THE RIVALRY: WARRIORS V EELS
Finals footy, shared coaches, controversial losses and big upsets...the Warriors' competition with Parramatta has proved one of our club's less fruitful.
The Warriors’ rivalry with the Parramatta Eels has encompassed many twists and turns, including a pair of week one finals encounters, an incredible number of shared players, and even three coaches who have been in charge of both clubs.
Overall record: Played 46 – Parramatta won 27, Warriors won 19; Parramatta scored 1,013 points, Warriors scored 992 points.
Biggest wins: Warriors – 48-0 at Mt Smart Stadium, 2014; Parramatta – 56-12 at Parramatta Stadium, 2001 (final).
Longest winning streaks: Parramatta – 6 matches (1998-2001); Warriors – 3 matches (twice – 2008-09 and 2014-15).
Finals: Played 2 – Parramatta won 2.
Most appearances: Simon Mannering (Warriors) – 22; Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta) – 21; Luke Burt (Parramatta) – 20; Nathan Cayless (Parramatta) – 18; Stacey Jones (Warriors) – 17; Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) – 17; Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta) – 16.
Most tries: Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) – 12; Luke Burt (Parramatta) – 11; Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta) – 11; Simon Mannering (Warriors) – 6; Semi Radradra (Parramatta) – 6; Daniel Wagon (Parramatta) – 6.
Most points: Luke Burt (Parramatta) – 142; Shaun Johnson (Warriors) – 79; Michael Witt (Parramatta and Warriors) – 58; Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) – 48; Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta) – 46; Clint Gutherson (Parramatta) – 46; James Maloney (Warriors) – 42.
1995-96 – Auckland Warriors enjoy early success
Inaugural Auckland Warriors coach John Monie’s role was his first in the Australian premiership since his decorated 1984-89 stint at Parramatta that included the Eels’ last premiership in ’86, enjoying massive success at Wigan in the interceding years.
But Monie’s first assignment against his former club – a 40-4 victory over the struggling Eels at Parramatta Stadium – was more significant for two other pockets of history. It was the Warriors’ maiden away win in their third trip across the Tasman, while future club legend Stacey Jones made his first grade debut off the bench, scoring a try and kicking a goal.
Jones became a permanent starter in the halves a few weeks later before going on to unseat long-serving Test captain Gary Freeman as New Zealand’s No.7 at the end-of-year World Cup.
Freeman came to Mt Smart in 1996 as big-spending Parramatta’s captain but it was a forgettable day for the Kiwi great, sent off for dissent – with ‘Hit the Road, Jack’ blasting out over the PA as he trudged off the field – in a 28-4 loss to the Warriors. Former All Black John Kirwan bagged a double in the big win.
