As their long-suffering fans are well aware, it’s been 30 years since Parramatta’s last premiership. But instead of wallowing in the year that was for Parramatta in the last days of 2016, the 30-year anniversary is an excuse to recall some of the legendary players involved in that last grand final win.
The grand final team that defeated Canterbury 4-2 in the tryless decider of the 13-team 1986 New South Wales Rugby League competition was as follows:
1. Paul Taylor (age 27, played on until 1989, before a final season with Penrith).
2. Mick Delroy (age 21, played for the Eels until 1988, before finishing with two seasons at Easts).
3. Mick Cronin (age 35, retired after the 1986 premiership win).
4. Steve Ella (age 26, played on until 1988).
5. Eric Grothe Sr (age 26, played on until 1989).
6. Brett Kenny (age 25, played on until 1993).
7. Peter Sterling (age 26, played on until 1992).
8. Ray Price (c) (age 33, retired after the 1986 premiership win).
9. John Muggleton (age 26, played on until 1989).
10. Mark Laurie (age 24, played on until 1992).
11. Terry Leabeater (age 26, played on until 1988).
12. Michael Moseley (age 26, played on until 1989).
13. Geoff Bugden (age 26, played on until 1989).
Reserves:
52. Peter Wynn (age 28, played on until 1990).
18. Tony Chalmers (age 22, played with the Eels until 1988, before finishing with two seasons at Balmain).
Coach: John Monie
The 1986 grand final team included seven players who were in all three of the club’s grand final-winning teams in 1981, 1982 and 1983 – Taylor, Cronin, Ella, Grothe, Kenny, Sterling and Price. There was no salary cap in that era to worry about.
It’s also amazing to think that this was the fifth (and ultimately last) grand final for Taylor, Ella, Grothe, Kenny and Sterling (and they were all only in their mid-20s).
There were also only two reserves in those days, and once you were replaced, that was the end of your match. Forward positions and reserves were also numbered differently back then, and sin bins and send offs were more regular occurrences. In the 1986 grand final, Canterbury fullback Phil Sigsworth was sent off late in the match, while rival props Geoff Bugden and Peter Kelly each spent time in the sin bin.
Brett Kenny had two tries disallowed, an amazing feat when you consider that he scored two tries in each Parramatta grand final win in 1981, 1982 and 1983.
Parramatta’s 1986 win prevented the Warren Ryan-coached Bulldogs from their own hat-trick of premierships, after they had won both the 1984 and 1985 competitions.
The 1986 premiership was also a fitting send off for Parramatta legends Mick Cronin and Ray Price, who both retired after the match. Peter Sterling won the Clive Churchill medal.
I wonder how much longer Parramatta fans will have to wait to break the 30-year drought?
Latte Kid
Guest
I don't understand how the Eels did not make the finals in '87, '88 or '89. Look at the ages of Ella, Grothe, Kenny, Sterling, Laurie, Muggleton, Leabeater, Mosely and Budgen. They should have had another 3 good years in them to challenge for a comp. Add Bob Lindner coming into the team in '87 and '88. I think they did have alot of injuries to key players in those times but one thing that has stood out is that their style of play did not adapt to a more mobile game in the forwards. I question John Monie and his coaching tactics on this. The forwards needed to be more mobile, fitter and run onto the ball from dummy half to hit the advantage line before the defence got there and not from behind the play the ball. I have watched some old games in those years and they had brought in some young players like Tony Cossatto, Brian Jackson, Michael Ericsson, Crnkovich, Delroy but it didn't work. You would see Muggleton, Laurie, Kenny in the centres and it would change week to week. Those 3 years were a missed opportunity in my view.
Spencer Kassimir
Roar Pro
Great article and thanks for the YouTube link. As a NY Jets fan, I can empathize but still, it is a bit sad to think the fall of the Berlin Wall is more recent than that of Parramatta's.
Rod
Guest
Sensational stuff, such a unique talent .
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
I can see the Eels waiting another 30 years!
andrew
Guest
I still have my Brett Kenny mask that they gave out to everyone in the crowd at his last ever game.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Sterling was the man in those teams. fantastic player. Second best player i've seen, behind Johns
Bonza
Roar Rookie
He was the man allright. Effortless running style. Great i/view here where he credits the Eels playing cricket slips catching with their outstanding hand eye co-ordination! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Rt42u4Bg4
BrainsTrust
Guest
If Parramatta had financial issues in 2009 and made the grand final what does its say about the management since then. The reason Parramatta would have gone from having financial issues to rich enough to cheating the cap is because of the introduction of the Western Sydney Wanderers who greatly increased their business at their leagues club. Even while the Eels were busy taking the money at ANZ , the Wanderers played every single game at Parramatta and lined the pockets of the Eels through the leagues club. The Wanderers were even stupid enough to play the ACL final at Parramatta, they could have made millions at ANZ, but chose instead to line the pockets of the Eels yet again. Storm were victims of their own success, because they won the value of their players kept going up so they had to break the cap to keep hold of some of them. Parramatta have operated in the reverse after cheating the cap they then devalued their players by performing badly. Now the Eels are being done even greater favours with being allowed now to expand their leagues club. while the local pool gets the heave-ho which will be in prime position now to pick up even more business on top of their regulars the Wanderers slaving away for them, with the new stadium there. The EEls could be richer than the rest of Sydneys other league clubs combined after the new stadium,.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The Nines title was stripped from them due to the Salary Cap. No Sympathy for the Devil.
Tails
Guest
Totally agree Rod, the best running ball player I've ever seen. If he could only kick the ball but with Stirling on the inside he didn't need too. Kenny was the only player to give Lewis any competition. The best 5/8 of that erea and of the last 30 years
John Coomer
Roar Guru
This YouTube clip has some great career highlights of Brett Kenny if you haven't ever seen it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vJu2UYx3x0
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I can watch these old games , knowing the result and still enjoy them more than a lot of live games .. Better footy with a bit of biff , the good old days.
Boz
Guest
Gee the footy was better back in the 80's. And I was 10 when the 86 Grand Final was played.
Rod
Guest
I think it was in the semi in 86 against the dogs and Kenny takes a ball whilst in motion and does an in and away and completely bamboozled Terry Lamb on the way to scoring a try.Kenny was an amazing player. Some of the the things he did was pure class on a football field. The most dynamic player I have seen.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Much like the Bulldogs in this day and age parra"s admin board have proven to be thier own worse enemy. Unfortunately they could get their finances right and cost them there only title in thirty years. What even worse for parra is the 2009 grand final. They lost only to find out that thier opposition breached the cap and was stripped of the title and two of thier best of the generation would never win a title in Hindsmarsh and Hayne. In prespective through fans of the bunnies and sharks and the Bulldogs had to wait a lot longer in thier wait between titles so thirty years is not that long, so Parra fans will have to be a little more patient. Maybe if they could stop stuffing up admin wise they would be fine.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Still fresh in my mind is when Parramatta would hammer some hapless B-graders, and Jack Gibson would come out afterward whining "The refs are so crap, god they are useless". Next week, Parra would dish out another hiding, Gibbo "Jeez, crappy refereeing today, I can't believe how bad they are. Here's a list of 102 errors they made" And so on.
Birdy
Guest
I must admit to supporting parra in those GF times. How could you not admire a backline like that. You would have to admit that backline could hold its own in any era. How could a coach in that era coach against Stirling, Kenny, Cronin. Then after the inside nightmare you've got Ella and Grothe not to mention Taylor. How unjust would it be if Cronin, Ella and Grothe played under todays salary cap where centers and wingers for the most part are the lowest paid in the team.
andrew
Guest
Muggleton missed the 83 grand final but was an under rated player. Suffered a few injuries, but as a full back turned into a versatile back rower who could kick goals though rarely called upon to do so playing most of his career with Cronin. I think he would have been an interesting player had he grown up in the current era. While Phil Sigsworth was sent off in the 86 Grand Final, how Andrew Farrer wasn't will always be a mystery. He decapitated the jockey like frame of Mick Delroy who's head almost landed on the touch judges boot - he was that close, yet some how Farrer played on.
Sammy
Guest
They started 2016 with a 9's title and were in great form up until the salary cap saga unfolded. I reckon they would have made the semi finals had they .... not lost premiership points for salary cap breach; retained Kieran Foran, Anthony Wagmough, Nathan Peats and Junior Paulo; kept Semi Radradra and Corey Norman out of trouble; lured Jarryd Jarryd Hayne back .... Oh well, things didn't go their way, now they'll be starting from scratch again.