The Mighty Eels

Last updated
The Mighty Eels
The Mighty Eels Poster.jpg
Directed by Richard Bradley
Country of originAustralia
Production
Executive producerParramatta Leagues Club
Producer Richard Bradley
CinematographyChris Maguire
Editor Richard Bradley
Running time13 hours, 4 parts
Production companyRichard Bradley Productions
Release
Original release2004 (2004) –
2006 (2006)

The Mighty Eels is an Australian social and sporting history DVD series about Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club, better known as the Eels. The series was financed by Parramatta Leagues Club and produced by Richard Bradley Productions. The producer on behalf of the production company was Richard Bradley, and Denis Fitzgerald who was CEO of Parramatta Leagues Club acted as associate producer on behalf of the Leagues Club.

Contents

Production of the four-part series commenced in February 2003 and was completed in September 2006. The narrative was told through life story interviews with 58 famous players, coaches, officials, supporters, families and historians. [1] These interviews were all inter-cut to tell the narrative in first person and provide a thorough social and sporting history from each historical era.

History

The series tells the story of Parramatta in the early days of settlement from 1800, then to 1908 when Cumberland was a foundation club in the newly created Rugby League Football code in Australia, up to 2001 when they appeared in their 8th Grand Final.

When the game of Rugby League was established in 1908, Cumberland was the foundation club that represented the Parramatta area; however, they only lasted one year. The local officials led by Jack Argent attempted to enter a Parramatta team in the 1936 competition but failed. Because of World War II, the area had to wait until 1947 to be admitted along with Manly. This saw the New South Wales Rugby League competition expand from eight to ten teams. [2]

In the early seasons from 1947 the club came last on many occasions but with the introduction of players such as Ron Lynch, Brian Hambly and Ken Thornett they started making semifinals and finals from 1963 to 1965. This success would come again in the 1970s with semifinal appearances in 1971 and 1975. With the introduction of players such as Mick Cronin, Ray Price and John Peard the team made the Grand Finals of 1976 and 1977. The 1977 Grand Final was a famous draw after extra time which required a replay the following week which they lost to St George. In that 1977 season Parramatta supplied seven players to the Australian World Cup squad including the coach Terry Fearnley. The club also made the finals in 1978 and 1979.

The real success came between 1981 and 1986 when the club appeared in five grand finals, winning four of them. Under the famous coach Jack Gibson [3] they won three premierships in a row from 1981 during that period. [4] They also had the entire NSW state of origin backline from Ray Price (lock), Peter Sterling (half), Brett Kenny (5/8th), Steve Ella and Mick Cronin (centres) and Eric Grothe (wing). After a low period with the retirement of many top players the club built itself again with younger players such as Michael Vella, Nathan Hindmarsh and Nathan Cayless. With coach Brian Smith they saw regular final appearances from 1997 leading to the Grand Final in 2001.

The club has a good following of fans and are valued as an important part of the National Rugby League current 16 team competition.

Series

The DVD series was critically acclaimed in the media with reviews in the Sunday Telegraph and the Parramatta Advertiser. [5] [6] [7] [8]

The series was popular with supporters of the club through niche marketing of the DVDs to this target audience.

The Mighty Eels is one of three similar series from the same producer; the others are The Mighty Bulldogs and The Mighty Bears.

The four Mighty Eels DVD volumes are 1908–1966, 1967–1977, 1978–1986, and 1987–2001. The total running time is 13 hours.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parramatta Eels</span> Australian rugby league football club

The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta that competes in the National Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Sterling (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer and broadcaster

Peter Maxwell John Sterling nicknamed Sterlo, is an Australian former rugby league commentator, television personality and player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played eighteen Tests for the Australian national team between 1982 and 1988. He also played in thirteen State of Origins for New South Wales, winning man of the match on four occasions. Sterling played in four premiership-winning sides with Parramatta in 1981–1983 and 1986 and has been inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. His time spent playing for English club Hull F.C. also earned him membership in their hall of fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parramatta Stadium</span> Defunct sports stadium in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia,

Parramatta Stadium was a sports stadium in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, 23 kilometres west of Sydney's central business district. The stadium was the home ground of several western Sydney-based sports teams, at the time of closure the most notable were the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League and the Western Sydney Wanderers of the A-League.

Jack Gibson OAM was an Australian rugby league coach, player, and commentator. He is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the sport's history. Nicknamed 'Supercoach', he was highly regarded not only for his coaching record but also for his thirst for innovation, as he introduced new coaching and training methods into the sport in the 1970s, and 1980s, when first-grade rugby league was then still played and coached on a semi-professional basis.

Brett "Bert" Edward Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a centre and five-eighth for the Australian national team and New South Wales Blues representative sides, and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4 premierships with Parramatta. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

Stephen John Ella is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a utility back for the Parramatta Eels, New South Wales and Australia, playing in 4 Tests for Australia between 1983 and 1985. He is a cousin of the Ella brothers who were prominent in Australian rugby union in the 1980s.

Michael William Cronin OAM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982. Cronin retired as the NSWRL Premiership's and the Australian Kangaroos' all-time highest point-scorer and has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

The history of the Parramatta Eels dates back to their formation as the Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club in 1947 to the present day.

The 1981 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 74th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta and Newtown clubs. NSWRFL clubs also competed in the 1981 Tooth Cup and players from NSWRFL clubs were selected to represent the New South Wales team.

The 1986 New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the seventy-ninth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Thirteen clubs competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs which featured the introduction of the Clive Churchill Medal. This season, NSWRL teams also competed for the 1986 National Panasonic Cup.

The 1984 New South Wales Rugby League season was the 77th season of competition between the top professional rugby league football clubs within New South Wales. With the departure from the first grade competition of Sydney foundation club the Newtown Jets at the close of the previous season, 1984 saw thirteen teams compete for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Canterbury-Bankstown and Parramatta clubs. NSWRL teams also competed for the 1984 National Panasonic Cup.

The 1977 NSWRFL season was the 70th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the St. George and Parramatta clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1977 Amco Cup.

The 1978 NSWRFL season was the 71st season of the NSWRFL Premiership, Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, and Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs that was drawn and had to be re-played. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1978 Amco Cup.

Ron Hilditch is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won the 1981 NSWRFL Premiership.

The 2009 Parramatta Eels season was the 63rd in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership, just making the finals by finishing 8th. The Eels then continued their winning streak into the play-offs, reaching the 2009 NRL grand final which they lost to the Melbourne Storm.

The 2010 Parramatta Eels season is the 64th in the club's history. Coached by Daniel Anderson and captained by Nathan Cayless and Nathan Hindmarsh, they competed in the NRL's 2010 Telstra Premiership. The Parramatta club finished the regular season in 12th place failing to make the finals for the first time in two years.

The 2001 Parramatta Eels season was the 55th in the club's history. Coached by Brian Smith and captained by Nathan Cayless, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2001 Telstra Premiership, reaching the 2001 NRL Grand final.

Phil John Mann is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played for the Parramatta Eels, as a fullback. At 201 cm tall, Mann was one of the tallest players to ever play the game. He is the son of former Parramatta Eels player Bruce Mann.

Mark Levy is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played for Balmain Tigers, Parramatta Eels and Penrith as a fullback in Sydney's NSWRFL competition in the 1980s.

Ron Quinn is an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played for the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla-Sutherland in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition. Quinn is the cousin of Parramatta legend Mick Cronin.

References

  1. ↑ Cadigan, Neil - The Quest for Glory, A history of the Parramatta District Rugby League Club Limited Bibliography ISBN   0 949853 09 7 – National Library of Australia
  2. ↑ Heads, Ian - A Centenary of Rugby League 1908-2008 Page 244 - The Great Exodus - Bibliography ISBN   978 1 4050 3830 0 - National Library of Australia
  3. ↑ Frilingos, Peter – Daily Mirror – September 24, 1980 – Back Page 56 - “Gibson to coach Parra”
  4. ↑ Clarkson, Alan – Sydney Morning Herald – September 28, 1981 - Page 24 Sport - “Year of the Eels”
  5. ↑ Bell, Cameron - Sunday Telegraph – January 2, 2005 - Page 50 - “What’s the Buzz - big raps on The Mighty Eels Volume 2”
  6. ↑ Earl, Brad - Parramatta Advertiser – February 9, 2005 – Page 103 - “Losses inspired Eel’s golden era”
  7. ↑ Earl, Brad - Parramatta Advertiser – November 2, 2005 – Page 111 - “Film treat for Eels fans” – Volume 3
  8. ↑ Earl, Brad - Parramatta Advertiser – September 27, 2006 – Page 27 - “Bittersweet saga of Eels heroes” – Volume 4
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