The last halves pairing to win a title for Parramatta have anointed Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman as the saviours who can finally put the Eels back in the NRL premiership mix.
Eels fans have been forced to wait 32 years for another title since Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny took the club to success in 1986 – the longest current drought in the NRL.
But with an improving squad under new coach Brad Arthur, the pair can finally see success looming with Moses and Norman at the helm in their first full season together.
“I’m really excited about the pairing,” said Sterling. They did a great job with Mitchell Moses coming across halfway through the season last year.
“So with that under their belt and another full off-season together their talent is obvious. I like the fact they’re combining so well after such a short period of time.”
Sterling and Kenny reunited on Friday for a benefit luncheon for the latter, as the former five-eighth remains positive in his fight against lymphoma cancer.
They’ll also both feature on the trophy for Saturday night’s historic Super League clash between Wigan and Hull in Wollongong, having featured on opposing sides in the 1985 Challenge Cup final between the clubs.
But they are unified in their praise of Parramatta ahead of this season that will also see Jarryd Hayne return, after both admitted to be surprised by their rise into the top four in 2017.
“Expectations are high … What that has done is raise the bar again this year,” Sterling said.
“It’s not just all about Jarryd. Jarryd comes back into a very strong line up now. We’ve got good depth there, recruitment has been good.
“We are strong off the field. (CEO) Bernie Gurr has been sensational in taking over. It’s a strong looking Parramatta club.”
Sterling and Kenny are statistically Parramatta’s greatest halves combination of all time, winning 79 of 114 games started together as playmakers, including four grand finals.
Kenny can already see similarities in the Eels’ newest pairing, particularly between Norman and Sterling.
“He seems to look around. He plays a lot like Sterlo was when he was playing,” Kenny said.
“He would be looking at everything and directing the play. It wasn’t unusual to see him on the open side and then shooting across to the blindside.”
