This is Part 4 of my series speaking with fans from all NRL teams to see what it’s really like to support their team. This week, the Parramatta Eels.
They were a powerhouse of the 1980s, a decade that produced four grand final wins, and legends like Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny and Ray Price.
Many expected the premierships to just keep coming. Then… nothing.
Board-room dramas. Retention issues. A coach surrounded by doubt. A team who can’t finish off the job.
And behind it all, the loyal blue and gold army. A fan-base with a lot of frustration and heartbreak, but never-ending hope.
I spoke with two of those loyal fans, Andrew and Matt, to get their thoughts on their beloved Parramatta Eels.
I began with the obvious, why they just can’t seem to win a grand final.
“It’s a combination of things,” Andrew began.
“We have had too much infighting at board level over the years, which creates instability, and an inability to identify and hold onto local talent.
“We have been much more consistent over the last few seasons but haven’t performed in the big games.”
Matt added: “I have come back to this question many times, and I still cannot give a definitive answer. I guess we will just keep taking the abuse until we hold up the trophy.”
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
I asked what the best and worst things were about being an Eels fan. Matt’s worst was obvious.
“Not winning a premiership since 1986. Best thing, it’s going to be a massive celebration when we do win! Also, the rivalry of the ’80s with the Bulldogs still keeps me proud of the club.”
Andrew added: “[The best thing is] being part of a huge army of passionate fans and knowing that no matter what happens, we will all be there supporting them again next season.
“The worst is never being confident in the big games and watching local talent being allowed to leave and flourish elsewhere.”
With many headlines surrounding the board, recruitment and retention, I was interested to get their thoughts. Andrew went first.
“We have made many mistakes over the years and the infighting has really hurt us. I believe we are moving in the right direction, but still need the ex-players more involved with the club.
“We just need everyone working towards the same goals and not trying to make personal gains.
“In terms of Reed Mahoney, I’m very disappointed. Mahoney is a good influence on the field, strong defender and yet to reach his prime. Add to that of course letting Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore go.”
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Matt feels the same.
“Since the board was replaced in 2016 it has been a difficult rebuild. I believe that the recruitment process needs to be looked at as we don’t seem to be able to retain a lot of our juniors that have talent. We get them to the club, build them up and then they go.
“Losing Reed Mahoney is a big loss. He was getting better and growing in confidence until his injury. I think the NRL needs to look at how they manage players and clubs in the way they negotiate but critically, when they can start their negotiations.”
In the semi-final against the Panthers, there was an incident with the Penrith trainer that stopped Parramatta’s momentum.
Graham Annesley also admitted after the game that there should have been a penalty given when Jarome Luai pulled Mitch Moses back, and the Eels ended up losing by two.
I asked if the guys thought they were robbed or if Penrith were too good on the night. Matt responded quickly.
“We were robbed. Penrith are a great team, but every club is always trying to get the extra edge and pushing the boundaries of the rules in every game.
“I don’t think it would have been a direct order from Ivan Cleary, but I do believe that it was a deliberate act from the Panthers that paid off for them.”
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
“That call definitely stopped our momentum,” added Andrew.
“There was no immediate danger to the player. It set us back, but I believe if we had taken some earlier chances, we would have been ahead at that stage anyway.
“With the Moses incident, he clearly pulled him back, but they are the calls that sometimes don’t go your way. I think we went away from what was working for us early in the game and became too predictable”.
I asked if Clint Gutherson is as good as he is made out to be.
“YES!” Matt exclaimed.
“The enthusiasm he plays with is 100 per cent and his attitude and respect for the football is amazing.
“I do think that his maturity lets him down with his leadership amongst the team, you can’t expect the other players to aspire to what you ask of them if you cannot deliver the message with strength and confidence.”
Andrew agreed.
“The ‘King’ is the heart of the team. He never stops trying and expects a high level of effort from the other players.
“He plays a major role in our attack and organises our defence. I think he is our best player and is still getting better. I’m unsure on the different hairstyles he comes up with, but we need him if we are going to win”.
(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After checking off the captain, I wanted to see if they thought Brad Arthur was the right coach for the club.
“Yes,” Matt said confidently.
“He has basically rebuilt the club since he was appointed in 2014 and knows that it’s all about the long term, and now he has another two years to prove it.
“BA will be the Craig Bellamy of Parramatta.”
Andrew agreed but knows he has work to do.
“I think BA is the right coach and he bleeds blue and gold. He has done a good job and provided a level of consistency we haven’t had for a while.
“However, I think he needs to show over the next two seasons that we can make the step to join the top-shelf teams.”
Eels head coach Brad Arthur (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
I asked who their favourite Eels players were, past and present. Andrew’s was Luke Burt.
“He wasn’t the fastest or biggest, but he played hard every game and could find the try line.
“Currently, it’s Junior Paulo. He is so skilful for a big man, has a big engine and always takes the big runs off their line.”
Matt agreed with Paulo.
“He is an absolute workhorse and is finding his feet as a senior leader at the club. Hopefully they can hold onto him with a contract extension.
“Past favourite was Nathan Hindmarsh. He had a great never-give-up attitude.”
I asked their thoughts on Parramatta joining the NRLW next season.
“Love it,” Matt said.
“Great to have Dean Widders back at the club as the coach. The women are fearless and sometimes go harder than the men.
Andrew added: “I think it is a no brainer. I can’t believe it has taken this long, given the junior nursery the Eels have.
“The clubs, along with the NRL, need to put some more effort into getting a sustainable competition up and running, as well as investing in a pathways system for all the juniors. The standard of the competition so far has been great, and the State of Origin was amazing.”
And finally, if the guys could say anything to their team, what would it be?
Matt was straight and direct.
“Stay focused, believe in yourselves and the coach.”
Andrew had a bit more to say.
“2022 is the year of the Eels, the fans are behind you and it’s time to release the pressure. We have shown over the past few seasons that we can match it with the best, and we will have a very settled squad for 2022.
“I would also say to Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown that they need to take the line on more often.”
Every year is going to be their year, and then it’s not.
But as Andrew and Matt have confirmed today, despite any dramas the club may be facing, the Parramatta Eels fans just love their club, and will never stop believing that the next premiership is just around the corner.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
maybe Parra can employ Brian Waldron, Matt Hanson & Paul Gregory (ex Storm) so they can get a dream team together to make a run for the 2022 GF
Faisal Ajiz
Guest
Hi Dwanye Denis Fitzgerald became secretary in November 1978 and by that time Parramatta have played in 4 consecutive finals including consecutive grand finals in 1976 and 1977. From 1976 to 1982 they won 7 consecutive club championships. I heard Denis Fitzgerald was not keen on Jack Gibson as coach but was overruled by the board at the time. Denis Fitzgerald was a good leagues club administrator but recruitment and talent identification is not his area. It was Terry Fearnley who built Parramatta’s golden decade from 1975 to 1986 with Jack Gibson and Ron Massey putting the finishing touches.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I'll take your word for it about Gutherson. From media reports (which is all I can go off) the Eels have mucked Gutho around two contract extensions in a row now. As the club captain and one of the team's key players that is never a wise move as it can have wider repercussions among the team in terms of morale and club loyalty. Honestly, if the same thing was happening at the Rabbitohs I would be concerned. I can understand the club's position with Adam Reynolds but I have always said that was a mistake but at least the club were consistent in only extending Cody Walker's contract for another 12 months. That could come back to bite them in the backside if Cody decides to reunite with Bennett in Redcliffe. I think the Eels had to be a lot smarter about protecting their spine and their key forwards like RCG (done) and Junior Paulo (still up in the air).
Tom G
Roar Rookie
That gets back to their coach and recruitment people. It’s laughable how many great Parramatta juniors have left their system. When Arthur arrived he seemed hell bent in buying Manly players who were either second string or badly busted.
David Thummler
Guest
I enjoy reading your articles Danielle. Fans are the heart and soul of rugby league and rarely get to have a say, so more power to you! It is very interesting to read how other passionate fans read the game. Penrith fans would have something to say about incidents in that semi that went against them. Just a suggestion but you might like to think about interviewing the captains as a series
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
GB, I thought it was bad enough the catch cry of us Parra fans is "yeah, but next year", without a Bunnies fan adding "nah, not even the year after". As for "hemorrhaging" players, talk about talking it up. Mahoney is a big loss, yes. Papali'i, based on his 2021 (only, not on the form he brought to the club from his previous years in FG), a big loss, yes, but I think we were right not trying to match/get close to the $600k p.a medium/long term deal. Good luck to him and the Tigers (sincerely) but I don't think it was worth the risk. I'm not really concerned about Niukore. That's it thus far. Paulo worries me, but I think he'll stay, and if Matterson wants to go, then he can go. As for the "circus" around Gutho's contract, the reality is that wasn't even a storm in a tea cup, not even a low pressure system in a thimble, that was all media. Gutho wants the best possible deal, and fair call, as does Parra, and fair call. He was on good money (top end of fair), and he remains on good money (top end of fair). We could have lost him if someone was prepared to pay significant overs, he wanted to see if someone would, the media had its circus, and in the end he re-signed with Parra.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Faisal. I thought Denis become CEO after returning as a player in late 70’s. I would have guess he had had some say in clubs direction, appointing guys to run Sr and Jr teams, hiring Fernley, Gibson, Monie, keeping stars, bringing in talent. But I’m only guessing.
Faisal Ajiz
Guest
The people who was mostly responsible for Parramatta’s golden era were Norm Provan, Terry Fearnley, Jack Gibson and Ron Massey. Ray Price, Mick Cronin and Peter signed with Parramatta because of Terry Fearnley not Denis Fitzgerald.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"When have you ever heard me mention being a Roar guru?" You know you wore that imaginary title like a sheriff's badge when I first started posting on The ROAR with the Angry Eagle. You made it very clear that the opinions Rookie status contributors were of less value or importance than guru's. I used to lampoon you for it. Have you forgotten already? You always took this forum too seriously and ignored every attempt I made to lighten things up and make things fun and less combative. How many times have I said things like; "Let's agree to disagree", "if you don't like my comments then feel free to ignore them. I'll never know". I don't have to keep arguing the point like you do. How come you never discuss the positional changes or predictions I have made then if you don't agree with them?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Do you mean a colourful and exciting life like the time you pretended you could speak Latin… that sort of exciting…
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Clearly I was referring to the generation behind us in years. Are you splitting straws now?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Cool… I’ll ask Nathan Merritt when I see him. Next time you see Martin Offiah ask him about the time I beat him in a foot race in thongs… You haven’t backed up anything just more apocryphal tales from someone else’s biography… the problem with any of your stories is it’s impossible to sort the wheat from the chaff because you’re a self confessed, long standing liar When have you ever heard me mention being a Roar guru? You mention infinitely more than I ever have…I couldn’t care less The Roar is just a fun outlet where I get to talk footy with other people who love the game… except when you’re involved…
The Barry
Roar Guru
You didn’t say next generation you said generation behind him…
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"You're a loser", "you're a hypocrite", "you're a m0r0n", "you're pathetic", "you're a coward" How prosaic. Use some imagination and creativity and try to be original for goodness' sake. I was never that dull in high school and here you are, a middle-aged man sounding like a pubescent teenager. :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
If Gutherson had walked the Eels would have been in even deeper doo doo than they find themselves in currently.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Likewise, I also was in the same year at school with Kyle Turner's dad who even sent me a Facebook request once which I never replied to because I only used Facebook at the time to monitor the online activities of my teenage kids at the time. I also did play against Ian Roberts, Michael Andrews and others that I mentioned and I went to the same school as former Rabbitoh Darren Maroon who I often bumped into at clubs during the period. He was a year behind me and Nathan's dad. I can back up the things I have shared about myself, even singing at the Sydney Opera House on at least 3 occasions, performing at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for the Festival of Sydney in 1983/1984 and also at the Sydney Town Hall. You saying that you don't believe it is akin to saying you believe the Earth is flat... just saying it doesn't make it so. Face facts TB. I have led a colourful and exciting life and all you have is The ROAR. This is the pinnacle of your "success" which is why you fight so hard to keep it and why I never bothered to jump through hoops to progress up the ranks to "guru". It just doesn't mean that much to me.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"I don’t believe you knew either Merritt snr or Mundine snr " Mundine snr was already an adult at the time. Anthony Mundine never went to our high school but he lived in Redfern. He is about 10 years younger than Nathan's dad and I. Hence, me saying next generation. Try to pay attention. As for me not knowing Nathan's dad, well maybe you can ask Nathan Merritt that if you ever run into him. I spoke with Merritt after a game in Gosford (Souths vs Manly I think, Souths won) shortly before he got selected for Origin (another prediction of mine I shared with Nathan Merritt that night). When I spoke to Merritt I mentioned his father by his first name, the school we went to, his uncle's first name and the Redfern All Blacks where I played alongside Merritt's dad for 2 years.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"I don’t believe you knew either Merritt snr or Mundine snr " Mundine snr was already an adult at the time. Anthony Mundine never went to our high school but he lived in Redfern. He is about 10 years younger than Nathan's dad and I. Hence, me saying next generation. Try to pay attention. As for me not knowing Nathan's dad, well maybe you can ask Nathan Merritt that if you ever run into him. I spoke with Merritt after a game in Gosford (Souths vs Manly I think, Souths won) shortly before he got selected for Origin (another prediction of mine I shared with Nathan Merritt that night). When I spoke to Merritt I mentioned his father by his first name, the school we went to, his uncle's first name and the Redfern All Blacks where I played alongside Merritt's dad for 2 years.
Paul
Roar Guru
so he should have come off and stayed off. He did no-one any favours by playing injured.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
He did also have a broken back :thumbup: