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.
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