In the replayed grand final of 1977, Dragons enforcer Rod “The Rocket” Reddy was ordered by coach Harry Bath to “take the gloves off” against the rugged Parramatta Eels pack. The Rocket was the hard man of a team known as “Bath’s Babes”, and cunning coach Harry Bath, 30 years in the game, told his rough-head to rough Parra up. Reddy was cautioned four times in the first 20 minutes. Today he’d have just about been arrested. And the Saints beat Parramatta 22-nil.
Rugby league has changed as the world has changed. But as Rocket would tell you, you’re not out there to be nice to these people. Physical and mental subjugation of one’s enemies is in rugby league’s DNA. It’s a hard, brutal game. And players whom the other team doesn’t like are valuable people. Grubs are a factor, even if the playing ability doesn’t match their presence. Their presence is the point.
Step forward, as if out of time, Parramatta Eels back-rower, Kenny Edwards. He’s the one who celebrates with the opposition when his team scores a try. He’ll whack into an opponent lying prone on the deck. He’ll spark all-in melees, all the sweat and froth and man-fun of that. Kenny Edwards is the narky bastard soul of the Parramatta Eels.
And for much of Saturday afternoon’s Eels v Storm fixture at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Edwards’ attitude permeated throughout his team-mates. The Eels were a junkyard dog savaging the leg of the prime bullmastiff. They’re lippy, the tough “Westies”. They’re faux tough. They’ll beat you by annoying you to death. And for large sections of the game it worked – the Storm looked like human beings. And Parra looked like the mob who put 50 on Brisbane.
Tim Mannah ran hard, Beau Scott, Nathan Brown thundered hard, up guts. They “won” the ruck with quick play the ball. The Storm boa constrictor couldn’t hold them. The Eels slung it wide with moves they’d have names for. And you thought - for you’ve never been absolutely convinced given it’s Parra-bloody-matta and they’ve been a basket case so long – could they really rip this off, the Eels? Could they rise like a fiery phoenix and win this blinking game of footy? Actually beat Melbourne Storm?
Of course they could not. But it was fun watching them try. Because the Eels play rugby league. They have the guts to have a go. Coach Brad Arthur has instilled in them a mindset of attack, of having a crack. It’s admirable. It didn’t ultimately break down the indomitable Storm machine, for they are, as Drago said of Rocky, a piece of iron. But Parra had a crack and shook the champion. Eels fans could ask for little more.
We learned that the Storm are human, yet very hard to kill. And if you come at the king, you better not miss. And you need more than nark and attitude and whatever else Parra thought they could use to get “under the skin” of Melbourne Storm, the toughest, most efficient and ruthless hard bastards in the game. Our Rocket would approve.
