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
Yeah, I've told him to just get back to posting the footy stuff. Some people want to be informed, some don't. I've told him to get back to what made his page grow.
But to be fair the Lidiard email was worth posting about imo. That's become pretty serious. And people want to know what's happening.
It is a social media page, that he runs. It's a pretty big thing when a club suspends a membership, and a lot of people want to hear about it. Let alone someone who runs a fan page.
On that, he never once told people to hand in their memberships. He definitely doesn't think he's bigger than the club. Sure, he put up a post saying email the membership team if you want to voice your support. And that's OK. People can voice their opinion or support however they feel. Especially considering there hasn't been a solid reason or examples given.
Same as the meeting about TP. Why wouldn't he want to talk about that publicly? I thought it pretty odd that 2 days out from the game that probably decides if we finish bottom 4 or not that's the type of meeting our club is having. I think we had more important things to talk about.
Then to top it off the Jim visit at the members event, again worth discussing. Adam has led q and a sessions with Jim at some of these events. As super mentioned it was Adam and the others in the sga that helped start these members events again. An sga that was formed after the events of 2024, and people voicing an opinion.
I guess my point there is not every time people voice opinions against how the club functions is a negative.
Appreciate you taking the time to explain your side. I can see you’re coming from a place of supporting your brother and sharing your perspective publicly, which isn’t always easy. I don’t agree with all of it, but I understand where you’re coming from. A win on Saturday cures some wounds for everyone.
As for the advice I've given about TP moving forward in the TP chat. I've always told Adam to remember why he started the page and what made it grow. Talking about the club he loves, and doing things for other fans. He's done some amazing things for some fans imo. I've told him to avoid club politics where he can. Remember though, that the club reached out to him first and wanted to work together. (side note. I see a lot of public comment that the club give him field club tickets and what not. Again, absolute garbage. He tried to give away two field club tickets that one of the TP podcasters paid for once and the club stopped him). So hard to avoid at times I guess. I told him then, and keep telling him now that the corporate world is fickle. Some of these people are not ur friends, (and some definitely pretended to be) and they never will be. I'm so annoyed that he didn't listen and they used him at times, and this is where it ended up.
But I keep telling him, to put it aside. They'll be gone soon if we don't start winning, and we'll still be here. We've been here for 35 years, and we'll be here for 35 or 45 more if I'm lucky. Now, I don't say that as some kind of weird threat that we'll storm the club with a new faction. I just mean that's the reality of it. If clubs don't win, boards get moved on. And coaches and players. But we're still here, the fans are still here. Because we don't care about the name on the back of the jersey, or the front of the ceo's door. We care about the badge on the front, and the colours. (except that white jersey. Ew)
So I don't want TP to go all out war. Absolutely not. After losing his 17 year membership he probably wants to. But I will never ever let him throw TP in. He's worked too hard. As have others in it. Does it mean I think we become a club mouthpiece? Absolutely not. My opinions and statements on the club will always change, depending on if we're winning. I refuse to try put a positive spin on things that are so poor or ridiculously wrong decisions.
What I do think is TP probably just need to adjust how we address things. And how we come across. We live and learn. I'm guilty of it in the past, how I've discussed players performances and questioned desire to play for our club. We've discussed previously. On that, what I saw from last night's podcast seemed like it was presented better. I wasn't on last night. But saw half. It seemed Calmer. More Collected. And opinions presented with thoughts. Some positive, some negative. And negative is OK. Imo it was hard to find positive after the game on the weekend. Was an absolute stinker.
Fair comment, appreciate the calm approach to your responses.
Ps. Oh my gosh we could do with a good win right!? We've all been through the dark times, we all know how much easier it is to be positive when the wins come
Also, signing players. That will fix more wounds.
Yeah not looking good on that horizon at this stage. Hopefully with the roster turn over we've had that in theory should have freed up some cash we can snag one that'll make a difference for how we are seen in the market soon
I agree, I'm sick of people telling me diveristy is our strength.
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