The Eels are getting ready to play in front of one of their largest home crowds of the season against Newcastle this Sunday, as fans enjoy the exciting way the team plays under coach Jason Ryles.
Even though they have not made it to the finals for the third year in a row, Parramatta has set a new record with 37,000 members in 2025 because supporters like the changes Ryles has made in his first year as coach.
After losing the first four games by big scores, the young Eels have won four out of their last six matches against teams like the Broncos, Roosters, Cowboys, and Warriors, and they faced close losses to the Storm and Rabbitohs.
Parramatta CEO Jim Sarantinos stated, “I think it’s clear to everyone that we’re playing much better football in the second half of the year than we did in the beginning, and everyone can see that we are improving. ”
“We want our fans and members to see us win every week, especially at home. Although we haven’t been able to deliver that this season, I feel positive about our fans and think they will come out in large numbers next season since there’s a lot to be excited about. ”
After taking the coaching job, Ryles made some tough decisions, letting go of several senior players, including captain Clint Gutherson and former Kangaroos player Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
He is also facing the challenge of losing Kiwis player Dylan Brown to Newcastle next season, but Ryles has stuck to his plan for the Eels, and it’s starting to show as young players Isaiah Iongi and Joash Papalii are becoming future stars.
Sarantinos mentioned, “I think everyone inside the club and all the members and fans appreciate Jason’s honesty and openness. ”
“He was very clear at the beginning of the year that there would be a lot of changes happening.
“He has been dedicated to his plan and had to make some tough choices, but he has done it without second-guessing himself and has a clear idea of what our club will look like when we reach our full potential on the field.
Everyone can see that Jason has brought a new style of football that focuses on speed and agility, and it’s fun to watch.
He has given many young players a chance this year, and they have taken it seriously, which fans really enjoy. The support and eagerness to see this team do well is very strong. ”
Currently, the Eels are six points away from the top eight, sitting in 13th place, while the Knights are trying to avoid coming in last. For Sunday’s NRL and NRLW double-header at CommBank Stadium, up to 25,000 fans are expected to show up.
Parramatta’s largest crowd at home this season happened in Round 3 when they played against the Bulldogs, with 24,059 fans showing up. The only other time they had over 20,000 people at CommBank Stadium was during Round 19 when they faced the Panthers, and there were 22,792 fans.
Since kids can get in free if they’re with a paying adult, the Eels are hoping to see more than 20,000 fans at their Father’s Day game against the Knights. “We have nearly 37,000 members this year, which is amazing, and I hope we get a big crowd for the game against the Knights on Sunday,” Sarantinos mentioned.
“Looking at the situation, there isn’t much at stake for either team, but I believe we will have between 20,000 and 25,000 fans on Sunday. This really shows how much our members and fans support a team that is not currently in the top eight.
“Usually, when a team is in this position in the season, they start to accept that the season might be ending soon. However, I think everyone wants to avoid that because they want to see the team keep improving.
“This gives us an awesome chance to start off 2026 on a good note, and I think everyone is excited about what we will achieve next season. ”
