What ever happened to the parramatta Jesus guy ? I remeber seeing him back on the hill many years ago but havent seen him since... no doubt he probably finished uni had to cut his hair and get a job and have his soul slowly crushed like the rest of us !
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The Melbourne cheater team crucified him.
He calls himself Hollywood Jesus now. I guess he moved when he got famous.
He now runs / owns Hillsong
He realised that perhaps inspiring Parra to win another comp may even be beyond his infinite powers
I think you got the wrong guy. I remember him saying to supporters "you never leave early"
The media interviewed him before the 2009 Grand Final and he said he was still interested in the Eels, that Parra Jesus was in the past and that he'd be watching the game at a mates place.
Actually I wrote about this back in 2010.....
http://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/parramatta-jesus
Here's an article on him back in 2008
http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/the-bridge/features/1344/john-ryan...
John Ryan
Who you? I'm a forklift truck-driving rugby league fan who supports the Parramatta Eels. I'm known by other league fans as "Parramatta Jesus" but after ten years I'm retiring the robes this season. I'll still go to the games, just without the outfit.
Parramatta Jesus - that's quite a name. It was 1999 and someone told me I should put a costume on. I made a cloak; the Jesus thing wasn't intended. A group of Parramatta fans came up with the name. They showered me with rubbish all day - all in good fun, of course.
If you could have one prayer answered by the Almighty what would it be? If I were to ask for the Parramatta Eels to win the Grand Final it would be unfair on the rest of them. No, all I'd ask for is for the boys to be dedicated and play to the best of their ability. That'll do.
If Jesus Christ played league, what position would he be? Fullback because he is your last line of defence and if you want to get to the heaven of the try line you've got to go through him first. Did I mention that I used to play full back?
Has it been a religious experience for you? Every team has their own little flocks that always go together to the games. I feel privileged to have met so many fans from across Australia. You might pay each other out, but at the end of the day it's all friendly and after the match you can all still slip into a holy watering hole for a beer.
John Ryan (known as Parramatta Jesus). Picture: Jeff Darmanin
NOW AND THEN: PARRAMATTA JESUS
PARRAMATTA Jesus knows temptation.
Like back in 2009, when he was offered $5000 to appear at the grand final. Or last week, when he attended a mate's party only to be urged all evening to revive the blue and gold robes
"But I have to keep telling people I'm retired," he laughs. "I mean, it has been six years."
Still boasting his long hair, thick black beard and insatiable love of schooners, it's easy to see why John Ryan was once the most recognised man in rugby league.
A mainstay on the Parramatta Stadium hill throughout the 2000s, his striking resemblance to the big fella upstairs was bettered only by those flowing robes his sister made.
"After about two years they'd start to get a bit tatty, stink of beer, that sort of thing," he shrugs. "But it's not like the original Big Fella went around in Hugo Boss either."
Sadly, it has now been six long winters since Ryan hung said robes in his closet for the final time. But as for quitting his beloved Eels? Yeah, right.
"I'm an Eels member and still go to every home game," says the Messiah, now 36.
"You can still find me up there on the Peter Sterling Terrace. Don't know why but I've always been one of those guys who love sitting behind the goalposts.
"And I'll always love the Eels too - even though it is a bit surreal this year coming, watching games without Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt in the side."
And as for the chances of him getting a haircut and shave?
"Oh, absolutely not," Ryan cackles.
"They're the source of my handsomeness."
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