The time of our lives

There's probably nothing less appropriate than quoting a song from a cheesy chick flick to represent the way we've all felt over the past 3 months but I'm going to do it, anyway. It's truly been "the time of my life". Even if we go through next year undefeated and win the premiership by a hundred, there was just something about Parramatta's 2009 finals campaign that will make it uniquely special, and something that we will always remember. It was success where no success was to be expected. Glory where there was meant to be gloom. Defiance in the face of adversity. As I wrote on a number of times this year, the Eel's early season was defaced by a perfect storm of unfortunate events. From the Brett Finch walkout, to the simultaneous injuries to Feleti Mateo and Kris Keating, to the discontent in camp as the players adjusted to their new coach. Amidst all of that turmoil, it got ugly. A number of big losses. Games thrown away against teams who were going even worse than we were. Teams win wooden spoons based on less misfortune than we had to survive in 2009. However, this side just stuck in there. And eventually as karma almost always does, it went about leveling the score. Calls that went against us earlier in the year, started going for us. The ball that previously bounced this way, bounced that way. Slowly but surely we started to re-build confidence. And the talent that had been buried for most of the year underneath all of that misfortune, suddenly broke loose. And week after week, it just got better and better. As it did, our spirits soared. And the Blue and Gold army started to rise up again. By finals time, it had become a frenzy. As supporters, we had found our voice, and goddamn we got noisy. The Blue and Gold bloomed once more and I still get tingles looking down on that sea of gold that took over half of the ANZ Stadium for that Bulldogs qualifying final. And I can't help but compare it to our first clash of the year against the Bulldogs where I walked away from the ANZ Stadium thinking what a joke that I'd supposedly just witnessed a "home" match when I could see and hear was Bulldog support. And of course, the scenes following that match - the chants, the joy, the kinship - that erupted both outside of the Stadium and then later back at the Leagues Club and along Church Street. Then there was that famous away match. The first final at the most hostile of away venues - Kogarah Stadium. Where a few pockets of mad Blue and Gold supporters managed to stand tall against a swarm of parochial red and white fans. And where the players on the field did exactly the same, holding back tide after tide of Red and White attack before finally launching a belated counter-attack and emerging as brave victors. We will never forget the emergence of our own home-grown superstar. It was the year that Jarryd Hayne stepped forward to finally deliver on all of his prodigious talents, going on a run of form that may perhaps never be repeated and which culminated in his crowning as the Dally M player of the year. And then to top it off, news that he had agreed to terms and would help lead our next generation of Eels forward deep into the next decade. It was three months of unadulterated joy that led to the grandest of all footballing days - the grand final. Every Eel fan will admit that there were times during this year that in their wildest dreams they would not have dreamed that a grand final appearance might be the even the remotest of possibility. So we all knew that just to be a part of the week and the big day was something to be savoured and appreciated. And so no, the fairy tale didn't have a happy ending. But the boys still did us proud and I wouldn't swap those three months that led to it, for anything. Storm supporters may have a trophy. A couple of them may even appreciate it. However, we have re-found our belief, our pride and passion for our club and the rest of the NRL can stand on notice. The era of the Eels has begun.

Replies

Wild_Eels October 6, 2009 at 12:56pm

Wow Phil, this is a top class article. " Even if we go through next year undefeated and win the premiership by a hundred, there was just something about Parramatta's 2009 finals campaign that will make it uniquely special, and something that we will always remember." I totally agree with this sentence. This team made us really proud.

I have recored every single game which I am going to watch off-season. Hopefully Parra boys will stay out of any off field drama and make us proud again next year.

And still hoping Kinga will be with us next year.
James Begley October 6, 2009 at 1:11pm

Mate I could not have put it better.
A unique year for us that nobody can take away.
mello_79 October 6, 2009 at 1:18pm

Sounds like a script for a feel-good, against the odds blockbuster movie doesn't it.
- jamesy > mello_79 October 6, 2009 at 1:41pm
  
  just like Rocky, He didn't win the first time due to bad refereeing, but then Rocky 2 there is a rematch and he wins! The EELS will have their rematch in 2010 and provide the knockout blow!
- poida97 > mello_79 October 6, 2009 at 2:18pm
  
  yeah, the weight of expectation is not a good thing...
Bosanac October 6, 2009 at 11:40pm

Another top article. However, I'm not convinced as of yet that any sort of 'era' per se has begun...