Yeah, being an Eels fan can suck at times, considering how close Parra came in 2021, going blow for blow against eventual winners Penrith. Here is a little treat for the die hards.
1980 john Peard is the coach at Parra and ARTHUR BEETSON in his final year in Sydney has turned back the clock after his LEGENDARY performance in State of Origin #1, played 8 JULY 1980.Arthur Beetsons State Of Origin performance in the FIRST EVER game secured his legacy as an IMMORTAL.
Here is PART 2 of Arthur Beetsons swan song - Parramatta BIGGEST EVER TROPHY WIN (at that time) - the 1980 Tooth Cup, AUGUST 21 1980, a few weeks after State Of Origin #1
This competition was the mid-week comp and was not taken seriosly by ALL teams for ALL matches. The Tooth Cup was a precurser to the Panasonic Cup. Some sides rested players near the end of the season whilst other sides played to win. Remember, at this stage, the ONLY CUP Parra had EVER won was the 1975 Pre-season Craven Cup. So Parra fielded a full strength side while Balmain tried to break the rules with a depleted side - read the newspaper articles to find out more.
Incredibly, Michael Cronin could not play as he has been SUSPENDED by the judiciary.
This match heralded the dawn of Parra's golden age with Brett Kenny & Peter Sterling in the side an veterans Edge, Sharp Hilditch & Wynn. As a Parra fn, it is sad to see Geoff Gerard & Michael Pattisons names on the team sheet - both tremendous Parra players but each left the club at the end of 1980 and never tasted Premership success. John Peard, another amazing Parra legend (as a player) was the coach - a master coach , he was NOT - but his mediocrity paved the way for the iconic Master Coach Jack Gibson to lead Parra to the promised land. But this is all about BEETSON - read with pride as ARTHUR BETSON delivers (at that time) Parra's BEST EVER WIN !!!!
Pre Game
Post Game
Click on the articles so you can see a larger version & read the text THEN click a second time for the article to enlargeto reading size
Here are some videos pieced together, after about 1minute Ray Warren is agahst with the contraversy and KEITH BARNES (Balmain Legend) and club official is in commentary
Replies
Click on the articles so you can see a larger version & read the text - I have no idea why there is such a big gap between each article
Fixed that gap for you. Just some extra line breaks sitting in the HTML
champion
I think I enjoyed footy more in those days. Refs were terrible. The game had more variety and much less predictable. Loved the way Beetson played and how players gelled with him. Paulo could be that sort of player. I am not sure if he would get the same type of support as Beetson got. I accept the game has changed and body shapes are much different today.
Thank you Tad - I agree, there was way more ball movement. I've been wanting to do an indepth analysis comparing and contrasting the styles, rules, and consequences of the game for some time. Interesting how the 1931 scrum laws that changed in 1982 and the 10m rule in 1995 have KILLED risk taking, creativity and excitement. I no longer watch the moderen game but am entertained endlessly watching old games on youtube.
Been a fan since 1975 & seen ALL our winning glory - my Parra fandom is not invested in chasing titles as my experience as a young teenager can never been repeated in terms of excitement.
I feel sorry for ALL league fans born after 1980 - they dont know what they dont know
Video added
Lickhard oval. Beating tiggers. Love it.
Video at 1.40......A scrum!!! Backdoor Benny drops it cold, but nah, 'ave another go
2.55...Beetson around the legs, Kenny over the top (Randy splooges here)
Do you have the full game tele?
Nice 1 Richard, sadly these snippets & the 1975 finals series are THE HOLY GRAIL for me & nothing exists in video format. Even rugbyleagueproject.org, that is an AMAZING source of information doesn't even have the team lists for the game, that's how much these games have completely disappeared.
This game is an HISTORICAL MILESTONE for parra fans & I bet NOBODY knows a damn thing about them. Just another reason how modern day league gets it wrong AGAIN. Surely these games exist, surely somebody that give a friar tuck at Parra could load them on their website
Sad, really so sad...........ARTHUR BEETSON is a Rugby League immortal for a reason. One of those reasons is a PARRAMATTA LEGACY REASON & ALL Parra fans SHOULD feel indebted & also celebrate that Artie (was one of our own for a while) with his MAN OF THE MATCH performance, that made Eels history. Even those that remember can only recall that he played a few games in Reserve grade, but are clueless that Artie Beetson - The Real King Arthur DELIVERED our first major trophy.
Breakes my heart
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/tooth-cup-1980/fina...
I wonder if Tigers have a copy. It was their home ground
tele ! The 60,,s 70,s and 80,s were great years mate..You did not earn much, however, you could easily find permanent work, housing was affordable even for a one-earner household, white goods were built to last for over 20 years, and you had great footy identities who played a great brand of football, Ken and Dick Thornett,, Clive Churchill, Norman Provan, Ken Irvine, Keith Barnes, Ron Coote, Reg Gasnier, Michael Diamond, Ray Price, Peter Sterling, Artie Beetson, Mick Cronin.
Most of these guys were household names and will be remembered how these guys played a great brand of footy
I wonder if players from 2000 on will be remembered in the same way by current generations?
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