PREMIER Nathan Rees has urged the people of NSW to back the ”mighty Eels” in the NRL grand final.

Eels CEO Paul Osborne's children will be cherring on the blue-and-golds next week. Photo: Anthony Johnson

Yesterday the self-confessed westie said the Parramatta players would need the support of the whole state as they took on their interstate rival in the season decider.

”I call on everyone in NSW to get behind the mighty Parramatta Eels,” Mr Rees said before Melbourne Storm qualified by beating the Brisbane Broncos 40-10 in the preliminary final last night.

”Last year I exhorted people to back Manly against an interstate rival. This year I would hope that all people in NSW would back the Eels.”

Mr Rees (pictured)said he was hoarse after spending Friday night at ANZ Stadium – along with 75,000 fans – to see the Eels defeat the Bulldogs 22-12. He hoped the NRL judiciary would allow star fullback Jarryd Hayne to play. He was placed on report after his knees crashed into Bulldogs winger Bryson Goodwin, who had just scored a try.

”I didn’t think there was any malice in the action at all and I’d be very hopeful that the judiciary would see it the same way,” Mr Rees said.

Asked if he would go so far as changing legislation so that Hayne could be guaranteed a spot, he joked: ”Let’s get their finding first.”

Across Parramatta, fans were sensing a historic Eels premiership. If the blue and gold were to win next Sunday, Parramatta would be the first team to claim the title having qualified in eighth place for the finals series.

It was excitement central at the Sydney home of Parramatta chief executive Paul Osborne.

”The kids are so caught up in Parramatta and loving everything about the team – they’re all Parramatta supporters,” he said of his brood of nine. ”I can’t remember a week like last week. It was incredible but I really loved it.”

Parramatta Leagues Club duty manager Mandy Blume said when she arrived at work at 6am yesterday the streets were still full of people celebrating.

”The majority of us at the club are Eels supporters. The Bulldogs supporters are not saying very much. They’re just slurping on their soup quietly.”

Ms Blume said she would be eagerly tuning into Sunday’s grand final. ”We’re going to win,” she said.

Sean Thomson, the owner of Athletes Foot in Parramatta, was thrilled to see the Eels make it to the final for the first time since 2001, when they lost 30-24 to Newcastle. The last time the club won was in 1986.

”I think everyone’s pretty rapt in Parramatta,” Mr Thomson said. ”The guys in the other shops in Bankstown are really quiet so the Bulldogs supporters must all be at home crying.”

Mr Thomson said to watch the grand final was a religion to him.