Over the last couple of days I am beginning to feel exhausted, and following conversations with several other Parramatta Eels supporters, I know I am not alone.

I am so tired of the Eels being in the newspapers for the wrong reasons. I am so tired of the politics affecting what my players can do on the field. I am so tired of rebuilding.

But most of all, I am so tired of saying, “There is always next year.”

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Is being a football supporter meant to be this hard? Is it meant to hurt this much? Some will say yes – because love hurts sometimes – but I fear that should we continue to walk down this path, people with tremendous love for our club will to walk away.

And that, of course, will be the biggest shame of all.

I recognise that part of this is because the Eels sell newspapers. I get that. As a club we need to get better at celebrating everything positive we achieve, both on and off the field (of which there is much of late). However, the happenings off the field are beginning to reach new heights and they simply cannot be ignored any longer. Our football club is a business, and it is unacceptable.

I fear that the fallout from the Kieran Foran situation will take a decade to tidy up.

Being removed from the facts of the situation at hand, it is very hard to arrive at definitive conclusions, but at the moment, everything points toward our administration dropping the ball.

Here’s what we think we know.



In April 2015, a four-year contract was signed by Foran. That contract was lodged with the NRL, apparently without countersignature of the Eels board. The NRL contacted the club with respect to contract protocol and procedure and the club responded by forwarding another contract, without signature from either party.

In early June a further contract was forwarded to the NRL via the club, reiterating the terms of the second contract, replete with the signature of the club but without Foran’s signature.

On June 14, CEO Scott Seward vacated his position.

On June 22, and from then on, the Eels and Kieran Foran are in negotiation as to whether his contract is valid and whether he will be playing for Parramatta in 2016 and forward.

The Eels’ fiercely loyal fans expect only that our footy team, our 30-odd warriors, will take the pitch every week with one thing in mind – winning a game of footy. We do not expect to win a grand final each year, but we do expect our team to give it their all.

We gladly pay our memberships for no other reason than the fact that we love our club, our colours, our team, and we want to be part of something special.

Sometimes we are fortunate enough to meet the players for whom we shout, sometimes against, but invariably accept as akin to family – along with their adorable idiosyncrasies and infuriating foibles.

But that is the role of the fan, the supporter, the ‘man (or woman) in the street’ who anticipates the weekend just to support the club.



The role of the administration wears two hats. It barracks as loudly and proudly as we, the fans, but it has an even greater responsibility than us. Its responsibility is to resolutely protect the club so future generations can enjoy the experiences that are ours.

Such a responsibility should never rest lightly – nor should it be conferred to those who will not keep that responsibility in the front of their minds.

Today, ours is a club in complete turmoil. It cannot sit well with any Eels fan to be comforted by fans of rival clubs while our club degrades itself so spectacularly.

The warring needs to stop. The factions need to butt out. We need to ensure that the right people are governing our club. People that only have the best interests of the club in their heart and who would never do anything to hurt, humiliate or embarrass our club.

This is not happening at the moment.

We are a tremendously proud club with a rich and dynamic history, and should be the jewel of the NRL. I am so proud to call this club part of me and for me to be part of it.

However, we need to do better. We need to demand more from our administrators.

Even with the lack of success Parramatta has had over the last six years, we still boast one of the highest average crowd attendances, and one of the largest membership bases in the NRL – can you imagine what we could achieve with a little bit of success?



Some very careful thinking needs to be done over the next couple of days and I truly fear the outcome.

Regardless, I will still pay for my membership and still staunchly support the club that I love – even if it means beginning to defend it against people who are supposedly acting in its best interest.

And Kieran Foran, if you are reading this, I would love to have you at my club. You are so talented and would be so precious to a squad which needs some leadership and guidance. However, if you decide to take your talent elsewhere, I completely understand – you are better than this.

This is @mary__kaye from @ladieswholeague