1 Eyed Eel was established and has become the community it is because of a simple connection.
We all support Parramatta. We all care. We all want that fifth premiership. We'd all like Jason Ryles to be standing on the dais alongside Mitchell Moses with the Provan-Summons trophy.
The results on the field have not been there since 2022. We all know that. The club knows that. It's why Brad Arthur and his coaching staff were dismissed. It's why Jason Ryles was appointed. It's why we shed almost the entirety of the 2022 grand final squad.
Yet what I have watched this season on the field, is the clear display that this playing group is united. They may be inexperienced. They make mistakes. They have lost more games than they have won. But they keep fighting for each other.
The keep fighting for the badge. The playing group is together. The club itself is together. All pulling in the same direction.
Can we say that as fans?
Can we say we're all united?
I'm not talking about blind faith. That doesn't work. This site has existed in many ways as a field for criticism to be expressed and that will always remain.
1 Eyed Eel itself was a catalyst for change during and after the Roy Spagnolo years. Phil united large sections of the supporter base to oppose those who would seek to bring the club down.
Now I see a new threat rising. One that tears at the very fabric of what we as supporters should stand for.
What is happening among other sections of the membership (yes I am referring to Talking Parra) is similar to what Roy Spagnolo attempted.
He has placed himself in opposition to the very club he supports. He has posted publicly that leadership should be removed because he disagrees with their decisions.
He has called on fans to brigade the club through email and phone.
This all stems from him losing access to players and sources within the club.
He has contacted other Eels members. He has publicly made false and misleading statements. He posted abusive commentary towards club staff.
He has seeked to damage the reputation of club staff.
This is not on. This is self-serving. This is trying to make yourself bigger than the club.
This was a comment the owner of the Talking Parra page left on Facebook: "The people in charge are not supporting me so why should I support them."
This is even more damaging and vitriolic than anything Roy did.
The club itself has determined to suspend his membership for his actions. That is the club's prerogative. All of us sign up to those terms and conditions when we join as members.
And memberships, social media presence, websites, they don't grant you anything other than the merch you receive, the tickets you purchase and the events the club provides.
It does not guarantee access to players, it does not provide inside information, it does not entitle you to anything.
I agreed to take stewardship of 1 Eyed Eel because I saw the site in a similar way to Phil. I did not take it with the belief it entitled me to anything.
I look over at some of our former 1 Eyed Eel members at The Cumberland Throw, who do a fantastic job at covering the entire club. Those who have had the pleasure of speaking with Sixties or Mitch or Forty20 will know the absolute Parra people they are.
They don't do what they do because they see themselves as being owed anything. They do it because they care.
I have nothing personal against Talking Parra.
We both joined the SGA at the same time. He has since departed of his own accord.
What I cannot stand though, is someone believing they are bigger than the club and attacking those who have disagreed with him, or called him out when has got things wrong.
He's called for fans to go after the club on socials, by phone and email.
Who is staffing that? It's not the executive. It's the regular staff who should not be made to be collateral damage.
He doesn't care though.
We should be united as a supporter group the same way this playing group is united.
Instead we're watching someone attempt to tear down the club. Who is directing his anger at the very people who stabilised and rebuilt the club from the ashes of the salary cap saga that saw it placed into Administration.
And in so doing he will affect the lives of those who simply want to go to work and serve the members of the club.
This is not okay. This is not on.
United we stand. Divided we fall.
Back the Badge.
Replies
Nicely written Super.
And for any who take this as a message that we all must agree - that is clearly not what it is. Super and the 1EE team have always allowed views that differ from their own, and continue to not only allow but encourage honest and open disagreement and diversity of views.
But as soon as any one individual thinks they're bigger than the club and the community we all support, that's when it crosses a line. And this recent action has definitely done that.
Spags was guilty of exactly that, putting personal ego before the club and in turn actively trying to destroy the community he vowed to serve.
No individual is above the club and the community. And we should always call out actions of individuals who seek to divide rather than unite, and be highly sceptical of those calling for revolution over evolution.
Infighting makes the club objectively worse. Always. We have many years of evidence to back that up.
As a community and membership we've stared this down before, and I hope we do exactly that again. Continue to be colourful, to have banter, to agree and to disagree...but to never ever accept those who try to put individuals above the club and community.
Great reminder Super. And I'm glad this bad behaviour is being called out for exactly what it is. Don't get fuelled by individuals who try to stir up internet outrage when they don't get their way, let them burn up their oxygen as we carry on as a community bound by our shared support of the mighty Eels.
Well said Captain and Super.
There is a huge difference between commonplace fan disagreement, perspective and personality at odds, and fans or members who cross a line and seek to undermine or sabotage club operations.
It’s a bit like a back-seat driver trying to grab the steering wheel or deliberately distract the driver.
The intentions may well be good, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We saw where that can lead during the Dark Ages, when the club came dangerously close to losing its NRL licence.
To be honest, I half expected the playing group to collapse in a heap. They’re undermanned. Inexperienced. A group that hasn’t been together for very long. They’ve spent much of the season being told by sections of their own fan base that they’re crap and a bottom-tier roster.
Even Bulldogs fans such as Hectic Fred lol (who admits he hates Parra) who works alongside Chad Townsend, praised our fight.
The Ryles era is essentially a season and 13 rounds old. In that short period, the squad's been rebuilt the squad and culture from the ground up. I can’t see the club abandoning that process so quickly.
For mine, as long as the club remains internally aligned, believes in the cause and continues improving the roster from 2027 onwards, that matters most.
Other parts of the operation are probably performing better than ever, and the club is investing heavily in pathways and its long-term future. Third parties are finally starting to trust the club and any players wearing our badge.
When we start winning, fan sentiment will improve and the weather will suddenly seem a lot brighter. Then the next rough patch arrives and the cycle starts all over again.
That’s footy. That’s fandom. It is what it is.
Thanks Super and well written. I personally would not give this guy any publicity.....
The club is right to try and manage it out of the spotlight. I though feel it's only right to pushback because someone needs to say something.
I mostly ignored it up until he began calling on fans to contact the club about it. I've heard that the level of personal attacks has exceeded what happened when Roy was drumming up opposition.
Yes that is fair enough, and I for one would have had no idea who / what this was about.
Never took the guy seriously regardless so his opinions have zero influence on how I view how the clubs performing regardless.
Very well written mate. To me it seems like the biggest issue the club has with Talking Parra are the leaks he is fed. The club has done a number to close out these leaks and we bearly hear anything unless its stated by the club to the media themselves. Now the way I see it, he has been taking the leaks and using them to promote his brand and his channels/ pages. This is a selfish act, but not uncommon in the media world obviously. You want the scoop you pay the price, and as some media have been removed from Parramatta ciricles for one reason or another (eg Michael Chammas), this is what they are (were) paid to do. Talking Parra wants his cake and to eat it too. Grow your brand, if you want to be an outlet of insider news of Parra continue as you are, but dont expect the club not to take action because you have the Eels Logo and name in your brand (different topic same issue using the Parra brand for self gain).
Once again, well written and I support this view.
I wouldn't know anything about this whole talking parra fiasco if it wasn't for members on this site posting about it. By doing so you are giving it traction.
You say the playing group and the club are all pulling in the same direction. What direction do you think that is?
All I can see is right full rudder at best and reverse at worst.
As for the guy mentioned. Never heard of him or his podcast so I can't see an issue unless the club is going full Spag on him like Roy did to Phil.
Well said Super. I don't know the guys stuff from a bar of soap, and it's refreshing to hear from one of our own, with an alternative view. LB alluded to it in some blogs and i took it on board. You have now confirmed some more things.
Onwards and upwards Eels. I for one can't wait to see some talent come onboard so that our great fighting spirit leads to some good wins.