I became a rugby league tragic in 2009. Although I follow Penrith and did back then too, the games I remember most that year were the those featuring the Parramatta Eels.
Led by an enigmatic Jarryd Hayne, some of their play defied belief, and the miracle run to the finals was one you couldn’t help but get swept up in.
When the biggest game of the season rolled around, the Eels started slow and fell at the final hurdle to the Melbourne Storm.
I can’t imagine the feeling months later when it was revealed the Storm were an illegal team; to be a fan with them all the way and on the cusp of a truly remarkable chapter written in rugby league and to be robbed by a club systematically cheating the cap.
Players, coaches, administrators, sponsors – they all change. The fans, though, at the back of their mind will never really be over it. Instead of being the premiers of 2009 they have waited more than 30 years to add to their trophy cabinet.
They would be burnt too after letting an opportunity to dent the Storm’s aspirations this year slip last weekend.
If I’m an Eels fan first of all, I want to make the big day, and if they do, I would want to be playing the Storm. The emotion of getting the chance to set things right in a sense is too big to ignore.
The media have all but handed the trophy to Melbourne. They have undoubtedly been the best side all year. They will farewell at least one superstar before the end of the season.
League fans love an underdog story. New South Wales fans would love just for once a Queenslander not getting the fairytale ending.
Parramatta have to beat the Cowboys first and the Roosters after that, and those are no givens. The Storm have to beat either the Broncos or Panthers.
There are stories to play out yet, and rugby league is never predictable. It was easy to support the Sharks last season when it came to their finals charge. This wasn’t anything to do with the team or the players. It was the fans who had loyally supported for up to 50 years for no premiership.
Of the teams left now, the Eels are a team that are easy to get behind for the same reason. A win against the Cowboys tonight will put them just a baby step towards redemption and a long awaited premiership.
Mondo
Guest
Weren't the Storm stripped of two premierships and three minor premierships? Should they win on the 1st of October, I think that they might have replaced the lot.
Nayfo
Guest
Nek Minnit
The Barry
Roar Guru
Im not sure the narrative for the Eels is one of redemption. But they were pretty compelling in that 09 run. They played the Dogs in the GF qualifier. The Eels forwards offloaded pretty much every tackle of every set. The Dogs defensive line went up and back twice as much as they normally would. The game was still pretty close but by about 10 minutes into the second half the Dogs were dead on their feet, absolutely exhausted. Didnt the Eels get pumped by the Dragons in round 26 and then came out in the first semi and blew the Drags away in the 1 v 8 semi? Hayne scored a try where he beat about 10 men. Good footy.
peeeko
Guest
Parra cant claim that title, they finished 8th and were lucky to be in the GF. take out Melbourne and they still could of lost the GF
peeeko
Guest
nope, they were caught red handed
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but one of the past three was the Cowboys, so obviously it's Queensland getting everything all the time.
Emcie
Roar Guru
"New South Wales fans would love just for once a Queenslander not getting the fairytale ending". But Souths and Cronulla claimed two out of the last three fairytail endings...
Peter Phelps
Guest
In their own way, Melbourne are also seeking a redemption of a sorts. All those players & back room staff & fans that had no knowledge of the salary cap scandal will still be feeling the pain of stripped premierships and it will take a few more trophies in the cabinet to wipe out that bitter memory. It just goes to show that in this sport, every fan has his own tale of woe that can only be expunged by success on the big day. Good luck to whoever makes the final and may the best team win!
Chris
Roar Pro
Unless I'm mistaken, the Eels cost themselves a chance for the title last year, when they were stripped 12 competition points and a chance at the finals for doing the same thing as the Storm did. Pots calling kettles black and the Eels wanting revenge on cheaters grants them a lot less favor in many people's eyes. The Storm just cheated better.
Brian
Guest
storm illegal team? like all the others who were doing the same thing unhindered. lol.