Parramatta fans deliver verdict after first game at Bankwest Stadium
After two years away from our spiritual home, the Blue and Gold Army turned out in force to welcome their team for the historic first clash at Bankwest Stadium.
Parra, we’re not in Homebush anymore.
After two years away from our spiritual home, the Blue and Gold Army turned out in force to welcome their team for the historic first clash at Bankwest Stadium.
Diehards from as far as England made the pilgrimage to O’Connell St and revelled as the gracious hosts pored on the generosity with a 51-6 annihilation over the Tigers.
Yellow jerseys packed the Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Ken Thornett and Michael Cronin stands and 29,047 spectators turned out for the historic clash.
The theme song amplified the $306 million, 30,000-seat arena before halfback Mitchell Moses crossed for the first try.
Eight more tries followed as the Eels demolished the toothless, sole-try Tigers, in their 198 jerseys.
For Parramatta fan Anthony Dowse, 47, watching the match was worth extending his stay in Sydney from Staffordshire, England.
He had attended a wedding with his family at the weekend and stayed a day longer to co-ordinate around the match to watch the team whom he has supported for 40-odd years.
Mr Dowse, who is originally from Liverpool in Sydney, declared Bankwest the best stadium he had visited.
“There is no leg room in the English stadiums and I could sit comfortably at Parramatta,’’ he said.
“It was a great view from anywhere in the stadium. The big screens where crystal clear and I loved the multi-layered advertising screens and lighting of the shade clothes at night.
“As a one-eyed Eels fan I loved it — what a way to christen the stadium.”
He rated the atmosphere nine out of 10.
“However, living in England we are used to the crowd singing the majority of the match,’’ he said.
Mr Dowse, who flys home to England with his family tonight, was also impressed with the catering facilities.
“The drink service was incredibly quick, less than 10 minutes from seat to seat,’’ he said.
Then there was the game.
“The match was brilliant — the team seemed to soar on the back of the predominantly blue-and-gold crowd and looked hungry throughout the game,’’ Mr Dowse said.
“Highlights were the two end-to-end tries. I clapped so hard I did not think I would be able to drive home. So glad I changed the flights so we could attend.”
Karen Crabb-Harrison made the trip from Gorokan on the Central Coast.
“It was a great game — huge crowd, everybody seemed to enjoy themselves,’’ she said.
“My partner is a Tigers supporter so he wasn’t impressed. Obviously the Eels were out there to win.”
While a 50-point buffer would have pleased most fans, Miss Crabb-Harrsion would have liked a tighter encounter.
“I would have preferred a nailbiter,’’ she said.
“It would have kept everybody there and … when it’s an absolutely big score, people leave early.
“That was probably the downfall.”
Meanwhile for Rouse Hill’s Michael Blacker, the entire occasion — from the facilities to the scoreline — couldn’t have been more perfect.
“It was absolutely unbelievable,” he said.
“There were no queues, the food was all reasonably priced and every thing was done really well.
“The steep grandstand makes such a big difference. We were seated at the northern end and it felt like we were right over the dead ball line. No matter where you’re seated, you’re right over the top of the game.”
As a new Eels season ticket holder, Mr Blacker already can’t wait to get back out there again.
“I got a season ticket especially for this year. I really wanted to get out to the ground as much as possible,” he said.
“It was everything I expected it to be.”
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