If you weren’t familiar with the in-fighting and politics that have dogged Parramatta over recent years, you would have walked away from last night’s Hall of Fame dinner thinking here was a club on its way to re-capturing former glories.
Too often, Parramatta’s nineteen eighty glories have only served as a big rock to which the club’s future has been shackled. They have both acted as a counterpoint to modern-day underperformance and a safety-blanket to which the club retreats to as it has sought to comprehend its evolving identity and deal with its problems.
However, last night’s dinner felt different. Yes, it felt like a celebration of our past - a more-than-justifiable glorification of the men who bled blue and gold to build a foundation for our club. Yet as we watched images and snippets of past glories and memorable moments, I wasn’t left to feel sadness that recent performances haven’t matched those great deeds. Rather, I just felt proud of what this club has achieved. And just as importantly, I also felt excited about what we still have left to achieve.
The night was slick and polished. Attendees were in high spirits and celebratory. Steve Sharp talked of a new era focused around building a club that competed for Premierships each and every year. Bill Moss talked about the Parramatta-aligned business community doing its part to support that cause through the Premiership Club. And CEO Scott Seward embodies a youthful confidence that while proud and cognizant of its history, is very firmly focused on carving out its own place in the club’s history. It’s the same feel that you get when you talk to coach Brad Arthur. And amongst the punters, both young and old, there was always an omnipresent air of optimism. This side of 2014 aren’t even sitting in the eight right now, but they have already achieved something that is beyond what can be measure by a tally of wins and losses - they have given the club hope again. Actually, more than hope, there is excitement.
We have really good people at so many levels of our club right now and it’s time for everyone, regardless of past allegiences or conflicts to put that behind them, and let the people tasked with moving our club forward do so, with our support, encouragement and assistance. Last night showed we can unite around our past, now it’s time to show we can unite towards a better future. A great future.
Replies
Great read one eyed, this season has been fantastic for us long suffering supporters. The first thing Arthur has done has made us proud to be a Parra fan again. We seem to have a great coaching staff in place, a promising young side with plenty of improvement in them. A chairman who bleeds Blue and Gold and would do anything to get this club back on top of the pile. Enough of the bickering, the bullshit and back stabbing. As a club we need to draw a line in the sand and move on forwards away from the last 5 years of rubbish.
Bring on more premierships, IT"S TIME.
Great blog, very encouraging, great to hear you came away feeling like that, well done to sharpy and the club.
Great report Phil, sounds like a great night!! - Totally agree, the past is the past. - Let's move forward as a major city club!!
The debate about the various political factions at the Eels is over. The club has not been run this well in many years. Long may it continue.
x 2
Now, about those pesky away games (lol)
Rome was not built in a day tele 1 - it took nearly a week.
At least we are starting to see some optimism and hope - something that has been sadly lacking for decades.
Now to keep it all going forward.
Those games are being brought back. We declined to move the game against Souths away and I'd imagine we'll see out our deal with ANZ but I'd be surprised if we renewed it.
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