Parramatta greats insist 1980s Eels would topple current-day Penrith Panthers

Penrith have claimed their place in the rugby league record books, but Parramatta great Ray Price has rejected suggestions they’ve gone past his Eels, claiming they had “every position and we every tactic covered”. WHO IS BETTER? VOTE NOW.

The history books may say this current Penrith dynasty has statistically surpassed the great Parramatta side of the 1980s, but Eels legends still insist they have a superior side to the modern-day Panthers.

Four successive premierships means Penrith has eclipsed the Eels’ three straight grand finals — 1981, ‘82 and ’83 — before capturing a fourth in 1986.

Yet asked whether Penrith had now exceeded his ‘80s Eels, Parramatta lock Ray Price declared: “No, no, no, no … not a hope. They haven’t gone past us. I don’t think this Penrith side would beat my Parramatta side.”

The match-ups would be fascinating: Price v Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary v Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny v Jarome Luai, Eric Grothe v Brian To’o, Izack Tago v Mick Cronin, Peter Wynn v Liam Martin, Dylan Edwards v Paul Taylor, Mitch Kenny v Steve Edge, Paul Mares v James Fisher-Harris.

Penrith became the first club side since the great St George team - who claimed 11 consecutive grand finals - to win four straight titles.

The 1983 Eels.

And next season the Panthers will attempt a remarkable fifth premiership assault while playing out of the Eels’ home ground at CommBank Stadium, while BlueBet Stadium undergoes a $300 million redevelopment.

But Eels greats claim they were a “better side” than the all-conquering Panthers.

“While Penrith has done exceptionally well, that Parramatta side had every position covered and we had every tactic covered,” said Price, talking at Monday’s Kangaroos’ reunion at the SCG.

“We had plenty of players that could tackle. That (1980s Eels team) was our best side. Parramatta was a stronger side back then than this Penrith team.”

Wynn added: “I’m not taking anything away from Penrith but I don’t think they’re a better side than us. We had brilliant players like Mick Cronin, Eric Grothe, Peter Sterling, Steve Ella, Brett Kenny and Ray Price – he was a machine.

“I have one blue eye and one gold eye but, man-on-man, I think Parramatta has the edge. There was a lot of creativity in our team, a lot of second-phase play.

“We had more players who could offload the ball. And we had a great backline. Paul Taylor at fullback, Neil Hunt was an awesome player, David Liddiard, none of them let anyone down.

“The rules are a lot different now to when we were playing but it was a tough comp in our day and we proved we had a great side.

“One-on-one, it would be great to play them but unfortunately that’s not going to happen. As far as quality goes, Penrith are a great side. I take my hat off to them - five straight grand finals.

The 2024 Panthers.

“They had won three straight and have now fronted up for their fourth in a row but we had the greatest side of our era.”

Former Parramatta and Australian prop Denis Fitzgerald was Eels’ secretary during the club’s golden era.

“All-round, we had all the positions covered,” Fitzgerald said.

“I remember in 1982, such was the strength of Parramatta, with Jack Gibson as coach, that we had six of the seven backline members of the NSW side. They all came from Parramatta.

“It’s always hard to compare eras but Parramatta managed to hold onto our representative players for a longer time.

“Mick Cronin was kicking goals, I think one year he posted 282 points for a season. And that was when it was three points for a try.”

The Sterling-Cleary halfback battle would be absolutely fascinating.

Originally published as Parramatta greats insist 1980s Eels would topple current-day Penrith Panthers