THE Mayors of the two most passionate districts in rugby league – Parramatta and Canterbury – go head to head. Tony Issa and Robert Furolo give their teams a pre-final
By Tony Issa, Parramatta Lord Mayor

IT’S been a long time coming. Every year, Eels supporters think this is their season to win the premiership only to be pipped at the post.

Well, 2009 is the Year of the Eel for those who know and love the great blue and gold. From the river foreshore to our great stadium, our army of fanatical Eels supporters is rubbing its hands knowing the satisfaction at leaving our old rivals in the dust and settling a score that’s more than 20 years old.

Not since the days of Ray Price, Peter Sterling, the Mortimer boys and Terry Lamb has such a contest between the Parramatta Eels and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs been so memorable.

A lot has changed since the heyday of the 1980s but the passion with which Eels and Bulldogs supporters love their respective teams is just as great.

Youngsters throughout the Parramatta district will look to their heroes such as Nathan Hindmarsh, Jarryd Hayne and Fuifui Moimoi to lead the charge in the blue and gold.

The players have had the entire city of Parramatta on the edge of our seats as we’ve watched them come back again and again. Now it’s time to throw down the gauntlet with what will be the sweetest of victories as we march with determination towards the NRL Grand Final.

Already the city is decked out with bright blue and gold flags as the city gets ready to sing our boys home.

The feeling in Parramatta is electric as football fever takes hold.

It’s a great moment when our entire community can come together and I, like the rest of the city, will be watching the great game on Friday night. In the great tradition of sportsmanship and goodwill, however, I send a message to my counterpart the Mayor of Canterbury.

If, on the off-chance, Parramatta lose this weekend, our historic Town Hall will raise the Bulldogs flag for one week.

This is conditional on you doing us the same honour when Parramatta win.

On behalf of a very proud city, we wish the Parramatta Eels the best of luck.

May the best team win.

By Robert Furolo, Mayor of Canterbury

THE air in Canterbury is crackling with excitement and anticipation. Flags and banners declaring our loyalty to the Bulldogs are proudly on display.

And local kids are rehearsing the game-winning try they hope their heroes will deliver come tomorrow night.

We’re well known in Canterbury for our cultural diversity – we come from more than 150 different countries. It’s a massive cultural melting pot.

But if there’s one thing that unites us, that truly brings us together, it’s our support for the Doggies. Those fans have had a great team to support in 2009, too.

This year, after some seasons of struggle, we have seen a return to the fantastic form Bulldogs fans have come to expect from our famous Belmore club.

Both on and off the field, the Doggies have led by example with relentless determination. Their performances already this season have repaid the trust and absolute loyalty of Bulldogs fans. And we’ll be out in force again tomorrow night to show the depth of passion we have for the famous blue and whites.

The Doggies are known for being the toughest competitors in the NRL, capable of grinding out a victory when victory seems all but lost.

This fierce determination will be proudly on display when we give the Eels a lesson in finals footy tomorrow.

With our combination of exciting and skilful young players, together with our battle-hardened experienced players, we’ll have the measure of the slippery boys from Parramatta.

ANZ Stadium will be a sea of blue and white as fans come out to show their support for the Doggies. The Canterbury Bulldogs will be barking all the way to Grand Final night after they show why they’ve been the best team all season.

The Eels are a good team but, with inconsistent form throughout the year, they’ll be just another speed-bump on our way to the Grand Final victory.

Oh, and I’ll happily match my rival mayor’s challenge to fly a Parramatta flag if the impossible happens.

1. Tony Issa ( Parramatta Lord Mayor )

2. Robert Furolo ( Canterbury Mayor )