Inspirational teacher

FELETI Mateo is a young man, but he was like a venerable Father Christmas, Pied Piper and king of the kids last week.

Parramatta Eels star Mateo came back to where it all started at Lalor Park and it seemed the whole town's young population was there to meet him.

Mateo was there to inspire and instruct the youngsters from his former club.

He and teammate Brett Delaney had been picked up by the Eels after they had shared in Lalor Park's C-grade grand final win.

Delaney has since gone to the Gold Coast but Mateo is now recognised as one of the young Eels, like Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Haynes, who will lead Parramatta to tomorrow.