Paul Hogan’s love for the Parramatta Eels on show in Sydney
He famously wore Newtown Jets socks during the Paul Hogan Show but one of Australia’s most iconic exports was recently outed as Eels-mad all his life.
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Despite being linked to the Newtown Jets for half a century, Paul Hogan is a loud and proud Parramatta supporter.
His passion for the club was on display in Sydney this week when he posed up with Peter Wynn in an Eels jersey given to him by the Parramatta great.
‘Hoges’ famously wore Jets socks during the Paul Hogan Show, a popular Australian comedy which aired between 1973 and 1984. Then Jets benefactor John Singleton would often entertain Hogan at Henson Park.
This led to the misconception Hogan was a Newtown supporter.
But Hogan attended the book launch on Monday of friend and former politician John Brown – titled Brownie: The Minister for Good Times – where the Crocodile Dundee star told of his devotion to the Eels.
“Christ yes, he is a Parra fan, true blue, true blue and gold. He’s been an Eels supporter for as long as I have known him,” said Brown.
“He was brought up in Granville and spent his life at Granville swimming centre. He was member of the state diving squad.”
Told that everyone assumed Hogan was a Jets supporter, Brown said: “No, no, he is a Parramatta fan.”
Wynn, a Parramatta sports shop owner and former Eels grand final-winning forward, informally presented the Eels jumper to Hogan, the pair then engaging in a 15 minute, one-on-one chat.
“There blue and gold in Paul Hogan’s veins – trust me. I bought an Eels jersey along especially to give to him as a present and he was the first bloke I bumped into. I couldn’t believe it,” Wynn said.
“He hung onto that jersey – he loved it. He gave it to his security guard to make sure it got home.
“Paul said he was from the old (Parramatta legends) Ken and Dick Thornett days and also remembered (ex-Eels) Mal and John McMartin. He’s been an Eels fan since those days.
“He used to go to Cumberland Oval and he played rugby league himself when he was a rigger on the Harbour Bridge.
“Paul knew a fair bit about footy and how tough it was. He also knew the last time Parramatta won a grand final - 1986.
“He said: ‘It’s been a long time since Parramatta won the comp’. I’d love to get him to a game this coming season. I spent 15 minutes with him at the book launch. It was a real highlight, actually.”
Now 84, Hogan grew up in Granville and regularly attended Granville pool, some saying as a lifeguard, others claiming he was a proficient diver. He attended Parramatta Marist primary and high school.
“It had never been mentioned to me before but Paul being a Parramatta fan came up at the book launch. I now know he is an Eels fan. He used to get the old Cumberland Oval a lot as a kid,” said former Parramatta CEO Denis Fitzgerald.
Hogan will remain in Sydney for Christmas.
Some say Hogan’s love of diving came from his sister, Wendy, who married John Devitt, a famous Australian swimmer who became a dual Olympic gold medallist.
Parramatta start the 2024 season with a round game against Sydney rivals, Canterbury.
TAB bookies have Parramatta paying $23 to win the NRL grand final and $1.90 to reach the finals.
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