1985!! Why you shouldn't underestimate a weakened side

Round 9, 1985: Parramatta 22 d Canterbury 2The English connection is on the way home. Parramatta are clear second in the Winfield premiership and they have avenged the grand final defeat to Canterbury in the most convincingly way.At this stage of the season the critics predicted the Eels would be wallowing midfield on the competition table, eagerly awaiting the return of their six players in England.And even last Sunday morning, after the Eels had played well enough in previous weeks to have them in touch with the league front-runners, one critic claimed they would fall in a heap. "Parramatta have got to the stage where their stop-gap players won't be good enough," he said.It was criticism the Eels absorbed before the match. And they delighted in proving it wrong."Not bad for a team of spare parts," prop Paul Mares said. "The English blokes are going to have to fight their way into this team."While the Parramatta forwards made their opponents look ordinary, it was the Eels' 'old man', Mick Cronin, and his regular partner in crime Steve Ella who reaped the rewards.Cronin, the 33 year old who is playing well enough to be picked for Australia but wants only to devote his energy to Parramatta, was glorious.He somehow got rid of the ball with three defenders clinging to him to create the first try-the gem scored by Ella. Mark Laurie, another 'spare part' who has come into his own, miraculously scooped up the bouncing ball for Mike Eden. It went to Tony Chalmers and Ella who kicked over and regathered to score.It was Cronin who put winger Graeme Atkins away with a superb cut-out pass for the Eels' second try and it was Cronin who continually launched attacks out wide and sent Canterbury backwards with his line and chip kicks.The game was over even before Atkins' second try made it 16-2 after 62 minutes. The Bulldogs lacked imagination and thrust in attack and were woefully brittle at times in defence.Parramatta 22 (G.Atkins 2, S.Ella, G.Mansfield tries, M.Cronin 3 goals) defeated Canterbury 2 (A.Farrar goal). Referee: K.Roberts. Crowd: 16,459.

Teams

Fullback

Wing

Centre

Centre

Wing

15.

Five-Eighth

Halfback

Steve MORTIMER (c)

Lock

Ray PRICE (c)

Paul LANGMACK

Second Row

Steve SHARP

Phil GOULD

Second Row

10.

Peter WYNN

10.

Brian BATTESE

Front Row

11.

Paul MARES

11.

Darryl BROHMAN

Hooker

12.

Kenneth STEWART

12.

Steve FOLKES

Front Row

13.

Stan JURD

13.

Peter TUNKS

"Start Samrani either centre or wing. He smashed the sharks and the chooks. Was fast, tackle-busting and once he set his eyes on the try line it was curtains for the opposition.
I'd start him on the wing as not to disrupt Rusty and the combos set up…"

Replies

Parra fan on The Hill July 3, 2017 at 6:08pm

Graeme Atkins..lol..slowest winger ever!!! Probably slower than Ross Conlon too!!!

Parra fan on The Hill July 3, 2017 at 6:12pm

Line Ups that Day:

Teams
Fullback	1.	David LIDDIARD	1.	Michael POTTER
Wing	2.	Tony CHALMERS	2.	Peter MORTIMER
Centre	3.	Michael CRONIN	3.	Chris MORTIMER
Centre	4.	Mark LAURIE	4.	Andrew FARRAR
Wing	5.	Graeme ATKINS	15.	Steve O'BRIEN

Five-Eighth	6.	Steve ELLA	6.	Terry LAMB
Halfback	7.	Mike EDEN	7.	Steve MORTIMER (c)

Lock	8.	Ray PRICE (c)	8.	Paul LANGMACK
Second Row	9.	Steve SHARP	9.	Phil GOULD
Second Row	10.	Peter WYNN	10.	Brian BATTESE
Front Row	11.	Paul MARES	11.	Darryl BROHMAN
Hooker	12.	Kenneth STEWART	12.	Steve FOLKES
Front Row	13.	Stan JURD	13.	Peter TUNKS

wiggy 71 > Parra fan on The Hill July 4, 2017 at 9:38pm

Strong Canterbury side.

Tin Tim July 3, 2017 at 6:31pm

Great stuff!!!! lol
Parra fan on The Hill July 3, 2017 at 6:49pm

Mike Eden was an immaculate goal-kicker. He was better than the Crow and probably in the top 3 in the league.
- Electric Eel > Parra fan on The Hill July 3, 2017 at 7:02pm
  
  And could kick with both feet!
2agd8rk0gah1u July 3, 2017 at 6:50pm

I wonder if Gus Gould remembers the loss?
Parra fan on The Hill July 3, 2017 at 7:01pm

Our forward pack was pretty awesome. Loved Wynn and Mares, whilst Pricey wouldn't give a blade of grass away.

I always wondered if Battese had an Italian, French, Lebanese or Maltese background!!!
Poupou Escobar July 3, 2017 at 7:03pm

That would've looked pretty silly. Like a mermaid tail.
- Electric Eel > Poupou Escobar July 3, 2017 at 7:06pm
  
  LOL Pou. OK. got me........not at the same time.

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