Parramatta’s highly successful 2023 Junior Representative Program was wrapped up on Wednesday night with their Annual Presentation Event. The Cumberland Lounge at CommBank Stadium was the venue and it would be difficult to find a more appropriate location for young Eels aspirational players.

Taking the opportunity for creating more memories with team mates, many of the elite footballers stepped through the doors and out into the stadium for group photos.

Experienced presenter, author and Eels tragic Adam Hawse was the MC for the evening, with a number of NRL squad members who just happen to be local juniors including Mitch Moses, Junior Paulo, Will Penisini, Ryan Matterson, Haze Dunster, Toni Mataele, Sam Loizou, Matt Doorey and Sean Russell in attendance and handing out awards.

We’ve had the privilege of attending this event for the last three years, and a hallmark of the evening is how much the teams enjoy celebrating the individual awards of their mates.

Though there were times when Forty and I were predicting that it might be difficult to narrow down the field of contenders, we found ourselves nodding in agreement when the winners were announced.

The function concluded with a farewell to club legend Joey Grima. There was no prepared speech. Joey stood on stage and spoke from the heart about his love for the Blue and Gold, a love which has seen him spend 31 years at Parra. For evidence of the colours running through his veins, look no further than his wedding ceremony held on the halfway line at the old Parramatta Stadium.

 

Harold Matthews

 

Head coach – Chris Howard 

Assistant coach – Steve Gadhmar

Assistant coach – Charbel Khoury

Captain: Jezaiah Funa- Iuta

The Eels finished third in 2023 with six wins from their eight matches, scoring 186 points and conceding 112. They advanced to week 2 of the finals, losing to the Knights by just two points.

Award Recipients:

Coaches Award – Lachlan Coinakis

Players’ Player – Jezaiah Funa-Iuta

Best Back – Lorenzo Talataina

Best Forward – Tyson Sangalang

Best & Fairest – Jezaiah Funa-Iuta

 

Tarsha Gale

 

Head coach – Ryan Walker

Assistant coach – Charlotte Henry

Assistant coach – Ben James

Captains: Debbie Doueihi & Ashlee Pottinger

Parramatta finished the regular season in fifth place, winning four of their eight matches and drawing one. They bowed out in week 1 of the finals, losing to the Illawarra Steelers.

Award Recipients:

Coaches Award – Caitlin Peadon

Players’ Player – Lindsay Tui

Best Back – Debbie Doueihi

Best Forward – Ashlee Pottinger

Best & Fairest – Lindsay Tui

 

SG Ball

 

Head coach – Steve O’Dea

Assistant coach – Jordan Rankin

Assistant coach – Paul Coinakis

Captain: Charlie Guymer

Parra finished the regular season in 4th place, winning seven of their nine matches. It was a tight ladder, with the Eels finishing just one win behind the minor premiers, Canberra, whom they defeated in the semi-final.

The Eels took home the title, defeating the Knights 28-22 in the grand final.

Award Recipients:

Coaches Award – Matt Arthur

Players’ Player – Ethan Sanders

Best Back – Apa Twidle

Best Forward – Saxon Pryke

Best & Fairest – Ethan Sanders

 

Team Of The Year

 

1. Apa Twidle

2. Dom Farrugia

3. Lindsay Tui

4. Lachlan Vella

5. Mohammed Alameddine

6. Ethan Sanders

7. Lorenzo Talataina

8. Sam Tuivati

9. Matt Arthur

10. Saxon Pryke

11. Dom De Stradis

12. Jezaiah Funa-Iuta

13. Charlie Guymer

 

14. Lance Fualema

15. Makaah Darcy

16. Tyson Sangalang

17. Tallarra Bamblett

18. Devonte Vaivela

19. Debbie Doueihi

20. Lachlan Coinakis

21. Ashlee Pottinger

 

Denis Anderson Medal

 

Wayne Howell – Manager SG Ball Team

This was an extremely popular win, with the players across all teams bursting into applause when Wayne’s name was announced.

Our thanks to Eels media for the quality photos above. You can view a full gallery of images there. I’ve added a few photos taken by Forty and myself below. Please excuse the quality as they were mostly taken at a distance from our table.

 

 

Eels forever!

 

Sixties