Reddy for the NRL

Joel Reddy will be used as a utility back in 2007 with the talented, young Eel training at centre and wing, as well as his favoured fullback position, as he seeks to cement a place in first grade.

Reddy has been knocking on the door of establishing himself in the NRL and has impressed in the four NRL games he has played for Parramatta. However, with Luke Burt and Wade McKinnon contesting for the fullback jersey over the last couple of years, Reddy has been unable to hold his spot in the top grade despite a number of fine performances.

With Wade McKinnon leaving the club, Parramatta has less depth in the number one position this year, but with Jarryd Hayne making it clear that custodian is his preferred position, Reddy is set to give himself every chance of breaking through at the top level by familiarising himself with the centre position and also wing.

"I'm not really going to stick to fullback this year, I'm going to see if I can try and get myself in anywhere," Reddy told 1Eyed Eel.

"It doesn't worry me where I play so much this year, Michael Hagan has told me that I can try myself in the centres and even on the wing, as well as fullback so it's just a matter of trying to break through anywhere really".

He has trained at both centre and wing during the pre-season and has played both positions at Premier League level. Centre would appear Reddy's best chance of a breakthrough outside of fullback, as the Eels don't have a lot of depth at three or four, following the departures of Brett Delaney and Luke O'Dwyer to the Titans.

"I'm looking to familiarse myself with those positions, so that if I have to step up into any of those positions I'll be ready," he said.

Reddy said he'd like to improve his consistency this year, but he believes he has the game to make it as a regular first grader.

"I definitely felt up it and I actually enjoyed it a lot more, because while it's quicker, with the quality of players you've got around you, sometimes I even found it a bit easier [than Premier League]," he said.

"So I'm definitely hoping to get up there again this year, and hopefully stay up there, because that's what I play for, to play first grade".

Reddy has been one of the Eel's best in Premier League for the past two seasons, and his great form was certainly a major contributing factor in those sides going all the way for back-to-back Premierships.

"If you're not playing first grade, the next best thing is to win a Premier League grand final and we did that two years in a row, so that was good, but I'd take a few more first grade games, any day."

Eels duo to seize half a chance

TIM Smith and Brett Finch were the two most criticised players in rugby league last year - Smith for his erratic off-field behaviour and Finch for his inconsistent form.

Now the enigmatic pair have teamed up at Parramatta and vowed to put a tumultuous 2006 behind them as they look to strike up the most potent Eels halfback pairing in almost two decades.

Former rookie of the year Smith yesterday promised to distance himself from the off-field controversies that have dogged his short but brilliant career, while new five-eighth Finch is adamant he can re-find form and fire in season 2007.

"It was a tough last year but I did my best every game," said Finch.

"Sometimes you get the results and other times you don't. In 2003 and 2004 I didn't try any harder and the results went our way. I am ready for a big year and I feel I'm ready to play my best football."

While pledging to clean up his act, Smith, 21, revealed he had formed a close friendship with Finch.

"There won't be any more of that," Smith said of the off-field controversies.

"No more headlines, it's all in the past. I am focused on football and playing well for Parramatta.

"Finchy is a larrikin so we are getting on like a house on fire. We struck up a friendship from day one.

"On the training field it has been great. The talk is good and we communicate really well. I can't wait for the trials.

"We have been working out what our roles will be and what we do best.

"We have three weeks to go until the trials and it is working out well."

Finch said he had settled into the side well and was enjoying Smith's company.

"It is very enjoyable to train with Tim and the work we are doing together is going well," the 25-year-old said.

"We have to prove it in the games but so far all is good."

After playing several roles at the Roosters under former coach Ricky Stuart, Finch is looking forward to locking down the No. 6 jersey.

"It's great Hages (coach Michael Hagan) is behind me and it does give you some confidence," he said.

"I will be working hard to contribute to the team and help out."

Since the glory days of the early 80s, every halfback and five-eighth to line up for the Eels has had to live with the burden of comparison with the great Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling. Coach Hagan said he was wary of the expectation but hopeful the pair would be a formidable combination.

"The Eels have been successful at different times but we will be looking for some stability in the halves this year," Hagan said.

"They get on very well on the field and off the field. They are great mates already and are good characters to have around the place.

"They are typical of halfbacks and five-eighths – they liven things up and are really enjoying it.

"They are running the team and everyone is responding to them well at this stage.

"There is an opportunity for them to establish themselves as one of the dominant halfback-five-eighth pairings."

Coast duo's wish: Flegg first, then NRL

STEVE McPhee and Paul Ivan have a common New Year’s resolution for 2007 – impress Parramatta’s Jersey Flegg officials and take a giant step toward achieving their NRL dream.
The Sunshine Coast Falcons players will head down to Eels training from January 8, in a bid to earn a contract to play for the club in the country’s premier under-20 rugby league competition.
Second rower McPhee has impressed for the Falcons Colts in 2006 while Ivan, a big and mobile outside back, has been a mainstay in the club’s FOGs Cup backline. Both caught the attention of Parramatta scouts when representing Wide Bay at the under-19 state championships in Toowoomba this year.

The 19-year-olds will attend Eels training until mid-February before playing in three trials matches in an attempt to secure a contract. McPhee was named Wide Bay’s player of the carnival at the state championships after a man-of-the-match performance against South West.
Ivan also scored a try in the Queensland under-19 side’s 32-16 win over Papua New Guinea in a curtain raiser to State of Origin Two at Suncorp Stadium in June.

“It’s a new challenge and I’m looking forward to it,” McPhee said.

“I’ll probably miss home when I get down there, but it’s something you have to do to make it (in the NRL).”

Colts coach Brad Henderson believes both players have got what it takes to make it in Jersey Flegg, but stressed their challenge was a difficult one.

“It’s an odd way of doing it so close to the season, usually contracts are signed, sealed and delivered by now,” he said.

“But if they see anything they like they’ll hang onto them and try and develop that. They’ve got two months to show what they’ve got.

“Steve is such an athlete, and he’s one guy who I’d like to see do well, because he’s got such a good work ethic.

“He’s got fast feet, which is a key, and technically he’s strong in defence.”

Henderson is also convinced Ivan wouldn’t be out of place at Jersey Flegg level, so long as he brings his ‘A’ game.

“If anyone’s capable of playing a big game it’s Paul, but he needs to develop his consistency a bit more,” he said.

“He’s such a big guy, and down there what he will need to do is work out of his own end and do some of the hard yards as well.

“He played very well in that Origin curtain raiser against some very high quality players, and that all comes down to the big game mentality Pauly has.”