The Lead Up /

DAWN OF A GOLDEN ERA 

AFTER 28 seasons in the premiership, Parramatta’s trophy cabinet remained bare, despite the hard work of so many people. 

The club had accumulated 11 wooden spoons and its only trophy came from the third-grade grand final win of 1964. 

Even after the best efforts of players such as champion fullback “The Mayor of Parramatta”, Ken Thornett, the Eels had come up empty in terms of silverware.

The community was yearning for a successful Parramatta rugby league side. In 1975 that team arrived. 

After avoiding yet another wooden spoon in ’74 by the barest of margins, the club hired St George legend Norm Provan as coach. Equally important was the recruitment of Roosters assistant Terry Fearnley to coach the reserve grade team. 

Under a new hard-nosed regime, the blue and golds turned heads by winning the Wills Pre-Season competition, beating Manly 11-5 in the final. That Sea Eagles side contained internationals including future Immortal Bob Fulton.

Suddenly Parramatta had everyone’s attention. The Eels would also qualify for the final of the Amco Cup mid-week competition, where they were beaten by reigning premiers Easts 17-7. 

In the premiership proper Parramatta finished in a tie for fifth with Balmain and Wests, forcing a three-way play-off under the rules at the time.

These games had to be played in the five days between the final weekend of the competition and the beginning of the semi-finals the next Saturday.

Captained by Denis Fitzgerald, Parramatta beat Wests on the Tuesday, then Balmain on the Thursday. 

When they then fronted up three days later and beat Canterbury 6-5 in the minor semi-final, Parramatta’s bravery had captivated the rugby league world.

Including the Amco Cup, they had played a staggering seven games in just 16 days.

The Eels’ run came to an end at the hands of Manly the following week, but not before another courageous performance.

The seeds had been sown for the golden era that lay ahead.

Fearnley took over as first grade coach in 1976. The recruitment of Wallabies representative Ray Price helped turn Parramatta into a genuine contender. 

The Eels qualified for their first top grade grand final, where they were beaten by the Sea Eagles 13-10. Having scored two tries to Manly’s one, it was a cruel defeat. 

In the days leading up to the grand final, a massive street parade was held through Parramatta to celebrate the team’s achievement in reaching its first decider.

Thousands of people turned out to cheer on the Eels.

With so much energy expended, there was a belief some players were drained by the time the grand final rolled around.

The heart-breaking defeat only served to spur the Eels. 

In the months ahead the in-demand centre Mick Cronin was recruited from the South Coast, Fearnley slipping under the guard of Canterbury to sign the point-scoring machine from Gerringong.

Such a significant signing enhanced Fearnley’s reputation as the man who laid the foundations for Parramatta’s later success.

In 1977 the club won its first minor premiership, also claiming the club championship.

All three grades qualified for the grand final. Cronin was the season’s top point-scorer. This was shaping as the year.  

The Eels faced the Dragons in the grand final and after a brutal contest that went to extra-time, scores were level 9-all.

It was the first drawn grand final in NSWRL history. In a replay the following weekend, St George dominated a battered and bruised Parramatta to win 22-nil. 

In 1978 there was to be another replay for the Eels and again it didn’t go their way.

Parramatta led Manly in an elimination semi-final 13-3, before the Sea Eagles fought back for a 13-all draw.

In a midweek replay the Eels went down 17-11 in controversial circumstances, when referee Greg Hartley awarded Manly a try on the seventh tackle. 

Despite an official protest from Parramatta the result stood, and another promising campaign came up short.

On the positive side, an 18-year-old Peter Sterling played fullback that day. He would enjoy more memorable times against Manly in the years to come. 

In 1979 other future champions would emerge. 

Eric Grothe, Steve Ella and Peter Wynn were all blooded in Parramatta’s run to the preliminary final.

Helping to mentor the younger brigade was high-profile recruit, the legendary Artie Beetson.

Former five-eighth John ‘Bomber” Peard took over as coach in 1980. 

Prop Bob O’Reilly returned to the club after stints at Penrith and Easts and he was joined by hooker Steve Edge, who had just won the premiership with St George.

This was the only season between 1975 and 1986 where Parramatta failed to qualify for the finals.

But it was far from a wreck.

The Eels took out the mid-week Tooth Cup competition, beating Balmain in the final 8-5. 

This was the club’s first major trophy and came with $91,000 in prizemoney, surpassing the pre-season win of ‘75.

Suddenly the Eels had developed a taste for silverware.

Taking part that night was a 19-year-old centre named Brett Kenny. 

Awarded man-of-the-series honours was Sterling, a man Kenny would eventually win four premierships alongside.

Only a last round loss to defending premiers St George saw the Eels miss the NSWRL finals.

Record crowds had flocked to Cumberland Oval in ’80. Fans could see all the ingredients were there to break the club’s premiership drought.

They just needed the right man to make it happen.