In retrospect, my perspective leading into last Sunday’s NRL clash between our Eels and the Bulldogs can only be described as a mea culpa.
By my own admission, I had begun to question the commitment required; the five-hour drive, the emotional investment, and whether it was all still worthwhile.
Yet, after considerable reflection, we made the journey to watch the Eels face the Dogs and took our seats in the stands.
Carrying tempered expectations and perhaps a degree of apprehension about what might unfold, we instead found ourselves experiencing something quite unexpected.
It was precisely those lowered expectations that gave rise to a match day atmosphere defined not by anxiety or doubt, but by genuine enjoyment and renewed appreciation for what makes my family commit to our club even when we experience immense disappointment as we did the week before.
I chose not to reflect on the Titans fixture as it offered little in the way of insight, optimism, or even engagement. We left that match with ten minutes remaining, eager to get on the road. In contrast, last Sunday’s contest between the Eels and Bulldogs had the opposite effect. We found ourselves reluctant for it to end.
From the stands, the overwhelming feeling was pride. Pride in the supporters who showed up or tuned in, and pride in the occasion itself.
Anticipating a difficult afternoon among confident Bulldogs fans, I instead witnessed a striking shift in mood as their early assurance gave way to confusion, frustration, and ultimately silence. From the stands it was a compelling spectacle in its own right.
That fend from Will
Equally significant was the club’s recognition of its 1986 premiership team. Some opposition voices framed it as a reminder of a long drought, but that interpretation misses the deeper meaning.
For many families, including mine, those sides of the 1980s are foundational. They shaped lifelong allegiances, passed down from grandparents at Cumberland Oval, to parents, and now to the next generation raised in blue and gold.
That shared history sustains belief. Across generations, there remains a quiet certainty that when Parramatta’s next premiership arrives, it will unite those past and present in celebration, just as it did in 1986.
I am reluctant to single out any individual from last Sunday’s performance. Our great game by its nature is a collective effort. Mitchell Moses kicking game is only as effective as the chase that follows. The dominance of the starting forwards relies on a bench capable of maintaining intensity and moments of brilliance from players such as Will Penisini carry little weight without composure in the plays that follow.
What stood out most was the cohesion. Every player fulfilled their role, understanding that success in such matches depends on collective discipline rather than individual highlights.
What a debut from Saxon
Against the Bulldogs, an opponent widely expected to prevail, this unified effort proved decisive.
My greatest sense of pride rested with the players. The club’s celebration of its 1986 champions, and the commitment shown by supporters, would have meant little without a performance to match. What unfolded on the field delivered exactly that.
Our Eels played with purpose and intensity, and even before the result was secured, it was clear the players understood the significance of the occasion. Their effort reflected a genuine respect for the club’s legacy and those who built it.
After the disappointment of the previous week, it was not just the victory that resonated, but the manner in which it was achieved. It was a performance that restored pride and made the experience in the stands truly meaningful.
Parra Proud
Shelley
That 1986 team has been heralded as a standout for 40 years not because they were the greatest, but because they personified what is means to be Parramatta Eels. I distinctly remember at the time that we felt that this was probably one of the last opportunities for a Premiership. Little did we know however that it would be 40+ years before we taste such success again.
Arguably, the 1986 team was not a team at their peak – that had come a few years before, and players were already starting to show signs of fatigue through injuries etc, that we know now had a massive effect on the following years. What made this team great in the eyes of fans was the determination to succeed. In every game, Ray Price as captain demanded that each player give their all, and nothing short of that was acceptable.
We saw some of that same attitude on Sunday, and like the 1986 team, we found we had the skills needed to put the finishing tough on the physical efforts. Is that sustainable long term? Probably not, but the trick here would be to come up with a compromise that brings sustainable success. That’s exactly what the successful clubs do. They don’t have great days and horrible days – every day is a good day that yields the fruits of their labour.