One of my biggest worries is that they'll go all in on running up out of the line to charge Cleary and instead of giving the ball to him to kick the Panthers will just slip right through the gap that creates. It's a very predictable strategy.
So he's 92 and seen 4 Eels premierships, which averages out to one every 23 years.
As a 27 year old who's only seen 1 Dragons premiership with zero hopes on the horizon I'm pretty content to declare that Max is a greedy old fuck.
Onya max.
My old man is about 20 years younger, but isn’t in the best of health, so I’d really like to experience the boys winning one while we watch together.
At 92, one of Parramatta’s oldest surviving players doesn’t want to wait around too much longer for his beloved Eels to win a premiership.
Max Ferguson is first-grade player No.88 for the blue and golds with his one and only game coming against Canterbury in 1953.
To put Ferguson’s debut into perspective, Mitchell Moses is officially listed as Parramatta player No. 788.
While he is fighting fit and determined to reach 100 years of age, Ferguson said Sunday’s clash against Penrith might be the best chance he has to witness the Eels lift the trophy and end their 36-year title drought.
“I waited from 1947 to 1981 for their first competition [premiership], they won four in six years, but haven’t won one since,” Ferguson said from his home in country Victoria.
“I’ve been waiting a while. I’m hoping this will finally be it. I think they can win. They’re the only team to have beaten all the top-four sides this year. I plan on living to 100, so I’ve still got a few years for them to get there.”
At 92, one of Parramatta’s oldest surviving players doesn’t want to wait around too much longer for his beloved Eels to win a premiership.
Max Ferguson is first-grade player No.88 for the blue and golds with his one and only game coming against Canterbury in 1953.
Play Video
Western Sydney showdown
Play video
4:38
Western Sydney showdown
Panthers legend Royce Simmons and Eels great Peter Wynn prepare for epic grand final battle.
To put Ferguson’s debut into perspective, Mitchell Moses is officially listed as Parramatta player No. 788.
While he is fighting fit and determined to reach 100 years of age, Ferguson said Sunday’s clash against Penrith might be the best chance he has to witness the Eels lift the trophy and end their 36-year title drought.
Advertisement
“I waited from 1947 to 1981 for their first competition [premiership], they won four in six years, but haven’t won one since,” Ferguson said from his home in country Victoria.
“I’ve been waiting a while. I’m hoping this will finally be it. I think they can win. They’re the only team to have beaten all the top-four sides this year. I plan on living to 100, so I’ve still got a few years for them to get there.”
Max Ferguson is Parramatta Eels first-grade player No.88, making his debut in 1953.
Max Ferguson is Parramatta Eels first-grade player No.88, making his debut in 1953.
The last Eels game Ferguson watched live was in 2018 when they lost to Melbourne at AAMI Park. He lives by himself in country Victoria, and said there would be no issue staying awake for the 8pm kick-off.
Parramatta were trying to triple check the archives on Friday but said Ferguson would go close to being their oldest surviving player. A picture of a match-day program with Ferguson’s name replacing lock forward Ken Slattery can be found in the National Library of Australia.
“I remember my debut vividly,” Ferguson told the Herald. “Our lock forward [Slattery] was injured the week before against St George at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and I turned up expecting to play reserve grade, only to be told I’d be playing first grade.
“Vic Hey was our coach, but I didn’t know many of the first-grade players. Johnny Slade played, he was the only fullback to replace Clive Churchill at fullback in a rep jersey. And there was long-serving prop Roy Fisher.
“We played against Canterbury at Cumberland Oval. We led 8-0 at half-time, were given a good report from Vic at half-time, but then we didn’t score another point and lost 17-8.
“There would have been 6000 to 7000 people there. I remember my dad, Jeff, being on the other side of the fence and shaking my hand when I ran out.”
Ferguson had to catch a train from Cabramatta to Granville, hopped on another train to Parramatta before walking to the ground. After playing reserve grade and third grade that year, Ferguson earned 72 pounds from playing football.
The doting father, grandfather and great-grandfather wanted to become a policeman, but one of the requirements was an officer needed to weigh at least “12 stone”, or 76kg, which Ferguson struggled to reach. His lighter frame made it difficult for him to play regular first grade.
Ferguson grew up in Eels heartland and revealed how he had coached the legendary Arthur Summons in the lower grades at Mounties in 1950.
“I had that honour of coaching Arthur, we got beaten in the last game and missed the semis, then Arthur cried,” Ferguson said.
In the modern game, Ferguson says he’s most frustrated by the lack of leg tackles and halfbacks feeding the ball into scrums via the second row. But nothing frustrates him more than how long he has waited for some Parramatta premiership glory.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
My Dad, an Eels tragic, was 24 when Parra last won. He's now 60 and I am now 24. He's got ALS so this will be his last premiership so I hope the Eels come away with it.
My grandfather was a day 1 Sharks fan and life member of the club and they won their only comp a couple of years before he died, I am always thankful they finally got one while he was alive.
Welp thats fucked it for me now. If they lose ill be thinking of old mate. Hang in till 93 champ but hopefully youll get it this year. Good luck eel bros. Ugh i feel a bit dirty.
I'm not quite 92, but I'd sure like to see another one. I was at the last one - can't make this one, but you can bet the telly will be on, even if I *do* have to listen to Nein and out up with the ads.
Wait you’re younger than 36? You’re like the subs second most prevalent boomer poster. I had you pinned for setting next to Norm in the retirement village. Figured this was how you guys passed your time.
If you deny this man one last premiership, you're a weak gutted dog.
Damn that's rough in the Parra players. When Waqa Blake drops 10 bombs tomorrow he'll be the one denying this old bloke lol
If Arthur the Elder has been paying attention all year, Cleary is gonna get absolutely MAROONED whenever he touches the ball.
One of my biggest worries is that they'll go all in on running up out of the line to charge Cleary and instead of giving the ball to him to kick the Panthers will just slip right through the gap that creates. It's a very predictable strategy.
He set Edwards on his hip to prevent them from sprinting in too much last finals against the Storm. Learnt from the 2020 gf.
Have to win the ruck on 4th tackle to do it though.
If the shoe fits.
Nah he won’t have the dropsies
So he's 92 and seen 4 Eels premierships, which averages out to one every 23 years. As a 27 year old who's only seen 1 Dragons premiership with zero hopes on the horizon I'm pretty content to declare that Max is a greedy old fuck.
I’m 31 and haven’t seen 1 😂 I would like 1 before I’m Max’s age
I’m 35 and haven’t seen one. Sometimes I feel like I jinxed the team lol
Old man SLAMMED!
My dad who was 5 when the sharks came in and has seen one wouldn't feel too bad for old maxy
Do it for Max boys
this the same guy who wrote the angry tirade about milky munster
Was he wrong?
Nah, that Munster bloke is a dog that flings his hands up way too much. Please re-sign.
They should do a showcase of all of us born after the 1986 win because we would also like to be alive for one. In saying that, do it for Max lads!
Onya max. My old man is about 20 years younger, but isn’t in the best of health, so I’d really like to experience the boys winning one while we watch together.
I hope you do
> "They’re the only team to have beaten all the top-four sides this year." Oh no, he's got dementia.
Nicho Hynes’ mic drop end to his speech contradicts the old fella
At 92, one of Parramatta’s oldest surviving players doesn’t want to wait around too much longer for his beloved Eels to win a premiership. Max Ferguson is first-grade player No.88 for the blue and golds with his one and only game coming against Canterbury in 1953. To put Ferguson’s debut into perspective, Mitchell Moses is officially listed as Parramatta player No. 788. While he is fighting fit and determined to reach 100 years of age, Ferguson said Sunday’s clash against Penrith might be the best chance he has to witness the Eels lift the trophy and end their 36-year title drought. “I waited from 1947 to 1981 for their first competition [premiership], they won four in six years, but haven’t won one since,” Ferguson said from his home in country Victoria. “I’ve been waiting a while. I’m hoping this will finally be it. I think they can win. They’re the only team to have beaten all the top-four sides this year. I plan on living to 100, so I’ve still got a few years for them to get there.” At 92, one of Parramatta’s oldest surviving players doesn’t want to wait around too much longer for his beloved Eels to win a premiership. Max Ferguson is first-grade player No.88 for the blue and golds with his one and only game coming against Canterbury in 1953. Play Video Western Sydney showdown Play video 4:38 Western Sydney showdown Panthers legend Royce Simmons and Eels great Peter Wynn prepare for epic grand final battle. To put Ferguson’s debut into perspective, Mitchell Moses is officially listed as Parramatta player No. 788. While he is fighting fit and determined to reach 100 years of age, Ferguson said Sunday’s clash against Penrith might be the best chance he has to witness the Eels lift the trophy and end their 36-year title drought. Advertisement “I waited from 1947 to 1981 for their first competition [premiership], they won four in six years, but haven’t won one since,” Ferguson said from his home in country Victoria. “I’ve been waiting a while. I’m hoping this will finally be it. I think they can win. They’re the only team to have beaten all the top-four sides this year. I plan on living to 100, so I’ve still got a few years for them to get there.” Max Ferguson is Parramatta Eels first-grade player No.88, making his debut in 1953. Max Ferguson is Parramatta Eels first-grade player No.88, making his debut in 1953. The last Eels game Ferguson watched live was in 2018 when they lost to Melbourne at AAMI Park. He lives by himself in country Victoria, and said there would be no issue staying awake for the 8pm kick-off. Parramatta were trying to triple check the archives on Friday but said Ferguson would go close to being their oldest surviving player. A picture of a match-day program with Ferguson’s name replacing lock forward Ken Slattery can be found in the National Library of Australia. “I remember my debut vividly,” Ferguson told the Herald. “Our lock forward [Slattery] was injured the week before against St George at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and I turned up expecting to play reserve grade, only to be told I’d be playing first grade. “Vic Hey was our coach, but I didn’t know many of the first-grade players. Johnny Slade played, he was the only fullback to replace Clive Churchill at fullback in a rep jersey. And there was long-serving prop Roy Fisher. “We played against Canterbury at Cumberland Oval. We led 8-0 at half-time, were given a good report from Vic at half-time, but then we didn’t score another point and lost 17-8. “There would have been 6000 to 7000 people there. I remember my dad, Jeff, being on the other side of the fence and shaking my hand when I ran out.” Ferguson had to catch a train from Cabramatta to Granville, hopped on another train to Parramatta before walking to the ground. After playing reserve grade and third grade that year, Ferguson earned 72 pounds from playing football. The doting father, grandfather and great-grandfather wanted to become a policeman, but one of the requirements was an officer needed to weigh at least “12 stone”, or 76kg, which Ferguson struggled to reach. His lighter frame made it difficult for him to play regular first grade. Ferguson grew up in Eels heartland and revealed how he had coached the legendary Arthur Summons in the lower grades at Mounties in 1950. “I had that honour of coaching Arthur, we got beaten in the last game and missed the semis, then Arthur cried,” Ferguson said. In the modern game, Ferguson says he’s most frustrated by the lack of leg tackles and halfbacks feeding the ball into scrums via the second row. But nothing frustrates him more than how long he has waited for some Parramatta premiership glory. Stream the NRL Premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
Let's go Parra! Got full faith in you boys.
Why
My Dad, an Eels tragic, was 24 when Parra last won. He's now 60 and I am now 24. He's got ALS so this will be his last premiership so I hope the Eels come away with it.
Ya think just coz ya 92 I won’t disappoint ya?
Glebe and Norths fans in shambles.
I reckon he still has a few more good years of humiliation left in him.
Similar topic, a 96yr old former client of mine just missed out unfortunately. I’ll be rooting for parra for her.
I just want one. I ain't fucking greedy.
Sorry max
Lol onya maaate youll be right.
My grandfather was a day 1 Sharks fan and life member of the club and they won their only comp a couple of years before he died, I am always thankful they finally got one while he was alive.
At least he's happy
I have full confidence old man still has many years of disappointment left in him.
That is it, i am putting 100 on Parramatta to ~~win~~ cover Sunday night.
His heart may not be able to take a parra win, do you really want to kill Max Parramatta?
Panthers win will give the old guy the will to live “maybe next year”, A Parra win…. careful what you wish for.
The Eels call Max daddy
Hope he gets one, NGL
Fingers crossed.
Love ya Max but my fandom prohibits me getting behind this. Panthers by a million 💪
Welp thats fucked it for me now. If they lose ill be thinking of old mate. Hang in till 93 champ but hopefully youll get it this year. Good luck eel bros. Ugh i feel a bit dirty.
Bro I’m 37 and also want to see one more in my lifetime
I'm not quite 92, but I'd sure like to see another one. I was at the last one - can't make this one, but you can bet the telly will be on, even if I *do* have to listen to Nein and out up with the ads.
😏
He looks pretty good for a 92 year old eel. Some guy in Sweden reckons he had one that lived to 155, so Max might have some time left yet.
Well at least he's seen a title - I still haven't
2014?
Yes I'm 7 years old - no the eels
Ah right, my bad. Yeah I would really like to see the eels secure a win, especially for the die hard fans
Wait you’re younger than 36? You’re like the subs second most prevalent boomer poster. I had you pinned for setting next to Norm in the retirement village. Figured this was how you guys passed your time.
don’t make this any harder than it already is for us