Jarryd Hayne air-brushed from Parramatta Eels history
Michael Carayannis and Brent Read
9 min read
April 14, 2022 - 5:09PM
Parramatta celebrated 75 years with a glittering lunch at Commbank Stadium on Thursday.
A great club celebrated a landmark occasion in front of current and former stars, not to mention some of the game’s most loyal fans. There was also an elephant in the room. The club has no doubt been wrestling with the issue for months.
Jarryd Hayne is one of the Eels’ greatest players. He is also facing sexual assault charges. The club made the decision to not use any footage of Hayne as part of their video presentations on stage. Who can blame them?
A Covid test kept coach Brad Arthur away.
About 400 people, including Peter Sterling, Mick Cronin, Nathan Hindmarsh, Nathan Cayless and Ray Price, joined current Eels Clint Gutherson, Junior Paulo and Mitchell Moses as part of the celebration at Commbank Stadium.
“These are important milestones for the club,” Eels boss Jim Sarantinos said. “It’s important that we celebrate them and acknowledge those that have come before us.
“It’s great that we were able to bring together so many people who have shaped the history of this club and provided some of its most memorable moments over the last 75 years.”
The Eels will pay tribute to some of their greatest players at the annual Easter Monday clash against the Tigers. About 12 of the club’s hall of fame members will form a guard of honour as the players run onto the field while a 75-year history package will be shown.
Covid kept Sarantinos away from Thursday’s function.
Replies
Lol imagine if COVID is just a thing they used to get out of things they do not want to go to haha. It happens i know but it makes it so much easier haha
I would have actually liked to have seen more from the club to celebrate 75 years. They didn't celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1981 premiership last year. I kind of feel like our major club milestones are being glossed over lately.
very good point, if we dont celebrate our finest moments and acknowledge those whose shoulders we stand upon, how do we continue to grow and get better. A football club is built upon tradition, upon past glories, past gladiators and past playersthat have entertained through toughness and skill, with the current crop challenged to meet and exceed those same past glories. Its tribalism at its finest, and our club has been lacking for many years in celebrating our past and past players.
Spot on super, i thought we might at least have 75years under the logo.
Unlike the roosters and souths, we rarely celebrate our rich history.
Hayne should have been acknowledged in my opinion, regardless of the off field dramas as its about his contribution on the field. I think its actually a bit piss weak. Also correct me if I'm wrong but isn't their currently a strong possibility that Hayne could be actually innocent.
Exactly Monto, same as when they were discussing taking his Dally M's off him, as far as i remember Dally M is for on field performance not if you are a good person or not, if that is the case take Johns Dally M's off him.
I also reckon Hayne should have been included. I mean if Hayne has been disregarded because of his off field discretions then why was Andrew John's elected as the 8th Rugby League immortal when he had some off field dramas
Yeah as much as I dislike Hayne. To date he is a free man and was convicted illegally. Our club is a weak kneed bunch of fucks if they're too scared what the fembots are going to get their frilly knickers in a knot over. Ray Price almost brought the joint to its knees with his political antics , in fact I'd say he almost ended the joint as we know it. Hayne deserves to be recognised , off feild shit only matters when it's not Andrew John's within this game it seems.
Hayne was the greatest athlete I've ever seen on a rugby league field.
That's the headline? Hayne??
Cmon the dude is facing extremely serious sexual assault allegations, he simply can't be involved for now. That's super obvious.
I hope the club makes a big deal of 75 years this Monday.
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