1983 /

THE Eels entered the 1983 season with essentially the same squad that had celebrated back-to-back premierships.

Which left just one question: Did Parramatta have the appetite to become the first team to win three straight premierships since the legendary St George team of the 1960s? The answer arrived from kick-off in round one. 

The Eels blew away Newtown 54-14 and won their first five games to lead the competition.

They were running so hot, a record number of eight players – including six from the backline - were selected by New South Wales for game two of the State of Origin series.

Standing in their way of a famous ‘three-peat’ would be their old rivals.

Big-spending Manly had built their roster significantly since losing the ’82 decider.

Club legend Bob Fulton was back at the club as coach after a stint at Eastern Suburbs and he brought with him star recruits Noel “Crusher” Cleal, Kerry Boustead, Dave Brown, and Ian Schubert.

Despite losing both regular season games to the Eels, the Sea Eagles won the minor premiership comfortably.

Parramatta, on the other hand, stumbled into the finals with two straight losses, including a 32-2 hammering from St George.

The Eels played the third-placed Bulldogs in the preliminary major semi-final, a match that will forever be remembered for one of the greatest solo tries ever scored.

Winger Eric Grothe fended off six defenders during a weaving run of destruction.

The Eels won that match 30-22, but for the second consecutive year were defeated by Manly in the major semi-final.

After beating the Dogs again in the preliminary final, the Eels would face the Sea Eagles in the grand final for the second successive year.

This one promised to be harder than ’82.

Fulton named 12 internationals in his starting side.

The rivalry between both clubs had reached new heights and would spawn the famous Tooheys ad, “Here we go again, Manly and Parra”. 

Parramatta had largely the same starting side that beat Manly 12 months earlier.

Winger David Liddiard, and forwards Paul Mares and Stan Jurd were playing in their first grand finals. The Eels picked up where they left off in ’82.  

Brett Kenny struck early, scooping up a loose ball and sending it to Liddiard, before backing up on the inside to score after a wonderful pick-up from around his bootlaces.

Kenny was involved again as he, Mick Cronin, Steve Edge and Steve Ella combined to send Grothe charging down the touchline.

“Guru” carried the burly Graham Eadie with him as he scored in the corner. It was a scintillating team try and Cronin’s conversion from touch had Eels fans in a frenzy.

Parramatta had saved their best for last and Manly simply couldn’t match them.

Cronin, in particular, was playing some of the best football of his career at 32 years of age.

The Sea Eagles had no answers.

Cleal, their rampaging backrower, had wreaked havoc two weeks earlier in the semi-final.

This time the Eels were ready.

They didn’t always attract the headlines of their illustrious teammates, but Peter Wynn, Steve Sharp, Jurd and Mares were on hand to keep “Crusher” quiet.

The terrier-like Paul Taylor was tackling more like a forward than a fullback. 

“Mr Perpetual Motion” Ray Price was again involved in everything, while captain Edge was in control around the ruck.

A penalty goal to Cronin gave the Eels a 12-0 lead at halftime.

Peter Sterling would later say he cannot remember coach Jack Gibson being in the sheds to deliver a speech, such was his confidence in how Parramatta was playing. 

The Sea Eagles hopes of launching a fightback were rocked in the opening minutes of the second half by an unlikely source.

Front rower Mares launched a towering bomb that landed near Manly’s goalposts, a friendly bounce leaving two Eels in prime position to score.

Sterling looked certain to grab the pill and slam it down, but it was Kenny who snaffled the Steeden to bag his second try – making it a double in three consecutive grand finals.

The champion halves celebrated, knowing there was no way back for Manly.

Cronin’s conversion gave Parramatta an 18-nil lead and history was within reach.

The Sea Eagles hit back quickly though with a try against the run of play to Phil Sigsworth.

As Manly tried desperately to claw their way back into the contest, Kenny came up with a crucial try-saver on Chris Close and also cleaned up a couple of dangerous kicks. 

While the Eels were known for their breath-taking attack in the ‘80s , their defence was of equal excellence and the blue and gold wall showed no signs of cracking.

During the regular season they had the best defensive record, conceding a miserly average of just 11 points per game.

Manly averaged 27 points per game in attack but could manage just a lone try in the decider. 

When the fulltime siren sounded, the Eels had claimed their third straight premiership with an 18-6 victory.

They had become just the fifth team in premiership history to win three grand finals in a row.

Kenny was later awarded the 1983 Clive Churchill Medal for his outstanding performance. 

At fulltime the attention turned to Gibson and not necessarily for his eye-catching fur coat.

The now five-time premiership-winning coach had a reputation for not staying at a club for more than three years.

After a trifecta of premierships, and a stunning win percentage of 77 percent, Eels fans were understandably keen for Gibson to stick around.

But the “Supercoach” needed a break. 

“I’m tired. I’ve had three years straight and I am talking football 12 hours a day.

I want time to go to the bush again.” And with that, Gibson ended a remarkable stint that had firmly planted Parramatta at the pinnacle of rugby league.

Gibson’s legacy – and famous fur coat - would forever hold a place in the hearts and minds of all Eels supporters.