Parramatta Eels

The story of Chris Sandow is well known to those who follow even a little rugby league: he’s bloody tiny, has a heart the size of Queensland, and when he does actually make contact with opposition players, they certainly know it.

He was the league’s top rookie in 2008, has won matches almost single handedly, divides critics and fans alike, and after four years, he is leaving the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs, the Club where he has made his professional debut, to join the Parramatta Eels.

I first met Chris at the southern end of Erskineville Oval as the sun set on a hard training day for the prospective Rabbitohs under 20’s side. I had been asked to meet the new group of promising juniors, and had been well backgrounded on the squad, particularly “Chrissy” as he was already known.

Continue reading "I respect Chris Sandow, and wish him every success" »

Parra can win this. All the predictions of Melbourne’s class overwhelming the baby Eels will count for nought when the smoke from the fireworks clears and the ref looks across to the timekeeper.

Grand Finals are the ultimate leveller and are often won by players you’ve never heard of, who get out in the middle and realise decades of training, injury and going home early comes down to this.

Here’s what I reckon the Eels need to do to take the silverware back to Church Street on Sunday night.

Continue reading "Eight things the Eels should do, to win by 8" »

THOUGHT I might wander out to ANZZZZZ Stadium tonight for the Parra v Dogs game. Who knows? Maybe 70,000 screaming westies can breathe some life into the old Homebush morgue.

The majority of the crowd will be watching Jarryd Hayne, the kid in the red boots who plays every game as if it’s backyard footy and his mum’s about to call him inside for the night.
Me? I’m there to see Hindy, the shaggy-haired old-timer whose work-rate literally leaves his arse hanging out of his shorts at the end of the 80 minutes. Whose sway back and puddin’ guts gives him the look of a brickie in an age when footballers spend more time in Sydney Confidential than the sports pages.

Continue reading "Shaggy-haired old-timer gives everything to game" »