great attacking player, but it was his brick-wall defence that made him one of the best in his position in the world.

Hindy was an 80-minute workhorse and tackling machine – the first player in history to make 10,000 tackles. Hindmarsh always chased down opposition players, even when they appeared to have scored.

12. Jason Smith
15 caps for Australia, 16 for Queensland

Smith was an old-school, gritty player who looked like the local guy at the pub but played like a star. Smith was strong, mobile and blessed with ball skills of a half. As good as any in the world, his career was overshadowed by off-field incidents and injures.

13. Ray Price
22 caps for Australia, 8 for NSW

The dual-international was one of the most courageous, tough players ever. They didn’t call him ‘Mr Perpetual Motion’ for no reason, as drove his body to a level of exhaustion every time he stepped out in the field. A fine ball-runner, he scored many tries and added steel to a small Eels pack.

Bench
Dick Thornett, Fui Fui Moi Moi, Dean Pay, Ray Higgs

The Parramatta Eels team of the 1980s had the greatest back line and halves pairing ever. Add the ultimate game breaker in Jarryd Hayne and this Eels backline is phenomenal.

Sterling’s amazing kicking game would lead the Eels around the park, while his partner in crime Kenny would rip defences up with his pace and step. Steve Ella’s pace and agility would be a contest threat, while Cronin and Grothe make a seriously dangerous left side.

Hayne’s ability to break the line and ball-playing abilities would set teammates up at will.

In the forwards Cayless and O’Reilly offer a great platform. Add Moi Moi, who was the most powerful runners of the ball, and Dean Pay off the bench and this Eels team has no shortage of fire power.

Price and Hindmarsh are cut from the same cloth – 80-minute workhorses and tackling machines who make the Eels’ defence impenetrable.

This team is amazing. They have a fullback, centre, winger, lock, halfback and five-eighth who are top-five all-time in their positions. Are they the best all-time team ever?