Super fan Troy Worner backing Parramatta Eels to survive Melbourne Storm in NRL semi
Super fan Troy Worner has seen more Parramatta games than just about anyone. And he has a good feeling about their upcoming trip south to take on Melbourne Storm.
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You would be hard pressed to find anyone who has watched more minutes and studied more passages of play in Parramatta games over the years than super fan Troy Worner and he’s got a good feeling about the Eels heading into this weekend’s NRL finals series.
Fresh from their record-breaking 58-0 thumping of the Broncos in front of a Bankwest Stadium record crowd of 29,372, the Eels are high on confidence and their fans buoyed by the though their team could finally break the club’s 33-year premiership drought.
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Worner believes the signs are there for his beloved side to win a NRL premiership for only the second time since he has been supporting them after being converted to the club as an eight-year-old back in 1986.
“I think they can do it against Storm. We got flogged 64-10 the last time we played them in magic round. It’s a different kettle of fish in the finals,’’ said the Woolworths produce manager.
“Storm will be hard because they lost on the weekend but we have a lot of confidence and belief.
“They have to get off to a good start, lead from the front and need to watch the back three of (Josh) Addo-Carr, (Suliasi) Vunivalu and (Ryan) Papenhuyzen.
“Watch those three, limit the penalties, watch our middle of the ruck play and try and shut down Cameron Smith as much as you can.’’
Worner famously achieved his lifetime dream of going to every Parramatta game last year in a journey which took him to matches as far away as Darwin and Townsville and saw him cover more than 20,000km pursuing his love of footy and the Eels.
“It’s amazing to see then coming from lastr, then to this year coming fifth and now winning our game against the Broncos,’’ Worner said.
“Sunday’s game was unbelievable. I didn’t think it would be that emphatic and the crowd was amazing. The atmosphere was Eel-lectric and so great to see the sea of blue and gold.’’
The 58-0 flogging was the biggest finals win ever - eclipsing the previous 48-point margin in 1944 when Newtown downed St George 55-7.
It was also a Parramatta record win over Brisbane.
Semi Finals football. It's a brand new game. It's time to face the Storm.
— Parramatta Eels (@TheParraEels) September 16, 2019
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FINALS SERIES WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
SEMI-FINAL
September 20, 7.50pm, ANZ Stadium: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
September 21, 7.50pm, AAMI Park: Melbourne Storm v Parramatta Eels
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FINALS SERIES WEEK 3 SCHEDULE
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Friday, September 27, 7.50pm, GIO Stadium: Canberra Raiders v Winner of Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles.
Saturday, September 28, 7.50pm, Sydney Cricket Ground: Sydney Roosters v Winner of Storm v Eels.