Paul Osborne's playing career will forever be remembered for his one moment of glory, but as Parramatta's golden run to the NRL grand final can attest, the Eels chief executive has lost none of that Midas touch.

During a 10-year playing career with St George and then Canberra from 1985-1994, Osborne was what would best be described as an old-school prop - a man with limited athletic ability but possessing a deft touch and a truckload of desire.

His career never reached any great heights, until he was called up by coach Tim Sheens for one last hurrah in the Raiders' 1994 grand final against Canterbury to replace suspended Kiwi international John Lomax.

Lomax, Canberra's player of the year in 94, had been sent off in the Raiders' preliminary final win over North Sydney, but not even master barrister Geoff Bellew - in one of his first cases - could get Lomax off.

An appeal followed, but still Lomax remained banned, and finally the call was made to bring back Osborne, who had not been sighted in first grade since round 15 due to injury and poor form.

What followed was one of the most amazing one-off games in grand final history.

Osborne - wearing the No.46 on his back - looked more like Shane Webcke and Arthur Beetson all rolled into one as he terrorised the Bulldogs with a masterful performance.

"I wouldn't like to go back in time to try and do it again because I don't think I'd be able to," Osborne says.

"I hadn't played in a long time, I'd been out of first grade for months.

"I'd broken my foot earlier in the season and by the time I was back they were winning and I couldn't get into first grade.

"Then Johnny got sent off in the finals and I was the only one cheering.

"It wasn't until training on Saturday morning when super coach Sheens told me I was playing.

"I went home, I had to find my gear, I didn't know where my shorts were, I didn't know if they still fit me.

"The reason I wore No.46 was because it was the only one that would fit me. I tried them all on - 37, 38 ... (trainer) Bryan Hider's going " Geez, we haven't got many more left, what are you going to play in?"

As far as fairytales go, that one would seem hard to top - until this year.

Osborne - one time footballer, one time politician, one time policeman, one time sideline eye, all the time father of nine - was handed the role of replacing the longest serving chief executive in NRL history when former boss Dennis Fitzgerald was squeezed out by the new regime at Parramatta midway through the year.

On and off the field, the Eels were in disarray, and it was only the exploits of the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla that avoided them being the laughing stock of the league.

But along came Osborne, who immediately appeased himself to blue and gold diehards by delivering the signing of prodigal son Timana Tahu for 2010.

"I thought the club needed something and I knew where Timana was at and I knew how much he was loved at Parramatta so I thought it would give everyone a real boost for next season, not thinking in my wildest dreams that we'd be here now," Osborne said.

"The need for a lift was something I was conscious of, it's been a difficult 12 months."

But what was to follow, not even Osborne could have imagined.

After losing the first game under his reign, Parramatta went on a seven-match winning streak to book the most improbable of finals berths.

More joy followed with wins over the top three seeds during the finals series, setting up a meeting with Melbourne in Sunday's grand final at ANZ Stadium, while Osborne also came to a verbal agreement with superstar fullback Jarryd Hayne for a new four-year deal with the club.

Yes, the Midas touch appears to be as strong as ever.

"It's just been an unbelievable ride," Osborne says.

"It's just been a pleasure to be a part of.

"Although I'm obviously taking all the credit I can for the turnaround, I've had minimal input into it really - this is really Daniel (coach Daniel Anderson) and the boys' week.

"That's why I'm not nervous (going into Sunday), I'm just honoured to be part of the week."

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