Nathan Hindmarsh on his time at Parramatta and the impact of the club’s glory days
NATHAN Hindmarsh has a confession to make.
He may be one of Parramatta’s greatest forwards, but Hindmarsh wasn’t an Eels supporter growing up in the NSW town of Bowral.
“I was a Bulldogs fan,” Hindmarsh says, smiling.
“So I really didn’t like the Sterlings and the Cronins, but I knew who they were.
“Peter Sterling was probably one of the first rugby league players I ever remembered growing up as a kid.
“Also watching Eric Grothe Senior play and Mick Cronin, of course.
The Eels won the last of their three premierships in 1986.Source: News Corp Australia
“They are names that when you mention Parramatta Eels, they are the first names you think about.
“Well that was definitely the case in my generation anyway.”
Fuelled by his fanatical following of rugby league in the 1980s, Hindmarsh turned up to the Eels as a fresh-faced rookie in 1997 fully aware of the club’s rich history.
He’d witnessed Sterling, Kenny and co steer the Blue and Golds to four premierships in a golden era for the franchise.
It was a memorable period that not only inspired Hindmarsh to play for Parramatta, but create his own history in the famous Eels jumper.
“The first thing everyone talks about, no matter what age, was those glory days of the 80s,” he says.
“The Eels and the legacy that they left there.
“I’m not being disrespectful to those who went before them, but the 80s grand finals are the things that set the club up to where it is today I believe.
Hindmarsh made his NRL debut with Parramatta in 1998.Source: Supplied
“Others may disagree, but you travel to Brisbane, New Zealand and all those other places to play rugby league and there is always an Eels jersey.
“I really think that has a lot to do with what happened in the 80s.”
Hindmarsh says the initial hype of playing for a revered club like Parramatta lived with him for seasons.
In fact, he still gets chills down his spine at the thought of representing the proud Western Sydney club.
“That does take a while to wear off you,” he said.
Hindmarsh was one of the most beloved players in Eels history.Source: News Limited
“You are an 18 year-old that comes from a small country town and then all of a sudden you are playing in the NRL for the Parramatta Eels.
“It did take a few years for that excitement to drop away a bit.
“But then you sit back and understand what the club was built on, who was part of the beginning of Parramatta — it’s a good story and something I’m proud to be a part of.”
After debuting with Parramatta in 1998, Hindmarsh went on to play 330 first grade games for the club.
The affable back-rower achieved plenty during his time at the Eels, including Origin and Test representation, but there is one moment he holds particularly close to his heart.
“One of the biggest highlights for me was wearing the Eels jersey as captain for the first time,” he reflects.
“It was over in New Zealand and we beat the Warriors (in 2011). That was a proud moment for me.
The backrower holds the record for most appearances for the Eels.Source: News Limited
“It was late in my career because of Nathan Cayless, who led the team for such a long time.
“Nath was one of the best leaders I’ve seen at the club.”
Hindmarsh may have hung up the boots, but he’ll never forget his 15 seasons at Parramatta.
“It was an honour to be associated with such a proud club with a lot of tradition,” he said.
“Now that I’ve retired, being a part of that organisation, group of players and the family that we call the Parramatta Eels — it was definitely a privilege to be a part of it.
“70 years on and all those players there now, they can say I’m part of one of the great clubs in the NRL.”
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