On Friday morning, it finally hit me. This year, for the first time since 2009, the Parramatta Eels will be playing finals football.
What’s more, after their 52-34 win over the Broncos on Thursday night, the Eels find themselves sitting in the top four. Should they finish there, it will be for the first time since 2005.
If my maths is correct, the highest the Eels can finish is second and the lowest is fifth.
It’s hard for me to put into words how much it means to me to see my team feature come September. The magic run in 2009 seems so long ago, and as an Eels fan, I’ve had to endure plenty both on and off the field since, including player movement, several coaches and some really appalling rugby league.
Heading into this year’s finals series, Melbourne are the benchmark. After the Storm posted their 19th win of the season, against the Rabbitohs last week, the question now being asked is not ‘who will feature in the grand final’ but, ‘who will play the Storm in the grand final?’
Plenty of teams have been thrown around. The Brisbane Broncos. The Sydney Roosters. The Cronulla Sharks. Even the Penrith Panthers on their day.
But over the last couple of weeks, the Eels have suddenly been mentioned as contenders, particularly with some of their more significant wins, such as the victory over Brisbane. Not only do many think that Parra have a genuine chance of playing deep into September, but it seems like they have plenty of support from the rugby league community.
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How do I feel about that? Fantastic. The more the merrier – there is plenty of room on the bandwagon. But I must admit, this support has surprised me given what happened with the Eels last year.
I remember the fallout from the salary-cap scandals featuring the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Melbourne Storm several years ago. In the case of the Storm, it took years for people to begin forgiving them for what happened during those years.
But Parramatta, it seems different somehow. As the Eels have gone from strength to strength both on and off the field, I’ve heard very few references to the salary cap breaches which landed the club in so much hot water last year.
Why are the Eels different from the Storm and the Bulldogs? Why aren’t Parra experiencing the same sense of ill-will?
Is it pity? The Storm breached the salary cap and won the 2007 and 2009 premierships, as well as the 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premierships. In contrast, during the years the Eels breached the cap they did not play finals football once (and even collected two wooden spoons for their troubles).
Is it because Parramatta have been genuinely unsuccessful for such a long time? When they make the finals this year, they will break what is the longest streak in the NRL for a club not having featured in September. The Eels also hold another unwanted record – they are the club with the most number of years between now and the last time they won a premiership.
I wasn’t even alive the last time Parra won the premiership, which was in 1986. Is it possible that rugby league fans pity us so much that they would be genuinely happy to see us finally succeed?
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Is it because during those years the Eels were poorly managed? In sharp contrast to the Storm, who are the benchmark when it comes to discipline on and off the field, it’s clear that incompetence was a major reason Parramatta found themselves in so much trouble last year.
Factions. Infighting. A divided board. All these things have characterised the Eels’ management over the last decade and contributed to a club that was brought to its knees last year.
It’s almost unbelievable that Parramatta were over the salary cap by offering contracts to players like Carl Webb and Chris Walker.
Additionally, despite playing for little more than pride last year, the Eels showed a sense of resilience and togetherness which I found inspirational. There was no arrogance or attempt to convince the rugby league community that the club had not done anything wrong. There was acceptance and then a real willingness to move on.
Whatever the reason, I’m grateful to see so much support for my team heading into the finals. Because for Eels fans this is a genuinely exciting time and I would encourage other rugby league fans to share in this joy.
And while I’m not convinced Parramatta are contenders this year, I head into September knowing that success for our club looked like playing finals football this year. Anything more is an absolute bonus.
ac
Guest
I hope the EELS so well. The NRL needs something to spark up the Wests and its not the GWS Giants! Come on Matta's do it for the West and lets get the fans back supporting NRL. I can remember being at the SC in the early 70's when the Parra chant went up in the Sheridan stand and the old girl rocked and maybe Moved. Was thrilling, and exciting to be part of it. I wasnt a Parra Supporter but went along.
realist
Guest
Not the point mate..........no great loss in the players you mentioned! However a club that cheated the system as badly as they did well you will never get support from me. Just my opinion! Just like the Sharks last year.....drug cheats yet darlings of the NRL.
Tim
Guest
You may have wasted your money in buying Kane Evans from the Roosters. Always looks awkward when he runs. Who knows, playing a full 80mins might unleash the beast within.
Tim
Guest
All in jest dear girl but point taken. Hopefully, both teams will fall on their semis-sword early. The Storm are the only deserved winners this year & the trophy. However, it's not over until ....
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Don't take it to heart Mary , it's just a poem .
Grunta
Guest
FFS we're talking footy here and footy players, not alter boys and church lol. Go you Eels!
Grunta
Guest
Lol Kenny Edwards is great. Still laughing from when the eels scored vs dogs last year and he grabbed Hoppa and jumped up and down hugging him in celebration. Hoppa had just played his first couple of games at the dogs after leaving the eels! Funny stuff. There should be more characters like him in the game and let's not forget his DV conviction was for splashing some water on his gf. You get worse when you dive into a pool.
Grunta
Guest
Let's not forget it was Storm who beat Parra in the GF in 2009, by 7 points only to be found of being 1.3m over the salary cap. Geez it would be nice to get some revenge by beating them this year. Most won't agree, but I honestly believe if there is a team that can stick it to the Storm in the GF, it is Parra. Now, we just need to get there and it appears that we will play storm first week of finals. Go you Eels!
db
Guest
BigJ, do you want Parra, the Tigers and Bulldogs on the bottom of the table so that the thirteen teams you support have a better chance of winning the competition.
db
Guest
Come on, you know you want the Roosters to go all the way this year.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Thanks Mary but the Raiders got what they deserved and they know it. And supporters have been adjusting to the disappointment throughout the season. Hope it gives the players a good kick up the bum and they have a good hard look at themselves over the off season. Interesting to hear what Ricky had to say on NRL 360 last night. He admitted he was too much of a nice guy earlier in the season protecting his players when they had some close losses. Must admit I would have preferred if he'd given them a good spray - Craig Bellamy style. And if the Raiders are to improve the halves need to expand their kicking game and learn how to kick a field goal.
bob johnson
Guest
The reason is fairly simple: the Eels are a NSW team. As soon as a NSW team is able to reach the top 4 or put on a string of wins, the NSW media and RL fans from NSW enter a frenzy, where they will usually overhype one team's prospects. On the case of sympathising with the Eels rather than Bulldogs or Storm for the same offense (cap cheating), compare it like this: The Storm and Bulldogs attempt to rob a bank: they succeed. Eels try the same thing but fail. Same action, different result.
John
Guest
I think the circumstances surrounding how the Eels documented in their minutes how they were going to cheat the cap coupled with 2 spoons just made the situation seem so comical from a non-Eels supporter that it was easier to have a laugh at them rather than be angry.
Richard Powell
Guest
It's sympathy because Parra's admin has been a basket case for so long and now they've turned it around 360 degrees. The culture was changed last year when they were playing for nothing and it has improved with sheer determination and toughness this year and Brad Arthur can take the credit. Sure they've had some hiccups which have steeled them to succeed further. I'm not an Eels supporter and I do hope they do well.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
They got the biggest fine in NRL history and yet it was a slap on the wrist? How was the Eels rorting worse than the dogs & storm? It was significantly less than both those clubs. You're OK with the Titans admitting their guilt (on similar issues & size to the Eels) and getting off scott free? The Broncos said "we've sacked our CEO so you can't talk to him" so they got off scott free. Their roster this year is way under the cap (as it was last year).
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sorry BigJC. I really am.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
..."there’s a clear advantage to be had post cap breach by assembling an illegal squad then picking and choosing which players you cut to get back under the cap" How is that an advantage? Every team can do this every year? In fact that is exactly what the bulldogs & raiders are doing right now that they are currently "over the cap" for 2018. The only difference for the Eels was they were not allowed to renegotiate player contracts to get under the cap whereas the dogs & storm were. Parra had to cut Peats & Paulo. In fact Parra were under the cap in 2016 but had their unapproved/secret TPA's from previous years added to their 2016 spending so the NRL could justify docking points in 2016.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks Dan... couldn't have said it better myself.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I think that's harsh but we can agree to disagree.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Welcome aboard.... very sorry about the Raiders.