Fairytales don't always come true: Mannah

Sep 4, 2017 - 7:17 AM Can Parramatta become the NRL's next Cinderella story?

The Eels this year broke an eight-year finals drought - the longest in the competition - but haven't tasted premiership triumph since the glory days of 1986.

And after South Sydney fans shed tears of joy in 2014, as well as North Queensland supporters in 2015 and Cronulla faithful in 2016, will the Eels be next in line?

The run of famous victories prompted the NRL to use 'Making history happen' as their slogan for this season, however Parramatta skipper Tim Mannah warned not all fairytales come true.

"I think the buzz and excitement among fans is always great, but we can't get too bogged down in the fairytale of it all," Mannah said at the captain's call on Monday.

"At the end of the day, teams like Melbourne have got a job to do as well. As great as the storyline is, it doesn't win you a comp. You've got to make sure you go there and perform well."

The Eels prop said the opportunity to make history wasn't lost on the team.

"We spoke as a playing group over the years about creating our own history. I'm sure every team is the same, but we definitely want to make sure we make a statement," he said.

The Eels will start as major underdogs against the minor premiers, but can take solace from the fact they were the most recent team to beat the Storm back in round 18.

However that was when Melbourne were without their big three in Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith.

"We got off to a good start, but it's going to be a different kind of game this week... I actually got knocked out that game so I don't remember exactly what we did. But it worked," Mannah said.

Centre Michael Jennings, who is one of just three premiership-winning players in the team, looms as an X-factor for the Eels after springing to life with four tries in as many matches.

Mannah said he had noticed the former representative star step up in recent weeks.

"In particular the last month or two, when the games started to mean a bit more and there was more on the line, you just saw Jenko step up and he's definitely a big game player," he said.

"The leadership he's displayed the last month has really blown me away. I always knew he was capable of it but to see it in action again just really shows why he's the kind of player he is."

Source: AAP