To celebrate NAIDOC Week, the Parramatta Eels wish to recognise each of the First Nations players who have represented the Club in first grade.
Over the Eels' 76-years history, a total of 40 Indigenous players are known to have played for the Club across the NRL, ARL, NSWRL and NRLW.
The Eels have conducted extensive research to identify each of these players and recognise their heritage and service to the Club.
A history of Eels' Indigenous players
NRL, ARL, NSWRL
| Player | No. | Years | Debut | Games | Tribe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Ferguson | 136 | 1957 | 06/04/1957 | 5 | TBC |
| Charlie Donovan | 204 | 1961 | 24/06/1961 | 7 | TBC |
| Kevin Webb | 341 | 1975-81 | 24/06/1975 | 19 | TBC |
| Steve Ella | 366 | 1979-88 | 25/03/1979 | 157 | Yuin |
| Arthur Beetson | 375 | 1979-80 | 29/04/1979 | 18 | Gubbi Gubbi |
| Kevin Stevens | 387 | 1981 | 05/04/1981 | 19 | Bungalung |
| Geoff Budgen | 409 | 1982-89 | 06/03/1982 | 99 | Kamilaroi |
| Brad Garrett | 417 | 1983 | 06/03/1983 | 4 | Bungalung |
| David Liddiard | 418 | 1983-89 | 06/03/1983 | 69 | Ngarubu & Biripi |
| Glen Liddiard | 466 | 1988-91 | 12/06/1988 | 46 | Ngarubu & Biripi |
| Mark Budgen | 478 | 1989-91 | 14/05/1989 | 22 | Kamilaroi |
| Jason Stewart | 516 | 1993 | 17/04/1993 | 7 | Kamilaroi |
| Ray Mercy | 545 | 1995 | 23/04/1995 | 9 | TBC |
| John Simon | 574 | 1997-99 | 07/03/1997 | 45 | Biripi |
| Leon Douglas | 586 | 1997 | 08/06/1997 | 1 | Wiradjuri |
| Dennis Moran | 588 | 1997-00 | 13/09/1997 | 36 | Anaiwan |
| Jason Moodie | 610 | 2000-03 | 05/02/2000 | 87 | Kamilaroi |
| PJ Marsh | 618 | 2000-07 | 23/04/2000 | 108 | Butchulla |
| Dean Widders | 634 | 2002-06 | 17/03/2002 | 112 | Anaiwan |
| Willie Tonga | 641 | 2002-14 | 21/06/2002 | 40 | Wiradjuri |
| Ronald Prince | 656 | 2003-04 | 07/06/2003 | 5 | Kamilaroi |
| Timana Tahu | 679 | 2005-10 | 12/03/2005 | 63 | Barkindji |
| Jonathan Wright | 712 | 2009-10 | 07/06/2009 | 12 | Gamilaroi & Dunghutti |
| Anthony Mitchell | 720 | 2010-11 | 13/08/2010 | 7 | Wakka Wakka |
| Carl Webb | 727 | 2011 | 02/04/2011 | 6 | Wiradjuri |
| Chris Sandow | 737 | 2012-15 | 02/03/2012 | 75 | Bigambul & Gubbi Gubbi |
| Esikeli Tonga | 738 | 2012 | 02/03/2012 | 3 | Wiradjuri |
| Luke Kelly | 740 | 2012-16 | 23/06/2012 | 41 | Dagoman & Gurindji |
| Nathan Peats | 757 | 2014-16 | 09/03/2014 | 35 | Biripi |
| Beau Champion | 766 | 2015 | 06/03/2015 | 2 | Dunghutti |
| Reece Robinson | 768 | 2015 | 06/03/2015 | 20 | Bunjalung |
| Bevan French | 779 | 2016-18 | 30/05/2016 | 47 | Kamilaroi |
| Josh Hoffman | 781 | 2017-19 | 05/03/2017 | 31 | Badu & Darnley Island |
| Will Smith | 787 | 2017-21 | 28/04/2017 | 54 | Wonnarua Gumbaynggirr |
| Nathan Davis | 788 | 2017 | 10/06/2017 | 1 | Kamilaroi |
| Blake Ferguson | 799 | 2019-21 | 17/03/2019 | 57 | Wiradjuri |
| Ethan Parry | 802 | 2019 | 21/07/2019 | 2 | Kamilaroi |
| Jai Field | 806 | 2020 | 03/07/2020 | 6 | Wiradjuri |
| J'maine Hopgood | 830 | 2023 | 02/03/2023 | 16* | Gooreng Gooreng |
NRLW
| Player | No. | Years | Debut | Games | Tribe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommaya Kelly-Sines | 7 | 2021 | 27/02/2022 | 4 | TBC |
