I’ve been a Parramatta fan since I was about eight years old living on the Central Coast of NSW. I can’t remember what it was for or why, but I met a few Parramatta players.
I got a hat that day signed by Geoff Gerard and Peter Sterling, both who hadn’t played first grade at this stage.
Much to my Dragons supporting father’s chagrin, that was it, I was part of the Blue and Gold army.
A couple of years later I got to watch my team win three competitions in a row and dominate the 80s along with the Bulldogs – but the Bulldogs didn’t win three grades and the midweek knockout in one season.
I took the greatest pleasure at being able to join the Parramatta Leagues Club on my 18th birthday so I jumped on the train from the Central Coast to Parramatta, joined, walked in, had my first legal drink, jumped back on the train and came home again.
The 90s were testing. I didn’t understand why, but once the team lost the bulk of their grand final teams they fell to mediocrity and missed the finals for ten years. That slide only stopped when Super League gave the club easy access to players.
The biggest names were Jim Dymock, Dean Pay, Jarrod McCracken and Jason Smith who took us to plenty of finals – yes I was there when Paul Cariage killed us 1998 – and finally a grand final in 2001.
Parramatta were destined to win. Sadly Andrew Johns didn’t agree and tore Parramatta apart in the first half and the Knights held on in the second.
I got on board the Hayne plane in 2009 and made my way up to finals against Gold Coast and the Bulldogs and loved every minute of it. I was gutted when the Storm rolled us in the grand final, even more so that I wasn’t there.
As good as 2009 was on the field, it was the beginning of the end. There was a massive push to get rid of Denis Fitzgerald for reasons I’m still unclear about. It worked and that started the period of uncertainty and mismanagement.
The CEO, board and coaching positions became revolving doors and Parramatta have become fodder for media to stick the boot into for their ineptitude in creating an environment for the players on the field.
Since 2009 Parramatta has had five coaches – Brad Arthur, Ricky Stuart, Brad Arthur (caretaker), Stephen Kearney and Daniel Anderson.
The club has had six CEOs: John Boulous, Scott Seward, Ken Edwards, Matt Phelan (interim), Paul Osborne and Bob Bentley. There’s also been three chairman in Steve Sharp, Roy Spagnolo and Denis Fitzgerald.
Each CEO has knifed a coach or two appointed by the previous one.
Each coach has come in and swept the broom through players employed by the coach before him and this lead to the club paying for many players not playing for Parramatta anymore.
2013 was the last year I was a member of the club, I was dismayed at how the club was being run and feeling helpless to do anything about it. The smear campaigns between board tickets made federal elections look like pillow fights.
Last year after the incompetence and illegalities were brought to light, I was hopeful this would trigger a change in the right direction.
The news that there was a threat to starting season 2016 on -4 was terrible, the way the club handled Kieran Foran’s signature was disgusting.
All of a sudden, there was light at the end of the tunnel, the club signed Beau Scott, Michael Gordon and Michael Jennings before the season started and not losing the four points.
Awesome, there was genuine hope for the first time in a long time.
Parramatta won the Auckland Nines. Sure it’s the T20 of rugby league, but it was something.
Then it all started again, I don’t need to go through it all, but it was gut-wrenching for Parramatta supporters. All along the way the board were saying ‘nothing to worry about’, more and more news came out and the worse it looked the more the board were confident in their position.
Now the club has been gutted on and off the field, the same people whose job it was to ensure that the club was run properly has knifed every supporter in the back.
The NRL’s decision and findings hurt, the club is once again the laughing stock of the NRL, 0 points after a great start and a fire sale to get back under the cap. The board had the audacity to try and take the NRL to court to keep their jobs on technicalities not facts.
But the final straw for me was the club tapping Nathan Peats on the shoulder. A guy who’s given his all while playing in blue and gold and one of the positives from the last few years. Nathan was a critical piece of our success this year and would’ve been into the future.
Last night I packed my Parra jerseys up – all 12 of them that fit and the ten or so that don’t – collected all my Parra paraphernalia and chucked it in a moving box. I’m out, sorry Parra fans, I can’t do it anymore.
Attempting to defend the club’s administration now and previously was tough, I didn’t believe it myself when trying to defend the club.
I’ll stay an NRL fan and watch the games, but it won’t be with the passion of supporting a team.
Sorry Parramatta, it’s not me, it’s definitely you. We’re breaking up.
Matt
Guest
I've always hated the Eels, and will continue to do so. I now live on the other side of the world and my dedication to this hatred is as strong as ever. I would like to see the club fold. I am also sick of hearing about the great 80's. I was there. It was a long time ago. I think the dogs had a much better team, especially if you look at the Eels poor performances after 86. Now, what I can't understand is how the cheated and were still not competitive. If this has been going on for years the Eels poor performances are even more embarrassing. Shut the doors Parra. Just go away.
Bearfax
Guest
Well written The Chop and though we may throw brickbats at the Eels, they are a necessary part of the League in general in such a important centre of Sydney. I'm a Manly supporter and know something of the feelings you are going through with how club management handles the affairs of the team. You wonder sometimes how these people get into positions of power. They are certainly no way near as professional as the players and coaches. But what is happening to Parra at the moment is probably going to assist the club in future because it may just sweep out those who are bringing the club into so much chaos. Seemed to work for Melbourne. And I suspect in a year or so Parra will be back with a vengeance. Stick with them mate. After the clean up (and they must get rid of the crazy five) hopefully they'll get more competent people in charge and the club will rise from the ashes. They've got a good coach, and a sprinkling of fine talent. Just needs some common sense from Parra's management for a change..
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Wow! You quit smoking and have had to go through this whole salary cap thing at the same time? How are you even coping?
rayzaau
Roar Rookie
I smoked cigarettes for 30 years, i am now on day 95 without them. Cant say how much better I feel for it. I have supported my beloved Eels all of living memory, I cant give that up. Can't say how rotten i feel for this but if it in any small way drags us from 30 years of futility maybe this will all have been worth it.
jimmmy
Guest
Losing your team is the worst Epi you have my condolences. The pain never goes away.
Tom Rock
Expert
Go the Bears!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I definitely feel your pain and can empathise, but there is also a big part of me that wants to say "at least you still have a team!" You haven't had to watch your side merge with their arch enemies. Hear the media, referees and everyone else refer to your team as "Manly." You haven't had to sit by as your team gets relegated to NSW cup and every attempt to get promoted be thwarted at every turn. You haven't had to explain to teenage fans who love the game that your team did in fact exist because they've never even heard of them. You've got to watch your team in several Grand Finals, including some that they actually won. Sure, life as a Parra supporter is tough at the moment and has been for a long time, but the fact is it can always get better. The same cannot be said for many, many fans north of the Harbour Bridge.
Parrafan
Guest
I understand where you are coming from Chop. However my approach is to support the team and coaching staff. They have been immense in this time where the front office continues to disappoint. The sad reality of the Peats situation was that it was either let go of Peats, or let go of Norman to play for points this year. In a terrible situation I think we have made the right choice. I have a feeling once you turn the footy on at 8.00pm tonight and see the boys come out to play for each other, against all the adversity your heart will begin to race, your hands will start sweating and you'll fall back in love with this team. I know I will.
Birdy
Guest
Chop, I share your feelings , I only have to change parra for Balmain . I don't know why but I always look for reasons to dump them (wests) but never can. The great shame about clubs like Parramatta and Penrith is they have always had the junior base and the money to succeed . The frustration with desperate clubs like the Tigers , other than front office invompetence ,is that the NRL allowed back ended contracts which achieved nothing and almost forced the loss of another club, and still may. Hopefully one day clubs will be given cap concessions for developing their own juniors and having long term players on their books.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
I know plenty of long-term RL supporters who have done likewise. Most of it has actually coincided with the encroachment of the Video Referee into our game and the onerous changes to the rules. My advice is, go watch the NSW Cup - it's a fantastic competition, minus to KFC plug-in rubbish. Myself, I'm enjoying going to the local CRL comp every weekend, paying my $6 entry fee, drinking my $5 beers and watching passionate, grassroots & genuine RL.
jamesb
Guest
Stick with them mate. They'll come good. This might be the turning point for the club to turn things around. Look at South Sydney for inspiration. They were excluded from the comp, came back and later won the comp. Clubs can turn things around
teika tefatu
Guest
Once a Parra Eels fan, always a Parra Eels fan, through thick and thin.....
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Good piece Chop, keep the jerseys on stand-by once the front of house is in order. Brad Arthur and the playing group are not to blame. This will be a watershed moment for the club, one I do not support, but I admired as a kid marveling at the brilliance of Sterling, Grothe, Kenny, Ella & Co. led by the great man Jack Gibson. Could be worse Chop you could of been a Bears fan who now supports the Warriors. Chin up, I'm sure in time it will prove to be the catalyst for a golden period for the Eels, as long as the playing group sticks solid. The Peats decision was a shock, I'm not sure why they couldn't release Paulo to the Raiders early and shipped out some other fringe players.
steve b
Roar Guru
Chop I think a lot of us feel the same way , but mate its not the players fault they are the ones doing the hard yards and they need all the support they can get .As for the front office i have hated them since I was. a junior wearing the blue and gold so mate stick with the army F___k the front office .
pete bloor
Guest
An ethical one Chop but I do think you're jumping off at the wrong time. No team has gotten worse by engaging in this type of cap avoidance in fact the penalty that the NRL enforces almost ensures that the team is able to maintain whatever advantage it has gained. I'm more worried that having the 4th club avoid the regulations and get stronger will the first step along the road to super league 2.0
Brett McKay
Expert
Hard to ignore the obvious passion and angst, mate. Harder even, to argue with your stance..