I’m stunned by the number of pundits prepared to write off the Eels chances in 2023 well before a ball has been kicked in anger. Such opinion is mostly based on the number of forwards who departed the club at…
Bumpers Up – October 10, 2022: Grand Final Fallout
The dust has only just settled on a fortnight that the Eels club and its supporters will not soon forget. If Grand Final week was not enough for you, the news and fallout from the following seven days should have…
Bumpers Up – September 30, 2022: Grand Final Edition
For rugby league supporters, only one thing is better than grand final week, and that’s actually taking out the premiership. The Eels have featured in nine previous deciders (counting 1977 as just one), winning four. I’ve been to every one…
From The Stands – September 19, 2022: Proud To Be Blue And Gold
Four teams are left, and after a wonderful night at our home ground last Friday I have to say that I am so proud that we are one of them. Every one of the remaining four teams plays a slightly…
Bumpers Up – August 31, 2022: Destiny In The Eels Hands
Not too long ago I believed that the Eels had massacred their opportunity to control their own destiny for finals football. Big losses to the Broncos and Souths even had Parra looking over their shoulder as they were not yet…
From The Stands – August 28, 2022: Time To Level The Playing Field
There was so much to like about our game against the Broncos. Parra’s forwards were brutal, yet skilful. Gutherson’s support play returned to the elite level we know and love. Sivo’s involvement was first class. He wasn’t just a weapon…
From The Stands – June 15, 2022: Genuine Entitlement
Watching from the stands on Monday was overwhelmingly tough. I sat at a stadium I greatly dislike, in seats that cost way too much considering how far you are away from the field, only to very quickly realise my team had not…
Bumpers Up – May 31, 2022: Winning Games, But Losing Starts, Challenges And Players
Let’s talk about life in PARRAdise. As somebody famous once said, it wasn’t meant to be easy. Matches tend to feature the best version of our opponents, and though this produces some cracking footy, it delivers heart palpitations for the…
From The Stands – May 17, 2022: The Eels Ten Week Challenge
Watching the match on the TV last Sunday was a really weird experience for my household. Was it resilience and skill on display in the second half or did it just stack up well against what was a first half…
Bumpers Up – May 12, 2022: Parra’s Mind Guerillas
Were you one of the true believers who tipped an Eels victory over the Panthers? Such faith defied the team’s awful result against the Cowboys and the demands of playing four games over just 18 days. Expecting a win against…