The Parramatta Eels would like to announce that there will be an official farewell to Club legend Tim Mannah at Sunday’s elimination final against the Brisbane Broncos at Bankwest Stadium.
Tim started his rugby league journey with the Guildford Owls, played in the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions for the Eels before making his NRL debut in 2009 against the Warriors. Tim has been the face of the Parramatta Eels for nearly a decade and no greater accolade for where Tim sits within Parramatta’s rich history is to consider his place within the Top 10 of the Eels First Grade games record list – having played 233 First Grade games for the Eels, Tim sits alongside names like Kenny, Hindmarsh, Sterling, Cronin, Price and Cayless.
Few Eels supporters will forget the 2009 Preliminary Final when over 74,000 Parramatta and Canterbury supporters swarmed into ANZ Stadium and where Tim scored his first NRL try as the Eels ran out winners in that legendary match.
Tim has achieved plenty in our game and for our Club. In only his second season in the top grade, Tim was selected to make his Origin debut for NSW in game 3 of that series. This followed his earlier appearance for City in their annual clash with Country, an honour he would achieve across four consecutive seasons. He would go on to play 4 State of Origin matches along with representing Lebanon at the Rugby League World Cup on five different occasions. In 2015, he was recognised by his peers as the best player in that season by winning the prestigious Ken Thornett Medal.
It’s impossible to talk about Tim Mannah without recognising his work of the field. In 2013 he established the Mannah Foundation to honour and continue the community work of his brother, Jon Mannah - it’s testimony to Tim’s dedication on how passionate he is to make a difference in people’s lives. Tim has also been an ambassador for Ronald McDonald House, Westmead for close to a decade and he has featured in the NRL’s Ken Stephen Medal short lists on multiple occasions and received the 2014 Parramatta Citizen of the Year award, a mark of the impact he has made in the community.
The Club is pleased that on Sunday we can provide a fitting tribute in a sold out Bankwest Stadium to a player that can be truly considered an Eels Legend.
We are encouraging all Members and fans to post their tributes on social media using the hashtag #ThanksTim .
