If you were to release a Parramatta Eels DVD, which games would you choose? No grand finals allowed.
The current games
- Disc 1: 1983, Qualifying Semi-final | Eels 30 - 22 Bulldogs ; 1983, Preliminary final | Eels 18 - 4 Bulldogs
- Disc 2: 1984, Preliminary final | Eels 8 - 7 Dragons ; 2003, Round 24 | Eels 74 - 4
- Disc 3: 2009, Qualifying final | Eels 25 - 12 Dragons.
Replies
We end up winning 28-20.
Apart from the GF's - and that includes 1976, 1977 btw
1. Parra Manly 1978 20-19 at Brookvale - victory against Ray Higgs our GF captain
2. Sun September 4 1983, SCG preliminary major semi final Parramatta 30 def Canterbury 22 - Crowd: 22,311
THE GURU TRY I was there....and this is what I saw
I was one of the lucky FEW that was at the SCG and got to see a little peice of Rugby League history where Eric Grothe's famous barnstorming try that began from 40m out he beat six accomplished Canterbury defenders in an astonishing SOLO run that helped Parramatta to a 30-22 victory. It is arguably one of the most destructive solo try's in finals history. That day, our family had somehow secured seats in the Ladies Stand (the first & only time I have ever been in the "Members" at the SCG). The Ladies Stand is on the Western side of the SCG and is situated around the half way line...........which is exactly where Eric Grothe began his famous charge into history.....literally, righht underneath my nose - I had the perfect vantage point to see his diagonal run begin (near the touch line) around half way, bump off SIX defenders including Chris Mortimer & Steve Folks (both noted tackling machines) to score. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRuk-4raqmA But what is largely forgotten about the 1983 semi against Canterbury is that it was Brett Kenny’s timely intercept (when Canterbury were mounting an ominous comeback) that really took the wind out of Canterbury’s sails. At one stage in the game - saw Parramatta leading 18-0 only to see the LEGENDARY Steve Mortimer spark a second half revival including one of the BEST cover tackles I have ever seen on a rampaging Eric Grothe - right around the bootlaces and a certain try saver - The Guru was at full pace and only a covering Steve Mortimer in the way - what a tackle - Steve Mortimer was also famous for his "chip & chase" - and like lightning scored a brilliant solo try from a chip and chase that reduced the Parramatta lead to only 2 points
Thank goodness for the Brett Kenny intercept !!!! Parramatta ultimately sealed victory in the final moments when replacement Will Harris scored with the Eels winning 30-22. What a day, what a game and what fantastic memories
Games 3,4 and 5 HEROS of 1975
……speaking of the Wooden Spoon – it is documented (before 2012) that Parra last ‘won’ the wooden spoon in 1972 (this may be so) but Parra also finished second last by 1 point in 1973 and actually finished EQUAL LAST in 1974 with Balmain – but Parra’s better for and against deemed Balmain as the Wooden Spooners.
So in reality, Parra had finished last in 1972, second last (by 1 point) 1973 and equal last in 1974 – and were without doubt the WORST team in Rugby League leading into the amazing 1975 season http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_NSWRFL_season
1975 - I didn't know this at the time, but if any ONE year defined Parra in the mid to late 70's. 1975 was the year. Promise, Fairytale, Disaster & then Heartbreak! I was an 11 year old Richmond supporter that had just moved to Sydney (July) from Melbourne & didn't really have a team yet.
In the final round of 1975 – Parramatta needed a miracle to qualify for the semi finals for the first time since 1971. Somehow Parra got the miracle they were praying for and had finished equal 5th with West’s & Balmain and had to play a series of elimination semis. To qualify for the semi’s, Parra needed to win their last game and had to have Balmain lose theirs. And that’s exactly what happened - The last regular home game for Parra was against North’s 28-13 (Aug 24). And Balmain lost to 4th placed Canterbury by the narrowest of margins 17-16. Parra were in the semi’s & that’s all that mattered !! see SMH article below
Our family didn't have a TV but I listened to EVERY game on radio and listened to every minute & my imagination ran wild with excitement listening to the next sequence of games. To qualify for the semi's we had to play & win "pre-semi's" – sudden death elimination games - that were drawn out of a hat !! Parra got the hard draw and had to play FIRST by defeating West’s 18 - 13 (Aug 26) and then only 48hrs later had to play & beat Balmain 19 - 8 (Aug 28) – and that was JUST to win 5th position. See SMH article below claiming Parramatta had now played 7 games in 19 days !!! & still with more games to come.
Parramatta then met Canterbury in the preliminary final, winning another thriller 6 - 5 (Aug 31). Yes that's 4 games (incl 3 semis) in 8 days!! See SMH article below
However, the Parramatta fairy tale was stopped by Manly, losing 22 - 12 (Sept 7) in the Semi-Final. Contraversey reigned after the game where Parra had 2 tries disallowed and Ray Branighan's killer interception (by many claimed) should have been ruled offsides - that Ray Branighan TRY absolutely killed us. see SMH article below
An incredible 5 games in 15 days including 4 semi finals is a feat I believe that is unparalleled in RL History !!! But either way I was now Blue & Gold forever !
Link 1 Parra ALSO finishes LAST in 1974 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_NSWRFL_season
Link 2 SMH 3 Teams finish equal 5th http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EvpjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WuYDAAAA...
Link 3 SMH 7 games in 19 days http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FvpjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WuYDAAAA...
Link 4 SMH Parra beat Canturbury 6-5 in thriller to finally make semi finals http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rQRkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XuYDAAAA...
Link 5 SMH Manly defeat Parra amid 2 try controversy http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tARkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XuYDAAAA...
Link 6 SMH Summary http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XftjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=feYDAAAA...
(if you are interested, use the hand that appears on screen to move about the article - you can also make the article bigger or smaller - just look near the top of the page for the + and - signs)
it was weird cause the old man recorded all footy games back then on the old VHS cassette tape, and Yep the tape eventually gave up the ghost from over use,and I remember pulling it out of the video one day probably for the 1000th time or more I watched it and the tape was wrapped around all the heads on the inside of the machine and i was in tears at the thought of never watching that game again!
You could knock me over with a feather! I was just about to write about the 1975 semi final playoffs as the most exciting time in the clubs history, when I scroll down and find tele 1 has written about the same thing. Back then, my Dad would take me and all my friends to every game, both home and away, and we were sitting in the old Cumberland grandstand after the last round win against Norths but the game between Balmain and Canterbury, which would decide our fate, still had time to go and so they put the radio call of that game over the Cumberland Oval loudspeakers and no one left the ground. Canterbury won and the radio announcer said " and if anyone is listening at Cumberland Oval, you have tied for fifth place" What a roar went up. When the draw was announced for the coming week, we were not going to miss these games and we went to every one of them (lots of people missing school that week) and the memories of them are just as vivid in my mind still today as they were back then. Owen Stephens and Jim Porter made up one of the best set of wingers that Parramatta has ever had (both internationals-Stephens was an All Black) and Stephens was just fantastic during that run both saving and scoring tries. He ran down the great Garry Dowling from Canterbury in the actual semi after giving him a 20 metre start and I can still hear Rex Mossop's on the TV reply, in disbelief of Stephens pace. John Quayle was also brilliant at lock. What a time in Eels history. I have often tried to find these matches on You Tube but they are not there. Put me down for the DVD if all those 1975 playoff and semi matches can be found. I will happily be first in the queue to relive the most excisting football time imaginable. We used to sit in the old Cumberland grandstand with Jim Porters aunty. Does anyone know where Jim Porter is these days? Jim nearly caught Ray Branighan right on the line after his offside intercept (our centre Mal McMartin turned his back to pass and Branighan was still offside from the previous ruck) and Jim came across from the opposite wing. If only Owen had turned and chased Branighan! Phil Mann was also quite magnificent.Hands down classic games and I hope we get to watch them again somehow. It warms my heart just thinking of 1975 again
awesome PT - as I said, I was only 11yo and we had no TV - so it was all on the radio - but still awesome, ans SOO exciting - your anecdotes sure fill in some gaps for me - would love some footage also
PLEEEAASSE tell me you clicked the links I posted - please tell me you re-read the newspaper clippings I found
The 1975 Team and their heroics are all but forgotten - They should be celebrated SOMEHOW and younf fans MUST know about those magical magical games we were privileged to be part of - SO GLAD you posted PT
They started it - the Dynasty that Parra enjoyed up to 1986 was indeed started at Cumberland that day where you were so lucky enough to be at
any game beating the dog and manly
How about the game where we beat Great Britain in the early 90's at Parra Stadium? Despite being stuck at the bottom of the ladder, we were the only club side to beat them.
And the Lee Oudenryn v Martin Offiah sprint race bought the house down as well.
Out of the games I've seen. 1)2002 Round 1 vs Penrith where we won something like 64-0.
2)2009 Semi-Final vs the Bulldogs, not only for the game but for the crowd, one of the best atmospheres I've ever been amongst.
3)2010 can't remember what round vs Penrith where they were up 22-0 and then we came back and beat them.
4)2008 (?) vs Newcastle where Nathan Cayless kicked a field goal for us to win 24-23 or something like that
5)2009 The second game against the Tigers where we saw that try by Hayne and the brilliant team effort started by Mateo.
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