The Cumberland Throw

Instant Reaction – Eels secure massive deal for state of the art centre of excellence

 

On the balance of things the Eels are travelling relatively well in the NRL this season, even considering the shellacking they copped at the hands of the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night. Off the field however, the storied Western Sydney club is making franchise altering moves as they build on the incredible success of Bankwest Stadium with the ultimate follow-up play by securing approximately $40-million dollars of funding for a centre of excellence located in Kellyville.

The 5000m² property will house facilities for both the Eels and the local community including a high-performance centre and and a professional-calibre playing field with a grandstand capable of seating roughly 1000 supporters.

Funding for the game-changing infrastructure for the Eels is expected to be split between their own private capital alongside significant grants from Hills Council, the NSW government and the federal government – the latter of which has secured bipartisan support…an absolutely massive outcome considering this weekend’s election.

The quality of Parramatta’s training facilities has long languished before the front-runners in the NRL while their Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Jersey Flegg have been bereft of a true home to call their own for a long, long time. Not to mention that the Eels will be fielding their own Canterbury Cup team moving forwards and they will need a home field.

For the Eels, a club that has struggled to generate TPAs to match NRL heavyweights, this could be a tipping point in future negotiations with high profile free agents. Once the Centre of Excellence is completed it means the Eels will have every bit of auxiliary stability required to build a consistent contender – the remainder will be on the coaches and playing group.

Today is a very good day, Eels fans.

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15 thoughts on “Instant Reaction – Eels secure massive deal for state of the art centre of excellence

  1. Colin Hussey

    Its been a while in coming, and great to see, hope I live long enough to see it finished.

    This announcement putting aside any aspects of the politics with the election coming up, and the aspect it does have cross party support begins another era for our club, my hope also is that this headline event will squash the other rubbish headlines.

    Well done eels and all involved in it.

    1. John Eel

      LOL Colin that is a bit morbid. You will get to see it along with all the benefits it provides the club.

      It is a huge bit of news for the club. Well done to Bernie and all those at the club involved in putting this game changing proposal together.

      It is hard to describe the effect that this facility will have on future recruitment, retention and most importantly on field performance.

  2. John Eel

    During the off season there were some posts that made me wonder if Sixties had a bit more information on this than he let on.

    I don’t mean that as a criticism just an observation. I think that I am learning to read some of Sixties clues.

    1. Colin Hussey

      John, I agree with you re some of the hidden hints from Sixties its what makes this site so great.

      I guess my top post may have seemed a bit morbid but it was not intended that way, and I guess by making what I thought was a poking shot at some of the other garbage may have been noted.

      After the game on Sunday and its results, this news has to be the best yet for the year, dare I suggest it surpasses the new stadiums opening, and really adds heaps to that event as well. Rather than good news its great.

  3. Shelley

    Wonderful news. How refreshing to have highly competent professionals on our board who get real things, game changing things done.

    If this is what the Telegraph and Fox NRL calls unprofessional, uneducated and irresponsible management and board members then bring on more I say.

    1. Longfin Eel

      I think you could say the same about the Tele and Fox though Shelley! Seriously, these “journalists” are making themselves more irrevelant by the day.

      1. Shelley

        Fox nrl shows and the Tele are agenda driven rubbish. I will not watch NRL 360, have not watched since that rubbish about BA loosing the player group last year. They are annoyed because they can not control Parra anymore. It is actually amusing for me because they are so desperate for leaks from the club but can not get them. Whenever the club wants news out they go to SMH or NRL.com. It is driving the news journalists ( gossip writers) crazy and I love it.

        The only annoying thing is how many Parra supporters listen to what the Tele says. Although the way Gutho’s contract has been handled by the Tele has helped many wake up to them.

        I love our new professional board.

        1. Colin Hussey

          Shelley, spot on and what I have been saying elsewhere, this is media driven as has been against the eels for ages. I do not watch any of these NRL shows anymore, even the ones on free to air as I don’t have pay tv.

          The way this management at the eels are showing now. the eels are no longer the media whipping posts for over paying players and being controlled by those who do not have the club at heart.

        2. Anonymous

          We have pay TV for the sole purpose of watching NRL, we record NRL 360 and then just fast forward the parts of no interest. The agenda of the “journos” have been driven by player agents, and specifically Gutherson’s Manager in his contract negotiations. Last night they admitted that they had spoken to his Manager who as yet knew nothing of the negotiation deadline being put in place by Parra. The vitriol expressed by Paul Crawley and the one-sided picture he paints of the negotiation process is appalling and something I have contacted Fox about, namely the lack of objectivity in their reporting.

  4. Brindmarsh

    Is someone here able to elaborate on exactly a Centre of Excellence is? Am I wrong in assuming that it’s more or less a state of the art training facility?

    1. Forty20

      As you said, cutting edge training and recovery facilities. Also a centralised home for all our junior and reserve grade teams. It becomes the focal point for everything outside of game day for first grade.

      1. sixties

        Brindmarsh, I toured the Penrith facility with Parrathruandthru and it was an eye opener. All admin there. Massive gym. Kitchen and dining area. Two huge dressing rooms – one for NRL, one for lower grades. Spas, Meeting room like a lecture theatre. Rooms for coaches and other staff. Treatment areas. Work stations for video reviews. Recreation room. Two footy fields. I reckon if you organised a group you’d get a tour if you asked (in the off season). You might have to pretend to be Panthers fans.John Farragher took our tour. What a champion, what an ambassador for their club.
        The Eels new centre is planned to cater for more of the community and will include a field (with stand) for junior reps and probably lower grades. It will be an amazing facility.

        1. Colin Hussey

          Its been a while coming and what a perfect time to announce it with the other distractions going on. Signing news today that BA has been extended as well for 2 years.

  5. Longfin Eel

    I like how this asset will benefit the community, not just elite players. This will help build the Parramatta Eels brand into a community minded organisation rather than just a money making NRL club. Sounds like it is still a way off in it’s complete state, but at least the wheels are finally in motion. Parra will have the very best of everything with this, the stadium, and the upgrades to the Leagues Club, and this stretches Eels heartland well into the Hills district and North West.

    Now we just need some game day buses from the Hills District to Bankwest…

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