Kenny and his 1980s halves partner Peter Sterling will be honoured with grandstands at the new $300 million stadium in Sydney’s west named after the pair.
Five-eighth Kenny and halfback Sterling, who won four premierships together with Parramatta during the 1980s, will be reunited once again.
Parramatta will take their history with them to theirnew home. Image: Peter Kurnik
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal Eels legends Mick Cronin and KenThornett, whose names adorned the oldParramatta Stadium, willagain have grandstandsnamed in their honour.
To complete the nod to the Eels’ history, the Ray Price statue, which stood outside the old Parramatta Stadium, will be brought out from storage and placed in the new Bankwest Stadiumprecinct.
Sterling and Kenny, whose names were on the hills at either end of the old ground, told The Daily Telegraph they werehumbled to have stands named after them, with an official announcement expected shortly.
“I would be enormously proud, obviously. To have the terrace at the old Parramatta Stadium was something I never thought would happen,” Sterling told The Daily Telegraph.
“With this brand new structure going up, to be associated with that by name would be fantastic, especially when you consider the other names you’re alongside as well. They are all great mates of mine.
“It’s just nice I suppose, to know that you’ve left some kind of impression with some people. It’s been a long time now but hopefully we have great times coming. Every time I drive past the stadium I will feel really good.”
Remembering the likes of Sterlo can show Parra the way back to the good times.
Kenny was just as delighted.
“It would be a great honour to have your name up there and to be part of this wonderful new stadium, which looks magnificent. It would be good to look up and see your name there on a grandstand,” Kenny said.
“And the other thing is that when you stop and think about it, when you look at the number of greatplayers that have come through that club, especially those guys in the 1980s and the late 1970s, it’s a privilege. It’s very humbling.”
They were halcyon days for Parramatta fans. Image: Action Photographics
Cronin was also part of the glorious Eels side which dominated through the early and mid-1980s. Thornett, nicknamed the Mayor of Parramatta after representing them through the 1960s and early 1970s, played 12 Tests forAustralia. He died in August, 2016.
In conjunction with the NSW Government, Parramatta will recognise the club legends in time for the stadium’s opening match against Wests Tigers on April 22.
Wests Tigers first home game at BankwestStadium will be played on June 7 against Canberra.
Parramatta plan to erect removable signs displaying the grandstand names for all nine of their home games this season.
Other tenants Canterburyand Wests Tigers can then name the stands for their home games.
The Tigers board will discuss the issue in coming weeks.
Ex-champions from Balmain’s side of the joint venture to be considered include Keith Barnes, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Ben Elias and Wayne Pearce with the Wests faction to look at Tom Raudonikis, Peter Dimond, Noel Kelly and Keith Holman.
Wests Tigers stars Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah would also be considered, despite still playing for the club. The Tigers played four games at Bankwest this season, the Bulldogs have one. Others tenants are the Western Sydney Wanderers and NSW Waratahs.
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Replies
I like it.
So basically nothing changes
In other news the sky is blue, water is wet and air is breathable.
Nathan hindmarsh statue and it's complete.
"Parramatta plan to erect removable signs displaying the grandstand names for all nine of their home games this season."
"Other tenants Canterburyand Wests Tigers can then name the stands for their home games."
So we'll have the Peter Sterling, | Terry Lamb | Steve Roach stand. How shit.
Yeah I don't know if I could go to an away game there - it would be strange seeing the stadium set up as a Wests or Canterbury fortress in our own backyard.
Calm down ffs. Parramatta have 11 home matches at Parramatta, and having other clubs play us will only advantage the team as we 1. won't have to travel 2. Our players will be more familiar with the stadium than others, & 3. These so called away games will attract more Eels fans than the usual away game giving Parra a very good advantage.
We'll also make money through the extra club patronage and payment for car parking
I agree with the additional home games but having temporary signage for our club legends is pathetic. As the anchor tennant they should have carried through the traditional values of the site and permanently named certain grand stands accordingly. If clubs want to 'temporarily' signpost other sections - fine.
The Wanderers are also an anchor Tennant. I know they've been around for 5 years.
Look, we should be happy about the stadium. Its in the heart of Parramatta and will always feel like an away game for other teams trust me. Just wait until the Tigers lose to us. Their fans will be complaining that they should have been at Campbelltown
Take a trip to Brooky and tell me that you're not happy with Bankwest
I don't disagree with you about the quality of the game day experience. In fact, I'm travelling down from Coffs Harbour for the opening. However, I'm a nostalgic type of person and don't like the 'part time' signage for our greatest players.
Certainly realise that Chief and there will no doubt be lots of Parra supporters there (may even outnumber the opposition fans). It will just be a little strange having someone else in there. ANZ was the same, but that wasn't really our home ground anyway. I'm sure we'll get used to it.
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