After supporting the mighty Parramatta Eels for 50 years, I’ve tucked away a rich catalog of favourite matches in the old memory bank. Four premiership winning years and an unbelievable run in 2009 feature strongly in my list of top 10. However, on the basis of resilience and just pure guts in the face of adversity, tonight’s 20 to 12 victory over the Bulldogs will now find its place in that list. Right at this moment, my chest is truly swelling with pride as an Eels supporter.
Let’s consider the following circumstances. The Eels went into this match with a couple of last minute changes. Tepai Moeroa and Kieran Foran were both late withdrawals for a team which had just lost to the Cowboys under controversial circumstances. The media, mainstream and social, have done nothing but hammer the Eels Club and players with rumour and innuendo. The coaching and playing staff are not immune to it. It’s in their faces every day of the week. Yet somehow Arthur has been able to maintain discipline and focus for these players.
The Eels enjoy a great team spirit.
A pre match reshuffle of Taka to five eighth and Toutai to centre was compounded by the misfortunes encountered during the match. Mannah’s comeback was short lived and he didn’t last the first half. Gordon was also gone by half time. By the time Wicks left the field and was replaced early in the second half, there was not a single player left available on the bench. Competing against a brutal Bulldogs defence was going to be an enormous challenge
Talk about rising to the occasion! With a patched up backline that saw Gutherson moved to fullback, Toutai to wing, Manu Ma’u to centre, and Taka to five eighth, it seemed inevitable that the Bulldogs three-quarters would have a field day. Incredibly, the setbacks looked as if they actually steeled the Eels resolve.
This is where I felt proudest – both of the players and the fans.
How good does wining feel?
The players found another level to get to. Forget the tries – even Gutho’s great four pointer. This match was won by a resolute defence and superior game management. With next to no relief from the bench, the Eels defence left the Bulldogs without any answers. Canterbury seemed almost devoid of any initiative. They were shut out of the game by a defence that refused to surrender to fatigue. Time and again my attention was drawn to the Eels players rushing to get back in the line, ready for the next tackle. Norman seemed to know just the right time to kick into touch to allow for both a completed set and a well earned rest.
What a new found resilience this team possesses! Yet, certainly on my side of the stadium, the fans were lifting just when the boys needed them the most. The people jumping to their feet to applaud forced turnovers, big hit ups, or crunching tackles were also exhaulting the other members in the crowd to join in the Parra chant. What an atmosphere they helped to create!
Finally, if there’s anyone who thinks that we don’t have the next great coach at the helm of our club, you’d best think again. Brad Arthur has developed a squad that gives everything that they have. Sure, they’re far from infallible. However, this bloke is not only a great coach, he’s a great friend, mentor and visionary. BA has managed this roster in the face of a media bashing and other extraordinary circumstances. How proud he must have felt tonight!
The Eels hold one trophy already this year. Who knows what lies ahead!
So, with this match locked away in my memory bank, how many of you will do the same? Stand proud fellow fans. This match was one for the ages.
Go you mighty Eels! Go you good things?
Sixties
images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels and The NRL.
100% mate.
I’ve never been prouder to be a blue and gold fan as what I was tonight with the boys performance.
Very proud of the lads
Agree, up there with one of the best. Such a tough win….there were a lot of busted bodies out there last night. Prior years would have seen us get lapped in such circumstances. This looks like a tight knit group of men that turn up for each other each and defining our team culture for years to come. Proud to be an Eel.
Playing busted is part of that resilience that BA has instilled. Great match. Great team.
Well said Sixties and we certainly have a spirited time to follow this year. Thanks again to you and the rest of the TCT team for your reports as although they are on topics dear to your hearts they do involve a substantial time commitment which I for one am so pleased you all do. Cheers and keep up the good work.
Thanks mate. It’s been great to meet blokes such as yourself at training. TCT is a labour of love for our team.
Great read Sixties, I think you have perfectly captured how we all felt about last nights Eels.
The effort was so inspiring mate. It was an easy write up!
60’s I can’t remember other greater games than this one, ‘cept of course the trophy years, the first one I was at but got crook & couldn’t enjoy it the way I should have.
Last night was a nerve tingling game from beginning to end, the horrors I felt when Tautai was named, & after the ball kicked out by De Gois after the final whistle/penalty turned to the Hoorahs, (my 1eyeed thread) I woke this morning & read pretty well all the reports, & all were upbeat about the eels, grit, determination, played for each other, the team, tight knit group, & for their captain Keiran Ryan. Even BA was able to crack a smile.
In the dogs box, their coach was in the main stationary rather the agitated man we are used to, at the end he just stood there & looked over the ground, what was his emotion/feelings at that time? I think he could be proud of his team, although they seem to lack something, even the 9 commentators said about that, Gould even before the game had wonderment in that regard also. I fancy Des had a feeling of pride in his side despite the loss, will be looking at his press conference comments, but I think he saw in the Eels a toughness & resilience that’s going to be hard to beat this year, no matter what is thrown at them.
The first early try & I thought Oh no! here we go again with a bare right side. Thankfully though once the 2nd half started it was a tough, almost brutal game of attrition. I have not read any report about the game that fails to mention the off field drama either, guess they can’t let go, but mostly they said it in a way that shows those drama’s are off the paddock & the players have risen above it.
No matter what, the way the fans responded last night as the eels fought back to be winners, is what is needed at every remaining game this year, no matter the table & those against us.
Colin, the key is that the times where we used to go “oh no” have been replaced by the big efforts in the face of adversity. We can thank BA for that.
It was a great gutsy win sixties and as you say mental “resilience” was terrific.
But in the top 10 efforts of your life time? Settle down …
Ah Jim, that’s a personal thing. It’s in my top ten favourite Eels efforts.
Beating the dirty Dogs is always special but the GF qualifier in 2009 was better.
I tend to agree sixties. A game for the ages for a variety of reasons. It had the resilience of 1975 mixed in with the success of 1981. Baring NRL interference (points) I think we will win the comp.
Mate, you understand better than most the effort that these blokes put in and how tight they are. Something special exists in this group.
BA s rhinos team played today against last years premiers cabra ,down6.0 half ime won 8.6 in the last 10 seconds showing same attitude as eels ,no surrender
Might be a good series of articles from you guys – top 10 Eels performances of all time. I’ll throw in week 1 of the 2009 semis v Dragons. (and a special mention to Lee Oudenryn beating Chariots in the race before we beat the Lions at Parra in 92. Not a game I know but geez that was a fun night).
Sounds like a great suggestion – I’ll second that!
Even when things are hard in your own life, you look to the team you have loved since you were born to fill the void. This team means so much to me and whatever happened to them this year it will be disappointing but these current results help so muxh
Great perspective Parrafan. When you have loved following a team, they become part of your identity. Perhaps that goes further to explain the pride that you take, as a fan, from the team’s performance. Perhaps it’s that reason for the team making you feel better when other things in your life make you feel down.
That was a fantastic effort by the team, definitely up there in the top 10 for me.
I still think the win over Manly last year was in my top 5 of all time. That was an awesome match and we didn’t have the marquee type players we have now.
The win against Brisbane two years ago in the first few rounds is up there for me too. Our line speed, led by Peats was outstanding and we punished them and suffocated them out of the game. The intensity and speed remained for the full 80 minutes.
I think we may just see a few more games from the boys this year that even surpass this one?
Let’s hope so.
GO YOU EELS!