We all have our reasons for following the Eels, along with the myriad of ways that add up to how we each support our team.
In most instances it’s what unifies Parra fans. On the odd occasion, it might leave us at loggerheads with our fellow Blue and Gold Army members, or even with the club itself.
But this season brings with it a new level of unity. And a renewed belief. Why? Read on.
Bumpers Up
What Would Have Been The Real Cost Of $750K?
So the Eels have been criticised for not taking $750k. Pump the coin into the juniors. Imagine the goodwill you would buy?
Let’s quickly take that to pieces and unpack what taking the money would have meant.
Firstly, few other clubs match the Eels and Parra Leagues Club for investment in pathways football.
Parra Leagues invest over $350K on an annual basis with grants to the Parra Juniors. This translates to a reduced registration cost for all junior players.
Furthermore, the Eels employ full time staff and coaches at the Eels Academy level. It’s why you see junior reps teams with full time mentors, something that carries through to Flegg and NSW Cup. From recruitment to education and welfare, in addition to program management, the investment is already there and it’s massive.
But let’s consider the cost.
Eels management would have many pillars on which to achieve success. But the ultimate success is an NRL title.
Parra’s roster, the key component for a premiership tilt, took a hit when the club granted Zac Lomax a conditional release. When the erstwhile winger immediately refused to abide by the terms of his release, and with a strong club like the Storm dangling the carrot of a new home without offering up a player of similar standing to Lomax, Jim Sarantinos and Matthew Beach had no other alternative but to go to court.
The support of the rugby league community was almost universal. There was genuine admiration for Eels management. The unified response from Eels fans highlighted the growing pride of being a supporter of the Blue and Gold. Let’s call it Parra Pride.
Imagine if Jim or Matt had backed away from demanding that a contract be honoured! All along they had said that it wasn’t about the money. All along they had said that there was nothing personal against Zac Lomax. The discovery process brought about by Parra’s legal team headed by Arthur Moses revealed the level of heat being applied by the Storm. Peter V’Landys publicly revealed his support of Lomax.
But Jim and Matt were committed to both the sanctity of a contract and to standing by their stakeholders – be it the players, staff, fans, corporate partners, or members. As a stakeholder, I can assure you that I would have been deeply troubled had the Eels not stood their digs.
Based on the social media feedback that flooded into my DMs when a multitude of media outlets reported that the Eels and Storm had reached a monetary agreement, the prospect of losing genuine goodwill and respect was real.
Parramatta will always be heavily committed to funding and supporting Junior Rugby League. Dealing with the loss of the respect and the goodwill of club stakeholders would have been a heavy price to pay for short term monetary compensation.
By club management standing strong, the message is very clear to stakeholders. We are a unified community and we won’t be pushed around.
Parra Proud is real!
Quick Matto Facts
There is a belief by many punters that the Eels can achieve salary cap relief via a medical retirement of Ryan Matterson.
The truth is that they cannot.
If he was retired this season, the Eels would not get any dispensation in 2026. It only applies to the following season.
But Matto is not contracted for 2027.
Hope vs Belief
Last season’s opening game against the Storm in Melbourne was a match that most of the Blue and Gold faithful would rather forget.
Exactly 12 months later, has the landscape markedly changed?
The answer is unequivocally yes.
Parra’s prospects have moved from hoping for the best to believing that they will win.
This time last year the Eels played like a bunch of blokes that had met each other in the change rooms half an hour before kick off.
First grade debuts, club debuts, a missing captain, a new coaching staff and on opponent looking to extend their round one success to 22 years. In retrospect it was a high mountain that we were hoping to climb. The result was the stuff of nightmares.
One year on, the roster is stronger, the 2025 season finished on a high, and the young players have gained in confidence. Our opponent is still to be highly respected, but their strength has diminished.
Belief has replaced hope.
It’s time to get our season under way.
See You Tonight
If you haven’t travelled down to Melbourne, then Parra Leagues is the place to watch tonight’s big clash.
John and I will be your hosts as the club’s watch party promises a brilliant evening for all.
We start proceedings at 6:30pm, with $10 burgers and chicken wings, $5 beers, and prizes including a 2026 Eels jersey, signed footballs, and TCT merch. Steve Ella is our special guest, and the game will be live on the big screen.
What a way to start 2026!
Eels forever! Parra Proud!
Sixties
People can say what they like about Lomax
They can say what they like about the Storm
They can say what they like about PVL
– All fair.
None of this happens. None of it, if they don’t allow the release in the first place. This wasn’t Brendan Hands, or some middling backrower. This was your best metre maker, your goal kicker, your lone arial threat and an intnernaiotnal player. And he was allowed to walk. Not because he didn’t get along with the coach. Not for compansionate reasons. Just allowed to walk to go make more money.
And now, after another rd 1 drubbing, conceding the dreaded 50 points… already… again…. We’re back to hope aren’t we.
This was the worst first up performance I’ve watched in years – what a soft and weak team. Let a bunch of nobody storm forwards maul them at the ruck and fell in a heap soon thereafter. So disappointing after all the lip service in pre season
Too right Ron. Must have been one hell of an off season.
you can call them nobodies but if they have been picked for the storm nrl team then you know they will be good next man up some of them will be regular nrl soon
hard to argue with
Embarrassing…although Sivo looked pretty good last weekend!
That’s it, I’m done. Tomorrow morning I’m calling the membership department and cancelling my membership. They won’t get another cent out of me. I just can’t take this anymore. I’m beyond depressed, I’m angry, angry that I’ve wasted 45 years of my life supporting this dumpster fire of a club. I just can’t do it anymore. I no longer care about the club, the people or the game of rugby league. It can all burn for all I care.
nah you will be getting pumped for the broncos bounce back game within a day or 2 lol
I’m fed up too, but for a different reason. Like someone said on Reddit, I would have been proud of Parra if they walked off after 20 minutes, why risk injury when you’re not going to be allowed a fair chance to win. Game ruined, mafia in control.
Nothing wil change until the club reviews its recruitment people and policies. I downgraded my memberships this year to 4 game GA and won’t move back until we get a competitive front office. Been a full season ticket holder since 1982 and always at least 2.
Richardson may have left the Tigers but he overhauled their roster which is now more than equal to ours, while we have yet to sign an elite player since the current people took charge, if we are honest ,the roster has weakened since the 7 or so players were not resigned in the year of the GF. We have good juniors coming through and unlike the Roosters and Dogs, not enough elite players to support them, terrible indictment.
Yes sone good points there. Mark o’neill should be the first out
We brought on our own demise with one thing DUMB ERRORS at really key moments. Reffing was absolutely awful yes but two key moments completely changed the momentum of the game. Riley smith forward pass to Moses with 12 players dumb then Paulos ridiculous offload just got our full compliment back after a barrage of defence.
From that moment we were gassed harry grant started to pull us apart then in the second half floodgates opened.
Possesion is key against this team and we played so dumb
A glance at the stats only says part of it, 6 Agains inflicted heavy damage and some puzzling calls by officials topped it off. Oh, and the Storm played good, made only 7 errors to our 17(that’s called self harm). Back to the drawing board.
Yes sone good points there. Mark o’neill should be the first out
Doesn’t matter what happens after this – their end game has been ruined with those 52 points. That means this season is all for nothing. What a disappointment!
To be fair look at our roster. We lost Lomax and Brown and replaced them with a transit lounge Pezet, and two aging players unwanted by their own clubs JDB and Kelly. Paulo, JDB, Williams and Walker are all aging and TDS seems out of his depth. Our roster is weak co oared to most teams. I would replace JDB with Guymer to start and a spot must be found to get Sam T on the field.
Our club motto should be There’s always next year.