Fans hanging on to history as modern Penrith greats dare question legacy of the 1980s Eels

Heading into a fourth consecutive grand final, Penrith have the chance to cement their spot as the greatest of modern teams with a third successive title.

Not since the Parramatta Eels’ dominance of the early 1980s, when the blue and golds raised the trophy across three seasons from 1981-83, has a team managed to string together a trio of premierships and Parramatta’s two-point loss against Canterbury in 1984 saw them so desperately close to a fourth on the trot.

They were the glory days of the Eels and aside from another grand final triumph in 1986, there has been nothing but pain since.

Three grand final losses, the most hurtful of which was in 2009 against a cheating Storm and three embarrassing wooden spoons have seen Parramatta become the butt of many a joke and sadly, perennial losers.

It was a point not missed by Parramatta great Nathan Hindmarsh during the week, citing the fact that a Panthers win will most likely steal away any remaining claims the Eels may have to being the best team since the Roosters of the mid-seventies and the Dragons of the 1950’s and 60’s.

“This is a difficult one because if Penrith win three in a row, it will match Parramatta’s efforts in the ’80s,” Hindmarsh said.

Like many a Parramatta fan, Hindmarsh hangs onto the glory days like a security blanket, having since both played and supported the club through the dark days spent at the bottom of the ladder, whilst daring to dream when the chance to exorcise demons came in grand final appearances.

For the 44-year-old 330-game legend of the club, the Eels of the early 80s have become something of a crutch for the Parramatta faithful.

Should the Panthers match their achievement on Sunday, it will be a hollow feeling for disheartened fans who could at least always look to the past and lay claim to having build one of the greatest premiership teams in rugby league history.

Nathan Hindmarsh is Parramatta royalty. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

With little suggesting much will be different in the short term future, Penrith could well win on Sunday and further extend the streak over the next few seasons. Another two premierships across the next five seasons would simply put them in a class of their own when it comes to modern football.

The matching of the Eels’ record reminds us just how generational players like Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o will be looked back upon in future years.

All current stars of the game, their premiership successes urge us to reflect on their status in comparison to those who played in that famous Parramatta team.

Whilst tough for some to accept, it is probably now fair to see Cleary as at least equal to Peter Sterling; both organising halves who control temp so well and make everyone around them better.

To’o may have the odd error in his game, yet the similarities to Parramatta’s Eric Grothe cannot be missed.

History will say that Izack Tago and Stephen Crichton were a centre pairing to rival that of Eel greats Steve Ella and Mick Cronin and whilst Luai cannot be bracketed with the sublime Brett Kenny at this stage of his career, his special qualities are fundamental to Penrith’s sustained success.

Jarome Luai is quickly becoming one of Penrith’s modern greats. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Parramatta lock Ray Price was a warrior like few others on rugby league field; a man who led and took responsibility for tasks others may have shirked. Whilst stylistically very different in his play, Yeo does the same, commanding the ball in the biggest of moments and leading inspirationally.

Captain in all three of Parramatta’s wins was Steve Edge, an unassuming professional at hooker who never once made the game about himself and did everything in his power to allow the brilliance around him to shine. That is also Mitch Kenny’s style, one of the gutsiest small men in the game.

Paul Taylor played in a similar vein at full-back for the Eels, desperate in defence and courageous under the high ball. However, having now matured as a footballer, clocking up astonishing numbers and in the best form of his career, Dylan Edwards will one day be reviewed as a player far more special and talented.

Parramatta enjoyed the presence of young tyro Peter Wynn in the squad for the second and third grand final wins during their run and there is something a little Liam Martin about him.

The willingness to sacrifice physically and subject his body to punishment for the good of the team was a hallmark of Wynn’s charging runs. In the modern game, none does that better than Martin.

Liam Martin is one of the most valuable and respected team mates in the game. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

There were bit part players like Steve Sharp and Chris Phelan in the Eels line-ups, just as Scott Sorensen and Luke Garner chip in when required for Penrith.

Up front, names like Bob O’Reilly, Stan Jurd and Geoff Bugden dented the defensive line for Parramatta, in much the same way that Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris have done for the team looking to create history this weekend.

Sometimes it is easy to glorify the past with memories of days of old and the quality of those who participated in the successes should never be underestimated.

However, we should also never discount what we have right before our very eyes in the modern day; a Penrith team that will go down as one of the greatest ever, potentially regardless of the result on Sunday.

Comparing eras is useless, yet having lived through both, I feel the Panthers of 2023 might just shade the Eels of 1981-83.