Parramatta Eels bring Premiership Cup to Northern Sharks
Territory rugby league juniors got to meet some of their NRL heroes from the Parramatta Eels and the Dolphins ahead of their Darwin clash, with one club getting to host the premiership cup.
Northern Territory
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The Parramatta Eels and the Dolphins have met with junior players from across the Top End, with one club getting up close to the NRL Premiership Trophy.
More than 150 juniors from the Northern Sharks got to see the trophy, which has not been in the NT for a number of years, as part of the NRL Telstra Footy Country Series.
Parramatta second rower Toni Matelaele and former player Eric Grothe Jr met and ran drills with the club’s youngest players during the session, while also signing merchandise and taking photos.
The Sharks also received Telstra Footy Packs including hit shields, tackling bags and other football equipment for the club.
Tanya Hazel from the Palmerston Raiders was awarded the Telstra Local Hero award as part of the visit.
“It’s really important to come out here with the kids, especially with the donation of the pads, it’s great to see the smiles on the kids’ faces,” Matelaele said.
Grothe Jr played with Parramatta through the early 2000s, but said watching the juniors out on the field and having fun brought a real smile to his face.
“I love everything about country footy, it’s what footy is all about, they don’t play for anything other pure love for footy,” Grothe said.
“There’s some awesome talent in the local comps, and a lot of character in the games and plenty of raw talent in the comps.”
The Dolphins have also been doing the rounds of local clubs ahead of the Friday night game at TIO Stadium with visits to Litchfield Bears and Nightcliff Dragons.
Last year’s ANZAC round clash between the Eels and Broncos brought $4.8m into the Territory economy, while participation numbers continue to grow in local competitions.
Major Events minister Brent Potter said the ongoing partnership with the Eels allowed Territorians to see live action without having to travel interstate.
“Territorians love NRL which is exactly why the Territory Government has partnered with the Parramatta Eels so you don’t have to travel interstate to see the competition,” he said.
“This is also great news for local businesses, with more than 18 per cent of visitors of last year’s visitors to the match in Darwin coming from interstate.
“And few from overseas staying local and putting money back into our economy.”
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Parramatta Eels return to Darwin for NRL blockbuster
Lifelong Parramatta Eels fan Sam Korn was among the first to greet his team at the Darwin airport ahead of their blockbuster NRL game against the Dolphins at TIO Stadium.
The Top End is the Eels’ second home, with the side coming up each year often to sellout crowds at the Marrara stadium.
Mr Korn got a first look at the side bringing along a jersey to collect signatures from every player ahead of the big game, which this year he has VIP tickets for.
“It’s awesome, my pop was a fan, and I’ve been following them since I was a kid so it’s great to have them up here,” Mr Korn said.
“I couldn’t be luckier than to have them as the Darwin team, it’s amazing, I don’t get to go down there and see any games so this is the one I do get to watch each year.
“The players are all really friendly, and I get the jersey signed every year, I’ve got a bit of a collection going now.”
The Eels are hoping to snap a two-year losing streak in the NT having lost to the North Queensland Cowboys and the Brisbane Broncos in recent clashes.
A win here will also push the side, currently sitting 11th with three wins from six games, to their first back-to-back wins of the season, following their 27-20 win against the Cowboys.
The side will have to do it without Mitchell Moses, but star prop Junior Paulo believes the side are feeling fit and ready for the big occasion.
“We’re feeling pretty good off the back of last week, we’re looking to hit the ground running,” he said.
“Every time we’ve played up here it’s been to a sellout stadium, it’s good for the game and the community up here.
“Everyone knows when we’re in town and the community shows their support, whether we’re at the shops or elsewhere you can tell there’s a lot of blue and gold supporters up here.”
Second-rower Bryce Cartwright was equally pumped to get out on the field in front of the Top End Eels supporters.
“It’s always good to get up here and see all the fans and interact with them,” he said.
“We’re sort of used to the heat up here, we’ve struggled in the past in holding the ball and making errors, it’s all about completion up here and in the last few years we haven’t done that.
“It nice coming up here and seeing how happy everyone gets to see us, seeing the kids on the ground before the game and the crowds we get, we just want to put on a good game for them.”
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Originally published as Parramatta Eels bring Premiership Cup to Northern Sharks
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