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Kenny and his 1980s halves partner Peter Sterling will be honoured with grandstands at the new $300 million stadium in Sydney’s west named after the pair.

Five-eighth Kenny and halfback Sterling, who won four premierships together with Parramatta during the 1980s, will be reunited once again.

Parramatta will take their history with them to their new home.
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal Eels legends Mick Cronin and Ken Thornett, whose names adorned the old Parramatta Stadium, will again have grandstands named in their honour.

To complete the nod to the Eels’ history, the Ray Price statue, which stood outside the old Parramatta Stadium, will be brought out from storage and placed in the new Bankwest Stadium precinct.

Sterling and Kenny, whose names were on the hills at either end of the old ground, told The Daily Telegraph they were humbled to have stands named after them, with an official announcement expected shortly.

“I would be enormously proud, obviously. To have the terrace at the old Parramatta Stadium was something I never thought would happen,” Sterling told The Daily Telegraph.

“With this brand new structure going up, to be associated with that by name would be fantastic, especially when you consider the other names you’re alongside as well. They are all great mates of mine.

“It’s just nice I suppose, to know that you’ve left some kind of impression with some people. It’s been a long time now but hopefully we have great times coming. Every time I drive past the stadium I will feel really good.”

Remembering the likes of Sterlo can show Parra the way back to the good times.
Kenny was just as delighted.

“It would be a great honour to have your name up there and to be part of this wonderful new stadium, which looks magnificent. It would be good to look up and see your name there on a grandstand,” Kenny said.

“And the other thing is that when you stop and think about it, when you look at the number of great players that have come through that club, especially those guys in the 1980s and the late 1970s, it’s a privilege. It’s very humbling.”

They were halcyon days for Parramatta fans.
Cronin was also part of the glorious Eels side which dominated through the early and mid-1980s. Thornett, nicknamed the Mayor of Parramatta after representing them through the 1960s and early 1970s, played 12 Tests for Australia. He died in August, 2016.

In conjunction with the NSW Government, Parramatta will recognise the club legends in time for the stadium’s opening match against Wests Tigers on April 22.

Wests Tigers first home game at Bankwest Stadium will be played on June 7 against Canberra.

Parramatta plan to erect removable signs displaying the grandstand names for all nine of their home games this season.

Other tenants Canterbury and Wests Tigers can then name the stands for their home games.

The Tigers board will discuss the issue in coming weeks.

Ex-champions from Balmain’s side of the joint venture to be considered include Keith Barnes, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Ben Elias and Wayne Pearce with the Wests faction to look at Tom Raudonikis, Peter Dimond, Noel Kelly and Keith Holman.

Wests Tigers stars Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah would also be considered, despite still playing for the club. The Tigers played four games at Bankwest this season, the Bulldogs have one. Others tenants are the Western Sydney Wanderers and NSW Waratahs.

that is great that Sterlo and Kenny will be honored. I think the other stands should be Price and Cronin, like in Parramatta Stadium. I think the idea of having any Tigers or dogs players disgusting. That is Parramatta and should only be Parramatta.

Bulldogs and Tigers are trying to claim Parramatta territory or just wanting to play at a good football ground to attract corporate dollars? Why don't they build their own stadiums. Bulldogs were going to build a stadium in Liverpool, but nothing came of that.

funny that the Eels used Belmore when the old Parramatta Stadium was being built. Belmore was horrible. The Dogs get to play in a world class stadium out of this. The winner is the dogs.

Parra did try, but no high profile players wanted to sign with Parra. Players back then were more about playing for success on the field and not just the money.