Parramatta Eels - The Cubs of Oz?

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A couple weekends ago I had the honor of hosting my in-laws for the National Rubgy League (NRL) Grand Final.  Think the Super Bowl of Rugby League without the wardrobe malfunction (unfortunately).  This year's final pitted the Melbourne Storm, who are regulars to the Grand Final, versus the Parramatta Eels, the Cinderella team that went on a late season run that took them all the way to the finals.  As my mom in-law showed up with her jersey on and stuffed Eels doll, I quickly learned that being an Eels fan is kind of like being a Cubs fan.  You'd think that with only 16 teams in the league that every few years your team is going to find a way to win a championship.  Apparently that's not the case as the last time the Eels lifted the cup in '86 Madonna had just stop claiming to be a virgin and Diego Maradona was known for his hand of god instead of his rain soaked buddha belly dive.



We watched a thrilling match filled with your typical share of great plays, dropped passes and shitty refereeing.  Any NFL fan would've felt plenty at home watching the match.  The Eels lost to a superior side but their young, talented go to guy showered tears and pledged to remember the sting of this defeat.  My in-laws on the other hand simply packed away their jerseys and stuffed dolls and whispered under their breath, for what I'm sure was at least the hundredth time, "we'll get'em next year".  No one understands the pain of futility or the power of optimism like a long suffering sports fan.  I raise a toast to all Cubs fans and  to my newly beloved Eels.

Next maybe someone can explain to me why Rugby League and Union are 2 different sports. Anyone?

Black2Oz out.