King-Gutho94
Coach
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- 11,674
Going off topic off the match i am interested to see what winning a premiership would mean to the Parra fans on here.
The journey to get this point.
Now obviously winning on Sunday won't change your everyday life too much the bills will still have to paid, work won't change, mortgages wont disappear.
But for me it would mean the world it allow at least for myself to strut around as a champion when out and about as a Parra fan. No more 1986 jokes or jokes I have never been alive for a Parramatta premiership. And that the past 23 years for myself supporting the Eels has been worth it.
It would be a special moment to witness my first one on Sunday and be an experience and moment I have been waiting my whole life for.
Having supported the Eels since i was 5 years old when my Nan bought me a season ticket in 1999 and going to all the home games i was capable of going too from that season. My first game i remember going too was the opening of the Olympic stadium in 1999 against the Dragons sitting up high behind the goal posts where over 100k fans were at. It would was a remarkable night. I had my blue Eels jersey on and was Eel for life.
2001 arrived and just thought gee how easy is this we are flogging teams every week what is so hard about supporting the Eels. Went to the 2001 GF and my memory from being just 7 years old was shock but i don't recall crying that night. I remember the train home with my Brother, Mum, Dad, Nan and was staring in the darkness outside thinking oh well its just one game we were so dominant we would be back here next year and win it. The two sayings I heard were "there is always next year and you have to lose a GF to win a GF" was sprouted. Little did i know that night that 21 years later i am still waiting.
2005 was similar to 2001 we were back to flogging to sides and there was a moment i will never forget in Round 26 against Brisbane at Parra Stadium on the Friday night to win the Minor Premiership. The Primary School i went too the League team won the PSSA competition that year and got invited to run out with the players. I couldn't play RL due to a heart condition but the 2 teachers involved knew my love and passion for the Eels they invited to run out with the players that night. It was incredible running onto the field with John Morris to hear the roar of the Eels it was a childhood dream.
Unfortunately 3 weeks later we choked against the cowboys and is the only game i recall leaving early with 15 mins to go as my parents were in absolute disgust of another big game capitulation.
2007 - Mum took me down to Melbourne to watch Preliminary Final defeat. We tried hard that day but simply the cheats were too strong and was one of the few dignified finals exits we have had. But looking back its reinforced to me what it meant to being an Eels fan that i even made the journey to Melbourne as a 13 year old hoping we made a GF.
2009 - A wild ride where i was more concerned about the Spoon until July then within two weeks we went from near the Spoon to finals smokies. And what a ride it was. It was probably the most fun being a Parra fan from being mocked by Dragons fans at school after getting beat 37-0 to giving it back the following week. Then experiencing the best atmosphere at Homebush in a pulsating Prelim final against the Dogs. It was hard to believe we made the GF. The following week was disappointing and heartbreaking but the ride we had as a fan i will never forget.
2010-2016, 2018 - Moments through this period were tough. From wooden spoons to Salary Cap scandals it was hard. There were periods i thought we would were struggling to win a game let alone make finals and make a GF again. And just moments where you go why do i bother with this. But the addiction of every game gets you through no matter how good or bad we are going.
2017-2021 - The Finals exits have been disappointing and frustrating but being perennial finalists have made us relevant again and give me this over the misery of 2010-2016 & 2018.
So we reach Sunday we are in another GF and hopefully after 23 years for myself and 36 years for some the pain ends. It's been a long journey but hopefully come 9:30pm on Sunday it would be worth the wait.
Go you Mighty Eels and lets bring home our 5th & the hardest fought Premiership.
The journey to get this point.
Now obviously winning on Sunday won't change your everyday life too much the bills will still have to paid, work won't change, mortgages wont disappear.
But for me it would mean the world it allow at least for myself to strut around as a champion when out and about as a Parra fan. No more 1986 jokes or jokes I have never been alive for a Parramatta premiership. And that the past 23 years for myself supporting the Eels has been worth it.
It would be a special moment to witness my first one on Sunday and be an experience and moment I have been waiting my whole life for.
Having supported the Eels since i was 5 years old when my Nan bought me a season ticket in 1999 and going to all the home games i was capable of going too from that season. My first game i remember going too was the opening of the Olympic stadium in 1999 against the Dragons sitting up high behind the goal posts where over 100k fans were at. It would was a remarkable night. I had my blue Eels jersey on and was Eel for life.
2001 arrived and just thought gee how easy is this we are flogging teams every week what is so hard about supporting the Eels. Went to the 2001 GF and my memory from being just 7 years old was shock but i don't recall crying that night. I remember the train home with my Brother, Mum, Dad, Nan and was staring in the darkness outside thinking oh well its just one game we were so dominant we would be back here next year and win it. The two sayings I heard were "there is always next year and you have to lose a GF to win a GF" was sprouted. Little did i know that night that 21 years later i am still waiting.
2005 was similar to 2001 we were back to flogging to sides and there was a moment i will never forget in Round 26 against Brisbane at Parra Stadium on the Friday night to win the Minor Premiership. The Primary School i went too the League team won the PSSA competition that year and got invited to run out with the players. I couldn't play RL due to a heart condition but the 2 teachers involved knew my love and passion for the Eels they invited to run out with the players that night. It was incredible running onto the field with John Morris to hear the roar of the Eels it was a childhood dream.
Unfortunately 3 weeks later we choked against the cowboys and is the only game i recall leaving early with 15 mins to go as my parents were in absolute disgust of another big game capitulation.
2007 - Mum took me down to Melbourne to watch Preliminary Final defeat. We tried hard that day but simply the cheats were too strong and was one of the few dignified finals exits we have had. But looking back its reinforced to me what it meant to being an Eels fan that i even made the journey to Melbourne as a 13 year old hoping we made a GF.
2009 - A wild ride where i was more concerned about the Spoon until July then within two weeks we went from near the Spoon to finals smokies. And what a ride it was. It was probably the most fun being a Parra fan from being mocked by Dragons fans at school after getting beat 37-0 to giving it back the following week. Then experiencing the best atmosphere at Homebush in a pulsating Prelim final against the Dogs. It was hard to believe we made the GF. The following week was disappointing and heartbreaking but the ride we had as a fan i will never forget.
2010-2016, 2018 - Moments through this period were tough. From wooden spoons to Salary Cap scandals it was hard. There were periods i thought we would were struggling to win a game let alone make finals and make a GF again. And just moments where you go why do i bother with this. But the addiction of every game gets you through no matter how good or bad we are going.
2017-2021 - The Finals exits have been disappointing and frustrating but being perennial finalists have made us relevant again and give me this over the misery of 2010-2016 & 2018.
So we reach Sunday we are in another GF and hopefully after 23 years for myself and 36 years for some the pain ends. It's been a long journey but hopefully come 9:30pm on Sunday it would be worth the wait.
Go you Mighty Eels and lets bring home our 5th & the hardest fought Premiership.