New Year’s Eve is upon us as we reflect on the year just gone and what lies ahead.
On a personal level, 2023 was a bastard of a year for me. The Eels had their share of sadness too with a number of former players passing away. I hope the last 12 months was much better for all of you.
One thing for certain for all of us is that we didn’t get much joy out of the footy. Our Eels delivered an SG Ball title and regular round NRL victories over the Panthers. But if your team doesn’t play finals football after featuring in the 2022 grand final, it hasn’t been a year to write home about.
Nonetheless, despite the club that we love and dedicate ourselves to having minimal success, 2023 was another record setting year for The Cumberland Throw. More on that shortly.
For now, let’s get on with the final Bumpers Up for 2023.
The Tough Goodbyes
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve sadly lost a couple of former Eels in Carl Webb and Troy Dargan. They join Bobby Bugden, Tony Charlton, Alan Overton, Michael Collins and Matty Johnson as those that we’ve had to farewell in 2023.
To say that Carl and Troy passed way too soon goes without saying. Carl Webb bravely fought Motor Neurone Disease for a number of years. It’s a mongrel of a disease and we can only pray for research breakthroughs that might make it a battle that can be won in the future.
Troy Dargan in Eels colours
Troy’s passing from a motor cycle accident on Christmas Eve brought shock and distress to the rugby league world. TJ was a highly talented playmaker who at 26 was still chasing his rugby league dream after signing with the Raiders. He is being remembered as a caring young man who was passionate about his friends and family.
Some Good News
We came close to losing another Eel when premiership winning winger David Liddiard suffered a serious heart attack on Christmas Eve.
After feeling like he had indigestion, David heeded the advice of his wife and treated it as a potential heart attack. As it turned out, doing so saved his life.
David is one of our podcast favourites, having been a two time live guest at Parra Leagues. He is one of nature’s gentlemen, generous with his time, and always happy to help others. His work in the Indigenous community has been a hallmark of his post-footy career.
David Liddiard pictured talking to Forty during a TCT podcast at Parra Leagues
His near death is a warning to many of us about having heart checks. David is a non-smoker and keeps himself incredibly fit. He honestly looks like he could run out onto a footy field now. He seemed the least likely to be a candidate for a heart attack.
David’s had a couple of operations under his belt since being admitted to hospital and everyone here at The Cumberland Throw wishes him well in his recovery.
Penisini Injury
It’s yet to be officially reported by the Eels, but rumours of a serious knee injury (ACL) suffered by Richard Penisini look to have been confirmed via photos on his Instagram account.
The rising outside back had been set to challenge for a starting spot in the Eels NSW Cup team, with hopes of an NRL debut late in the season. He looked every bit the rising star during the preseason thus far.
Richie Penisini prepares to take a high ball during preseason training
Unfortunately an ACL injury will rule him out for the 2024 season. However, at only 18 years of age, there’s still a huge future ahead for him.
All the best in your rehab, Richie.
Pre-Season Mid Point Reached
After training through to December 21, the Eels NRL squad are taking a well earned two week break for Christmas and the New Year. Don’t forget, you can read about their final field session here.
It’s already been a preseason with a difference, with BA taking his charges on location to the Wanda Sandhills, and to mini camps at Wiseman’s Ferry and the Central Coast. Though challenges were put to the squad, these “excursions” were also about forging bonds within the group.
Those sand hills
Upon returning on January 8, the squad will be working towards the first of their scheduled trial matches.
When the preseason hits January, that’s usually when the competition for places really heats up. Full contact opposed work can be quite intense, with the hits as ferocious as an NRL match.
There are first grade places to be won at centre and on the interchange bench. Further than that, there are also battles to be won for spots in NSW Cup, with Eels pathways players pushing for promotion.
My recent team list prediction post has attracted its share of opinions. If you haven’t added yours, just hit the link here and dive in.
In the meantime, I’m champing at the bit to see who wins the battle for NRL spots.
Eels New Year Resolutions
We could all get technical about aspects of the Eels play that we’d like them to resolve to improve. I’ll leave that to you, the reader, to advance in your reply.
I’m going to keep it simple.
Here’s the easiest New Year resolution for Parra – No more ridiculous suspensions.
Whether it be on field or off field reasons, there were far too many matches missed by players due to suspension in 2023. Actually there were 22 of them. It was by far the most in the NRL.
If the final figure was halved, and by the way that would have still placed the Eels amongst the worst in the NRL, the Eels might have played finals football.
Suspensions are something that can be mostly controlled by the players. No lazy or late shots and keep away from off field trouble.
Who’s with me?
The Cumberland Throw Turns 8
On Christmas Eve, TCT celebrated eight years of reporting on all things Parramatta Eels. And the birthday gift that we received came from our readers.
December 24 marked the first time that we have surpassed 800K site visits in a calendar year. Our previous best 12 months was set just last year with a tick under 700K visits, so when we get our final 2023 figures at midnight on December 31, it will be a huge leap forward. The TCT community continues to grow and we are very grateful for that.
The remarkable thing about this new record is that it has been set during the worst season that the Eels have experienced since 2018. Neither the NRL or NRLW teams qualified for finals football, meaning there was little in the way of Eels news to report on during September and early October. Suffice to say, had the Eels gone deep into finals football, I could have been reporting on 900K visits.
Not sure how Andrew didn’t qualify in the top 1% of our listeners. Please let us know if you are in the top 1%
Our podcast listens are not included in those numbers, but our audience there is also growing. If you haven’t already done so, I’d like to recommend our end of year catch up with Mark O’Neill.
Many thanks to our listeners, not only for tuning in, but also for providing validating feedback. To that end we’ve had a number of our audience share Instagram posts showing how we featured in their Spotify listening (see above). It was much appreciated.
Congratulations
And on another positive note, our congratulations are extended to former TCT content creators, Colmac and Spiro Christopoulos.
Our “Stats That Matta” author, Colmac, has now moved on to a stats role at the Eels. Given his expertise gained from many years at Champion Data, and a role at another NRL club, it’s a well deserved achievement by Col.
Spiro in action interviewing Stefanos Tsitsipas for the Wide World of Sport
As for Spiro, our 2022 News Podcast regular continues to kick goals at 2GB and is currently hosting the Wide World of Sports program. Unfortunately his increasing commitments prevented his podcast appearances on TCT in 2023, but he remains both a mate and an outstanding bloke that we are proud to have been associated with.
Look for Spiro to have an even bigger role at 2GB in 2024.
Happy New Year
As TCT enters its ninth year of covering all things Parramatta Eels, we have a few more thanks to extend.
On behalf of John, Mitch, Chris and myself, a massive thank you to our regular content creators in Gol, Shelley and Clint. It’s a big thing to commit to weekly contributions and that’s not lost on us.
The Cumberland Throw continued to evolve in 2023, adding new content creators in Kye Ferreira and Natasha Soueid to our team. We will explore additional ways of covering our beloved Eels in 2024, so stick with us as we get behind Parra’s climb back to finals footy next year.
Of course, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our partners.
Starr Partners Real Estate, Auburn, Narellan and Parramatta have been with The Cumberland Throw for most of our existence. Greg and his staff are passionate about supporting their communities, and we are privileged that they see our coverage of the Eels as being worthy of their support.
We’ve been pleased to welcome Big Swing Golf, Northmead, as a partner this year. One of the highlights of 2023 was an event that we hosted at Big Swing Golf. The TCT crew took advantage of the outstanding facilities there, as our guests competed in a range of high tech simulation sports, including golf, NFL, soccer, and rugby league goal kicking. I highly recommend getting your mates, work colleagues or family together for hours of fun there.
Finally, Parra Leagues Club has been a huge part of TCT’s growth during the last three years. PLC management and directors have made the club truly “The Home of the Eels” with match day events before and after CommBank Stadium home games. Our live Preview podcasts, and live Instant Reaction review podcasts, with Eels legends as special guests, have proven to be very popular. Jacks Bar and Grill has become our second home and we look forward to welcoming you all there again in 2024.
Forty and I with Eels legend John Muggleton
In addition to holding the Eels NRL licence, Parra Leagues provides massive financial backing for the Parramatta Junior Rugby League. That support reduces the costs for every junior player in the district. Local Juniors are the lifeblood of the elite pathways program and ultimately the NRL. We are therefore proud that PLC also partners with TCT for our coverage of the Eels Junior Reps season.
On behalf of The Cumberland Throw I’d like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year, one that’s hopefully filled with lots of celebrations for the Blue and Gold.
Go you mighty Eels!
Sixties
Excellent update. Thank you.
100% agree with this resolution.
“ No more ridiculous suspensions.”
Martin
Cheers Martin. Have a wonderful new year.
I certainly enjoy reading and listening to TCT ,I’m in my eighyth year so I spend quite a bit of time on my backside, been an Eel supporter since the late sixties experienced the great eighties, live in the country and went to games in the past but can’t make it anymore. Wish the TCT a bright future for 2024 .
Colin, all the best to you for the new year, and thank you for being a reader and listener to TCT.
Thanks for an even handed and incredibly informative site for all things Parra Sixties and TCT team. I am forever tuning in for the latest. I admire the fact that your main contributors are passionate but impersonal and are well informed. A very happy 2024 to you all. I remain hopeful about a much improved year for our club.
Cheers
Cheers Sec. It’s vitally important to us to be writing from a point of knowledge. To be frank, maintaining that helps to earn trust and respect, so it’s vitally important to us. At the end of the last season I had horrible concerns about 2024. Though my uncertainty about the backline depth still remains, I’m buoyed by what I’m seeing at training. There is a steely resolve across the squad to be better. Have a great new year mate and thanks for being a regular with your opinions.
Congrats on the record year guys. Wasn’t the best year on the field, but helping us fans keep informed with the goings on at the club has become essential reading and listening each week. Especially great the insights on the juniors and Ball squad this year with their success. Hopefully see a few of those names killing it in NRL soon. Will be interesting to see how we solve our outside back conundrum next year, especially with depth players AMS and R Penisini already out for the season. Here’s to a bigger and better 2024, both on and off the field!
Thanks Murph. Yes, those injuries couldn’t come at a worse time. The trouble with ACL injuries is it’s a 12 month recovery, but up to two years before we see the best from a player again. Fortunately both are young players.
Thanks TCT for your continued dedication to keeping Eels fans updated with interesting content. The site is THE destination for Parra fans at all times of the year. HNY and all the best for 2024. Lets hope at least a finals appearance is on the cards this year.
Thanks so much Luke. It means a lot to have such kind words said about TCT.
Happy new year and go you mighty Eels
Sixties your resolution is spot on. Just getting our top players on the field week in and week out will get us back in the finals.
However I believe that we need to make the top four to achieve our potential. Murph is right. We could ill afford to lose Richard Penisini on top of AMS. While it would be a long shot for RP to get an NRL start it would have been nice to have them there as backup given they represent areas where we are skinny.
All the best to everyone on TCT for the New Year. Congratulations to TCT for achieving 8 years of quality work keeping us Parra Tragics in touch with the Eels news.
May there be many more years to come.
John, thank you for you kind words in addition to the regular contributions of your opinion. My goal is to read all of the replies from our readers as a matter of respect and also as a way of being aware of different perspectives. There are many times when I learn something or open up to a new way of seeing an issue.
I reckon we squeezed the lemon dry during the 2023 season. Too many players out of action and expecting more from those who had to step up.
Hopefully our best are in action more often in 2024.
Well said John – we need our best 17 on the field more than often and we will make the 8 at least.
Hope you’re well mate – and had a good Christmas and NY
Fit and firing Milo. Had a great Christmas and New Year’s.
Hope you had the same.
Thanks TCT for creating such quality and engaging content. I’m stuck on an a little AFL obsessed Island – Tasmania- and TCT is my link to the real game and the eels, a team I’ve been obsessed with since I was 8 years old (1977).
Happy new year and here’s to a record breaking year of achievements in 2024 for the eels and TCT
And MON to learn from last years recruitment failings and back BA and Georgalis with the squad depth they need
Thanks KTI. Can only imagine how tough it is to keep up with NRL news down there in Tassie. That’s the thing about Parra. The Blue and Gold gets in our blood and it’s there for life. It’s why we do what we do. And TCT writers like John, Mitch, Nat, and Kye have never seen an Eels title. At least older blokes like you and I were around to enjoy it.
After the 1986 bGrand Final I thought they’d keep rolling in… I totally underestimated the stature and role that the Crow and Pricey played. I thought Lindner would replace Proce and Sterling and Kenny would lead us through into another golden era and that the Liddiard’s, Jackson, et al would be the next batch of Eels origin stars… I was young and naive .
Judicious recruitment was needed to supplement the juniors coming through, just like we had done in 1980-81 with Edge, Muggleton and O’Reilly coming in.
Lessons from the past perhaps 🙂
Premierships are based on such recruitment. Most recent high profile example was the Roosters got rid of Pearce to bring in Cronk. They rated his role so strongly that he played with that crack through his shoulder blade in the grand final.
Congratulations on 8 years. Job well done.
Thanks Gibbo. Bring on 2024.
Keep up the great effort. Despite me not always agreeing with you, your podcasts have become a daily drive to work/drive home ritual for me. Sixties, I wish you and the team a happy new year. Take care!
Avenger, it would be a boring world if people agreed on everything. Thank you for reading, listening and providing your opinions mate and may you have a prosperous new year.
This past year was not good personally for you Sixties and let’s look forward to a better 2024.
Thanks so much for all the information and discussions provided by the ultimate Eels crew in Sixties, Forty20 and Clint..it’s become a must listen to the various podcasts, and updates on the junior pathways.
Look forward to another record year for the Cumberland Throw and an expanded listener/reading audience as the reach grows of a positive and intelligent crew of Eels diehards.
Bring on 2024 and the likely injection of upcoming junior reps as the season moves.
Much appreciated mate. Yes, the last year has presented its tough times. I’m fortunate to have had so many people offer their support to myself and the family, including yourself. In that respect I count myself as one of the lucky ones.
I’m also fortunate to have so many contributors who give their time to report/comment on the Eels.
Here’s to a wonderful 2024 to you and your family mate.
A great review of 2023 – and 100% agreed on the suspensions especially to top 13 players
Sad news about young TJ – Nick played with him in the juniors at Parra and in my observations he always was a polite and respectful young man.
For the 800k number – congratulations!! . It comes from quality content , thoughtful writing, intelligent discussions on the forum with opinions respected – and has created a community that people want to be involved in, and feel they can belong to.
May 2024 see the Eels back in contention for the finals!!
See you in 2024!!!
Greg, what you have shared about TJ backs up everything that I’ve been told by people who knew him.
As for TCT, your support has been instrumental in our growth. What people might not be aware of is that a website, especially one with high traffic, has its costs. One example, TCT would crash when large numbers tried to access the site at the same time. This would happen literally whenever a popular post was published. Your sponsorship allowed us to move through multiple upgrades relating to site accessibility to the point where TCT can handle unlimited access. Without your sponsorship support over the years, that wouldn’t have happened.
Thank you mate for that support and loyalty. May 2024 be everything you want it to be for yourself, your family and for Starr Partners.
A dissapointing year on the field for our Eels but appreciate all of the work that goes into TCT to keep us blue and gold tragic’s up to date. The stories, podcasts, reviews etc have all become essential reading and listening.
I’ve been following Parra my whole life and am one of those yet to see a premiership – born in the lates 80s after our last premiership so my first few season were lean, before the Brian Smith era brought a strong club that was regularly challenging and should have brought home a comp on a few occasions.
Whilst there’s still some work to be done, the club is in much better shape than than it has been on many occasions over my time supporting parra, and that elusive premiership will be delivered one day – I look forward to TCT covering it!
Cheers BP and thanks for being a TCT regular. I honestly believe that most of the pieces of the puzzle are in place. We will lift on last year. How far we go might depend on what we do with our last roster spot.
A happy and healthy new year 60s tct and all Parramatta die hards. Here’s hoping our defense has improved immensely and we can utilise extra speed from somewhere
Happy new year to you too mate and let’s hope that “somewhere” you speak of is found with that last spot on our roster.
Here’s to a successful year for the Eels ( yes, just stay on the park)and TCT. I can feel the build up gathering momentum towards another season of highs and lows, more of the former is the hope, as long as we are entertained. Thanks TCT for expanding our learning and involvement in the game. I read some gold standard insights each week from your team and commenters.
Get well to David Liddiard, he sounds like a really decent person.
Thanks BDon. As for David, he’s such a down to earth and genuine bloke. One of our favourites. Both of his appearances with us in Jacks were unscheduled but he jumped on the microphone with virtually no notice.
Sixties, may I wish you and the rest of TCT all the best for the new year. Love your work, it has been hugely enjoyable and informative for me. Thanks for keeping things passionate but balanced and analytical. Fingers crossed for a ripping 2024 for the Eels
Cheers NS. Appreciate the kind words. Have a prosperous new year mate
Thanks Sixties and TCT for helping us get through this terrible season and year.
Wishing you and all TCT contributors and posters/readers all the best for 2024.
Look forward to a better 2024!
Cheers
Happy New Year Pete – and thanks for your regular contributions
I thought it was more an unlucky season , how many did we lose from gf team , how many to suspensions ,how many to major injurys and we missed out by 1game , probably coaching staffs most notable effort in 10 seasons .
Probably a fair comment. The latter part of the season fell away because the lemon was squeezed dry. In that context, the last round victory over Penrith, where nobody gave Parra a chance, was a statement
New Year’s resolution for me has to be defence, especially edge defence. I think we will be quite a different team if we sort that out.
Happy new years to all involved with TCT. I enjoy all the content. The off season training reports are great and the podcasts are awesome. There really is no off season at TCT!
Appreciate that West Coast. Happy New Year. By the way I reckon you’ll have plenty of other fans agreeing with your opinion about defence
Well done mate.
You have done so well in getting TCT to where it ranks now.
I have been a supporter from the beginning and you know the efforts I made to bring people together. Shame my vision did not eventuate but I only have two social media sites, this one and our old friend.
I hope that your efforts have been financially rewarding as there can be no one more deserving than you and the boys who have put so much effort in.
I don’t see any other club sites but I cannot imagine anyone has the quality of what you provide.
Again well done and well played.
Thanks Poppa. We have never strayed from our goal to have the equivalent of an on line magazine reporting on the Eels. We have never aimed to be a forum which means we’ve never competed with other Eels sites.
Appreciate your support mate.
Have a great new year
Go the mighty Eels
Well done TCT, love all your content, very balanced and informative, couldn’t ask for much more. I’m quietly confident for ’24, and like you said, our suspensions were a big part of our downfall.
Go the mighty eels.
Cheers Mick, Happy New Year and thanks for getting involved throughout the year.
Thanks 60’s and team. I recall the message I got off Sixties that TCT was starting and can recall where I was in Lake Mac.
Thanks to all for a fair and balanced site with amazing insight into the club and teams.
Itching to see how junior reps go. And keen to see some matches.
Injuries occur and we just need some depth around the backs- if we sort discipline on and off field we will be fine.
Quietly confident of a top 6 result- we must make home ground a grave for other teams
Cheers Milo. Thanks for being around from the start of TCT. It remains as always a passion project. Happy New Year to you and Courtney and the kids.
Cheers mate – all well here. Thank you and hope the time has by you and the family was good, tough yr mate
Enjoyed the Rd 1 highlights package Souths v’s the Eels from 1972. Some familiar faces there.
Did not enjoy the result so much. However at that time Bunnies were the current Panthers. They had won 4 out of 5 GF’s, 1967 to 1971. If I have that wrong PTT will help me.
Given my boredom during off season I drifted into the wrong lane and read an article on Sky news about the AFL.
The item was quite detailed but what caught my eye was the story that the Victorian government, the most indebted state government in Australia, is going to spend $225 million on an upgrade of the AFL owned Marvel stadium.
What benefit will the Victorian government achieve for taxpayers out of this spending of borrowed money. The taxpayers of Victoria will be saddled with yet another loan to service which on face value will only help to make the AFL richer.
Sorry about being off topic.