Investigation looms as ‘dismal’ 40-year Eels pain continues
Parramatta are set to launch the most comprehensive internal investigation in the club’s history after yet another season of dismal performances.
No area will be spared as the Eels look to improve their efforts both on and off the field in 2027.
Parramatta players against the Roosters on Saturday night. Getty Images
With fans and sponsors fed up with decades of heartache and disappointment, a committee will do a deep dive into just where the Eels are getting it wrong.
The club is one of the richest and strongest financially in the NRL and boast a massive junior league that continues to churn out talented players.
Yet the Eels consistently struggle to produce on the paddock, with this year marking 40 long seasons since they last won a premiership.
This season started with lots of optimism and promise, yet the Eels will again miss finals footy and finish among the premiership’s also-rans.
Fascinating story behind Suncorp
Origin time last week turned up a fascinating story when I was doing my research, talking to a former Blues coach who also coached for several years at club level.
He told me that after his Origin days, he took his NRL team to Suncorp Stadium to play the Broncos - only to lose one of his best Islander players on game day.
Why? Some bright spark in the ranks told the player that it used to be a cemetery - in fact it was Brisbane’s main burial ground during the mid-19th century, holding an estimated 40,000 corpses, before being turned into a football ground.
The deeply religious and superstitious player immediately panicked, refusing to play on a field that may well have contained the remains of his ancestors.
No amount of persuasion was able to change his mind - he was fearful taking the field would put a curse on him. Club officials put out a story that he contracted a bad virus, and a replacement was brought in at the last minute.
Rugby league - the game that never fails to deliver the fascinating stories!
Prophecy fulfilled for Tupou
Man of the moment Daniel Tupou is a one-club man, playing all his 300 top grade games for the Roosters, including Saturday night’s hat-trick against the Eels.
But ironically, Tupou actually started his grade career at Parramatta, growing up in Sydney’s west and playing in the National Youth Cup for the Eels in 2010 and 2011 before being signed by the Bondi-based glamour club.
Daniel Tupou receives his 300-game ball. Getty Images
Sprint king Hayden Knowles vividly remembers when former Test great Rod Reddy took a string bean Tupou to his first Eels training session.
“Rod brought this young Daniel Tupou to Eels training and signed him saying “This kid will play hundreds of games and will own the air”.
Prophetic words indeed!
Tupou has gone on to score 194 NRL tries with the Roosters, winning three premierships with the foundation club.
Board member apologises over Facebook gaffe
Western Suburbs Magpies board member Alan Fallah has apologised for a tongue-in-cheek social media post that saw him stood down by the NSWRL.
“Earlier this year I got myself into hot water with the NSWRL for posts on my private social media accounts making light of the demise of the Iranian supreme leader,” Fallah said on Facebook.
“Whilst the posts were intended as banter with my crazy rugby league supporting mates, I acknowledge that they could have caused offence, particularly if taken out of context. If that is the case, I extend my sincere apologies.
“Whilst I am a firm believer in free speech, I will be more careful in what I post in the future, even privately.”
