There's one thing Troy Worner wants to add to his mammoth collection of Parramatta Eels memorabilia, and it's something his money can't buy.
He's been patiently waiting since 1986 for his club to deliver a premiership.
"I see everyone else's teams winning the comp and I just want to go back to these times," he says looking up at a poster showing a young Peter Sterling, with hair, among the last blue and gold team to taste glory.
The Eels' dour but triumphant 4-2 grand final score over Canterbury-Bankstown was when Troy's devotion as an eight-year-old began.
It's since grown into a shrine nicknamed the Parra cave.
It contains memorabilia reserved for the most die-hard fans: old players' boots, decades-old and well-thumbed season guides, classic matches on DVD, turf cuttings from famous matches, fragrances, bottle openers, dart boards, and even Eels-branded tissues.
"I've been collecting solidly for the last five to seven years," he says of his Parramatta treasure-trove, which also includes more than 60 Parramatta jerseys.
Posters, framed team photos and press clippings line the walls and door of the garage, the place where his wife asked him to confine the collection.
"She likes the blue and yellow but it doesn't go with the colour scheme inside," he explains.
On the march
The Eels have been no stranger to scandal, and when they were docked 12 premiership points for breaching the salary cap last year it prompted Troy to act.
With the club's supporters still reeling from Jarryd Hayne's decision to leave after a fling with NFL's San Francisco 49ers, Troy organised the club's bannermen to march.
Hundreds turned out for the club ahead of their clash with the Rabbitohs in May last year.
"Obviously the players and the fans were down at the time," he says.
"[But] they wanted to show everybody else in the competition that we have pretty solid fans and that we're behind the team.
"They were the down times and we're hoping to transpire that into the good times and finals."
Elusive success continues to slip free
A few of those blue-and-gold tissues may have been used after the grand final losses of 2001 and 2009.
"2001 was more disappointing and upsetting," he said.
"You have that whole week of expectation that you're in the big game and you get excited.
"By half time unfortunately it was all over … I was pretty disappointed that we lost and probably started crying that night."
2009 had a fairy-tale feel with the Eels winning seven of their final eight matches just to make it into the finals and then advance to the decider.
"I think it was more exciting that we were in the grand final … so I wasn't as disappointed in losing that one."
This season the Eels have gone on their longest winning streak since the '09 grand final and are now considered a title threat.
"We've performed a lot better, we've stayed in the top eight more regularly.
"Probably more excited about the fact we could do something."
Previous grand final defeats may have coloured Troy's decision not to attend the 2009 grand final, but he's made a pact to be there when Parramatta make it back to the big dance.
The celebrations, in part, have been decided.
"I think I'd have to take a couple of weeks off work and go to all of the celebrations," he says.
"I've always said I want to turn up 'We are the Champions' pretty loud and sing that when we do win."
And as for finding space in the Parra cave to put any new premiership items, goodness knows where he's going to find it.
