The Parramatta Eels have secured one of the most respected football leaders in the game, appointing long time St Helens Chief Executive Officer Mike Rush as CEO, to lead the Club’s football and commercial operations.
Rush’s appointment follows an extensive global search undertaken by the Eels Board.
Rush arrives with one of the most decorated resumés in rugby league. In his 13 seasons as CEO, he oversaw the most dominant era in St Helens’ history, winning five Super League Grand Finals (including a record four straight), the Challenge Cup, and the 2023 World Club Challenge over Penrith. This period saw the rise of the St Helens Women’s team, including the 2021 treble, back-to-back Challenge Cup retentions in 2022 and 2023, and a fourth consecutive Challenge Cup alongside the League Leaders' Shield in 2024.
Mike Rush’s 27-year career at St Helens spanned the full spectrum of football operations, having served as Head of Youth, Head of Performance, Assistant Coach and Head Coach before being appointed CEO. That grounding gives him a strong background in recruitment, roster management, player development and high-performance culture, and a clear understanding of what it takes to build and sustain a winning football program.
Parramatta Eels Chairman Matthew Beach said:
“The Board conducted a comprehensive search process and interviewed some very strong candidates, and I’d like to thank all candidates for their time and professionalism. Mike was one of the first candidates we were connected with, and his track record made him the standout in a strong field.”
“On behalf of the Board, I'm delighted to welcome Mike as our new Chief Executive. We were looking for a football CEO: someone with extensive rugby league experience who understood how to align strong junior pathways with elite men's and women's programs while creating a high-performance culture that delivers long-term success. Mike's record at St Helens demonstrates exactly that.”
“As a Club, we have a proud history and our ambition is simple: to build a Club that consistently competes for premierships and delivers success for our Members and supporters. Mike is the right person to lead the Club through its next chapter, and the Board looks forward to working closely with him.”
“I’d like to thank my fellow Board members and the Executive Management Team for their dedication and professionalism during this process. I’m grateful for the trust and support that everyone has shown throughout this process.”
Mike Rush said:
“It's an enormous privilege to be appointed CEO of the Parramatta Eels. This is one of rugby league's great clubs, with a proud history, passionate supporters and a deep connection to its community.”
“I'm honoured to be given this opportunity. My focus will be on building a premiership-winning club that develops its own talent and makes our members and community proud.”
“My priorities are clear: to support the Eels football department across the men’s and women’s programs, to grow our membership and commercial base and to make sure every Eels member and fan feels part of the Club.”
“Parramatta has a strong foundation and enormous potential. I want to thank the Chairman and the Board for their confidence and trust in me, and I can't wait to get started.”
He will initially begin his role from England while his visa requirements are worked through.
Replies
Very strong resume with experience in just about all facets of running a football club.
We are having our best off-season in a very long time, don't stop now, keep adding.
He may snag some ESL talent accross to the EELS
Nesmba and Welsby are the two I would be comfortable going for.
Don't know much about the talents in SL but hopefully he can bring some St Helens talent over with him.
This is a win for me a genuine winning track record and keeping a team at the top year on year things are finally turning around it seems great stuff Parra
By th end of his first year, we will have some Poms playing for us - hopefully we can see this and look far and wide as Coryn has strongly proclaimed for a long time - there is so much talent and from other codes and I was always surprised to why we didn't look further a feild - if we get POS - this might occur too
So, you are saying Hock may finally be coming? Stuff Leniu, Rush and possibly POS announcement, Hock is the news i want.
Such a long wait but ever hopeful.
look if he can identlfy the next Herbie Farnsworth then all hail the new king......or if he is an out of his depth leader from a 3rd rate NSW CUP level competition
We will see