I don't write articles much on here these days but I wanted to share this. It's an interview I did with my grandfather during the week which goes through his support of the Parramatta Eels since 1959.
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Robert “Barrie” Richardson began supporting the Parramatta Eels back in 1959. In that time he’s seen more than 600 players and 28 coaches don the blue and gold.
When “Barrie” began supporting Parramatta, the club was only 12 years old, Robert Menzies was Prime Minister, Magic Johnson was born and Clint Eastwood featured in his first lead role, in Rawhide.
“I used to go the old Cumberland oval with my mates and we’d sit inside the fence, on the dirt track,” he says.
With the Eels playing the Dogs this week, Barrie gives his view on the long-standing rivalry.
“Parramatta supporters always thought Peter Sterling was the greatest and of course you had Steve Mortimer at Canterbury.
“That was the era where they really got into each other’s throats and since then it’s been like the Manly rivalry. It seems to be a dirty game with Canterbury and it didn’t help when those four players came from the Dogs in the ‘90s.”
In 1986, the Eels captured their fourth grand final in six seasons and Barrie gives his account of the last time the Eels lifted the trophy.
“In ’86 they were still a good team but I think they really did play for Ray Price and Mick Cronin so they’d go out on top.
“They weren’t as good a team as they were in ’81, ’82 and ’83. It was just, in my opinion, without Jack Gibson, John Monie didn’t quite have the authority “Big Jack” had.”
Before the legends of the 80s made their mark, Barrie says there were plenty of stars in the 60s.
“There were some good players around. Bruce Mann was a big second-rower. Mick Crocker was from Queensland and was a lock. They had Barry Rushworth; he was a centre who played for Australia.
“They had Ken Thornett in the ‘60s… the Mayor of Parramatta. He was, in those days, just about the best fullback in the world. They talk about Graeme Langlands and Les Johns but, in my eyes, they weren’t anywhere near the class of Ken Thornett,” he says.
Today we see wingers and fullbacks bat the ball back in field off kicks, but ask Barrie, and he’ll tell you it was “The Mayor” who started the trend.
“They had to change the rules because of Thornett. He used to go up and bat the ball back in or he’d stand outside the field of play and bat the ball back to a teammate.
“He was a really top player and then his brother came to play for Parramatta, Dick Thornett. He was a second rower, played Rugby Union and played water polo.
“We also had Brian Hambly. He used to play for Souths and he ended up out at Parramatta,” Barrie says.
In an age where players were known for their toughness, Barrie recalls the bravest player he’s ever seen.
“The bravest footballer I’ve ever seen in my life is a bloke called Keith Barnes and he was a fullback for Balmain.
“Balmain was playing Parramatta and Hambly was very mobile for a big bloke and he got the ball, he broke the line and he’s streaming down the field and there’s Keith Barnes. He just stood in front of Hambly and Hambly could’ve gone around him and pushed him off but he ran straight over him and Barnes hung onto him.”
When the 1970s rolled around, Barrie speaks of the two grand finals in 1976 and 77.
“In ‘76 they got done by Manly. ‘77 we had the first drawn grand final. In the replay (‘77) it’s always been said that Fearnley wouldn’t let them be dirty. Mick Cronin is sometimes blamed for ’77 when he missed the penalty goal.
“A lot of people won’t agree with me but he (Cronin) wasn’t the greatest pressure kicker going. There were some kickers who could put it over from anywhere under pressure. Cronin could put it over from anywhere but in that pressure time, sometimes he’d miss them. Which is only human I suppose.”
Ask him who he views as the best Eels player of all time and he’ll answer without skipping a beat.
“Ken Thornett. I’ve always thought Thornett was the best. Ray Price, Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny and Mick Cronin are all level below him.
“You talk about fullbacks today and you’ve got Hayne (Jarryd Hayne), he’d be up there too, but he (Thornett) could be anywhere on the field and always seemed to know where the ball was going to go.
“I was at a game at the SCG. Parramatta was playing Souths and they had Mike Cleary, who was an Olympic sprinter, on the wing for Souths. Thornett was on one side of the field and Cleary got the ball and he was off. Thornett came straight across and drove him over the sideline. I didn’t know a bloke could move that fast and he hit him with everything he had.
“But that’s the way he (Thornett) played his game. He’d never take a step back. Like I said earlier, not many players, they change the rules for.”
Currently, Parramatta’s leading try-scorer this season is Semi Radradra, and Barrie says he reminds him of a certain Eels legend.
“The best winger I ever saw was Eric Grothe Snr. He was unstoppable when he got going. He was so balanced and close to the ground.
“I’d say that Semi plays a pretty similar type of game. He gets the ball and he’s not scared to run at them and break tackles,” he says.
Whilst Barrie rates The Mayor as the greatest he’s ever seen, Brett Kenny and Jarryd Hayne are two of the greatest talents he’s seen pull on the blue and gold.
“Kenny had the best halfback in the world inside him, he had Price with him, Cronin outside him. Those blokes used to help him a lot and knew when to give him the ball, especially Sterling.
“I’m not taking anything away from his ability - he was a brilliant footballer. I do think Sterling helped him a hell of a lot.”
“But Hayne’s just a different type of footballer. He had one of those brains, a bit like Thornett in some way, that he just seemed to know where to go to get the ball and his teammates had so much confidence in him so they’d just give him the ball,” he says.
So there it is; an account of what it’s like to follow the Eels for over 55 years from a man who has seen it all.
Replies
On ya Barrie, you legend. Good read Super.
Nice Read. Bruce Mann back then John was later on from memory. My father-in-law played for Wests in the front row and he told the story that one day at Cumberland Bruce Mann hit him so hard on the jaw as a scrum broke up that he couldn't chew for a fortnight.
Thanks for that mate. His memory with names isn't quite what it was but it's still good to see how much he remembers.
LOL 60s
Hambly on Barnes is legendary - you could see Hambly's boot prints straight up the front of Barnes' jersey when he finally got up.
From memory Hambly also got the try.
I'm with ya Barrie - there is NOT one player - before or after who will ever be as great as The Mayor.
Ahhhhhh - How sweet it is just to remember when Rugby League was a TRUE game of real men.
If only today's pansies (by comparison) could learn to tackle like they did when it was a game based on TALENT.
Great read Super
Good read
My father also supported The Eels for that time - and names was Barry as well - unfortunately we buried dad last Tuesday and we did so proudly displaying a parra jersey over him
Condolences for your loss Rodney. You don't realise how hard it hits you until the time comes. We also buried my nephew wearing the full uniform. It is amazing how football can bind people. Best wishes going forward
Dad moved to Guildford West in about 1952 and felt he had to follow the local team. When I was still in a pram we would go to Cumberland to the games. He thought Ken Thornett was the best player he ever saw, closely followed by John Raper. I was lucky enough to see both Thornett's play.
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