Parramatta Council embraces Eels making NRL Grand Final

Parramatta politicians kicked off their council meeting enjoying some Eels revelry, with the Lord Mayor issuing a challenge to her Penrith counterpart as the city gets the blue and gold party started.

Joanne Vella

@Parramatta_News

3 min read

September 28, 2022 - 10:21AM

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Parramatta Eels fans prepare for their first Grand Final since 2009

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Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis is hoping Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen doesn’t mind swapping the mayoral chains for some blue and gold next week.

As the western councils thrust themselves into the Grand Final rivalry ahead of the ultimate local derby on Sunday, Cr Davis issued a challenge for her Penrith counterpart to swap jerseys, with the loser forced to don the winner’s garb at the council chambers after the match.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Penrith leader did not respond to the challenge ahead of the Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers decider on Sunday but did declare her support for the Panthers.

“As for wearing another team’s jersey, I’m a Penrith Panthers fan, so you won’t catch me in another team’s jersey, I’m here for our team and our team alone — go the Penrith Panthers!’’ she said.

“The boys have done the work, and I know when they enter the field on Sunday, they will have the whole Penrith community behind them.”

But it was a “bring it on” by Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes who took up the challenge for the NRL women’s when the Eels take on the Knights.

However, Cr Davis said the offer was still alive with their western neighbours.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis.

“It’s such a wonderful opportunity to highlight our communities because we’re both in western Sydney, we’re both championing not just our own cities but our communities are breeding grounds for talent in the NRL.’’

Parramatta Council has pumped $40,000 towards promotions and streamers and balloons which were dispensed to businesses from Tuesday.

“It’s such a great feeling all over Parramatta,’’ Cr Davis said.

“It’s not just the decorations but the people. You can’t walk out the door without seeing people dressed in blue and gold in their team colours.

“It’s wonderful to be in the finals but to have the women’s and the men’s in the final on the day is such a coup.

“I was actually at Newington on Friday night when they won and there were a few Cowboys supporters there who were extremely brave.

“I was extremely pleased to see how reticent they were by the end of the night. They weren’t making too much noise by then.’’

Raised in Tasmania, Cr Davis grew up supporting Aussie Rules but “having lived in Parramatta for 28 years it’s all about Parramatta once you live in Parramatta”.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis spreading the blue and gold at Bay Vista dessert restaurant on Church St.

The council is also in discussions about a short parade with the Eels on Monday and $100,000 has been injected towards a fan day at CommBank Stadium that day.

A flurry of blue and yellow flags and banners have unfurled across Parramatta.

Cr Davis explained why the buntings suspended over Centenary Square on Friday disappeared after the euphoric win against the Cowboys.

“The fans got a little too excited and I saw some floating in the Parramatta River on Saturday morning but rest assured, there are many more decorations all prepared to go,’’ she said at Monday night’s meeting.

Kitted up in their Eels scarfs and jerseys, the atmosphere united councillors before regular business resumed.

Cr Michelle Garrard briefly erupted into the Parra chant.

“It’s been 36 years and the Eels have done us proud,’’ she said.

“There will be however many millions of people watching Parramatta on their TVs and in Parramatta and the one thing that we can do is make sure that everybody knows that we’re behind our team, and we’re going to act like winners before we win. Our city is a winner.’’

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