1980s /

1980 /

By the start of the 1980's, Parramatta had established itself as a powerhouse of the N.S.W.R.F.L. and there was high anticipation for that the first premiership was on the horizon.

1980 team pic

Parramatta kicked off their golden decade with their first ever major title, the mid-week $91,000 Tooth Cup competition at Leichhardt Oval defeating Balmain 8-5. The team was: Neil Hunt, Neville Glover, Brett Kenny, Ed Sulkowicz, Michael Collins, Michael Pattison, Peter Sterling, Peter Wynn, Arthur Beetson, Steve Sharp, Ron Hilditch (c), Steve Edge, Geoff Gerard. Reserves: Paul Hunt, Bruce Grimaldi, John Kolc, Mark Levy. Although they didn’t make the Grand Final, the club had a strong junior base with young players such as Sterling, Kenny, Grothe and Ella, training alongside greats such as Beetson, O’Reilly, Price, Cronin and Edge. The club claimed the Club Championship for the fifth year in succession.

1980 Debutants: Steve Edge (378), Tony Melrose (379), Paul Hunt (380), Brett Kenny (381), John Muggleton (382), Michael Collins (383).

1981 /

1981 team pic

The year 1981 will forever be remembered in Eels history.

Master coach, Jack Gibson joined as First Grade Coach together with his sidekick Ron Massey who helped shape the younger players both on and off the field. John Monie was appointed Reserve Grade Coach and Keith Clarke to u23s. Former players were involved in the club, including Denis Fitzgerald as Secretary, and Bill Rayner as Director who cooked the legendary post-training BBQs. James Hardie & Co. Pty. Ltd. signed on as major sponsor. Located in the Parramatta precinct, Hardie’s would go on to employ over 50 players across their 15-year sponsorship of the club. Michael Cronin became the first man in the Club to score 1,000 points in first grade with 1118 at season’s end. A young Paul Taylor had earlier been promoted to first grade into the second row during the season. He pulled off 42 tackles and kicked a field goal in his debut. In his fifth game, against Easts at Cumberland, Taylor set a Club record of 52 tackles in a match. Parramatta finally claimed their first premiership when they defeated Newtown by 20 points to 11 in the 1981 Grand Final. The crowd that day at the Sydney Cricket Ground was 57,333 which is EEELS spelt backwards. Many thought it was an omen. Such was the excitement that day of the Club winning its first premiership that the fans burnt down the old grandstand at the then named Cumberland Oval in the hope of expediting a government promise of a new home ground. The Eels would use Belmore Sports Ground for the next four years as their home ground, but the relocation did not affect their performances.

1981 Debutants: John Beecher (384), Paul Taylor (385), Brett Scott (386), Kevin Stevens (387), Bruce Grimaldi (388), Geoff Coburn (389), Warren McDonnell (390), Steve McKenzie (391), Brad Williams (392), Robert Cowie (393), Jeffrey Emery (394), Steve Stonham (395), Paul Younane (396), Will Harris (397), Michael Davis (398), Geoff Green (400), Gary Howell (401).

1982/

1982 team pic

The Club again proved successful in 1982 when they defeated Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 21-8 in the 1982 Grand Final to win their second consecutive premiership to claim the inaugural Winfield Cup trophy. In the 1982 Preliminary final, Eric Grothe had scored a length of the field try in muddy conditions on the Sydney Cricket Ground. Brewing company, Toohey’s were given approval to do the infamous ‘How Do You Feel’ commercial with the Parramatta Eels and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. The Eels had six players selected in the 28-man ‘Invincibles’ 14th Kangaroos squad including Ray Price, Peter Sterling, Steve Ella, Brett Kenny, John Muggleton, and Eric Grothe. Michael Cronin was unavailable, and Ron Hilditch was injured.

1982 Debutants: Paul Mares (402), John Bilbija (403), Gary Martine (404), Chris Phelan (405), Mark Laurie (406), Gary Phillips (407), Michael Lans (408), Geoff Bugden (409), Peter Fitzwalter (410), Glenn Mansfield (411), David Hall (412), Steve Halliwell (413).

1983/

1983 team pic

Parramatta first grade defended their premiership defeating the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles by 18 points to 6. Steve Edge suffered major damage to his right eye in a mishap during the game. It took months to realise the extent of the damage with a detached retina and punctured iris. Mid-way through the season, a record eight Parramatta Eels were selected for the NSW Origin side providing all but one of the starting backline, including Neil Hunt, Mick Cronin, Steve Ella, Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling and lock, Ray Price, with Stan Jurd selected on the bench. Jack Gibson left the club after the third premiership in 1983, keeping to his belief that no coach should stay at a club longer than three years.

1983 Debutants: Stan Jurd (414), Michael Moseley (415), Don Duffy (416), Brad Garrett (417), David Liddiard (418), John Kambas (419), Ian Hamer (420), Tim Welsh (421), Ron Quinn (422), Wayne Morrow (423), Digby Murray (424), Greg Henry (425).

1984 /

1984 team pic

Former Reserve Grade coach, John Monie took over as First Grade Coach having served under Jack Gibson. Canterbury beat Parramatta 6-4 in the 1984 Grand Final. It was a spiteful grand final and the Eels players were exhausted in the changerooms. Despite the onfield successes, the club continued to struggle financially off the field juggling player payments with reduced crowd attendances and gate takings at the temporary home of Belmore Sports Ground. The club raised money through several promotions during the year including the Perpetual Membership Medallion Auction being the most successful raising over $28,000. The year marked the retirement of inaugural Premiership captain, Steve Edge who having joined the club in 1980 played 117 first grade games in only five seasons and brought three premierships to the club.

1984 Debutants: Ken Stewart (426), Neil Pengilley (427), Chris Houghton (428), Nathan Gibbs (429), Keith Rugg (430), Blair Kurtz (431), Gary Mara (432), Vince Carr (433), Graham Settree (434).

1985 /

1985 team pic

Despite the successes enjoyed on the field, the Club had to borrow $350,000 at the start of 1985 to help cover costs of lower crowd attendance revenue at Belmore Sports Ground and rising player costs.  The Leagues Club was also impacted by the introduction of home entertainment through video hire franchises, and change in spending habits. Parramatta first grade would fail to qualify for the grand final for the first time in four years. Many of the first grade players decided to try their luck in England during the northern hemisphere’s winter. Brett Kenny became the first Australian to win the Lance Todd trophy for best player in the English Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

1985 Debutants: Steve Broughton (435), Don Price (436), Matt Carter (437), Mike Eden (438), Tony Chalmers (439), Peter Ford (440), Phil Crowe (441), Jeremy Lillis (442), Brian Jackson (443).

1986 /

1986 team pic

The 1986 Premiership was the finale of a memorable year for the club that started with a home game at their new headquarters, Parramatta Stadium. Opened by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in March 1986, the new venue provided fans with world-class seating and amenities, and a welcome change from the splintered seats of the former Cumberland Oval. Michael Cronin experienced a shocking eye injury early in the season and only played seven first grade matches and taking his point scoring record to a remarkable 1971 points for the Club. The Eels had their revenge on the Canterbury Bulldogs winning the 1986 Grand Final 4-2 in what remains the lowest score in grand final history. The year also saw the retirement of legends Ray Price and Michael Cronin who announced they were leaving the game following the 1986 Grand Final. Their departure left a void, and players found the following years difficult to replicate the Eels winning ways. There would be seven players – Paul Taylor, Michael Cronin, Steve Ella, Brett Kenny, Eric Grothe, Peter Sterling and Ray Price – who would play in each of Parramatta’s grand finals across the golden years of 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1986.

1986 Debutants: Terry Leabeater (444), Tim Barnes (445), Tony Cosatto (446), David Rowles (447), Mick Delroy (448), Mark Ko’cass (449), Steve Corradi (450).

1987 /

1987 team pic

The club moved quickly to replace Ray Price and signed Australian Test lock Bob Lindner. Steve Ella, Brett Kenny, Eric Grothe, and Paul Taylor all missed games during the 1987 series due to injury and coach Monie was forced to select 15 different centre combinations throughout the season.  Halfback, Peter Sterling led the charge as captain and won every major award including the Rothmans Medal, Dally M double and was awarded 10 out of 10 in Rugby League Week’s player ratings. However, one man alone could not maintain the Club’s previous success. It was the second time in 14 seasons that the Eels had not made the semi finals.

1987 Debutants: Earnie Garland (451), Louis Takairangi (452), Bob Lindner (453), Jeff Perl (454), Ken Wolffe (455), Danny Crnkovich (456), Michael Erickson (457), Rod Slater (458), Mark Barnes (459), David Perry (460).

1988 /

1988 team pic

The Bicentennial year was a major disappointment for first grade losing to all three new teams in the competition and finished eleventh, after experiencing one of the worst runs with 22 players through three grades unavailable through injury. At one stage there was a team of regular first graders sitting on the sideline. Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny, John Muggleton, Mark Robinson and Craig Izzard were all in the same hospital having surgery. Coach John Monie worked through the player management, and Under 23’s coach Bob O’Reilly led his team to a premiership despite some of his playing group moving up to reserve grade. Fullback, Paul Taylor played 21 first grade matches and was appointed interim captain when Peter Sterling was injured during the latter part of the season. The inaugural Golden Oldies match was held at Parramatta Stadium featuring former players such as John Quayle and Denis Braybook.

1988 Debutants: Gary Vernon (461), Craig Izzard (462), Mark Clinton (463), Mark Robinson (464), David Black (465), Glen Liddiard (466), Brett Atkins (467), George Bartlett (468), Scott Mahon (469).

1989 /

1989 team pic

The team finished fourth on the Club Championship and secured two minor premierships in the reserve grade and President’s Cup. The first grade team success was again affected by injury with captain, Peter Sterling forced to miss eight weeks of the season with an ankle injury. Mark Laurie and Brett Kenny both had very good individual seasons playing 21 first grade matches and Club Captain, Peter Wynn played 20 matches. Eric Grothe was the Club’s only senior representative player playing for City Firsts. Peter Johnston, Greg Drake and Scott Mahon made the NSW Under 21 team.

1989 Debutants: Andrew Fitzhenry (470), Andrew Langford (471), Peter Martin (472), David Woods (473), Jeremy Ticehurst (474), Gavin Catanach (475), Greg Drake (476), Andrew Leeds (477), Mark Bugden (478), Peter Johnston (479), Jason Bell (480), Paul Kent (481), Danny Mamo (482).