1970s /

1970 /

The 1970s was the dawning of the new Eels. Strategic recruitment injected experience and professionalism across the top grades, and there were some juniors who showed great promise. 

1970 team pic

In a season plagued with injury and finishing with the wooden spoon, season 1970 saw two local products in Denis Fitzgerald and Kevin McFarlane make their first grade debut. Ken ‘The Mayor’ Thornett returned to the side and there were many promising youngsters in the junior ranks. Ron Lynch was made a Life Member of the club and Bob O’Reilly was selected to tour Great Britain and France with the World Cup team at the age of just 21 years.  

1970 Debutants: Denis Fitzgerald (268), Bland Liles (269), Roy Warby (270), Gary Pethybridge (271), Bob Eldridge (272), Kevin MacFarlane (273), Greg Hyde (274), Graham Lye (275), Dennis Mount (276), Rod Tolhurst (277), Terry Scurfield (278), Laurie Wakefield (279), Tony Bargh (280).

1971 /

1971 team pic

Parramatta signed Ian Walsh from St George Dragons in 1971 as coach for two seasons. Like Ken Kearney from the Dragons in 1962, Walsh was a hard taskmaster but introduced the required discipline. First grade made the semi finals but could not meet the might of St George who went on to win 19-8 in extra time.

1971 Debutants: Peter Langmack (281), Peter Archibald (282), Noel McHale (283), Tony Buckpitt (284), Chris Dengate (285), Graham Ernst (286).

1972 /

1972 team pic

Parramatta turned 25 in the 1972 season and the original 1947 team were invited to the first match of the season at Cumberland Oval against Western Suburbs. Celebrations soured quickly with consecutive losses and first grade received the wooden spoon at the end of the season, with reserve grade and third grade finishing eighth. Ron Lynch and Dick Thornett left the club, Ken Thornett retired, and Club Secretary, Spencer O’Neill retired. A player revolt saw coach Ian Walsh sacked and replaced with Englishman David Bolton. Dr Peter Manollaras joined the club as a medical officer.

1972 Debutants: John Archibald (287), Phil Jelley (288), Bryan Smith (289), Max Williamson (290), Gary Thomas (291), Terry Glover (292), Ian Kedward (193), Russ Devonshire (294), Noel Park (295), Alec Tennant (296), Adrian Anderson (297), Brian Bennett (298), John Kolc (299), Bob Jay (300).

1973/

1973 team pic

In 1973, the club gained quality players in John Quayle from Eastern Suburbs and Terry Reynolds. Quayle’s post-playing career would eventually see him take on the Chief Executive role of the N.S.W.R.F.L. The season opened with a 10-0 win against the defending Premiers, Manly in the first round at Cumberland Oval on Sunday, April 29. Players such as warhorse, Geoff Gerard, and halfback John Kolc joined the Club who would go on to have careers with the Parramatta District and Leagues Clubs post-retirement.

1973 Debutants: Phil Chesham (301), Mike Leary (302), John Quayle (303), Terry Reynolds (304), Dave Gandy (305), Tony Charlton (306), Jon Clark (307), Owen Frith (308), Bill Zubrycki (309), Greg Moore (310), Trevor McCarroll (311), Barry Payne (312), John Ring (313), John Neagle (314).

1974/

1974 team pic

The Club struggled with results and fans stayed away. The Vietnam War had a major impact on the economy and reduced gate takings affected the Club’s bottom line. The year saw the debut of the Sulkowicz brothers, Ted and Ed who would go on to play an important role in the club's grand final campaign. 

1974 Debutants: John Baker (315), Mick Bellew (316), Mal Cheney (317), Mark Cohen (318), Kevin Hogan (319), Mal McMartin (320), John Payne (321), Denis Pittard (322), John Moran (323), Geoff Gerard (324), Phil Mann (325), Wayne Levy (326), Ed Sulkowicz (327), Ted Sulkowicz (328), Ross Law (329), Steve Kovacs (330).

1975/

1975 team pic

In 1975, Norm Provan coached the first grade team to the semi finals and Terry Fearnley’s reserve grade team claimed premiership glory. Parramatta eventually won a first grade title on March 21, 1975, when they were successful in the pre-season Wills Cup. It was the year that the Eels had four players in the World Series squad – Denis Fitzgerald, John Quayle, Ray Higgs and Jim Porter. O’Reilly departed for Penrith who offered $30,000 a season for five years, but he would return in time for the greatest era in the club’s history. The club continued to struggle financially, and an extraordinary board meeting was called. Jack Argent contributed $5,000 to ensure the club continued to operate.

1975 Debutants: Dave Cotter (331), Ray Higgs (332), Jim Porter (333), Ray Strudwick (334), Steve Williams (335), Graham Olling (336), Ron Hilditch (337), Olaf Prattl (338), Owen Stephens (339), Neville Glover (340), Kevin Webb (341), Graeme Atkins (342), Warren Snodgrass (343).

1976 /

1976 team pic

The Eels’ first grade grand final debut finally came in 1976. Ray Price, Geoff Gerard, Ray Higgs and Mark Levy had joined the club along with John Peard who introduced the infamous ‘bomb’ – a spiraling kick that opposition players found difficult to catch. Over 50,000 fans cheered the Eels in a pre-grand final street parade from Cumberland Oval, along Church Street to a ‘meet the people’ reception at Westfield Parramatta. It was a decision that they would later regret having celebrated before the big day. They had won the coveted Flowers Memorial Pennant (Club Champions) but were beaten 13-10 by Manly in the 1976 Grand Final. Scores were level at 7-all at half time, but a dropped ball by Neville Glover and then a try to the Sea Eagles saw Manly raise the trophy. Players were inconsolable at fulltime, but the Blue & Gold fans waited patiently for the players at the Leagues Club.

1976 Debutants: Mark Levy (344), John Peard (345), Ray Price (346), Geoff Hunt (347), Tim Armitstead (348), Randy Attard (349), Graham Murray (350).

1977/

1977 team pic

In 1977, Parramatta were on track to win their first premiership. They had bought Mick Cronin from the Gerringong Club, won the Club Championship, and all three top grades had qualified for their respective grand finals. The side once again boasted Denis Fitzgerald, skipper Ray Higgs, Ray Price, John Peard and Geoff Gerard. Dux Water Heaters signed on as jersey sponsors for the final series – the first sponsor for the club in the new age of American sport commercialisation. First Grade met St George in the 1977 Grand Final which ended in a draw. Players were left exhausted, and injuries took their toll in the Grand Final replay conducted a week later. The club had six players and coach Terry Fearnley selected for Australia in the 1977 World Series - Denis Fitzgerald, Ray Higgs, John Peard, Michael Cronin, Graham Olling and John Kolc.

1977 Debutants: Michael Cronin (351), John Maguire (352), Greg Owens (353), Ernie Wanka (839).

1978 /

1978 team pic

In 1978, first grade again was forced into a mid-week replay, this time a minor semifinal against Manly and lost in the replay held within three days. Ray Higgs left for Manly and Denis Fitzgerald announced his retirement and would undertake an administrative role at the Leagues Club. The club signed a young schoolboy, Peter Sterling from Wagga for the under-23s who had played for NSW Schoolboys in 1977. He made his first grade debut in 1978 playing one game, five games in reserve grade and 17 games in u23s. Famous Grouse Whiskey joined as jersey sponsors for three seasons and the jersey panel would alternate between Famous and Grouse. The Eels had seven players in the Kangaroo train-on squad – Cronin, Glover, Price, Gerard, Olling, Hilditch, and West.

1978 Debutants: Ken Hey (354), Pat Hundy (355), Micheal Pattison (356), Richard Quinn (357), Peter Sterling (358), John Mann (359), Lew Platz (360), Tim Logue (361), Steve White (362), Glenn Holton (363), Glenn West (364), Greg Heddles (365), Marty Fagan (840), David Emery (841).

1979 /

1979 team pic

In 1979, Arthur Beetson joined the club, but the 34-year-old would suffer a season-ending broken jaw. It was also the year that Parramatta blooded youngsters of possibly the greatest backlines ever to have played rugby league – Sterling, Grothe, Ella, Hunt, and forward, Wynn. A young Brett Kenny would debut in the following year to complete the backline. First grade failed to make 1979 Grand Final, but Mick Alchin’s reserves and Ron Fearnley’s under-23’s both claimed victories. The club won the Flowers Memorial Pennant for a record fourth consecutive year. Former player Denis Fitzgerald was appointed Club Secretary; a position he would remain in for nearly 30 years.

1979 Debutants: Steve Ella (366), Doug Hayes (367), Peter Wynn (368), Eddie Flahey (369), Neil Hunt (370), Cliff Connor (371), John Chapman (372), Garry Dowling (373), Wayne Woodward (374), Arthur Beetson (375), Eric Grothe Snr (376), Steve Sharp (377).