Sworn enemies are putting their vendettas against Penrith aside, even if it is for one night only.
It comes as Panthers boss Brian Fletcher called on fans of archrivals Parramatta to get on the bandwagon even though the wound from last year’s grand final loss has barely scabbed over.
Already one Eels great, Nathan Hindmarsh, who never won a title during his time at Parramatta, has found himself caught up in the Panthers frenzy.
“This is a difficult one because if Penrith win three in a row grand finals it will match Parramatta’s efforts in the ‘80s,” Hindmarsh said.
“So that will take a bit of shine off the good old Eels. So I’m a bit selfish that way.
“But living out in western Sydney, what it does for our game out here at grassroots level, I’m going to the Panthers.
“This will be their fourth grand final in a row, they are a super team we won’t see again in a long time.”
Fletcher encouraged all of Sydneysiders though, not just Eels fans, to get behind Penrith’s three-peat.
“We’ll have plenty of support at Accor Stadium and we’ve got plenty of local support too in the city of Penrith. But we’d be hoping the fans of the other Sydney sides that don’t have a team in the grand final that they would barrack for Penrith,” Fletcher said.
“I don’t think all Parramatta fans would (barrack) for us, it would be 50-50 maybe?
“But it would be good if we could get them behind us but it’s understandable if they haven’t gotten over last year’s grand final.”
Former South Sydney great Craig Coleman has thrown his support behind Redfern’s favourite son, Adam Reynolds, even if it means cheering for the Broncos.
“I’m going for Broncos because of Adam Reynolds. I coached him as a young kid. He is a South Sydney boy like me. Born and bred in Redfern and what a player. How good has he been playing, honestly? I have never seen him play better and the young blokes are thriving playing alongside him.”
As for Souths letting Reynolds go, Coleman added: “Honestly, no one puts their hand up for it. And the Broncos are every chance of winning. I know they say you’ve got to lose one to win one. But the young blokes are fearless.”
Ivan Cleary jumped off the Wests Tigers bus but club greats Benny Elias and Garry Jack are hitching a ride on Penrith’s very own people mover on Sunday evening.
“I can get over that,” Elias laughed when asked about Cleary.
“It is how much the Origin has hurt me this year. And I love Kevvie (Walters). I toured with Kevvie. But I can’t for the life of me go for the Broncos.”
I’ll be cheering for the Panthers, full throttle. I can’t stand Queensland. What they’ve done to us (in State of Origin).
Jack echoed Elias’ sentiments.
“There’s no way you can support the Queensland team, that is just not right,” Jack insisted.
“It has a State of Origin feel about it, no question. This is the same rivalry and I think plenty of people in NSW will see it that way too, even if they aren’t Panthers fans.”
But one Eels legend in Mick Cronin, who was part of Parramatta’s reign in the early 1980’s is gladly sitting on the fence.
“I wish there was someone else in the grand final to cheer for.” Cronin said.
“I’m going to sit there and probably change four times during the game because each side is going to do something that is going to annoy me.
“I’m barracking for who I think will be the most humble winner, I just can’t figure out who at the moment.”
