‘Best week of my life’: The diehard Eels fan who became a TV smash

Grand finals mean so much to so many and for one diehard Eels fan, just making the NRL decider made him an internet sensation.

Paul Galvin celebrates with Reed Mahoney after the win in Townsville. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

He’s the proud Parramatta fan who burst into tears of blue and gold when the Eels exorcised their demons to hold off the Cowboys to qualify for their first NRL grand final since 2009.

It’s been more than 13 years of pain for Paul Galvin, who became an instant celebrity when cameras spotted him at Queensland Country Bank Stadium letting out all the emotions that had been eating away at him as a lifelong Eels supporter.

“A lot of people saw the footage and it was a bit embarrassing, but I’m OK with it,” the diehard fan told the NCA NewsWire.

“It was the siren and seeing the scoreboard at the same time.

WHAT A LEGEND! pic.twitter.com/v7HnaLayNy

— Karate Warrior II (@me_dc) September 23, 2022

No idea who this bloke is but he epitomises a fan 👏👏👏#NRLFinals

Looks like a young Doc from the Back to the Future movies pic.twitter.com/f7VmUpnMFB

— Spart (@spartytalkback) September 23, 2022

“Being in Townsville, a lot of my close friends and my wife couldn’t get there because the accommodation was sold out and there were no flights up there.

“There were a few people who are normally around me at games who weren’t there that night, and I just really wanted to give them a big hug but they weren’t there.

“I was so happy because I’ve been waiting so long for that moment, and it all got to me.”

Galvin was one of the lucky ones who was able to sort out flights and accommodation to the game, with the quick trip north costing the building concierge around $1200.

“I don’t have a big income, so it was pretty hard,” he said, revealing he only managed to jag a motel three days out from the game.

“But there were people who paid a lot more than me to get there, which was a bit ridiculous. I kind of wish it was at Suncorp so more people could’ve gone to the game.

“I did a bit of study a few weeks before to work out a few different scenarios. Once Cronulla lost their game in golden point, I was on there hammer and tongs to book the tickets.

“I knew it was a risk because I’d lose the money if it didn’t happen, but thankfully the blue and golds got through.”

Maika Sivo scored the try that put Parramatta in front late in the game. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The game itself was 80 minutes of torture as the Eels had to come back from eight points down and then hold off a late Cowboys rally to seal a spot against Penrith in Sunday’s decider.

“My ticker was going so fast last week,” Galvin said.

“I couldn’t sleep because I didn’t know if it’d go down. It’s hard to put into words, but all those delayed flights and all those hotel rooms after a loss later, I’m just glad it’s come to this.

“I didn’t go out afterwards because I didn’t want to celebrate because the job wasn’t done, but at the same time, I couldn’t sleep.

“I’ll never forget the night, but the job’s not done yet.”

Parramatta players know just how much they mean to the community, with 5000 fans rocking up to their Kellyville headquarters for Monday’s training session.

It’s why the players are keen to end 36 years of heartbreak for one of the biggest and most loyal fan bases in the league.

Junior Paulo was a big hit at Parramatta’s fan day. Picture: Richard Dobson

“We know how passionate our fans are,” prop Junior Paulo said.

“The fans travel no matter where the games are, and it seems to be wherever we play, the blue and gold army turns up in numbers. It’ll be a surreal and special moment if we can provide them with a premiership.”

Sunday won’t be Galvin’s first grand final having been there for the losses in 2001 and 2009, and victory this weekend against Parramatta’s fiercest rival would be the cherry on top as he approaches one of life’s great milestones.

“I’ve been to all the grand finals, all the finals losses, all the comeback losses the other teams have given us over the years,” he said.

“They haunt me, but it’s a different feeling this week.

“I’m the big 5-0 next year and I really want to get a little group together and go overseas knowing that we did it.

“I’ve been going to all the games for a long time now, and the only one I missed this year was in Darwin because I was priced out of it.

“I’ve got a lot of friends who are Roosters fans, and they tell me that winning prelims is easy. But we haven’t done it for so long, so it was all such a relief to see what happened last week.

“The result would top it off, but I know that this is going to be the best week of my life.

“If I was crying last week, I don’t know what I’ll do this week.”