My Parra Journey

Rugby league has been a constant throughout my life. Although I never played beyond schoolboy level, the game has always been my greatest passion.

For me, rugby league is more than just a sport—it is my hobby and one of the defining interests of my life. While most supporters follow the NRL, I can often be found at junior representative and pathways matches, watching games that attract only the players’ families, friends and a handful of dedicated supporters. I genuinely enjoy seeing the next generation of talent develop and following their journeys towards first-grade football.

My appreciation for representative rugby league began during my high school years, when several of my classmates were selected to play for Parramatta’s junior representative teams. In those days, the Harold Matthews Cup was an Under 14s competition and the SG Ball Cup was played at Under 16s level. Through my friends, I gained an early appreciation of the importance of junior development and the pathways that help young players reach the elite level.

After leaving school, I took every opportunity to attend junior representative football. Over the years I have watched countless young players progress from promising teenagers to NRL first graders, representative players and, in many cases, genuine stars of the game. Following those journeys has only strengthened my belief that the future success of any club is built on investing in its pathways.

Even earlier this year, while recovering from illness, I remained connected to the game through my BarTV Sports subscription. Although I was unable to attend matches in person, I continued to follow our junior representative teams every weekend. Now that I have recovered, I feel incredibly fortunate to once again spend most weekends on the sidelines watching our pathways teams in person.

Supporting the Parramatta Eels has also given me opportunities and experiences that I never imagined when I first started attending games.

Over the years, I have travelled extensively to support the club, visiting the majority of NRL venues throughout Australia and New Zealand. Those trips have allowed me to meet Parramatta supporters from all walks of life and from every corner of both countries. While we all have different backgrounds and experiences, we share the same passion for the Blue and Gold. Those conversations have reinforced my belief that our members and supporters deserve to have their voices heard.

One of the unexpected rewards of joining the Parramatta online bulletin boards was becoming involved with a passionate supporters’ group known as the PARRALETICS.

I joined the group in my early twenties and quickly discovered a community of supporters who loved nothing more than getting behind the Blue and Gold. We sang, cheered, travelled together and, on more than a few occasions, enjoyed a drink or two while supporting our team.

Looking back, those years remain some of my fondest memories as a Parramatta supporter. They were not just enjoyable because of the football, but because of the strong connection that existed between the club and its supporters. Players, officials and fans interacted regularly, creating a genuine sense that we were all part of the same Parramatta family.

Those experiences reinforced something I still believe today: a successful club is built on more than what happens on the field. It is built on the relationship between the club and its members. When supporters feel connected, valued and included, everyone benefits.

For a period, I also had the privilege of becoming one of the fan voices of the original ParraTV, established by then Strength and Conditioning Coach Hayden Knowles.

Through ParraTV I interviewed players, supporters and club personalities at a range of events, giving me a unique opportunity to engage with the club from a different perspective.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Parramatta Eels hosted an online bulletin board where members and supporters could discuss all things rugby league. That was how I got my moniker “InTheStands”, it is simply my name and where I was watching the game from. It was through that community that I was fortunate enough to meet the then Chairman of the Parramatta Leagues Club, Alan Overton.

Many members will remember Alan by his online moniker, “Yoda Eel”—a name that anyone who knew him would agree suited him perfectly.

Over time, Alan and I developed a friendship that continued well beyond the 2009 Board elections. Through that friendship I gained a greater appreciation of how the club operated and the challenges involved in balancing the business of running a successful Leagues Club with the passion that drives a successful football club.

What impressed me most wasn’t Alan’s position as Chairman. It was his genuine love for rugby league.

Wherever Parramatta played, Alan always seemed to be there. Sometimes he would be with club officials, but just as often he would be standing among members and supporters, talking football with players, volunteers and fans alike. He was approachable, accessible and deeply connected to the game.

That left a lasting impression on me and reinforced my belief that directors should be visible, approachable and connected to the football community they represent.

After more than 40 years supporting rugby league and over 30 years as a Parramatta member, one thing has become clear to me. The Parramatta Eels are far more than a football team. They are a community.

The friendships I have made, the memories I have shared and the people I have met through this club have shaped my life in ways I could never have imagined. They are the reason I remain so passionate about Parramatta today and why I want to help ensure that future generations experience the same pride, belonging and connection that this club has given me.