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Jason Ryles - Head coach of Parramatta from 2025

Soto

Bench
Messages
4,205

NRL 2021: Denis Fitzgerald reveals why he wanted to rename the Parramatta Eels​

Former long-term chief executive Denis Fitzgerald has broken a 30-year silence to reveal his controversial plan to scrap the Eels’ nickname and rename the club the Parramatta Rams.
Just days before Parramatta’s knockout final against Penrith, Fitzgerald admitted he had discussed the possible name change during the early 1990s with directors and senior club management.

In charge of Parramatta for a record 30 years, Fitzgerald never liked the Eels logo and had begun searching for a more positive brand name and emblem.

A big fan of US sport, Fitzgerald had long admired the Rams – an NFL franchise run out of St Louis and Los Angeles during the 1990s. Describing the response from directors as “lukewarm”, Fitzgerald elected against taking the proposal to the board for final approval.

“The Rams’ nickname was monosyllabic and more aggressive. I was looking for a mascot that was easy to recognise for people,” Fitzgerald said.

“I was keen on the Rams even though I was generally looking for names that started with a ‘P’ because that was the first letter in Parramatta. I spoke to club directors and managers at the time about a possible name change.

“There was always a difficulty in doing anything in terms of marketing with the Eels. People associate Eels as being slippery, slimy marine fish.

“The Aboriginal word for Parramatta is ‘where the Eels lie down’. That in itself is passive. No one wants a team that lies down.

“Even the Parramatta Council logo has an Aborigine supposedly spearing an Eel. So once again, the poor old Eel lost out. I wanted to get away from that with something aggressive. I harboured those thoughts for a long time.

“The Rams were also a huge brand in US sport. There was certainly some support internally yet others disapproved of any name change. It was lukewarm. These talks came after the late 1970s and 1980s when Parramatta enjoyed our golden era.

“It was difficult securing change back then. I wouldn’t have had the numbers to carry it. I try not to use Eels when I’m talking about the club. I say Parramatta or Parra.”

The Rams were a more appropriate nickname to Fitzgerald because of Parramatta’s history.

“There was a link with Parramatta and Rams – the Australian sheep industry was founded at Parramatta by John Macarthur, he was a wool pioneer (in the late 1790s). It was actually at Rosehill,” Fitzgerald said.

The admission comes after Fitzgerald had held merger talks with Penrith – Parramatta’s opponents on Saturday night in Mackay — and Balmain in hope of swallowing either the Panthers or Tigers moniker.

The proposed amalgamation with Penrith after Super League was blocked while Balmain elected to merge with Western Suburbs, forming Wests Tigers.

There had even been suggestions Parramatta once eyed off a joint venture with North Sydney with the club to be known as the Parramatta Bears.

Asked if he still believed the Eels logo should be scrapped, Fitzgerald said: “It’s too late. The Eels are so well known around Australia. If you mention Parramatta in Adelaide, for example, they say: ‘That’s where the Eels come from’.”

The club’s most famous Eel was a long mascot, manned by fans, which appeared at the SCG before the 1976 grand final against Manly.

Parramatta was named the Eels during the 1970s. The Eels nickname was first mooted by the late, great Sydney rugby league journalist, Peter ‘Chippy’ Frilingos.

“In the early days, Parramatta was unofficially known as the Bush Boys. It’s hardly a place full of Bush Boys now. The CBD is full of 40-storey buildings,” Fitzgerald said.


Fitzy wanted to call us the Rams
It's actually pretty good...we get rammed enough so Fitzy was spot on here...
Where Eels lie down and where Parra gets rammed...just meant to be...
 

TheParraboy

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
68,090
Remember Fitzy saying (before he got booted out) , along the lines , if we (the fans) don't buy enough jerseys we could fold within 5 years
 

PARRA_FAN

Coach
Messages
17,672
I remember that time around Super League, Fitzy wanted to change our name to the Magic or Power. Everyone else laughed but did get the old NSL team which lasted a few years.

I also recall him saying that we should have more night games so our fans dont get sunburnt lol
 

Gazzamatta

Coach
Messages
15,603
.
Perfect for this year 😜

No wonder we have a ton of wooden spoons ffs..
I was in year 4 at Marist Brothers in the mid 60s at Parra right next to Cumberland Oval. A couple of year 6 boys did a presentation on our Parra Eels. I recall one quoted the meaning of Parramatta, The Place Where The Eels Lye Down". His offsider quickly added, "Well I wish they would get up and play football".
It's been happening for years.
 

King-Gutho94

Coach
Messages
15,169
I remember that time around Super League, Fitzy wanted to change our name to the Magic or Power. Everyone else laughed but did get the old NSL team which lasted a few years.

I also recall him saying that we should have more night games so our fans dont get sunburnt lol
Good old Parra Power days in the NSL

I remember as a kid they lost a GF as my cousin was playing for Perth Glory at the time in the NSL when they beat Parra Power in the Grand final at Parra Stadium in pouring down rain a year or two before the A-League came in.

As we sat there with SFA people in the ground it was deadset pouring down worse then any NRL game i have been too & we must have been the only ones cheering on the Glory due to family connection at the time i wasn't into soccer much then.

Whatever the case Parra hosted the GF not Perth so it must have been another choke job as favourites at home.

Choking can't escape the place.
 

Suitman

Post Whore
Messages
55,893
Good old Parra Power days in the NSL

I remember as a kid they lost a GF as my cousin was playing for Perth Glory at the time in the NSL when they beat Parra Power in the Grand final at Parra Stadium in pouring down rain a year or two before the A-League came in.

As we sat there with SFA people in the ground it was deadset pouring down worse then any NRL game i have been too & we must have been the only ones cheering on the Glory due to family connection at the time i wasn't into soccer much then.

Whatever the case Parra hosted the GF not Perth so it must have been another choke job as favourites at home.

Choking can't escape the place.

I was also at that game.
Not cheering for Perth of course.
I still have my Parra Power jersey.
I'm going to Henson Park on Saturday for the Beer, Footy and Food Festival. I might just have to wear it. :)
 

Johnny88

Juniors
Messages
1,320
BENNETT LANDS NEW MAN
The changes keep coming at Parramatta this time with head of performance Trent Elkin who is set to join Wayne Bennett at South Sydney.
Jason Ryles is putting his stamp on his coaching staff having already told interim coach Trent Barrett that his services would not be required beyond this year. Elkin too has been on the lookout for a new club. It is understood he is close to accepting a deal to be part of Bennett’s coaching staff at South Sydney. Rabbitohs interim coach Ben Hornby will remain on Bennett’s staff, so too will David Furner. The Rabbitohs remain on the lookout for another assistant coach to join their ranks.

Elkin has spent the past five seasons at the Eels having had a long stint at Cronulla before that.
Bennett’s long-term high performance guru Jeremy Hickmans – who has worked with Bennett at Brisbane, Newcastle, South Sydney, St George Illawarra and more recently the Dolphins, will remain with the Dolphins next season.

 

Br64

Juniors
Messages
2
Breaking News!!!

Ryles our new coach.

Another rookie with no experience as head coach of any team that I can remember. At least some of the others has some history as head of lower grades. 4 Years is a long time
imo and just hope he brings Storm systems into place (without all the bullshit illegal bits) to strengthen our pathways plus improve our attack and especially defence. Bellamy's blueprint was always big, fast backs so hope adopts similar mindset.

Thoughts?
It’s no good wholesale sackings in panic. Keep players contracts on ice till we see how team performs with Lomax. He could just make that little bit of difference between a winning eels team and a premiership -winning eels team. If team still same begin the slaughter!
 

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
77,373
It’s no good wholesale sackings in panic. Keep players contracts on ice till we see how team performs with Lomax. He could just make that little bit of difference between a winning eels team and a premiership -winning eels team. If team still same begin the slaughter!
Welcome to the madhouse Br64.
 

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
15,854
I do like that Ryles has cleaned the Arthur stink out of the place. They are like the Moran’s or the Azzapardi’s (is that a family of underbellies or did I make em up?)
 

Chipmunk

Coach
Messages
17,365

NRL 2021: Denis Fitzgerald reveals why he wanted to rename the Parramatta Eels​

Former long-term chief executive Denis Fitzgerald has broken a 30-year silence to reveal his controversial plan to scrap the Eels’ nickname and rename the club the Parramatta Rams.
Just days before Parramatta’s knockout final against Penrith, Fitzgerald admitted he had discussed the possible name change during the early 1990s with directors and senior club management.

In charge of Parramatta for a record 30 years, Fitzgerald never liked the Eels logo and had begun searching for a more positive brand name and emblem.

A big fan of US sport, Fitzgerald had long admired the Rams – an NFL franchise run out of St Louis and Los Angeles during the 1990s. Describing the response from directors as “lukewarm”, Fitzgerald elected against taking the proposal to the board for final approval.

“The Rams’ nickname was monosyllabic and more aggressive. I was looking for a mascot that was easy to recognise for people,” Fitzgerald said.

“I was keen on the Rams even though I was generally looking for names that started with a ‘P’ because that was the first letter in Parramatta. I spoke to club directors and managers at the time about a possible name change.

“There was always a difficulty in doing anything in terms of marketing with the Eels. People associate Eels as being slippery, slimy marine fish.

“The Aboriginal word for Parramatta is ‘where the Eels lie down’. That in itself is passive. No one wants a team that lies down.

“Even the Parramatta Council logo has an Aborigine supposedly spearing an Eel. So once again, the poor old Eel lost out. I wanted to get away from that with something aggressive. I harboured those thoughts for a long time.

“The Rams were also a huge brand in US sport. There was certainly some support internally yet others disapproved of any name change. It was lukewarm. These talks came after the late 1970s and 1980s when Parramatta enjoyed our golden era.

“It was difficult securing change back then. I wouldn’t have had the numbers to carry it. I try not to use Eels when I’m talking about the club. I say Parramatta or Parra.”

The Rams were a more appropriate nickname to Fitzgerald because of Parramatta’s history.

“There was a link with Parramatta and Rams – the Australian sheep industry was founded at Parramatta by John Macarthur, he was a wool pioneer (in the late 1790s). It was actually at Rosehill,” Fitzgerald said.

The admission comes after Fitzgerald had held merger talks with Penrith – Parramatta’s opponents on Saturday night in Mackay — and Balmain in hope of swallowing either the Panthers or Tigers moniker.

The proposed amalgamation with Penrith after Super League was blocked while Balmain elected to merge with Western Suburbs, forming Wests Tigers.

There had even been suggestions Parramatta once eyed off a joint venture with North Sydney with the club to be known as the Parramatta Bears.

Asked if he still believed the Eels logo should be scrapped, Fitzgerald said: “It’s too late. The Eels are so well known around Australia. If you mention Parramatta in Adelaide, for example, they say: ‘That’s where the Eels come from’.”

The club’s most famous Eel was a long mascot, manned by fans, which appeared at the SCG before the 1976 grand final against Manly.

Parramatta was named the Eels during the 1970s. The Eels nickname was first mooted by the late, great Sydney rugby league journalist, Peter ‘Chippy’ Frilingos.

“In the early days, Parramatta was unofficially known as the Bush Boys. It’s hardly a place full of Bush Boys now. The CBD is full of 40-storey buildings,” Fitzgerald said.


Fitzy wanted to call us the Rams
To be honest I agree with Fitzy's sentiments on this, but as he also said, it is too late to change it now.
 
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