PARRAMATTA EELS UNVEIL SHOCK PLAN FOR RECORD-BREAKING JACK GIBSON STATUE
Parramatta Eels have sent ripples through the NRL world with a stunning announcement: the club will honour its greatest coach of all time, Jack Gibson, with the largest statue ever erected at its stadium.
The ambitious project, revealed at a special board meeting on Wednesday, aims to immortalise the man who transformed the Eels from perennial underdogs into a rugby league dynasty. Standing taller than any other sporting statue in the region, the monument will serve as a permanent tribute to Gibson’s extraordinary contribution to the club and the game.
Gibson’s tenure at Parramatta from 1981 to 1983 remains the most successful period in the club’s history. In just three seasons, he led the team to their first-ever premiership in 1981 before guiding them to an unprecedented three consecutive titles – a feat no other club had achieved in the modern NRL era.
His impact extended far beyond silverware. Renowned as a tactical genius and pioneer of high-performance training methods, Gibson revolutionised how rugby league teams prepared and played. He nurtured young talents like Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny, transforming them into club and international legends who would go on to define a generation of the sport.
Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos described the decision as a “fitting tribute to a man who changed the course of our club forever.”
“Jack Gibson didn’t just win premierships – he built a culture of excellence that still drives us today,” Sarantinos said. “This statue, the biggest ever at our stadium, will ensure his legacy is visible to every fan who walks through our gates, reminding them of the standard we strive to uphold.”
The statue will be positioned at the main entrance of CommBank Stadium, featuring Gibson in his iconic tracksuit, overseeing the field he once dominated from the coaching box. Design plans, developed in consultation with Gibson’s family, include inscriptions highlighting his key achievements and famous quotes that became synonymous with his leadership.
Construction is set to begin in early 2026, with the monument scheduled to be unveiled ahead of the 2027 NRL season – marking 40 years since Gibson’s final premiership win with the Eels. The club has pledged to fund the project through a combination of corporate sponsorships and fan donations, with early response from the Eels faithful described as “overwhelming.”
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo praised the initiative, stating: “Jack Gibson is a legend of the game, and this record-breaking tribute is a testament to the lasting impact he had on Parramatta and rugby league as a whole.”
