Since 2018, the year Parra finished last and celebrated when they were only beaten by single figures, I have endeavoured to tell my stories and experiences sitting in the stands, watching our team play.
Like all of you, I am passionate about my Eels. I embrace the undeniable truth that I see the footy through Blue and Gold eyes.
Last Friday I joined hundreds of thousands of other Parra fans watching the action far away from the ground hoping that our boys would prevail.
Before the game I was extremely confident.
At 20-12 I was fearing the worst. The last 5 minutes seemed like an eternity.
As those final moments slowly ticked by, the scars from the past came flooding back.
In 1998, I was a teenager sitting in the stands almost directly behind Daryl Halligan as he kicked that sideline conversion that broke our collective hearts. Therefore, on Friday, when the Cowboys sent wave after wave of attack at the Eels line late in the game, I started to envisage similar heroics from Valentine Holmes in the dying seconds.
Who could blame me? When does Parra ever come from behind, away from home, then hold on in the last 15 minutes to win a high pressure game and win?
Obviously, the Parra teams from the not too distant past don’t do that, but this Parramatta team does.
And in all likelihood, the only people carrying the scars from yesteryear are us, the fans.
This season they have come from behind going into the last 15 minutes against both the Storm and Panthers away from home and managed to win. This Eels team can win from in front with the CommBank Stadium crowd behind them, and they can fight back from behind in a hostile environment and with key stats indicating a loss.
So going into this Grand Final week I have decided to embrace those memories from the past. In my mind it is an essential part of who we are. As a fan base we are this passionate because we know how hard victory is and we know nothing is guaranteed.
I rewatched the game on Saturday so that I could see what moment I wanted to write about. Screaming at the TV during the game makes it a little hard to remember moments in isolation.
In the 70th minute we had a very precarious 4 point lead. The Cowboys had the ball in our red zone and shifted wide.
Clint Gutherson
Holmes cut back on the inside and beat a few exhausted players. But, despite his agile footwork he was tackled a few metres from the try line, brought down by our Co-Captains. Junior and the King led the way when it was needed the most That moment summed up why I love our current team, no matter the result on the field.
Clint Gutherson worked himself to a standstill last Friday. That he was everywhere, giving his all for this team and club, should surprise no one. After all, Gutho is a bloke who has experienced many heartbreaks and setbacks in his career, and every time he has got back up
After arriving at Parra as a young man in 2016, a year that would become our lowest point, Gutho soon gave us something to cheer about.
Being handed co-captaincy in 2018 would not have been a stroll in the park, but after coming back from his second ACL injury, he navigated the team through a disastrous season and came out the other side better as a player and captain. Of course he’d be involved in bringing down Holmes.
Junior Paulo
And what about Junior! A big prop could be excused for not being able to bring down a fast outside back like Holmes, but he found a way. Junior is Parra through and through. So many young players in our club and so many supporters gravitate towards Junior because his story and experiences resonate with them.
Junior may have departed for a stretch in the nation’s capital back in 2016, but BA knew the young father needed time away. Importantly, no bridges were burnt making his return an easy process.
Since our two captains reunited in 2019 this team has not been outside the 8 in any week. How appropriate that they should unite for that key moment in stopping Holmes. I would love to hear what moment stood out for you.
And so to the big game this week.
In the recent past, Parra’s participation in a grand final was but a dream. Hello reality.
It will be a very tough game against an extremely talented team but we are ready. No one needs to tell a Parra supporter that victory is never guaranteed, but we are in this game with a red hot chance.
After our game on Friday night my very concerned son asked me if we had any chance to get tickets. When I told him that we had purchased tickets when they went on sale and that we would be there with our extended family, the look on his face was priceless.
So thank you to our players for giving their all and making huge sacrifices to get to grand final day. And on behalf of the tens of thousands of Eels supporters at Accor Stadium including my son, and on behalf of the hundreds of thousands if not millions watching the broadcast, thank you for providing us with the opportunity to be fully invested on Grand Final day.
All of us at the stadium will be cheering loudly for our boys, knowing that we represent the countless supporters who can’t be there. There will be traditional grand final barbecues held around the country, attended by generational Eels supporters yelling at the TV and reminding the referee of the rules as we see them through our Blue and Gold eyes.
At full time there will be tears. I have faith they will be tears of joy.
Bring on the Panthers. Bring on the nerves.
Enjoy grand final week.
May the best team win.
Shelley
Tears reading this, thanks for all your thoughts throughout the year. I admire your passion, and the way you can put it into words. Bring on Sunday. It’s time
Thanks for all your insights during the season Shelley. Just love your passion and descriptive writing skills..Brilliant.
It will be hard game, and I am looking forward to it…..but sad that it is the last game for three months.
For the winner, euphoria that lasts about an hour..for the loser, just disappointment that lasts about the same time.
The winner can look forward to its players being pursued by all the other Clubs, and having pressure put on them every game in 2023 as “defending Premiers”.
I just enjoy the skills these days. Love watching KING GUTHO and the energy he brings to the team…Never stops. Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses are terrific players too.
I am confident they will play well. Brad Arthur has them in a good frame of mind. Just hope the result doesn’t hinge on a controversial call (i.e unless, of course it goes Parra’s way.)
Obviously I want us to win but I want us to play our style, we need to create good offload opportunities. The Panthers rely so much on line speed in defence, offloads kill that. I hope we are brave enough to play our style.
As I said to my mate after the Canberra game, “Why can’t this be our year?” And You comment on embracing those memories is a wonderful approach. Let’s all do that and may we be embracing each other in tearful joy at full time on Sunday.
Why not indeed.
Tks Shelley, well said. There were probably 3 moments that caught my eye, when we slid in our red zone, each time I thought ‘we’re sliding to oblivion here’ but held our nerve and our formation and defended our line. Now how often have we seen that over recent seasons? From Darwin to Townsville we turned the last 10 minutes right around, this week it’s the last 20 minutes, from what I’m seeing it’s on the cards.
We need to get into the game, run well from dummy halve early to keep their defensive line accountable, do that and we are a huge chance.
I will be crying after this game either way. Hopefully at full time it will be tears of joy. Either way I’m proud of being an Eels supporter.
I love my Eels. I love opposition fans who are laughing at us just waiting for us to be defeated. I will take the risk at suffering defeat and being upset as opposed to missing the finals or dare I say ‘winning’ the spoon.
I was adamant that I would not go to the game if we made it. I went in 2001 and it still hurts. I stuck to my guns in 2009 and watched from home. But something last week changed my mind. Loosing will hurt no matter where I’m standing. But what if we win? Where do I want to be standing when we win? I knew I had to be there. I’m one of the lucky few who managed to get tickets. So I’ll be there (in enemy territory) with my flag and my Dad and we will also have tears at the final whistle. Either way, we will be there. Can. Not. Wait.
Have fun. My brother and me are lucky we purchased 3 family tickets all together over the phone when they came out at members prices, as we knew we could on sell should the Eels not make it with so many Sydney teams in the 8 at that time. Our tickets are literally next to the Eels supporter bays. Pure luck as I was dreading being next to the Panthers bays.
Even though we won by only 2 points in our game against Penrith, at Penrith earlier in the year it was a very convincing performance by our Eels. We are a much better team now. Our second half performance against the Cowboys was consummate and very Grand Final like. With 9 days rest the boys will be ready to go come Sunday. Glad to be the underdog but it is a 50:50 game as far as I am concerned.
Great idea to get tickets early Shelly. Wished I had but I will be sending as much positive energy as possible the teams way on Sunday. Go the Mighty Eels.
The fact that we did not panic and try miracle plays says a lot about the maturity in the team. I may dislike going to Penrith Park but as a league fan I must acknowledge the skill they have as a team. We can do it, but it will take good ball controlled with balanced off loads and brilliant kick chase.
Awesome Post Shelley
The last 5 minutes did seem like an enternity. The defensive effort on holmes sums up what Gutho and Junior are all about.
The whole pack though deserves praise for the defensive effort. I noticed they seemed in a relaxed trance like state in defence in those last few minutes. It was like they were one mind playing together, this trait only appears at the back of the year in top teams and it was evident in the body langauge.
The confidence in our systems and the Parra style of play is what will win us the GF.
Shelley, great insights as always. My nerves just increased 10-fold reading this. That is good. My confidence and nerves went up on the intensity meter each day over the past 2 weeks. I’m going to the ground nervous but confident.
Thanks Shelley. I’ve always enjoyed your perspective ‘from the stands’. Been a Parra fan for nearly six decades and got to say that the 2022 team edition is almost certainly the most inconsistent side that I can remember. But the passion never wavers. It’s a thrill to see both men and women battling for glory. Go Parra!