How good’s winning!

Our Eels defied expectations and responded to an embarrassing loss by defeating the highly fancied North Queensland Cowboys.

Earlier in the day, the NSW Cup team had recorded their first win of the season by overcoming the Storm’s feeder team, the third placed Bears.

All of this took place in the presence of past Parra players and officials as the Blue and Gold Alliance (BGA) staged another highly successful annual reunion.

In the days that followed, the winning continued off the field with the Eels acquisition of Zac Lomax for 2025, a signing the club would be hoping to fast track to the current season.

But if you thought I was just aiming for a happy families post you’d be mistaken. I’ve taken issue on a couple of matters that require my venting.

Bumpers Up!

 

That Bounce Back

Were you surprised by Saturday’s bounce back against the Cowboys?

Maybe the surprise was as much about the form in the first half, and the disbelief that the Eels were actually leading at the break. On the surface it seemed to be as much about the Cowboys shooting themselves in the foot, as it was about a couple of decently constructed Eels tries.

Mind you, that first half certainly wasn’t indicative of what was to transpire in the second.

When the Eels came out after the break it was a return to the focus and composure we saw over the first three rounds. The only scare from that point came via a freakish Drinkwater try where the Eels defence had applied ample pressure but the Cowboys had found a way through via a loose pass and a volleyball tip back.

This game actually reminded me of the Round 3 clash with the Sea Eagles. In the early stages of that match, Manly seemed destined to put on a cricket score. The Eels defence looked flimsy and all at sea. But somehow, the Eels fought their way back in the first half, before taking control in the second, with a late Manly try adding the only scare.

The loss to the Raiders was ugly. It was unacceptable. However, though not an excuse, it wasn’t unusual for the Eels to perform poorly in the Nation’s capital. The Eels have only won a couple of times there since 2006, albeit that both of those wins had come in the past two visits.

Another interesting perspective is how teams seem to have the capacity to bounce back after a huge defeat.

Parramatta’s grand final season in 2022 contained multiple examples of form swings and massive reversals of results.

That year, after being belted 35 to 4 by the Cowboys, they somehow responded big time by edging Penrith 22 to 20. Remember the humiliation of losing 34 to 4 against the Dogs? It was followed by a 26 to 16 victory over the Roosters. The Eels then responded to a 36 to 14 shellacking delivered by Brisbane, with a 34 to 10 smashing of the Panthers.

I also have bad memories of the 26 to nil loss to the Rabbitohs. But the Eels turned that around the next week by obliterating the Dogs 42 to 6, and in doing so avenged the earlier humiliation. Then in the 2022 finals series, Parra bounced back from a disappointing 27 to 8 loss to the Panthers in week one, to record a 40 to 4 hammering of the Raiders.

You can find at least one wild swing from the Eels in all of the recent seasons where they qualified for finals football.

As for the Cowboys, just last year they had the inglorious 66 to 18 defeat at Leichhardt Oval after giving the Dragons a touch up in the previous round. They then lost narrowly to the Eels before belting Melbourne 45 to 20. And no, it wasn’t due to the Storm having Origin stars missing.

Furthermore, when they faced the Tigers just five rounds after the Leichhardt embarrassment, it was a 74 to nil victory.

In retrospect, we probably should have expected the Eels to prevail!

Time To End The Recorded Eels Chant

Are the TCT associates the only supporters who despise the recorded Parra chant?

I suspect that we aren’t.

Eels supporters were renowned for the passion of their chant. So much so, it formed the basis of the Jon English Eels theme song. Travelling Eels supporters would even drown out the home supporters at away grounds.

No more. And I put it down to that awful recorded chant.

For any supporter who can’t get to Parra home games, I should explain what happens.

There is a recording of the Parra chant which is played at “select moments” in an attempt to urge the crowd to get behind the team. For “select moments” read inopportune and frequent.

The result is that the spontaneous and organic supporter chant is now a distant memory at CommBank Stadium. Furthermore, when the recording is played, few join in and there is often nobody chanting when the recording finishes. Again, it is usually because it was played at the wrong moment.

I’ve banged on about this in the past. In previous years I’ve raised it in Member Council meetings. This week, I again contacted the club with my request to end the use of the recording.

If the aim of the club was to generate atmosphere then the exact opposite has been achieved, and now a supporter tradition has been all but obliterated.

It might seem a trivial matter in the scheme of things, but to me, having a cue forced upon a crowd that was always so vocal in its support (and I need to repeat that it’s both frequent and at the wrong times) is both annoying and even offensive.

The current use of the Big D catch cry of “Parra’s in The Tunnel” is also a mess. His voice should be heard after the opponents hit the field. As the Eels players emerge from the sheds into the tunnel the words should go up on the screens with his voice. No more repetition ten minutes before they are actually in the tunnel. Keep it true to the man and how he used it!

By the way, don’t get me started on being encouraged to “make some noise”.

If you created a drinking game based around the rallying cry of stadium MCs, sobriety would quickly become a foreign concept. Bachelor parties should make Eels home games a destination point in the planned festivities such is the frequency of demands for supporters to “make some noise”.

This part of the atmosphere generation is more of a laughing matter than an annoyance. But as far as I’m concerned, the combination of recorded chants and that type of MC urging do nothing to enhance the match day experience. At all!

And thing is, unlike other site activations around the precinct, we can’t choose whether to hear it  or not. It’s forced upon us.

Perhaps all of my issues here are a case of old man yells at cloud?

I’m interested in your opinions.

Darwin Home Match

This week, Eels Media shared images of Kennedy Cherrington and Richie Penisini engaged in community visits in the Top End. For mine, this is the genuine positive of the Eels partnership with the Northern Territory Government

The work done with schools, local clubs, and remote communities is a credit to the Eels and to the Northern Territory Goverment.

There would also be tremendous commercial advantages to the partnership.

However, regardless of this year’s result, I see no football benefits from an annual fixture that seems destined to pitch the Eels against Queensland clubs.

Despite a decade long association with the Eels, the support for the visiting Queensland teams at the fixtures overwhelms any local support for the Blue and Gold.

Then there is the physical toll of playing a game in the tropics. If the season also includes an away game against the Cowboys, that’s then two matches in unfavourable conditions. Should PNG be included as the new franchise, as we expect, the likelihood of a third game up north each season is thrown into the mix.

From a selfish perspective, I’m never a fan of taking home matches away from Parramatta. That said, the reality is that it’s a fact of life for all clubs and a reasonable price to pay to promote the code to regions with minimal access to live NRL games.

As far as the community work in the Top End is concerned, I’m sure the same if not better outcomes could be achieved with a week in the Territory during the preseason. BA might be unhappy about that, and the NT Government probably isn’t interested in an arrangement that doesn’t include a game, so maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree with that suggestion.

If the NT Government are keen, the Eels will obviously continue the current commercial partnership. Though it won’t make my opinion popular at Kellyville, I’ll continue to voice my opposition.

Lomax Signing

Finally, there’s good news on the Eels recruitment front with the club confirming the four year deal for Zac Lomax, commencing in the 2025 season.

Congratulations are deserved by those responsible for getting it done, because Lomax is a genuine difference maker and given his outstanding form, his services would have attracted numerous suitors.

Zac Lomax is skilled and talented, but above all else he’s a competitor. From that perspective, it’s like the Eels have acquired another player with Gutho’s winning attitude. I’m not suggesting that he’s cut from the same cloth as the beloved King, but there are similarities in the way he imposes himself on the game.

Which leads me to my next point. Have the Eels found the fullback heir to Gutho? It’s not like Gutherson is on the verge of retirement but perhaps Parra will have an immediate option should Gutho want a change of position.

Of course, Blaize Talagi could prove to be the future custodian. The rising star has been earmarked in that role and all indicators are that the work will be put into his development as a fullback.

Incidentally, in a TCT Twitter (X) Poll, just on 60% of responders voted centre as their preferred position for Lomax, with around 30% opting for winger and very few believing that he should be used at fullback.

Staying on the recruitment front, the Eels continue to have immediate needs that must be addressed. By my calculations, the top 30 roster sits at 27.

I acknowledge that I might not be accurate as the Eels could have moved players internally into those spots. However, it wouldn’t have changed any selection options.

Furthermore, long term injuries are impacting the availability of those 27 players. Moses, Dunster and Ogden are all out of action for extended periods. Without signings, it effectively places the roster at 24 for the next two months. Additional injuries, be they short or long term, will apply greater pressure on the playing group.

The result reduces Arthur’s capacity to make changes should players lose form. It also means that players will be more likely to take the field with injury, which though not unusual during a season, is far from ideal.

I’m certain that the club is constantly working on recruitment, and it probably involves the pursuit of Lomax for this season. Nonetheless, the immediate needs remain, and with every passing week, the task of naming both NRL and NSW Cup teams becomes a greater challenge.

Lomax can’t and won’t be the only addition for 2025. But we need those immediate reinforcements to arrive and soon.

 

Finally!

We all stood and applauded when the Eels won their first game from six starts in the NSW Cup. Though containing future stars such as Matt Arthur, Blaize Talagi, Charlie Guymer and Ethan Sanders, the team has struggled to gel for the full 80 minutes in any week. They have literally snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a couple of games.

Last week, against Norths who are the Storm feeder team, things were again looking grim. At 28-14 down early in the second half, it looked like a flogging was on the cards. However the team rallied and focussed and ran the visitors down in recording a 30-28 victory.

I thought that the spine were instrumental in steering this first victory of the season.

Just on that, if supporters haven’t already identified Matt Arthur as a star of the near future then they haven’t been truly watching these games. No matter the result, the young dummy half has been a standout. The way he identifies and exploits the weaknesses in opposing teams is a highlight of his performances. He has been best on field for the Eels each week, even outshining opponents in losses.

 

Annual Reunion

Congratulation to the Blue and Gold Alliance for yet another successful reunion of former Eels players and officials.

Over 150 people packed out Jacks Bar and Grill in Parra Leagues for the special luncheon. The old boys later enjoyed their lap of honour at CommBank Stadium and then formed the guard of honour as the NRL players took to the field for the main game.

The Eels responded by winning both grades on Saturday.

Keeping those from the past connected is an important job. It’s not only about enjoyable social gatherings. It’s about people checking in on each other and making sure everyone is ok.

Billy Richards and his BGA hardworking committee can be proud of what they are achieving.

 

Junior Reps

The campaign of all of the Eels teams has ended following the first week of the Junior Representative finals series.

Three of the Eels four teams had qualified for the finals, with the Tarsha Gale team finishing just one point short after a ridiculously tough and arguably unfair draw.

Parra’s Harold Matts side were perhaps the most unlucky. They had been undefeated during the season yet finished in third place.

During the season they played out drawn matches with the top two teams, Wests and Canterbury. In contrast, those two teams did not have to face each other during the regular season. Had that happened, a loss for either team would have elevated the Eels into a top two ladder position, and direct passage to the grand final qualifiers.

As it was, they were ambushed 30 -20 by a fired up Warriors outfit, a result which was a massive reversal of the 34 to 6 round one scoreline between the two sides.

The Warriors put in one of the most impressive performances of the season, jumping out to a 24 nil lead just after half time. Their kicker nailed all of the sideline conversions, giving his side the full six points value every time they crossed the stripe.

Parra raised supporters hopes with a couple of tries in quick succession, but just as it looked like they were back in the contest, New Zealand added their converted fifth try. The Eels added two further tries, but all of those Warriors conversions meant that there was still a ten point margin as time ticked away.

The Lisa Fiaola Cup side had also finished the season in third place, and like their Matts colleagues, suffered an unexpected defeat.

What made their defeat even tougher, was their dominance for the majority of this finals clash with the Knights.

Unfortunately, key errors opened the door for Knights tries and also proved costly in failing to ice Eels scoring opportunities.

Parra’s loss in the SG Ball clash with the Bulldogs was a completely different story. The Eels struggled to complete sets and were dominated by a Canterbury team that was on song.

The resilience that characterised the Eels season was missing in this game, and sadly the 42 to 10 result was by far their worst of the season and not reflective of their efforts.

Interestingly, their early exit of the SG Ball has benefitted the Eels Flegg team, with Mohamed Alameddine, Dakota Kakoi and Devonte Vaivela being immediately called up into the backline for this weekend’s clash with the Roosters.

Perhaps the first win of the season awaits.

 

The Cumberland Throw Live On Friday Night

This Friday’s match with the Dolphins in Darwin is actually a home match. In recognition of this, we’ll be presenting our live podcast in Parra Leagues both before and after the game.

Head into the Home of the Eels and create a slice of home match atmosphere as you watch the game alongside fellow supporters.

In addition to our podcast, it’s a great opportunity for us to meet some of you and share a drink and a chat about all things Blue and Gold.

We still have to confirm whether we’ll be in the Bistro or the adjoining Sterlos Bar, but we’ll get that on our socials soon. Regardless, you’ll get a preview and an instant reaction from us.

See you there!

Eels forever!

Sixties