Parramatta Eels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
 Parramatta Eels 

Club information
Full name	Parramatta Eels Rugby League Club
Nickname(s)	Eels, Parra, Blue and Gold Army, Fruitpickers
Website	parraeels.com.au
Colours	Blue      Gold
Founded	4 November 1946 as Parramatta
Current details
Ground(s)	Western Sydney Stadium
CEO	Jim Sarantinos
Chairman	Sean McElduff
Coach	Jason Ryles
Captain	Junior Paulo
Competition	National Rugby League
2024 season	15th
Uniforms
Home colours Away colours
Records
Premierships	4 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1986)
Runners-up	6 (1976, 1977, 1984, 2001, 2009, 2022)
Minor premiership	5 (1977, 1982, 1986, 2001, 2005)
Wooden spoons	14 (1947, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1970, 1972, 2012, 2013, 2018)
Most capped	330 - Nathan Hindmarsh
Highest points scorer	1971 - Mick Cronin

The Parramatta Eels are a professional rugby league team from Sydney, Australia. They play in the top competition, the National Rugby League (NRL). The club was started in 1947. Their home ground is Western Sydney Stadium, located in Parramatta.

It took the Eels thirty years to reach their first Grand Final, which they did in 1976 and 1977. They lost both times. However, this led to their most successful period in the early 1980s. During this time, they won four premierships and played in five Grand Finals in six seasons. These are their only premiership titles so far. In 2016, the club had some issues with player payments. This meant they lost their 2016 Auckland Nines title and some competition points.

History of the Eels

Rugby union and rugby league have been played in Parramatta since the 1800s. A local rugby league competition started in 1910. Over the years, more clubs formed in the area.

People in Parramatta wanted a local team in the main competition. A plan was put to the NSWRL in 1936 but was rejected. After World War II, in 1946, the Parramatta club was finally accepted into the Premiership.

Early Years and First Finals

The Parramatta Eels did not have much success in their early years. Between 1952 and 1961, they finished last eight times. They won only 35 out of 180 matches. This was because they lacked money and good players. Other teams had famous players, but Parramatta mostly had amateur players.

In 1962, Parramatta reached the finals for the first time. They did this for three more seasons under coach Ken Kearney. The club started to attract better players like Ken Thornett and Bob O'Reilly. However, they struggled again in later years. Their first big success came in 1975 when they won the pre-season cup.

The 1970s: Close Calls

In 1976, the Eels reached their first Grand Final in their 30th season. They lost closely to Manly-Warringah. This game is often called "the one that got away" for the Eels. A dropped pass by winger Neville Glover near the end cost them a chance to win.

The next year, Parramatta finished first in the regular season. They reached the Grand Final again. The match against St. George was a 9-9 draw, so they played again the next weekend. Parramatta lost the replay 22–0. The Eels made the finals in 1978 and 1979 but missed out in 1980.

The Golden Era: 1980s Dominance

The early 1980s was the best time for Parramatta. They played in five Grand Finals and won four premierships from 1981 to 1986. Coach Jack Gibson led a team of stars. These included Ray Price, Peter Sterling, and Brett Kenny.

They won three premierships in a row from 1981 to 1983. They beat Newtown in 1981 and Manly-Warringah in 1982 and 1983. In 1984, they reached the Grand Final again but lost to Canterbury-Bankstown 6–4. In 1986, they won their fourth premiership, beating Canterbury 4–2. This was the lowest-scoring Grand Final ever. This win ended Canterbury's two-year winning streak. Between 1975 and 1986, the Eels only missed the finals once. They played in seven Grand Finals, winning four.

The 1990s: Rebuilding and Near Misses

From 1987 to 1996, Parramatta did not make the finals. In the mid-1990s, during the Super League war, Parramatta stayed with the Australian Rugby League. They signed top players like Dean Pay and Jason Smith from other clubs.

In 1997, the Eels made the finals for the first time in 11 seasons. They finished third. In 1998, Parramatta finished 4th. In the preliminary final, they led Canterbury 18–2 with less than 10 minutes left. But Canterbury came back to win 32–20 in extra time. This was a very tough loss for Parramatta.

In 1999, Parramatta led Melbourne 16–0 at halftime in the preliminary final. They lost 18–16 at full time. In 2000, they finished 7th. They won two sudden-death finals matches. But they lost to Brisbane in the preliminary final. This was their third preliminary final loss in a row.

The 2000s: More Heartbreak and a "Fairytale" Run

The Eels reached the 2001 NRL Grand final after a great regular season. They scored 839 points and lost only 4 matches. However, they were defeated by the Newcastle Knights 30–24. Many remember the Grand Final breakfast before the game. Newcastle players said the Parramatta team looked very nervous.

In 2005, Parramatta finished first in the regular season. They played North Queensland in the preliminary final. Parramatta was expected to win, but North Queensland won 29–0. In 2007, Parramatta made the preliminary final again. They lost to Melbourne 26–10. This was their fifth preliminary final loss in nine years.

In 2009, under new coach Daniel Anderson, the Eels had a tough start. After 18 rounds, they had only won 5 games. They were near the bottom of the ladder. Then, starting in Round 19, they won 10 of their next 11 games. This amazing winning streak pushed them into the Top 8. Many experts said this was due to the great form of fullback Jarryd Hayne. He won the Dally M Medal for the best player in the game.

The Eels reached their first Grand Final since 2001. They played the Melbourne Storm on 4 October 2009. Melbourne defeated the Eels 23–16. This ended what many called "the Parramatta Fairytale."

The 2010s: Challenges and a Comeback

In 2010, the Melbourne Storm were found to have broken salary cap rules. They were stripped of their 2009 premiership. However, the premiership was not given to Parramatta. It remained vacant.

The Eels had an inconsistent season in 2010 and missed the Top 8. Coach Daniel Anderson was replaced by Stephen Kearney. The team struggled in 2011, losing many close games. They avoided the wooden spoon by winning their final match against the Gold Coast Titans.

The 2012 season saw the retirement of Eels legends Luke Burt and Nathan Hindmarsh. The team finished last, getting the wooden spoon for the first time since 1972. Coach Stephen Kearney resigned. Ricky Stuart became coach for 2013. He told many players they would not be needed after the season. Another wooden spoon followed in 2013.

Brad Arthur became the new coach in 2014. The club signed new players like Nathan Peats and Corey Norman. Parramatta started 2014 well, winning four of their first six games. They were close to making the finals but lost their last two games and missed out.

The 2015 season was disappointing, with the Eels finishing 12th. In 2016, the NRL found that Parramatta had broken salary cap rules over four years. The club was fined $1 million and lost 12 competition points. Their 2016 NRL Auckland Nines title was also taken away. This meant they dropped from 5th to 14th on the ladder. They also had to release players like Nathan Peats and Junior Paulo. Kieran Foran also left the club.

The 2017 season was a big improvement. Parramatta finished fourth and made the finals for the first time since 2009. They won nine of their last ten matches. They lost a close qualifying final to Melbourne. The next week, they lost to North Queensland in a sudden-death game.

In 2018, many predicted Parramatta would do well. But they lost their first six games. They finished last, claiming their 14th wooden spoon.

Before the 2019 NRL season, many thought Parramatta would struggle again. But they started with two wins. In Round 6, they played their first game at the new Western Sydney Stadium. They beat the Wests Tigers 51–6 in front of a sold-out crowd.

In Round 9, they suffered a huge 64–10 loss to Melbourne. Despite this, coach Brad Arthur was given a new contract. The Eels then won 8 of their next 10 games. They qualified for the finals. In the elimination final, Parramatta won 58–0 against Brisbane. This was the biggest finals win in history. The next week, they lost to Melbourne 32–0, ending their season.

The 2020s: Recent Seasons

The Eels started the 2020 NRL season with five wins in a row. This was their best start since 1989. They finished third, securing a top-four spot. In the qualifying final, they lost to Melbourne. The next week, they lost to South Sydney, ending their season.

In the 2021 NRL season, Parramatta started strong with four wins. They were second after ten rounds. However, they had a slump later in the season. They recovered to beat Melbourne, ending their 19-game winning streak. Parramatta finished sixth. They won their elimination final against Newcastle. But they lost a very close game to Penrith 8–6 in the next week, ending their season.

The 2022 NRL season saw Parramatta win four of their first five games. They struggled with consistency but beat Penrith and Melbourne twice. They finished fourth. In the finals, they lost to Penrith. But they bounced back to beat Canberra 40–4. In the preliminary final, Parramatta upset North Queensland 24–20 to reach the Grand Final. In the 2022 NRL Grand Final, they lost to Penrith 28–12.

The 2023 NRL season started with three close losses. In Round 4, Parramatta defeated Penrith 17–16 in extra time. Mitchell Moses kicked the winning field goal. They then won five games in a row. However, a form slump followed. Their season ended in Round 25 when they lost to the Sydney Roosters. They finished 10th.

In the 2024 NRL season, Parramatta started with a win over Canterbury. Halfback Mitchell Moses suffered a foot injury in Round 3. Coach Brad Arthur was fired after a 48–16 loss to Melbourne. Trent Barrett became interim coach. On 8 July 2024, Jason Ryles was named the new head coach for 2025. The Eels avoided the wooden spoon in the final game, finishing 15th.

Club Identity

Team Name and Emblem

When the club started, it did not have an official nickname. It was known as the "Fruitpickers." This was because of the many fruit farms in the area. In the mid-1960s, a journalist suggested the name "Eels." This name comes from the Aboriginal word "Barramattagal," meaning "place where the Eels dwell." The team became known as "The Eels" and it became official in the late 1970s.

In 1980, the club's crest changed to feature an eel. This design stayed, with some changes, until 2000. In 2004, the eel drawing on the crest went back to a style similar to the original. In 2009, the Eels announced they would return to their 1980s emblem for the 2011 season. They added "1947," the year the club began.

Team Colours

When the Parramatta club was first planned in 1936, the colours were green and white. But in 1946, the colours blue and gold were chosen. These colours are said to come from Arthur Phillip High School. The Parramatta District Rugby Union club also used these colours. The shades of blue and gold have changed over the years.

The first Parramatta jersey in 1947 was blue with a yellow hoop. This changed in 1949 to blue and gold hoops. In the 1970s, jerseys with stripes were used. Over time, the designs have changed to different blue and gold patterns.

Primary Jerseys

• Parramatta primary jerseys
• 

  1947

• 

  1948–1951

• 

  1952

• 

  1953–1974

• 

  1975

• 

  1976–1985

• 

  1986–1994

• 

  1995–2000

Home Stadium

Rugby league was played at Cumberland Oval from 1909. When the Eels joined the competition in 1947, it became their home ground. Their last game there was in 1981. After winning their first premiership that year, fans celebrated at Cumberland Oval. During the celebrations, parts of the stadium were damaged.

From 1982 to 1985, the Eels used Belmore Oval as a temporary home. A new stadium, Parramatta Stadium, was built on the same site as Cumberland Oval. The Eels played their first game there on 16 March 1986, winning 36–6. The stadium could hold 30,000 people. After changes in 2002, its capacity was 21,487.

The largest crowd at Cumberland Oval was 22,470 in 1971. The largest crowd at Parramatta Stadium was 27,243 in 1986. Parramatta Stadium was closed and demolished in 2017. Western Sydney Stadium was built in its place and opened in 2019. It has 30,000 seats. The Eels played their first NRL game there in 2019, winning 51–6. While the new stadium was being built, Parramatta played home games at ANZ Stadium. The Eels now share Western Sydney Stadium with other NRL clubs like the Wests Tigers.

Team Rivalries

The Parramatta Eels have some big rivalries with other teams.

Eels vs. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

This rivalry grew in the 1970s and 1980s. The two clubs played each other in three Grand Finals: 1976, 1982, and 1983. They also played in many other finals games. The rivalry was even featured in a TV commercial.

In 2003, Parramatta and Manly played the first-ever golden point match in NRL history. Manly won 36–34. In 2018, Parramatta had their worst loss to Manly, 54–0. In 2019, Parramatta beat Manly in the last round. This helped them reach the finals and then win their biggest finals game ever, 58–0 against Brisbane.

Many players have played for both clubs since 2000. This includes Jamie Lyon, William Hopate, and Kieran Foran.

Eels vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

This is one of the Eels' most important rivalries. It became stronger in the 1980s when they met in the 1984 and 1986 Grand Finals.

In 1998, Parramatta played Canterbury in a preliminary final. Parramatta was leading 18–2 with less than 10 minutes left. But Canterbury scored three tries and won 32–20 in extra time. In 2005, Parramatta had their biggest win against Canterbury, 56–4.

In 2009, Parramatta faced Canterbury in the preliminary final. A record crowd of 74,549 watched. Parramatta was down at halftime but came back to win 22–12. This showed why their rivalry is so strong. Recently, Parramatta has won 12 of the last 15 games against Canterbury since 2015.

Eels vs. Penrith Panthers

This rivalry is known as the "Western Sydney Derby." It is partly because Penrith used to be part of the Parramatta rugby league area. Players and officials in Penrith felt ignored by the Parramatta club.

Parramatta beat Penrith in two finals games, in 1985 and 2000. In 2021, Penrith beat Parramatta 8–6 in a very tough finals game.

In 2022, Parramatta beat Penrith twice in the regular season. They were the only team to do so. However, Penrith defeated Parramatta in the 2022 Grand Final. After the Grand Final, some Penrith players made fun of the Eels.

In 2023, Parramatta beat Penrith 17–16 in extra time in a Grand Final rematch. Mitchell Moses kicked the winning field goal. In the final round of 2023, Parramatta upset Penrith 32–18.

Eels vs. Melbourne Storm

This rivalry grew after Melbourne was found to have broken salary cap rules from 2006 to 2010. Parramatta felt they were cheated out of a premiership in the 2009 NRL Grand Final.

In 2010, Parramatta beat Melbourne 24–10. The game had two fights. One started when Jarryd Hayne and Billy Slater clashed.

Parramatta has never beaten Melbourne in a finals game. They have lost all seven times. Parramatta holds the record for scoring the most points against Melbourne in one game, winning 54–10 in 2001. In 2021, Parramatta defeated Melbourne 22–10. This ended Melbourne's 19-game winning streak.

Players

Current Squad

This is the current playing squad and coaching staff for the Parramatta Eels in the 2024 NRL season.

Notable Players

In 2002, fans voted for the greatest Parramatta players. This team was called the Parramatta Legends.

Parramatta Legends

Backs						Forwards		Coaching staff
1 Ken Thornett – FB  2 Eric Grothe Sr. – WG  3 Mick Cronin – CE  4 Steve Ella – CE  5 Neville Glover – WG  6 Brett Kenny – FE  7 Peter Sterling – HB						8 Bob O'Reilly – PR  9 Steve Edge – HK 10 Dean Pay – PR 11 Dick Thornett – SR 12 Peter Wynn – SR 13 Ray Price – LK		Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice captain(s) Updated: 28 August 2002 Source(s): Eels' class of '81 still the fans' favourites, Parramatta Eels Caps

Coaches

The Parramatta Eels have had 30 different coaches since they started.

Supporters

At the end of the 2023 NRL season, Parramatta had the most NRL members among Sydney clubs, with 35,015 paying members.

Some famous supporters of the club include:

• Sean Abbott, Australian cricketer
• Simon Baker, Australian actor
• Toni Collette, Australian actress
• Danny Green, professional Australian boxer
• Paul Hogan, Australian actor and comedian
• Darren Lehmann, Former Australian cricketer
• Nathan Rees, former Premier of New South Wales
• Daryl Somers, Australian television presenter

Statistics and Records

Individual Records

Most Games Played (200+)

1. Nathan Hindmarsh (330 games) from 1998 to 2012
2. Brett Kenny (265 games) from 1980 to 1993
3. Luke Burt (264 games) from 1999 to 2012
4. Nathan Cayless (259 games) from 1997 to 2010
5. Ray Price (258 games) from 1976 to 1986

Scoring Records Mick Cronin holds the record for most points scored (2,001) from 1977 to 1986. He also scored the most points in a single season (282) in 1978. Luke Burt has the most tries (111) from 1999 to 2012.

Parramatta's biggest win was 74–4 against Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2003. Their biggest loss was 0–68 to Canberra Raiders in 1993.

Crowd Records The largest crowd Parramatta has played in front of was 104,583 people in 1999. The largest home crowd at the old Parramatta Stadium was 27,243 in 1986. At the new Western Sydney Stadium, the record crowd for a Parramatta game is 29,372. This was when they beat Brisbane 58–0 in a 2019 finals game.

Finals Appearances

The Eels have made the finals 31 times. Their appearances include:

• 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.

Honours and Trophies

First-Grade Achievements

• Premierships: 4

1981, 1982, 1983, 1986

• Premiership Runners-Up: 6

1976, 1977, 1984, 2001, 2009*, 2022

• Minor Premierships (finished first in regular season): 5

1977, 1982, 1986, 2001, 2005

• Mid-week Cup: 2

1980, 1986

• Rugby League World Sevens: 2

1997, 2003

• NRL Nines: 1

2016* (title later revoked)

• Bandaged Bear Cup (vs. Bulldogs): 4

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

• I4Give Foundation Cup (vs. Bulldogs): 1

2023

• Jack Gibson Cup (vs. Roosters): 5

2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2022

• Johnny Mannah Cup (vs. Sharks): 6

2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024

Youth and Pre-Season Achievements

• First Division / Premier League: 9

1975, 1977, 1979, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

• Club Championships: 17

1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008

• Pre-Season Cup: 1

1975

• Jersey Flegg Cup: 3

1970, 1985, 1990

• SG Ball Cup: 14

1966, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2007, 2017, 2023

• Harold Matthews Cup: 20

1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016

Women's Team

Current Women's Squad

This is the current playing squad and coaching staff for the Parramatta Eels Women's team for the 2023 NRL Women's season.

First grade squad								Coaching staff
Elsie Albert – PR Tyla Amiatu – PR Rosemarie Beckett – FB Pihuka Berryman-Duff – FB Kennedy Cherrington (c) – PR, SR Rueben Cherrington – HB, HK, LK Abbi Church – CE, FB Kelsey Clark – SO		Nakia Davis-Welsh – FB, WG Monique Donovan – CE, WG Zali Fay – WG Jade Fonua – LK Kimberley Hunt – CE Madeline Jones – LK, PR Ruby-Jean Kennard – PR Amelia Mafi – PR		Mahalia Murphy – CE Shannon Muru – SR Talesha O'Neill – SR Capri Paekau – HK Rachael Pearson – HB Kyra Simon – PR Shontelle Stowers – CE Cassey Tohi-Hiku – CE, WG				Head coach Dean Widders Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice captain(s) Updated: 18 June 2023 Source(s): Eels Team Profiles

See also

In Spanish: Parramatta Eels para niños