Parramatta Eels / 2008

2008-04-14T22:51:00.001+10:00

Tim Smith: Indefinite leave

PARRAMATTA halfback Tim Smith has been granted indefinite leave from the NRL club to overcome his battle with bipolar disorder.

Smith approached the Eels this morning and advised his team-mates at training today of his plans to take time away from the sport and return to his family on the Gold Coast to recover from his mental health problems.

Smith says he has been battling with bipolar disorder for 18 months and told his team-mates he wants to get himself right before he can begin to focus on football again.

"This morning I made a request to the club to be stood down from this weekend's game," said Smith, reading from a prepared statement.

"They have granted me leave and I have just had a meeting with my team-mates to tell them of where I am at.

"I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 18 months ago. In this time I have been seeking professional advice and professional medical help to help me deal with day to day life of bipolar disorder.

"I am not using bipolar disorder for any negative things or any decisions I've made in the past. However, I am not coping well with the pressure and public scrutiny I am under."

His manager, David Riolo, said Smith had made a very brave decision but has no doubt he'll return to the NRL.

"I have no doubt he will come back," said Riolo.

"He is a quality person from a good family and he'll work hard to get back from this."

Smith has a long history of misdemeanours at the NRL club involving alcohol and spent part of the preseason in a rehabilitation clinic on the Gold Coast.

He has also suffered from depression and arrived at the club around 11am today with Riolo, two hours after the scheduled morning session.

Eels coach Michael Hagan was due to speak to the media following the session but cancelled at the last minute after noting Smith's absence.

Smith has played just three NRL games this year in his comeback from shoulder surgery and has copped the brunt of the criticism for the Eels successive losses.

But his teammates have stood behind him, with halves partner Brett Finch sympathising with the 23-year-old over the ongoing criticism.

"The continual criticism, I've had it myself in my career and it certainly gets you down and you get sick of hearing it," said Finch prior to training today.

"I thought (Smith) played pretty well on the weekend. I thought his kicking game was strong.

"I feel sorry for him because I know what he is going through, you certainly don't like to see your teammates cop that criticism all the time."

2008-04-12T20:09:00.002+10:00

Sackings not the answer for Eels: Cayless

Eels 20 lost to Gold Coast 28

Parramatta skipper Nathan Cayless has called for calm at the selection table, claiming that sacking players is not the solution to the Eels' stuttering start to the NRL season.

The Eels slumped to a 28-20 loss to Gold Coast at Parramatta Stadium last night and now have only two scratchy wins against the Bulldogs and Newcastle to show for their first five weeks' effort.

With a meeting against arch-rivals Manly kicking off the NRL's heritage round on Friday night, the Eels need to find some answers in a hurry, but Cayless doesn't think wholesale changes are required.

"We can't give up and go sacking everyone and dropping everyone," Cayless said.

"You've got to stick with the boys ... everyone busted their arses out there."It was a big effort to get back into the game but the NRL's getting too hard these days, you can't give teams a head start and expect to run them down every week."

Most conjecture this week will centre on out of sorts halfback Tim Smith, who again struggled to impose himself on the game last night.

His lack of self belief and control was shown up sensationally as opposite Scott Prince ran the Eels ragged all night, and it was only when five-eighth Brett Finch started to assert himself that the home side looked capable of snatching the points. The Eels could be without Mark Riddell for the clash against the Sea Eagles - who also have just two wins to their name - after the hooker suffered a recurrence of the shoulder/chest injury he first suffered against Newcastle two weeks ago.

The nuggety rake will have scans early this week but it is believed Eels medical officials are leaning towards giving him a week off.

Gold Coast showed they could get the job done without an inspirational forward of their own last night after they made a mockery of claims they would struggle without prop Luke Bailey, who is out with a broken arm.

While his co-skipper Scott Prince was brilliant, coach John Cartwright heaped praise on some of the lesser lights who had stepped in to fill the breach.

"We did win a couple of times last year without Bails, he's very important to the side but probably the difference this year to last year is a lot of the guys from one to 17 are contributing a lot more," Cartwright said.

"It's going to stand us in good stead because there is rep footy ahead, the injuries always come."I was just really pleased for those guys that probably played bit parts last year who really put their hand up tonight."

Cartwright said he was hopeful of having five-eighth Mat Rogers available to take on Brisbane on Friday night after he was put on report for lifting Luke Burt midway through the second half.

2008-04-06T10:06:00.002+10:00

Cowboys bulldoze Eels

Cowboys 38 - Eels 14

NORTH Queensland celebrated the appointment of their new coach Neil Henry and answered a torrent of criticism by belting Parramatta.

Prop Carl Webb, slammed by former Queensland and Australia prop Greg Dowling during the week for his poor form over the opening month of the season, set the tone for the Cowboys' first win of 2008 in front of 19,231 loyal Dairy Farmers Stadium fans by scoring the opening try after only four minutes.

The Eels - whose performance was reminiscent of their loss to the Warriors two weeks ago - were fortunate to be still in the game at 20-10 by halftime.

But despite the absence of injured fullback Matt Bowen, the Cowboys went on with the job in the second half. Second rower Jacob Lillyman scored on the next ruck after a long Ty Williams break in the 57th minute and then centre Mark Henry forced his way over in the 61st.

Compounding the woes of Parramatta coach Michael Hagan was three players - five-eighth Brett Finch, second rower Daniel Wagon and centre Joel Reddy - being booked for a lifting tackle on Luke O'Donnell in the 11th minute.

Cowboys replacement Shane Tronc could also be a bit of trouble for a late challenge on Finch after he had kicked the ball in the 47th minute. The defeat continues Parramatta's poor record in Townsville, where they have failed to win since 2000. Five minutes after Webb's try, they were in again with hooker Aaron Payne darting out of dummy-half and linking with Steve Southern, who found five-eighth Justin Smith backing up to score.

The Eels hit back with tries to Brett Finch and Eric Grothe but were never really in the hunt against a Cowboys side playing full of confidence of days gone by. With Johnathan Thurston converted both tries for a 12-0 lead.

Parramatta was given another headache in the 11th minute when three players were booked by rookie referee Bernard Sutton for a spear tackle on North Queensland lock Luke O'Donnell.
Sutton called out Joel Reddy and Daniel Wagon to caution them but replays showed Brett Finch was also involved.

The Cowboys' inept attack of the previous month was nowhere to be seen and the Eels looked sluggish but somehow the visitors managed to stay in the game, Tim Smith kicking for five-eighth Brett Finch to swoop after Webb had conceded a penalty. Luke Burt's goal narrowed the margin to six but after Parramatta made errors deep in their own territory on two occasions, halfback Thurston made them pay in the 28th minute by putting fullback Josh Graham over for another Cowboys try.

At 18-6, North Queensland threatened to run away with the game but Eels centre Jarryd Hayne took an intercept with another Cowboy try in the offing and raced 60 metres before slowing up and losing posession.

NQ fumbled themselves, giving the Michael Hagan's men a scrumfeed, and Finch's pass put winger Eric Grothe over in the corner for an unconverted try which kept Parramatta in touch.

The scoreboard ticked over to North Queensland 20 Parramatta 10 when Thurston booted a penalty goal on halftime following a ball-strip.

After the match Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless was brutally honest in the appraisal of his team.

"We were pretty awful, we've got to put that one down to attitude,'' Cayless said.

"We trained well all week, but we didn't turn up with the right attitude.''

When asked later to expand on his comments, he said: "I include myself in that. We're very disappointed. We talked about the Cowboys being desperate, we talked about how they would want to win. But in the end you have to get out on the field and do it, and we didn't''.

Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston praised the efforts of Carl Webb, who was criticised during the week by former Test prop Greg Dowling.

"It was Carl Webb who really inspired us with his first 20 minutes, he led from the front,'' Thurston said. "When he's at his damaging best, he's hard to stop.''

Fulltime

NORTH QUEENSLAND 38 (A Graham M Henry J Lillyman J Smith A Watts C Webb tries J Thurston 7 goals) bt

PARRAMATTA 14 (B Finch E Grothe T Tautai tries L Burt goal) at Dairy Farmers Stdm.

Referee: B Sutton.
Crowd: 19,231.

2008-03-30T01:00:00.000+11:00

Cayless relives vital kick

NATHAN Cayless laughs as he describes his regular kicking practice, launching left-footed bombs before training, aiming to hit Eels team-mates in the head.

But the Eels skipper says he just wanted to stop the "mucking around'' when he kicked a crucial field goal in Friday night's 24-23 golden-point win over the Newcastle Knights.

Cayless has absorbed the jokes - and has made some at his own expense - since landing the shock one-pointer that sent Friday's match into extra time.

Former Canberra Raiders premiership-winning prop Paul Osborne confronted Cayless immediately after the game, revoking his membership to the frontrowers club.

Cayless, too, says his only previous attempt at a field goal was when he was playing for Parramatta's Under-17 SG Ball team, and he dribbled it all the way along the ground from 20m out.

But with Parramatta trailing 23-22 and looking panicked in attack, Cayless stayed calm.

"It was just one of those things that happened. We were mucking around with the ball down there and, I dunno, I just kicked it,'' Cayless said.

"I'm glad it went over, otherwise it could have been very embarrassing.''

Cayless, who is left-footed, said Friday night's would be his first and last field goal.

Retired Eels forward Ian Hindmarsh kicked a similar one last season to seal a win over Penrith.

"Maybe you just get a bit older and know what needs to be done,'' Cayless said.

"It was a bit of a shock, I suppose. All the boys out on the field were a bit shocked, I think the crowd was shocked and I was shocked myself.''

Kicking spontaneity was contagious, Knights forward Corey Paterson attempting to kick a long-range field goal to snatch a win in the dying seconds of regular time.

"He got under that a bit too much; he's got to keep his head down,'' Cayless laughed.

Despite his heroics, Cayless reserved most praise for Nathan Hindmarsh, who played just two days after losing his father Bill to cancer.

"It was a very courageous effort. Speaking from personal experience, it took me a couple of weeks to be able to get back and play footy (after his mother's death last season).''

2008-03-30T00:58:00.001+11:00

NRL comeback kids get job done for Eels

They both walked away winners, but it's a fair bet to say Parramatta's 'comeback kids' Tim Smith and Nathan Hindmarsh would have been experiencing vastly different emotions in the Eels dressing room on Friday night.

The Eels had just walked away from a thrilling 24-23 golden point win over Newcastle, a clash that over the last few years has taken on new meaning following the coaching switcheroo between the two clubs before last season.

Just days after the death of his father following a long battle with cancer, Hindmarsh played all 83-and-a-half minutes of the contest.

Not bad for a forward who no doubt would have been drained of emotion and energy after a ten day hiatus from the training paddock.

"I thought (Hindmarsh) was outstanding, to get through 80 minutes of footy in the circumstances," Eels coach Michael Hagan said.

"It says a fair bit about his capacity and his determination to help the team and again the unquestionable effort that he displayed and he just adds confidence to what the team does.

"We're thankful that he did agree to play and it'll be a difficult couple of days for him and his family moving forward as well."

Hindmarsh's late father Bill will be laid to rest in his home town of Robertson on Tuesday, the Test star unlikely to get too many training runs under his belt again this week with Parramatta set to head to Townsville on Thursday to prepare for Saturday night's clash with winless North Queensland.

Smith also made his return to the top grade, and he must have known he would be in for a tough night when the kick-off when between his legs and over the dead ball line.

It did get better for the former rookie of the year, but he took a back seat for much of the game with halves partner Brett Finch orchestrating much of Parramatta's attack.

"I thought he was a bit rusty and personally I thought the team would take a number of weeks to get going," Hagan said.

"I still think that our best football is in front of us at this stage."

Eels hooker Mark Riddell will undergo an x-ray later on Saturday with team medical officials now hopeful the nuggety No.9 may have suffered rib damage rather than a potentially more serious pectoral muscle tear.

Riddell woke up in great deal of pain on Saturday morning after being forced from the field in the second half when he twisted awkwardly trying to reach out for the tryline.

The results of scans are unlikely to be known until Monday.

2008-03-30T00:57:00.000+11:00

Eels beat Knights

24-23 in extra time!

2008-03-27T01:04:00.000+11:00

Smith's boot to boost Eels

TIM Smith's kicking game has been the clincher for his return to the Parramatta Eels team for their first Parra Stadium match of the season against the Newcastle Knights on Friday.

Brett Finch kicked poorly from halfback in last Sunday's 30-16 away loss to the Warriors.

Smith played the first two rounds of the season with the Wenty Magpies in the NSW Cup after an off-season that saw him have shoulder surgery and a short stint in rehab for alcohol-related problems.

Eels coach Michael Hagan said he was always looking at bringing back Smith around this time.

"He's played pretty well in NSW Cup with Wentworthville," Hagan said.

"I just think his kicking game is important and that will take a bit of pressure off Brett Finch in that area."

Finch reverts to five-eighth and Feleti Mateo, who has filled the No. 6 jersey well in the opening two games, goes back to lock.

"It won't change the way he plays too much, I don't think," Hagan said of Mateo.

Daniel Wagon has been paired in the second row with Nathan Hindmarsh, who missed the trip to Auckland with the flu.

"It was a pretty physical game against the Warriors and I thought we were well in it," Hagan said.

"At 53 minutes in, it was 12-10 (to the Warriors) and we came up with a crucial error in our end which led to them scoring, and they then scored pretty quickly thereafter.

"It wasn't a lack of effort. They probably handled the field position and the possession a bit better than we did, to be honest."

The Eels are in the midst of a short week of preparation between Sunday and Friday games.

"That was the other thing. We always knew it would be a tough road trip in round two and a quick turnaround for round three," Hagan said.

"We're not going to dwell on the Warriors game too much.

"We know we'll get better Nathan Hindmarsh and Tim Smith will add a lot to the footy team but we also understand it's going to take a couple of weeks for blokes to get back into their routine and get to the required level of match fitness."

He said back-rower Weller Hauraki and star centre Jarryd Hayne were "a bit underdone" after their opening-round ban.

The Toyota Cup under-20s beat the Warriors 26-22.

The Eels play Newcastle at Parramatta Stadium on Friday, with Toyota Cup at 5.20pm and NRL at 7.30pm.

2008-03-27T01:02:00.000+11:00

Warriors beat Eels - 30 to 16

Ivan Cleary hailed his young forwards after the New Zealand Warriors turned around a shaky season start to beat Parramatta 30-16 in their NRL match in Auckland.

Giant winger Manu Vatuvei was again at his best and worse, mixing two tries and block-busting runs with handling fumbles as he did in the error-strewn loss to Melbourne last weekend.

But it was the less experienced forwards, who took added responsibility in the absence of injured skipper Steve Price, who drew Cleary's warmest praise after the Warriors led 12-6 at halftime and ran way with the game before 15,250 fans.

It was only the second win by the Warriors in their past nine meetings with the Eels and Cleary mentioned interchange forwards Evarn Tuimavave and Epalahame Lauaki and prop Sam Rapira as players who had stepped up.

"They are going to have keep doing that. Today was a good start," Cleary said.

"It was good today as well that the second half we started without Ruben (Wiki) and (Nathan) Fien and Logan (Swann) on the bench, it was a young team out there and I was really happy with the way we started the second half," Cleary said.

Acting captain, Wiki agreed: "You know watching from the sidelines it was great to see them putting their hands up and sharing the work load around.

"It just kind of showed everyone how far they have come," he said.

Wiki said Vatuvei had demonstrated his ability to recover and hit back after setbacks.
"If he does make an error, he bounces back straight away," he said.

"He's shown everyone how much he's grown."

Five-eighth Michael Witt converted all five of the Warriors' tries to maintain his 100 percent record for the year.

Parramatta were without forward star Nathan Hindmarsh, recovering from flu.

The Eels jumped out to an early lead with a Luke Burt penalty and Eric Grothe try but Vatuvei hit back for the home side when he brushed through Grothe to score in the corner.

And the Warriors went ahead when they scored from the kickoff, when centre Jerome Ropati regathered halfback Grant Rovelli's kick and sent Rovelli over for a try.

Vatuvei's error contributed to the Eels' second try early in the second half when he lost the ball in a tackle and Joel Reddy scored from that possession.

But the Warriors then piled on three quick tries through Vatuvei, recruit Brent Tate and Tuimavave to ensure the win.

Eels coach Michael Hagan praised the Warriors effort.

"We knew they would be stinging after their loss to Melbourne and I thought they played very well," Hagan said.

"I thought they played with a lot of quality and they executed things extremely well and put us under a lot of pressure.

"I wasn't expecting we would be at our best in the first couple of weeks, but the boys worked hard I thought, and defended on their lives for long periods.

"I am sure we will get better from here and we would need to," he said.

2008-03-19T22:17:00.001+11:00

Inu to miss clash with Warriors

Kiwis utility Krisnan Inu will miss the Parramatta Eels trip to Auckland for this Sunday's NRL match against the Warriors.

Inu injured his ankle in round one and is expected to be out of action for six weeks following surgery today.

Jarryd Hayne will take Inu's place in the centres after missing the season-opener following a suspension by the club.

2008-03-19T22:15:00.001+11:00

Troubled Eel told to fight for his place

PARRAMATTA star Jarryd Hayne yesterday issued the challenge to teammate Tim Smith to knuckle down and force his way back into the Eels' starting side.

While Hayne will step out for the Eels against the Warriors in New Zealand on Sunday - the 20-year-old's first game since being shot at in an incident at Kings Cross - Smith will again be forced to run around in the NSW Cup for Wentworthville.

And should Brett Finch and Feleti Mateo again fire in the halves on the other side of the Tasman this weekend, just as they did in the second half against the Bulldogs on Saturday, Smith could be biding his time on the sidelines a lot longer than expected.

But Hayne had no doubts 23-year-old Smith, who had an off-season marred by several alcohol-related incidents, would muscle his way back into the side.

"Tim will definitely be back in first grade, but it's going to be hard for him," Hayne said during a pool session with the team yesterday.

"Brett and Feleti have been great. Finchy brings that calmness to the team and has the maturity while Feleti has that flair.

"But Tim has to work to get his position back. I have to work hard to get my position back, as will Weller (Hauraki) and Junior (Paulo). But if there wasn't that challenge it wouldn't be fun."

Hayne, who again denied he would give up the booze, but knew the limits now the season had started, hated it on the sidelines for the Bulldogs clash as punishment over the Kings Cross drama.

He said his replacement Taulima Tautai did a remarkable job and would have secured man of the match honours had Finch not be on the park.

Hayne is expected to replace Krisnan Inu who yesterday underwent MRI scans to an ankle injury he picked up late in the Bulldogs clash.

But Inu will be named in the squad for the Warriors clash and, should he recover, Tautai will drop off.

Coach Michael Hagan said while he was happy to have Hayne back in the mix, Smith was still a work in progress.

2008-03-16T21:29:00.001+11:00

Electric Eels hail 'best-ever victory'

PARRAMATTA halfback Brett Finch sparked the second-biggest comeback in the club's history against the Bulldogs in what Nathan Hindmarsh described as the best match he has ever been involved in.

The Eels rallied from a 20-0 halftime scoreline - the biggest lead the Bulldogs have squandered in their history.

Asked if he'd ever played in a match like it, Hindmarsh said:

"That's probably the best I've been involved in so far. It's hard to go back 200-odd games, but that's the best I've been involved in. There's not many coming back from 20-0 down. I've been on the end of those games so it's good to turn it around."

Despite being involved in all five of the Eels' second-half tries, Finch was resigned to handing back the No.7 jersey to Tim Smith, who made his return from a shoulder injury in the NSW Cup for Wentworthville yesterday.

"Whenever Smithy's ready I'll go out to five-eighth or if [coach Michael Hagan] wants to keep Feleti [Mateo] there, I can hopefully stay in the team somewhere," he said.

"I've known all along I'm just playing halfback until Timmy's ready to come back."

Finch backed Hindmarsh's sentiments, also describing it as his best comeback.

"This takes the cake," he said.

There has been speculation Finch may walk away from the club at the end of the season, but he insisted his preference was to finish his career at the Eels.

"I definitely want to stay. I'd love to finish my career here," he said.

"There's some salary-cap pressure … but we're going to be doing everything we can to stay, certainly."

Eels coach Hagan said he remained calm at the break despite an abject opening half.

"That was probably the worst 40 minutes in my time here," he said.

"One of the fans said that was one of the worst halves he'd seen and I'd have to agree. It was a Bulldogs fan, of course.

"But I'm happy to report our second half was what it needed to be for us to be good enough to stay in the game. It was a great reward for the players who stuck at what we know we can do. I thought there was a lot of composure shown by Brett Finch, in particular."

Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes was relatively upbeat despite the second-half capitulation

"We didn't have a lot of ball, a few things went against us," he said.

"We didn't have a lot of luck, but you've got to credit them for controlling the ball and their field position … But I think there's more positives than negatives to come out of it."

The only bad news for the Eels was an ankle injury to Krisnan Inu. The Kiwi star is expected to be fit fo face the Warriors next Sunday, but will still go for precautionary scans today.

The only time the Eels have come back from a bigger deficit was in 1987, when they defeated Canberra 30-22 after trailing 22-0. Last night, they were behind for 69 minutes before Joel Reddy crossed for his second try of the evening.

In a heart-stopping finale, Mateo sealed the result just 30 seconds out from full-time, diving over after the ball deflected off a Bulldogs defender. Finch provided the spark and Hindmarsh the grit, the latter saving three tries to keep the Eels' chances alive in the face of an early onslaught from the Dogs.

In all, Hagan's side racked up 28 unanswered points after the Bulldogs totally dominated the opening 40 minutes. To make matters worse for the Dogs, Sonny Bill Williams seemed to be hampered by a leg injury, although he remained on the field to the end.

The Eels hit back immediately after the break. Finch provided Eric Grothe with a perfectly weighted cross-field kick, before Mateo capitalised on a brilliant offload from the halfback. Reddy's double then took the Eels into the lead, which they held to the end.

2008-03-15T19:29:00.001+11:00

Parra Wins first game of the Season!

Eels 28
Dogs 20

The Eels have back from a 20 to nil deficit at half time to beat the Dogs tonight. A terrific comeback after a very poor first 40 minutes.

More details and scorecard to follow.

2008-03-15T09:17:00.001+11:00

Top-two ambition for Eels

PARRAMATTA enforcer Nathan Hindmarsh was straight to the point when asked yesterday about the Eels' hopes for 2008:

"We want to finish in the top two."

"The top four would be the aim but ideally we want top two," said Hindmarsh, who will join his teammates for the Round 1 clash with the Bulldogs at Sydney's ANZ Stadium tonight.

"It's going to be a close contest this year, but I think we've got the players to finish up there.

"We've pretty much got the same side as last year. We sat down and watched the replay of our semi-final loss to Melbourne last season and it was a game we thought we let go.

''We're only going to take extra confidence from that."

Hindmarsh said he enjoyed one of his better pre-seasons and now tipped the scales at 102kg, "four of five kilos" down on last year.

The Australian backrower said it was important the Eels exploded out of the blocks, but he would not dismiss the Dogs.

"I think a lot of people have written them off too early," Hindmarsh said.

"I know they've lost Willie (Mason) and Mark (O'Meley), and those two guys will be sorely missed, but they've still got a lot of people there that can fill the spots.

''And they've always been a club that lifts when things aren't going their way."

2008-03-15T09:15:00.000+11:00

Eels to unveil young guns

Spearheaded by Kris Keating, Tim Mannah, Taulima Tautai and Marty Lewis among others, the Parramatta Eels are a definite force to be reckoned with in this year's inaugural Toyota Cup.

The centenary season marks the dawn of a new era for rugby league, with the national youth league (under 20s) replacing the Premier League as the second-tier competition in the country.

After suffering a narrow defeat at the hands of the Penrith Panthers in last year's Jersey Flegg grand final, the Eels are determined to make amends in season 2008.

Tipped to captain the side is former Australian schoolboy Tim Mannah.

Still hurting after last season's disappointment, Mannah believes the Eels have the strike power to challenge for a top four finish.

"We have little goals set for different stages of the year, but the ultimate goal is to finish in the top four," Mannah said.

Those ambitions were dealt a heavy blow after halfback Trent Hodkinson suffered a knee injury in a recent trial match.

"Hodko [Hodkinson] won't be back until the end of the year," Mannah said.

"But the good thing about our team this year is that we have a lot of capable halves ready to fill in."

Injury woes are a major problem for the Eels, as Jason Baitieri, Nathan Campbell, Justin Hunt, Marty Lewis and Jay Heming are all fighting the clock to be fit for round one.

Players to watch:
Anthony Mitchell, Taulima Tautai, Kris Keating.

Strengths:
The Eels have a strong forward pack, with Tim Robinson, Marty Lewis and Tim Mannah providing plenty of firepower up front. Tony Williams and Taulima Tautai are the backbone of a versatile backline. Look for these two to rack up quite a few tries this season.

Weaknesses:
The halves combination of Kris Keating and Trent Hodkinson is one of the strongest in the competition. The big question for the Eels is whether they can fill the void created by the injured Hodkinson. Another problem the Eels must overcome is the prospect of losing players to NRL duties.

Game one:
The Eels kick off their Toyota Cup campaign against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 3pm.

2008-03-12T21:17:00.001+11:00

Eels unveil 'new Folau'

PARRAMATTA has unveiled the latest star off Campbelltown's amazing football production line - and they say he could be as good as Minto's favourite son, Israel Folau.

Twenty-year-old Taulima Tautai, Australian born but of Samoan heritage, will make his debut in the centres for the Eels against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

"Have you seen the build on him?'' Eels assistant coach David Fairleigh said of the 98kg giant.

Strikingly similar to Folau in looks and build, Tautai is from the same western Sydney football factory as the Storm sensation, Eels clubmate Krisnan Inu, fellow round one debutant Brendan Oake and Junior Kangaroos captain Chris Lawrence.

He has come in to the Eels backline for another fellow south-western Sydney product, Jarryd Hayne, who was suspended after last week's Kings Cross shooting.

Parramatta under-20s and Junior Roos coach Matt Cameron said of the boom Eels star: "He's a massive human, mate.''

Officials traditionally play down the abilities of a first-timer, but Fairleigh and Cameron last night had no problems with comparing him to Folau.

Cameron said "to be honest, I don't think he's that far away'' from Inu, Hayne and Folau.

"It might take him a bit longer to get to that stage but he's certainly got all the bits and pieces he needs and the right environment to flourish.

"He's of a similar ilk. For a 20-year-old, he's incredibly strong. He's taking every opportunity and squeezing the life out of it.''

Former Kangaroo Fairleigh enthused: "Look how far Inu has come in a year. He hasn't had a full season of first grade yet.''

"Could 'TT' be as good? There's no reason why he couldn't. He's got everything. He's not as natural as Inu. Not many are. But he certainly makes up for it as a physical player. He's extremely skilful. I'm really looking forward to seeing him play.''

The humble Tautai, born in Liverpool to Samoan immigrants Sale and Tammy, told The Daily Telegraph how he made a career decision to switch from the Western Suburbs Junior League to Edensor Park at Parramatta - at the age of 11.

"I thought it was a good comp,'' he shrugged. "It's going to be pretty intense (on Saturday). I had a few words with the more experienced guys and they said to just enjoy it, take it in, it will be good fun.

"It will be good to play up against the best and see where I'm at. It will be a dream.''

Tautai, who is likely to come into calculations for Samoa in this year's World Cup, was told of his elevation last Thursday. "It was supposed to be hush-hush,'' he said with a shy smile. "... just family. My mum, I think she told the whole world.''

2008-03-12T21:16:00.000+11:00

Eels deny hypocrisy claims over 'funny walk' Smith

Parramatta CEO Denis Fitzgerald last night denied he was guilty of hypocrisy amid revelations troubled halfback Tim Smith became heavily intoxicated in front of officials at the club's season launch.

A witness told Channel Nine that Smith, who went into rehab for alcoholism late last year, was "extremely loose", while another told the Sydney Morning Herald the halfback "could hardly walk" he was so drunk on a harbour cruise last Friday.

Fitzgerald cleared Smith and Feleti Mateo, Josh Cordoba and Ben Smith of any wrongdoing after they were later seen drinking at a hotel in Parramatta at 4am. It was also reported that players were seen at Star City Casino.

It is believed one player was bemused as to why the club allowed Smith to become so drunk after Jarryd Hayne, Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo had been censured.

"I don't see that as hypocrisy," Fitzgerald said.

"Tim being drunk is news to me. He seemed OK to me. He got up and received his jersey. He walks a bit funny on the field, maybe that was it .. no one has told me that he was drunk."

Eels coach Michael Hagan told Channel Nine: "You can't babysit them."

The Eels yesterday overlooked Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo for their round-one match against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Homebush Bay, on Saturday following the late-night shooting incident in Kings Cross last week.

2008-03-11T20:53:00.001+11:00

TAUTAI TAKES CENTRE STAGE AS EELS NAME FOUR NEW FACES FOR ROUND ONE

Taulima Tautai will become the 698th player to wear the Blue and Gold jersey when he makes his first grade debut for the Pirtek Parramatta Eels against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

Tautai has been named alongside Krisnan Inu in the centres for the Eels Telstra Premiership season opener, which kicks off at 5.30pm.

Also making their first appearance for the Eels in the top grade are interchange players Joe Galuvao (no. 699), Matthew Keating (no. 700), and Brendan Oake (no. 701).

"If anything the selections reflect the strength of our top 25," head coach Michael Hagan said.

"All four players called upon to make their debuts have had excellent pre-seasons and all have shown solid trial form.

"Taulima was one of our best against the Panthers in Albury while Joe, Matt and Brendan have all played strongly in two trials.

"It's also a good result for Parramatta's development programs, with Taulima, Matt and Brendan all coming through our junior and lower grade ranks and into the NRL.

"In other good news for the Eels, international second rower Nathan Hindmarsh has fully recovered from knee surgery and will take his place in the starting line up.

Saturday's match kicks off at 5.30pm at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, and follows the Toyota Cup clash between the Eels and Bulldogs at 3pm.

PIRTEK PARRAMATTA EELS TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP V BULLDOGSANZ STADIUM
SAT 15 MARCH 2008 530PM

1. Luke BURT
2. Joel REDDY
3. Krisnan INU
4. Taulima TAUTAI#
5. Eric GROTHE
6. Feleti MATEO
7. Brett FINCH
8. Nathan CAYLESS [C]
9. Mark RIDDELL
10. Fuifui MOIMOI
11. Nathan HINDMARSH
12. Todd LOWRIE
13. Daniel WAGON

INTERCHANGE
14. Matt KEATING#
15. Josh CORDOBA
16. Brendan OAKE#
17. Joe GALUVAO#

COACH: MICHAEL HAGAN
#Eels First Grade Debut

NOT CONSIDERED
Chad ROBINSON - Wrist
Ben SMITH - Knee/Shoulder
Tim SMITH - Shoulder
Weller HAURAKI - Stood Down
Jarryd HAYNE - Stood Down
Junior PAULO - Stood Down

2008-03-11T20:52:00.000+11:00

Eels youngster aims to fill Tahu's shoes

He's blessed with the same initials and remarkably similar stature to Timana Tahu, but Eels rookie Taulima Tautai doesn't expect to step effortlessly into the rugby convert's former role on Saturday.

The 19-year-old, who weighs in the same as Tahu at 98kg and is only 1cm shorter at 184cm, has been named to make his NRL debut in Parramatta's first-round clash with the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

The axing of Test centre Jarryd Hayne has paved the way for Tautai to make his first start in the number four jersey worn by Tahu before making his switch to the NSW Waratahs.

And while keen to make the most of the opportunity, Tautai knows it won't be any easy introduction to the top grade.

"They're big shoes to fill in but I will try my best," Tautai said.

"It's going to be pretty intense.

"I had a couple of words with the more experienced guys and they said to just enjoy, take it in and it'll be good fun."

Tautai is faced with the challenge of lining up against former Test centre Willie Tonga, who makes his return in the Bulldogs centres after missing their pre-season trials with knee injury.

Tonga will be partnered in the centres by 20-year-old Tim Winitana who made one NRL appearance last year.

Dogs coach Steve Folkes has also opted to start NSW forward Reni Maitua on the bench, as he continues to recover from off-season ankle surgery, with Lee Te Maari starting at lock.

2008-03-10T20:51:00.001+11:00

Smith dumped to park footy

PARRAMATTA coach Michael Hagan is poised to drop a selection bombshell tomorrow by dumping star playmaker Tim Smith to park football.

A week after dropping Jarryd Hayne in the wake of a 4am shooting at Kings Cross, Hagan last night told The Daily Telegraph that his star No. 7 will play with Wentworthville on Saturday if passed fit.

The move has come about because of a shoulder injury, but the humbling experience could also serve to remind Smith of the consequences of more bad behaviour.

While his teammates take on the Bulldogs at an ANZ Stadium blockbuster, Smith will play at an empty Brookvale Oval.

"I can assure you that Tim Smith might have a game or two there before he comes back in," Hagan said. "I am thinking that's what we will do.

"It's more for his confidence than anything else with his shoulder.

"We need to make sure he is right. He will need to get his timing back."

The former NRL rookie of the year returned to contact training for the first time last week after undergoing a complete shoulder reconstruction.

Smith spent time at a Gold Coast rehabilitation clinic this year after being suspended for a series of alcohol-related incidents.

The troubled 23-year-old was expected to be rushed straight back into the NRL team but Hagan will tomorrow name Brett Finch and Feleti Mateo in the halves.

With Premier League scrapped this year, the Eels will send players who don't make first grade to Wentworthville.

"We have a dozen quality players turning out for Wentworthville," Hagan said.

"It is basically a reserve-grade competition. We have appointed the coach (Rip Taylor) and we have about 12 contracted players there."

Hagan admitted Smith could be targeted by part-time footballers looking for a big-name scalp.
"They come under the same guidelines as the NRL as far as refereeing goes," Hagan said.

"There is some element of risk though."

Junior Paulo, Weller Hauraki and Hayne will not play at all this weekend, Hagan taking a hard line after the trio were shot at while out on a boozy night in Kings Cross.

With Hayne already missing, fans might question Hagan's gamble on Smith, but for a club that has been branded the worst-behaved in the NRL it could play dividends.

While Smith has not been dropped for disciplinary reasons, it will not only give his shoulder a chance to recover but also serve as a warning of what lies ahead should he step out of line again.

"It won't do him any harm," Eels legend Brett Kenny said.

"Things like this have to happen with the way things have gone at the club in the past."

Kenny applauded Hagan's tough stance on the trio involved in the Kings Cross incident.

"Maybe they have finally woken up," Kenny said.

"Maybe they should have done it earlier but better late then never."

2008-03-10T20:50:00.000+11:00

Inu shows Eels teammates how to have a good time

MEET the rugby league superstar who invited his NRL mates to celebrate his 21st birthday and served them soft drink.

After another week of alcohol-related controversy, The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Parramatta winger Krisnan Inu celebrated his 21st on Friday with 300 people - and 100 bottles of fizzy drink.

The deeply religious Kiwi Test player sent out invitations to NRL players, including Frank Pritchard, Israel Folau, Albert Hopoate and his Parramatta teammates, which included a footnote printed in bold type: "No alcohol allowed."

"You don't need to drink to have fun," Inu said.

"I learned that going out with all the football boys.

"I grew up in a family that doesn't drink so that has also made it a bit easier for me.

"It was a real good turnout and thankfully everyone turned up. We had a great time on the soft drink. You don't need alcohol."

Inu's extraordinary alcohol-free party should put a smile on the face of every rugby league fan after another week in which the game's image took a battering.

Inu's good mate Jarryd Hayne was shot at last week after a boozy night in Kings Cross that included fellow NRL star Mark Gasnier and Eels teammates Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo.
All three Parramatta players have been stood down from the Eels' round one blockbuster against the Bulldogs.

The Daily Telegraph yesterday attended The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, Blair Athol, with Inu, where his father, Pepesuatia, is the chapel bishop.

Fellow NRL players Folau and Hopoate attend the same church.
"I come to church every Sunday," Inu said.

"If we are playing I do my best to go to the closest church even if we are away. Thankfully, there are churches everywhere.

"The church has definitely helped me become the person I am.

"I grew up in the church and living in this environment has helped me grow into a humble man.
"I just have to keep level-headed and just live my life with what is in front of me."

Inu's mother said that the NRL stars revelled in the alcohol-free environment.

"There were heaps of them there," Fay-Fegai Inu said.

"I don't know all their names but they were having a good time drinking cordial.

"Some guys even came from interstate to be there.

"There was still a bit to clean up though."

Inu was forced to hold his party two weeks before his birthday to avoid an NRL clash.

"My birthday isn't until the 17th but I didn't want it interfering with a match," he said.

The smiling goalkicker said he "couldn't wait" for Saturday, when the Eels take on the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

"We have stopped doing all the fitness work and we are using the ball a bit more," he said.

"It should be a big game on the weekend."

2008-03-10T20:46:00.004+11:00

Petrified Hayne speaks out

JARRYD Hayne remains traumatised by his dance with death, revealing he is haunted by fears of another attack following last weekend's nightclub shooting.

Offering The Sunday Telegraph a first-hand account of last week's drama, the Kangaroos star told how he fled Sydney for three days in the wake of one of the darkest moments in rugby league history.

"What if it happens next time and it does hit me? You don't get a second chance with bullets,'' Hayne said. "Even now, I'm at the point where I need to take a breath from it all ... I'm still on edge about the whole thing.

"Even when I'm travelling by myself in the car, I just don't feel right. I'm still looking around and checking myself. It was a gun shot, you know? Hopefully what's done is done. I've got absolutely no revenge in me.

"If they (the shooter) were looking to make a point, they've made it. I've learned a massive lesson.''

Contrary to more than 80 newspaper reports detailing the incident, Hayne wasn't a part of the group of players who attended the one-day final between India and Australia at the SCG on Sunday.

"I didn't start drinking till 11pm on Sunday night at a mate's farewell,'' Hayne said.

"Because I played (a trial against the Roosters) the day before, I was tired so I slept the next day. So all up I had been out for five hours, not some big bender like everyone thinks.

"I got a call from a few of the boys and thought, why not, I've got Monday and Tuesday off training. I'm 20 years old, my body is in good enough condition to recover.''

The Sunday Telegraph has learned the shooting occurred around 4.20am on Monday after Hayne stepped in to defend drunken St George Illawarra skipper Mark Gasnier at a Kings Cross hotel.

Several punches were thrown at Hayne and Gasnier. Hayne's team-mates, Junior Paulo and Weller Hauraki, also stood by their mate. "

Sometimes you've got to walk away and take your losses rather than try and fix stuff,'' Hayne said.

At the centre of a police investigation, Hayne said he was "restricted'' in his ability to answer some questions about the incident.

"It was crazy. There was this loud bang and I freaked out,'' Hayne said.

"All of us were stunned by the noise and then we realised, 'hang on a sec, that was a gun shot'. I realised then and there that we've all got to wake up to ourselves.''

Hayne woke at 9am ... to a nightmare. Summoned to Kings Cross Police Station for questioning, he was engulfed by a media circus. A stop at a nearby petrol station to purchase an $11 pair of sunglasses allowed him to hide from view.

"I thought it was a bad dream, waking up ... it then turned to reality,'' Hayne said. "The whole day was something where you just want to fast-forward. You want to forget about it, want to move on, want to just play footy.

"I was absolutely rattled. I got some sunnies on the way and it was sort of like a mask. I was hiding under this mask as I was going through.

"I hadn't seen Weller or Junior since we split, so when I got in there, I took my sunnies off and I saw Weller and I almost had tears coming out of my eyes. We didn't know what to say to each other except something like, 'this isn't us'.''

With both Monday and Tuesday off training, Hayne returned to his Parramatta apartment following several hours of police questioning to pack his bags and get away. "I got home and I tried to sleep but I couldn't,'' he said.

"I said to my flatmate (Premier League player) Jimmy Grehan, 'listen, I've got to get out of here. I can't stay in Sydney. Let's go somewhere, I don't want to be around the boys, I don't want to be around nobody'.

"So we went down the coast to Wollongong. We stayed two nights at Jimmy's parents' house. That was the best that I'd felt all week. I was still scared but his parents were awesome, they relieved so much pressure.

"I don't know what would've happened had I stayed here (in Sydney). I know I wouldn't have slept.''

On Thursday, Hayne drove to the central Coast to spend the night at the home of Eels physical performance co-ordinator Hayden Knowles.

Hayne's relationship with his mother, Jodie, is extremely close. She raised him on her own in a housing commission place at Minto, in Sydney's western suburbs.

"It was hard when I went to see Mum (on Thursday),'' Hayne said.

"She was pretty distressed, like any mum would be. But when I spoke to her, I made sure I was really calm and pretended like I wasn't worried and I wasn't scared, but really I was petrified. She didn't have to tell me anything I don't know. I know I have to pull my head in.''

2008-03-10T20:42:00.002+11:00

Eels dump shooting star Hayne

THEY have an off-field disciplinary record that would embarrass the Bulldogs, but Parramatta are finally ready to get tough on repeat offenders.

The Eels have today expected to suspend Jarryd Hayne, Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo from the round one NRL opener against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

The dramatic stance by the NRL club follows a Kings Cross altercation that ended with shots being fired at the trio.

Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo have also each been fined $2000 for their involvement in the incident, which occurred on Monday morning and is being investigated by police.

Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald and his senior staff, including coach Michael Hagan, met yesterday to discuss what possible action to take.

"The Parramatta club has been left with no choice but to take firm action,'' Fitzgerald said today in a statement.

"Monday morning was the latest in a line of behavioural incidents featuring alcohol for the players involved and we hope that missing round one will send them and the rest of the playing group the strongest of messages.

"At the time of the altercation they had the opportunity to walk away and didn't. It is high time we said enough is enough. Their involvement in this incident has been highly damaging for the team, the club, our fans and sponsors, and most of all to the players personally.

"They have paid a high price and the timing of the standing down is unfortunate, coming in the opening round of the centenary season. However we just hope that missing such an historic occasion will help the message hit home.''

As well as missing the March 15 ANZ Stadium clash and dipping into their wallets, Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo will be given trauma counselling and also offered alcohol counselling.

The trio will be considered for selection for the Eels round-two game against the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on March 23.

Hagan yesterday said NRL players were all too aware they could be sacked from a club for misbehaviour and then simply sign with a new club.

"What I would say is that the deterrents in our game may not be great enough,'' Hagan said last night.

"If a player gets sacked from a club for whatever reason, some other club is going to pick him up tomorrow.

"The players know that and unless there are across-the-board sanctions put in place, they are going to continue to stuff up knowing that it is not going to impact on them too much. But I'm not sure what the answer is and I dont know if anyone does.''

Eels officials are fed-up with Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo - who were also part of a group which broke a $2500 plasma screen at Easts Leagues Club back in December.

Asked were his players listening to the club's threats against poor behaviour, Fitzgerald said: "I hope they are, they should be, especially words from the coach. If not, we will take strong disciplinary measures.''

Earlier yesterday, Hagan expressed anger at the behaviour of Hayne, Hauraki and Paulo. "It's something I'm growing tired of and we'll deal with those players (involved) in the appropriate manner,'' he said.

"I think the football club, fans and sponsors have all been let down. I think it's time these players started taking responsibility for themselves. We can't babysit them 24 hours a day.''

2008-03-03T19:39:00.001+11:00

Stars' incredible escape from Kings Cross shooting

RUGBY league international Jarryd Hayne was one of three Parramatta Eels players shot at in Sydney's Kings Cross nightclub district at the end of a big night out.

Hayne, Junior Paulo and Weller Hauraki were questioned by police today after escaping injury when a single shot was fired in their direction by a gunman just after 4am today.

Police said the trio were walking along Ward Ave when a man standing beside a light-coloured car fired at them before speeding away.

It was the second shooting in the area in less than eight hours.

Earlier in the night, Hayne and St George-Illawarra Dragons star and international Mark Gasnier were refused entry to Kings Cross's nearby Vegas Hotel because of responsible service of alcohol regulations, the hotel said.

But Gasnier was not present when the shot rang out, his club said.

The incident has raised questions about why the NRL players were out drinking so late, just days before the 2008 competition kick-off on March 14.

Parramatta said it was "disappointed" a number of its contracted players were in Kings Cross in the early hours of the morning, and would launch its own inquiry into the incident.

Police said the three Parramatta players, who they refused to identify, may have been involved in an altercation on Darlinghurst Rd shortly before the shooting.

A spokesman for the Vegas Hotel, on Darlinghurst Rd, said reports of a fight at the venue after Hayne and Gasnier were refused entry were wrong.

"They left and that was it,'' the spokesman said.

"There was no fight inside or outside."

The three Parramatta players spent much of the afternoon at Kings Cross police station giving statements about the shooting, but did not speak to the media.

Police appealed for witnesses and said they want to speak to a taxi driver who may have seen the shooter, described as being of Pacific Islander appearance.

Kings Cross Superintendent Peter Brooks said the shooting was not believed to be related to an earlier incident, in which the owner of a nightclub just 200m away in Kellett St was shot in the leg.

"What we are interested in is getting the public to help to get witnesses up here," he said.

Hayne, 20, a winger who made his debut for Parramatta in 2006, has represented Australia in one test and NSW in three State of Origins.

He has been involved in nightclub incidents before.

In 2006, Hayne was fined $1000 by his club for biting a woman on the arm at a Parramatta nightclub.

Both Hauraki, 23, a prop forward from New Zealand, and Paulo, 24, a former Australian

Schoolboy representative, are in the squad of Parramatta's top 25 players.

Both debuted for the club last year.

Parramatta rugby league club chief executive officer Denis Fitzgerald said his players had earlier been at the one day cricket match between Australia and India. The majority of them had gone home about midnight.

"A few of them decided to go further and go to a nightclub at Kings Cross, and that's a real worry when this incident happened at in the vicinity of four o'clock," he said.

In the earlier shooting, the 55-year-old owner of the Sapphire Suite nightclub was shot in the leg. Charlie Saleh was found slumped outside the club's doorway at 8.40pm and was taken to St Vincent's Hospital.

"He's fine, he's in hospital for cautionary reasons," said his son, club manager and former rugby league player Hassan Saleh.

2008-03-01T21:48:00.000+11:00

Burt fires to help Eels crush Roosters

Parramatta fullback Luke Burt has shone in his first game back from a knee reconstruction in the Eels' 34-18 NRL trial victory over the Sydney Roosters at Bluetongue Stadium.

Both sides were missing about a third of their best line-ups and the Eels were the much slicker unit, their outside backs outclassing the Roosters in the six-tries-to-three win.

Burt started the match with a 40-20 kick in the opening minute of the clash and barely put a foot wrong, scoring a try and landing five from six with the boot.

Jarryd Hayne set up the first try for Parramatta in the fifth minute.

He showed a liking for the centres by punching a hole through the Roosters' defence and scooting for 40m before offloading 5m out to winger Eric Grothe who touched down.

Hayne proved elusive again in the 22nd minute with a slick combination with Grothe securing Parramatta's second touchdown of the game, but Burt missed the conversion this time.

Hayne's strong performance showed enough to suggest he will be able to fill the void left by the explosive Timana Tahu's crossing of codes to the NSW Waratahs in the off-season.

Just before halftime, the Eels were at it again with a slick 50m movement that started with Mark Riddell finding Feleti Mateo and ended with Josh Cordoba crossing near the posts.

The Roosters finally put a neat attacking raid together just before halftime with Amos Roberts finishing off and skipper Craig Fitzgibbon converting to cut the Eels' lead to 16-6 at halftime.

The Eels continued to be the much cleaner side with the ball, backrower Weller Hauraki juggling the ball before slipping through the Roosters' defence close to the line eight minutes after the break.

Parramatta tried to put their foot down in the 62nd minute with back-up hooker Matt Keating setting up Burt to cross under the sticks.

But the Roosters scored two tries in four minutes with Anthony Minichiello and Roberts crossing.

Mark Riddell ended the Roosters' resurgence by barging his way over the line with six minutes to go to wrap up the match.

The Roosters open their NRL season Friday week against Souths at ANZ Stadium while the Eels play the Bulldogs the following evening at the same venue.

2008-03-01T11:35:00.001+11:00

A land of milk and honey if Smith sticks to milk and cookies

WHO'S NEW: Joe Galuvao (Souths).

WHO'S GONE: Aaron Cannings (Titans) Richard Fa'aoso (Knights) Blake Green (Cronulla) PJ Marsh (Broncos), Timana Tahu (union, Waratahs), Justin Tsoulos (Bulldogs) and Ian Hindmarsh (retired).

BIGGEST QUESTION: We all know who runs the Eels around the paddock. Tim Smith, simple. The big question is who's driving Smith around the paddock. In fact it's not so much on the paddock but off it that will decide the Eels' fate this season.

Sure, Smith has the odd brain explosion when faced with a crowded defensive line. Sure, he can go missing in the trenches or butcher the crucial last-tackle play. But he's still Parramatta's best option behind the steering wheel if he can exorcise his demons, start listening to the milk-and-cookies voices in his head and shut out the one whispering, "It's beer o'clock".

JOB SEEKERS: With former coach Brian Smith a long way away, Feleti Mateo holds his own future in his hand - just the same way as he mitts the footy. Mateo has the talent and the frame to be anything. We've seen his stride, his reach and his ability to beat a tackle on the outside. There's more to come and, with Tim Smith not due back on the pitch until a few weeks into the competition, Mateo will start at five-eighth and get his chance.

Souths couldn't get their money worth out of big Joe: if coach Michael Hagan can, Galuvao can cause plenty of problems.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Jarryd Hayne and Krisnan Inu. Hayne, rookie of the year in 2006, and Inu, runner-up for the same award last season, will find the going a little tougher when they start 2008 closer to the action. Picked in the centres, these two have enough talent to star anywhere, although they may miss the space the flanks offered.

Another to watch is Mark Riddell, with the burly hooker now a svelte 98kg, down from 107 kg last season.

REASONS TO BE EXCITED: Manly might be the club thinking, 'Let's go one better this year', but if truth be told, the Eels pushed Melbourne a lot harder - in both their final and round 23 clash, despite losing both. With big forwards able to bash the pill over the line (Fuifui Moimoi and Nathan Cayless), backed by workhorses such as Josh Cordoba, Chad Robinson and Nathan Hindmarsh, Parramatta can lay the requisite platform for the show-offs in the back line to do what they do best.

REASONS TO BE WORRIED: Apart from Smith, the other designated driver is Brett Finch, just about the most maligned half in the game. Hagan picked him up after Ricky Stuart had played havoc with his mental state at the Roosters and the softly, softly approach worked wonders.

There's a lot on his shoulders, a burden that could become unbearable should Smith not stick to the warm milk.

2008-02-24T23:55:00.003+11:00

The next NRL superstars?

A hulking young forward with strict religious beliefs and an early-morning milk run is a star of the future.

If you get up early to greet your milkman, there's a good chance you've seen the next big thing in rugby league.

With the first match of the NRL season just 19 days away, the search is already on to find the next Israel Folau, Krisnan Inu and David Taylor. And we reckon we've found them. The Sun-Herald has cast an eye over the best young talent at all 16 clubs to find the game's next superstars.

And at Parramatta, the hot tip is Tim Mannah.

Milk run and Lebanese background aside, Jason Stevens sees a lot of himself in Parramatta prop Mannah. Both are big. Both study at NIDA. Both are abstaining from sex until they get married.
And they both believe they're God's gift. "He reminds me a bit of myself - he refers to himself as good looking," laughed former Super League Test forward Stevens, who met Mannah at a church conference.

"I thought, 'I like this bloke', we hit it off straight away. He said to me one of his aims is to be the best-looking Christian footballer going around.

"I told him that would be quite easy, I didn't set a high standard there."

But of all the similarities, the most important common trait for Eels fans is their playing talent.

Mannah is one of the most promising props in the game and is likely to earn a first-grade berth this season. The Australian Schoolboys star will start in the National Youth Competition alongside his younger brother, John, although good judges believe higher honours beckon.

"He's been really impressive in pre-season in a full-time environment," Eels coach Michael Hagan said.

"He's been a quality kid at the club for a number of years. I watched him play a fair bit of footy last year in [Jersey] Flegg. He's a quality kid and he's somebody we see has a big future at the club."

Like Stevens, Mannah is a devout Christian and an active member of his church.

The 20-year-old is also a virgin and doesn't believe in premarital sex.

"I believe I'll get a lot more out of a relationship that way and that the relationship with my wife will be better if I know I've waited for her," Mannah said, who was born in Australia but qualifies for Lebanon through his father.

"It makes it a bit more special. The boys, especially the ones I've grown up with, rip me to shreds about [being a virgin] but it's all good fun, they respect my beliefs.

"Everyone who knows me knows about it, it's not something I'm shy about. I'm fortunate to have a good family background, I grew up in church and they are the morals I grew up with. I'm 20 years old now, I may as well wait till I'm married."

There's another major difference between Mannah and the majority of the Eels' top-grade squad - his milk run. While their big-name teammates are still tucked in bed, Tim and John wake up at 5am three times a week do the delivery run.

"You get to meet a few strange people doing that," Mannah said.

"It reminds you not to get too big for your boots and that there are people out there working really hard.

"We're fortunate to be in the position we're in [playing football]."

The siblings are hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Hindmarsh brothers - Nathan and Ian - by playing in the NRL together for the Eels.

"Playing first grade together would be awesome, it would be a dream come true for us," he said.

The 107 kilogram forward wants to be a big star, on and off the field.

Following in the footsteps of Ian Roberts and Stevens, Mannah has enrolled in NIDA with a view to a post-football career in the media.

His presenting skills have already been put to good use recording segments on the club's website Parra TV, a behind-the-scenes insight into the players. But not all shoots he's been involved with have gone well.

As if being a milk-delivering virgin wasn't already enough ammunition for his teammates, he became the butt of all jokes when the Eels visited James Packer's property recently.

"He professed he knew how to shoot and had done it all before," said Eels under 20s coach Matt Cameron of an incident at the shooting range.

"He brought the rifle up, pulled the trigger and the recoil of the gun forced the scope into his forehead.

"That was after bragging how he knew what he was doing."

2008-02-24T23:52:00.000+11:00

Eels positive despite Panthers trial defeat

Parramatta Eels head coach Michael Hagan has heaped praise on his young team despite a 30-28 loss to Penrith in their NRL trial at Albury’s Lavington Sports Ground.

Two near identical four pointers to Luke Rooney - in the 74th and 75th minutes of the match - sunk the Eels after they had led 28 points to 12 early in the second half.

The double strike came after the Eels outperformed their opponents for much of the first 60 minutes of play, during which they crossed for five tries to two.

Despite the result head coach Hagan said he was pleased with the effort shown.

“I was pretty happy overall, it was the first game of the year and we came with quite a few young players who I thought handled it extremely well,” Hagan said.

“We think we’ve got some good talent in the football team and we probably left eight or ten of our better players behind.

“There were signs there that were fairly encouraging, Feleti Mateo and Brett Finch ran the team well, so did young Kris Keating and also Matt Keating was very tidy.

“We’re very much looking forward to next week.”

The Eels trailed early after Penrith lock Trent Waterhouse scored the first try of the match off a neatly held pass from Jarrod Sammut.

Sammut converted to make it six-nil to the Panthers after 11 minutes.

Overcoming a momentary lack of possession the Eels found the tryline ten minutes later through Joel Reddy, who touched down after a break down the short side by Krisnan Inu.

Inu then added the extras to put the match back on level terms.

The Panthers edged ahead again through a try to Rhys Wesser however the Eels wasted no time in hitting back, fullback Etu Uaisele reaping the spoils of a well placed Brett Finch cross kick to score in the corner.

The Eels then took the lead, Matt Keating burrowing his way over next to the posts for Jarryd Hayne to convert and make it 16-12 Parramatta’s way after half an hour.

The first ten minutes after half time looked to have proved decisive for the Eels with two converted tries stretching the buffer to 16 points at 28-12.

The first came just 60 seconds after the break, lock Weller Hauraki scoring off some excellent lead up work from Junior Paulo and Kris Keating.

Eight minutes later the Eels were in again, Mark Riddell scoring off a neat kick and re-gather.
Tony Williams converted both tries to give the Eels breathing space.

Sammut narrowed the gap for the Panthers with 20 minutes remaining, scoring and converting to make it 28-18 the Eels way.

He then converted both Rooney tries to put the Panthers back in front.

The Eels had one last surge and threatened the line wide out, only for the ball to sail over the sideline just before full time.

The only concern to come out of the match for the Eels was a medial ligament strain to young second rower Justin Horo, who will undergo scans in coming days.

The Eels play the Roosters next week at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, Gosford.

PARRAMATTA EELS - 28

Tries: Joel Reddy, Etu Uaisele, Matt Keating, Weller Hauraki, Mark Riddell
Conversions: Tony Williams 2/2, Jarryd Hayne 1/2, Krisnan Inu 1/1

PENRITH PANTHERS - 30
Tries: Luke Rooney 2, Trent Waterhouse, Rhys Wesser, Jarrod Sammut
Conversions: Jarrod Sammut 5/5

2008-02-20T21:28:00.001+11:00

Promising duo to be unleashed

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan will unveil the centre pairing he believes will take rugby league by storm over the next few years when the Eels meet Penrith in Friday night's trial match in Albury.

With Ben Smith still making his way back from off-season surgery, newly-signed duo Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne will line-up in the centres in a precursor to their future roles.

The close friends are among the most exciting players in the NRL, with Hagan declaring: "Moving forward I see Krisnan and Jarryd becoming two of the really good centres in the game."

"Hayne and Inu in the centres is a critical combination (for Friday night's game)."

Hagan will roll out many of his big guns against the Panthers, with 10 NRL players named in the 22-man squad.

Inu and Hayne will be joined by Brett Finch, Mark Riddell, Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie, Feleti Mateo, Joel Reddy, Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo.

"This is an important game for a number of players," Hagan said.

"We're keen to get a look at Finch and Mateo in the halves and Galuvao, Lowrie and Hauraki in the backrow."

"Trials give you the opportunity to try things out and given we're only playing two pre-season games we'll be keen to make the most of it."

The Eels boss will also blood several youngsters, with one eye firmly on the future.

"They're an exciting bunch of kids, all of whom have had outstanding off seasons," Hagan said.

"Matt and Kris Keating will make their first grade debuts sooner rather than later so this will be an important step up for them, as it will be for every player on the bench."

The squad is: Etu Uaisele, Taulima Tautai, Krisnan Inu, Jarryd Hayne, Joel Reddy, Feleti Mateo, Brett Finch, Brendan Oake, Mark Riddell, Junior Paulo,Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie, Weller Hauraki

Res: Kris Keating, James Grehan, Broderick Wright, Justin Horo, Matthew Keating, Tim Mannah, Tony Williams, Jeremy Latimore, Matthew Raftery

2008-02-20T21:27:00.000+11:00

Eels gear up for first trial

Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne will team up in the centres for the Parramatta Eels in their opening NRL trial match against Penrith in Albury on Friday night.

A total of ten players with NRL experience will start the match, with Inu and Hayne being joined by Brett Finch, Mark Riddell, Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie, Feleti Mateo, Joel Reddy, Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo.

Head coach Michael Hagan says the trial presents an early opportunity to take a look at combinations for 2008.

"This is an important game for a number of players," Hagan said.

"Hayne and Inu in the centres is a critical combination, while we're also keen to get a look at Finch and Mateo in the halves and Galuvao, Lowrie and Hauraki in the back row.

"Trials give you the opportunity to try things out and given we're only playing two pre-season games we'll be keen to make the most of it."

The nine-man bench features a mix of players from the Eels full and part time squads, with all players to be given ample game time.

"They're an exciting bunch of kids, all of whom have had outstanding off seasons," Hagan said.

"Matt and Kris Keating will make their first grade debuts sooner rather than later so this will be an important step up for them, as it will be for every player on the bench."

The Eels travel to Albury on Thursday ahead of Friday night's game, which kicks off at 7pm.

2008-02-20T21:26:00.000+11:00

Statue stand off

An exasperated Ray Price said he couldn't win in the row over funding of a statue in his honour.
"It doesn't matter what I say," the Parramatta rugby union and rugby league legend said.

"Let's be clear: I never asked for a statue. The fans approached the Parramatta Stadium Trust.
"I've had fans asked me: who do we donate to?"

Price said he had decided on a grassy area between the stadium and Parramatta Leagues Club as his preferred site.

The wrangle began when the trust decided to rename Parramatta Stadium's Ray Price Lounge as the Cumberland Lounge, a decision fans saw as a slight against a favourite son.

The trust then decided in December to commission a bronze sculpture in Price's honour. The Eels board subsequently voted against sharing the cost, saying it wasn't consulted.

Noted sculptor Alan Somerville estimated a two-metre bronze statue would cost about $100,000.

"That's a ballpark figure," said Mr Somerville, whose bronze life-sized sculptures have included cricket great Richie Benaud and the late former NSW Governor, Sir Roden Cutler.

"There would be 14 weeks in the iron foundry and about three months to do the sculpture. All up, it would be about eight months' work."

Parramatta chief executive and trust member Denis Fitzgerald confirmed the Eels had written to the trust, suggesting the proposed stadium southern grandstand be called the Ray Price Stand.

The State Government has committed $6 million to the estimated $24 million cost but the project is in limbo, given the Federal Government's belt-tightening.

Meanwhile, trust venue manager Luke Coleman said a walkway outside of the stadium, honouring former Parramatta sporting greats, was being considered.

"The trust is discussing it but it's not firmly on the agenda," Mr Coleman said.

"It would be a more proper way of honouring the various sporting legends.

"There is a lot of history on the site from its time as Cumberland Oval."

He said a series of plaques had been discussed but the first priority was completing the Price statue.

2008-02-18T10:38:00.002+11:00

Smiths signs bumper Eels contract

The Parramatta Eels have extended centre Ben Smith's deal with the club until the end of the 2012 NRL season.

The 23-year-old has agreed to a new four-year deal with the club where he made his debut in 2004, scoring 25 tries in 58 first grade appearances.

Smith says he wants to repay the faith the club has shown in him.

"The future looks pretty exciting for the Eels and I'm very happy to know I'll be a part of it," Smith said in a club statement.

"We've got a great squad and a top quality coaching staff and that's always a good mix to have."

"I think of myself as a one-club man and now the deal's done I can just focus on getting myself back to full fitness and playing some footy."

Eels coach Michael Hagan says the retention of Smith alongside young stars Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne was a high priority for the club.

"It's a great outcome for the club to get the deal done," he said.

"Ben adds plenty to the footy team both on and off the field."

Smith is currently recovering from off-season shoulder and knee surgery but is due to return to action early in the new NRL season.

He is likely to undergo a positional switch this year into the backrow as rising stars Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne form a fresh centre pairing for the Eels.

2008-02-14T22:37:00.002+11:00

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.

2008-02-12T23:41:00.000+11:00

Eels' Hindmarsh to have knee surgery

Parramatta forward Nathan Hindmarsh will undergo minor knee surgery on Tuesday but should only miss the NRL club's opening trial game.

The Test second-rower aggravated a previous cartilage injury at training and has been ordered to have an arthroscopy and miss the Eels' opening trial against Penrith in Albury next week.
However, the Eels are hopeful Hindmarsh will be fit to play the Sydney Roosters in the club's second trial, in Gosford on March 1.

"It's no big deal, more of a cleanout than anything serious," Hindmarsh said.

"I was just doing a routine drill when I felt something go click.

"While it's a shame to miss any game, particularly at the start of the year, the medical staff hasn't ruled out the Roosters trial as a possibility so hopefully one game is all it'll be."

Eels coach Michael Hagan said he may delay Hindmarsh's return until the opening round of the NRL season, when Parramatta play the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on March 15.

"Whether we play him against the Roosters or save him up for round one will be a decision that we'll make down the track," Hagan said.

"We'll wait and see how he recovers, however I don't see the injury posing too many headaches at this stage."

2008-02-04T22:25:00.000+11:00

Eels fight for Smith

PARRAMATTA have hatched a plan to turn forgotten centre Ben Smith into a wide-running backrower as the Eels fight to sign him ahead of a March 1 deadline.

With rival NRL clubs circling, Smith's agent and the Eels have set a 28-day time frame to either broker a new contract or begin testing his value on the open market.

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan has indicated a desire to retain Smith, 23, but the move would mean a positional switch to develop him into a backrower beyond 2008.

The positional switch for Smith is designed to accommodate rising international stars Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne, who will form a fresh centre partnership for Parramatta in 2008.

"I'd be happy to stay with Parra, but I guess in terms of the future with Jarryd Hayne and Krisnan Inu, they're obviously stars," Smith said.

"So I'll probably start in the centres. But down the track, if I stay I dare say I'll have to move into the back row to make way for Inu.

"I'm happy to do that if that's what's best for the team. I'd be happy to stay, I think the next couple of years are going to be good for Parra, it's a young, exciting team.

One of the stars of Parramatta's surge to the 2005 minor premiership, Smith is currently recovering from an off-season left knee reconstruction and shoulder surgery.

While the back row would represent uncharted territory for Smith, Hagan believes he could be developed into a destructive wide-running forward.

"We're in the process of trying to sort out a longer-term deal for Ben to stay at Parramatta. That would be our next priority, I suppose, and we would like for him to stay," Hagan said.

"Given what he offers defensively as a centre, in a lot of ways the role of a wide-running backrower and a centre are not dissimilar anymore."

Parramatta football manager Andrew Hill has met Smith's agent Daryl Mather and further discussions are expected on March 1.

2008-01-30T19:59:00.000+11:00

Eels slip into Ellerston

THE Parramatta Eels have been tight lipped in regard to their 2008 training camp held at the illustrious Upper Hunter Ellerston property, owned by the Packer family.

But in an exclusive interview with The Advocate, the club gave insight into what it was like to train in a millionaire’s playground.

According to Parramatta Eels club manager Andrew Hill, it has been a matter of respect that stopped the club from revealing the camp’s location.

“Out of respect for the property we didn’t say too much about it,” he said.

According to Mr Hill, James Packer personally approved the decision to hold the camp at Ellerston, despite previously holding a director position at rival club, The Sydney Roosters.

“I think he’s probably a Roosters fan,” Mr Hill commented.

Twenty five of the team’s top players, including current Australian and NSW winger Jarryd Hayne attended the camp at Ellerston.

“It was unbelievable, just awesome. Once we got there everything just came to life,” Jarryd told The Advocate.

The NSW Winger said not only was it great to get away, but that he was also able to get some insight into what it would be like to go on a billionaire’s holiday.

“The facilities are fantastic. I mostly went on the go-carts. Tom Cruise’s personal go-cart was there, and I almost beat Prince Harry’s record on the track. It was good to just get away and try something different.”

The team arrived at the property on Sunday, January 13 and while they did get some time to enjoy the facilities, training was also on the menu.

Head coach Michael Hagan said despite being on a property frequented by Hollywood stars and members of the royal family, for the Eels it was business as usual.

“We pretty much followed a similar training program as we would have in Sydney. We just relocated the players and staff to a better environment that was free from distractions, coach Hagan said.”

The Eels head coach also agreed the property offered great down time facilities for the players.

“On Tuesday after training a few of the boys played a bit of golf and some took a look around the property.”

Also enjoying a round of golf at Ellerston last week was ex-Newcastle Knights captain Andrew Johns.

“Andrew came up and went through some training skills with the back and back runners. We had a chance for a game of golf together,” coach Hagan said.

Before leaving the players signed a significant number of autographs for staff at Ellerston, and said they hope this won’t be their last trip to the property.

“The facilities are fantastic and hopefully we’ll get invited back some day,” coach Hagan said.

Round One of the NRL season begins on March 14.

2008-01-30T19:55:00.000+11:00

Legends hail Eels centres

MINTO millionaires Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne have been hailed as potentially Parramatta's best centre pairing since four-time premiership-winning duo Mick Cronin and Steve Ella.

And the Eels' new international centres, Inu, 20, and Hayne, 19, rank among the youngest three-quarter pairing at club level in the code's 100-year history.

Retired Test centre Steve Renouf, nicknamed the Pearl for his skills and dynamic speed, believes Inu and Hayne - who have just signed lucrative deals to stay at Parramatta - can develop into a lethal long-term midfield for the club.

"As a centre pairing, there's no reason why they can't form the type of combination (of Cronin and Ella), they've definitely got the opportunity to do it,'' Renouf said.

"I can't believe the confidence they carry at such a young age. It's crazy but it's good to see. They're not afraid to have a go and that's what benefits a team.

"I'm sure they'd love to be part of Parramatta winning a grand final - it would be the first one in a long time.''

Cronin and Ella formed one of the Eels' most prolific centre combinations in the club's 61-year history during the 1980s.

The duo starred in all four Eels premierships and have backed the latest pairing as having the quality to end Parramatta's 21-year title drought.

"You just tend to think they'll make a fist of it,'' Cronin said.

"They both did some things last year that only the really special players can do.

"Hayne did some spectacular things in his State of Origin debut and Inu was the same in his first Test.''

And Ella added: "They're both young, exciting players and it's great to see they've decided to stay at Parramatta.

"Their destiny is in their own hands, they can achieve whatever they want to achieve. They've both already played for their countries and that just shows what wonderful talents they are.''

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan has confirmed Inu will assume the left centre position, with Hayne to form a partnership on the right side with winger Eric Grothe.

2008-01-22T19:01:00.000+11:00

Inu signs on for two more years

YOUNG Parramatta star Krisnan Inu has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the NRL club until the end of 2010 season.

The Kiwi international said he believed the club would be a strong contender for grand finals in the coming seasons after losing to eventual premiers Melbourne in last year's preliminary final.

The signing is a further boost for the Eels after stitching up a deal to keep fellow backline young gun Jarryd Hayne at the club.

2008-01-11T22:35:00.000+11:00

Eels lift halfback Smith's suspension

Troubled Parramatta halfback Tim Smith will finally resume his NRL pre-season after the club lifted a suspension on him.

Queenslander Smith was suspended indefinitely by the Eels following a series of alcohol related incidents last month, including him being caught drinking less than a week after agreeing to a booze ban.

Smith, who turns 23 on Sunday, has agreed to a number of sanctions, which include a fine, charity work and further rehabilitation, the club said in a statement.

Parramatta general manager Greg Mitchell, coach Michael Hagan and football manager Andrew Hill met with Smith's manager David Riolo on Tuesday to discuss the halfback's future with the 2007 NRL semi-finalists.

"Tim has been working hard to overcome a number of personal issues and is very grateful of the support from the Parramatta Eels and general support from the community," Riolo said in the statement.

"Tim is looking forward to returning to training and the season ahead."

The club's hierarchy have thrown their support behind the 2005 NRL rookie of the year, who is also recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and is likely to miss the first month of NRL action.

"I am satisfied with the process that the club and Tim have taken and we are placing a support mechanism around Tim," Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said in the statement.

Hagan added: "I am looking forward to Tim returning to training and, along with the team, stepping up preparations for the 2008 season."

On December 14 Smith booked himself into a Queensland rehabilitation clinic after a drinking binge less than a week after he'd agreed to a booze ban.

A week earlier, the Eels had fined the halfback $1,000 and issued the season-long ban after a member of the public complained about obnoxious behaviour by Smith.

In 2006 he was threatened with the sack and fined $10,000 for alcohol influenced behaviour.

2008-01-11T22:31:00.000+11:00

Electric Eel Krisnan Inu ready to ink Parramatta deal

PARRAMATTA young gun Krisnan Inu hopes his future can be secured by the end of the week.
One of the most marketable young talents in rugby league, Inu yesterday revealed how close he was to striking a deal with the Eels shortly after completing a pre-season training session at AFL club Essendon in Melbourne.

The New Zealand international appears certain to follow teammate Jarryd Hayne's loyalty by ignoring lucrative offers from rivals to remain at Parramatta.

"I think they've been talking to my manager (Isaac Moses) over the past few weeks, but nothing's been finalised," Inu, 20, said.

"We're trying to get it sorted this week.

"Maybe he will let me know when I get back (to Sydney) today or tomorrow but I won't know anything (until then)."

Inu had been circled by several clubs including the Roosters, Bulldogs, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cronulla.

Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said last night a deal with Inu was close to being reached.

"We've been talking to him for a couple of weeks and we're getting pretty close," Fitzgerald said.
"We're not there yet, but we're very close."

However, Eels coach Michael Hagan said an early Christmas present of Inu's signature was unlikely.

"Hopefully in the second week of January we can get it tied up," he said.

Inu and Hayne, who squared off in October's Test match between New Zealand and Australia, are close mates of Storm sensation Israel Folau. Their friendship stretches back to primary school.

Inu expects the trio to be heavily targeted next season after taking the competition by storm in 2007.

"I hope not, but you can't change that," he said.

"The Anzac Test (in April) was the big one for me after playing one first-grade game.

"I thought it was all right because no one knew me, I had no real hype to live up to, no expectations.

"I was free to do whatever. But now, as the season's gone past, people have seen what I can do and it's a bit harder, knowing what I can do."

2007-12-15T13:23:00.000+11:00

Eels give Price his statue

PARRAMATTA great Ray Price owns a million magic moments - and now one of them is set to be immortalised forever.

The Parramatta Stadium Trust yesterday surrendered to people power and amazingly agreed to erect a statue of Price outside his old stomping ground.

The decision, which follows a week-long campaign by The Daily Telegraph, means a bronzed likeness of the 1980s hero will now be unveiled during league's 2008 centenary celebrations.

"This is all such a shock, incredibly humbling," Price said last night from his Budgewoi home.

"And the first thing I want to do is thank all The Daily Telegraph readers, all the Parramatta fans and all the supporters of league generally who have pushed for this. Because without these people, mate, I'm nothing."

The Parramatta Stadium Trust has been taking heavy fire since we exclusively revealed their decision to rename the famous Ray Price Lounge for "business" reasons.

The move had angry sponsors threatening to withdraw cash and fans tearing up their memberships. Fellow great Brett Kenny even insisted the board take back his terrace honour.
And while stadium manager Luke Coleman yesterday confirmed Pricey's bar would still be renamed The Cumberland Lounge, he said it was "obvious" a much higher honour was now appropriate for a hero of four Eels premierships.

"I was just hoping to get my bar back but the response has been incredible," Price continued when asked about joining bronzed greats Wally Lewis and Laurie Daley.

"I mean, Peter Kelly Flooring were going to quit their sponsorship after 30 years. And Brett Kenny, mate, that's one of the greatest honours I've ever received from a teammate."

Parramatta greats, supporters and club officials all welcomed news of the statue yesterday - which will most likely sit just outside the northeastern corner of the stadium.

And leading the charge was 1981 premiership captain Steve Edge, who said the decision would satisfy a number of angry Eels who had contacted him in the past week.

"Guys like Mick Cronin, Peter Wynn, we were all upset by it," Edge said.

"I just don't think the Trust understood what Ray Price means to this club."

Cult supporter Parramatta Jesus, aka John Ryan, was also rapt with the decision - saying the statue would become "like Mecca for all Eels fans".

"When you think about a player bleeding for Parramatta, you think Pricey," Ryan enthused. "I just can't believe you're telling me this . . . it's insane."

But what image does a duel international who played 22 Tests, 15 matches for NSW and 257 games for the Eels hope they use?

"Oh, I'm not sure to be honest," Price laughed.

"I don't really mind what they choose. Although some of my workmates have come up with a couple of suggestions today . . . a few even joked about going with the old praying mantis pose."

Stadium Trust Chairman Craig Gallagher stressed his board "never intended to slight a Parramatta great" and said the new statue would be unveiled "as soon as possible" in 2008.

There will also be a Ray Price Suite in the corporate area of the stadium.

2007-12-15T13:20:00.000+11:00

Parramatta's Smith suspended indefinitely

Parramatta halfback Tim Smith has been suspended indefinitely by the National Rugby League club.

Smith was ordered to meet with Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald this morning after being caught drinking less than a week after agreeing to abstain from alcohol.

Last Friday Smith was fined $1000 by the club and ordered to avoid alcohol for a year following a drunken incident.

An Eels spokesman said Smith remained on contract with the club, and that the most important issue was his health.

The spokesman said Smith had voluntarily checked himself into rehab "to address a number of complex issues".

"He has been suspended until everyone involved including the player, the club and the medical practitioners can review and assess Tim's rehabilitation," he said.

There were fears the Eels would tear Smith's contract up after the club found the 22-year-old had been drinking just days after being issued a 12-month alcohol ban.

But Eels teammates Mark Riddell and Brett Finch reportedly urged the club to help Smith rather than axe him.

Last week, Smith was fined and slapped with the booze ban after it was reported he allegedly intimidated, swore at and made obscene finger gestures at a member of the public while intoxicated.

It was not the first time Smith had been punished by the club for an alcohol-related indiscretion.
Last season, the Queensland playmaker was threatened with the sack and fined $A10,000 for intoxicated behaviour.

2007-12-15T13:19:00.000+11:00

Hayne sacrifice pressure for Krisnan

PARRAMATTA winger Jarryd Hayne has signed for less money than he could have earned at another NRL club because he wants to keep fellow young gun Krisnan Inu at the Eels.

With Hayne, 19, and Inu, 20, due to come off contract at the end of next season, Parramatta was given little chance of keeping both backline aces until Hayne yesterday agreed to a new two-year deal.

The pressure is now on Inu to match Hayne's loyalty after the Test winger signed for an estimated $550,000 over two years - with reports he could have earned $800,000 over the same period at another club - so the Eels had salary-cap room to keep the Kiwi international.

"That's probably why I did take the pay cut, because I pretty well understand that Krisnan needs to come under the cap as well," Hayne said.

"I understand that and when you play with mates it doesn't seem like a pay cut because you know you're having fun. I'd rather play for less money and be in finals than play for more money and not be in the top eight."

Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said player manager Wayne Beavis had negotiated Hayne's deal with an understanding of the club's salary cap position and desire to keep both youngsters. Fitzgerald said the club could now make an offer which would squeeze Inu under the $4million ceiling.

"We've started having discussions with Krisnan and his manager Isaac Moses, so we're hopeful and confident of a satisfactory resolution over probably the next month," Fitzgerald said.

"We've got a few dollars there. We can make him a very attractive offer. I think he's a lot like Jarryd. He's very happy here and he wants to stay here with all his mates."

2007-12-09T21:08:00.000+11:00

Hayne puts loyalty before cash

JARRYD Hayne is poised to ignore a $2million windfall to stay loyal to Parramatta, the club that gave him his start.

The teenage sensation has given the clearest indication yet that he will re-sign with the Eels. Hayne is among the hottest talents on the market and is on the Rabbitohs' hit list courtesy of a five-year deal estimated at $400,000 a season.

But Hayne, whose Parramatta deal expires at the end of next year, said he won't be swayed by big numbers.

"Hopefully we can finalise something as soon as possible with Parramatta,'' Hayne said. ``I want to stay at Parra. It's where I was born and bred and where I've gained my start. I really don't see myself leaving.

"I see myself as just a kid still growing ... so there's no point chasing coin and the massive deals.
Right now, there's no reason to leave or go chasing money here or in England.

"I don't need the money. I'm happy where I am financially at now.''

However, the emerging superstar is at the centre of a major bidding war.

It's understood Hayne and his manager Wayne Beavis will meet with Eels officials this week.
But Russell Crowe's cashed-up Rabbitohs have made no secret of their desire to lure Hayne to the club where his father Manoa Thompson played.

The NSW and Australia outside back is seen as a potential marquee player at Redfern, but Thompson's allegiances to the Rabbits will have little influence on Hayne.

"That won't even come into it. I'm my own man. I've got to look after No1,'' Hayne said.

He is also in the sights of the Bulldogs and the Sharks.

"The only thing that would make me want to move was if I didn't find it a challenge at the club ... and I still find it a challenge here at Parra.

"With Nathan Hindmarsh and Nath Cayless, they're going to be legends for both Australia and New Zealand, so there's no worry from my end as far as talent and experience goes at the club.

"I've got a lot of good mates and a lot of friendships there. Where we're at now we can really give the NRL (premiership) a real shake.''

Hayne added that the prospect of switching to centre, following the departure to rugby union of Timana Tahu, offered further appeal, stating: "There's an opportunity to nail down that spot for a few years at Parramatta.''

The only downside to Hayne's likely decision to stick with the Eels would be the effect on close friend and team-mate Krisnan Inu.

Inu, also off contract at the end of next year, is still a major priority for the Eels but fitting them both under the salary cap could prove difficult.

After a breakout year, Inu, now a New Zealand international, is also in the sights of several clubs.

"I know it's tough for the club ... there's a few guys off contract, including Krisnan,'' Hayne said.

"It would be a good challenge (playing against him) ... especially if we came up against each other in the centres.''

2007-12-09T21:06:00.001+11:00

Kenny blames Eels over Smith

TROUBLED Eels star Tim Smith was yesterday banned from drinking until the end of 2008 as punishment for his latest alcohol-fuelled disgrace - but Brett Kenny says it is too late.

The Parramatta legend last night hit out at his former club, declaring the Eels were partly to blame for Smith's disturbing behaviour.

Kenny, a premiership winning five-eighth, said the Eels have let the talented game-breaker get away with too much for too long.

"What is this? His third of fourth indiscretion?," Kenny said.

"They needed to have a good talk to him, but they have left it too late.

"The club have been at fault from the word go.

"He has been in strife with grog before and I think if they came down harder on him in the past then it wouldn't have happened as much."

The halfback was hauled before Eels management yesterday and forced to agree to a 12-month alcohol ban after allegedly intimidating, swearing and making obscene finger gestures at 55-year-old Charles Brincat.

Brincat complained to the club after a "heavily intoxicated" Smith abused him last Sunday. He said Smith could barely stand up.

Just last year, Parramatta threatened to terminate Smith's contract after a series of drunken incidents.

Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald yesterday said Smith had telephoned the Sydney grandfather and apologised for his actions.

"We had a very positive meeting with Tim this morning and he was very sorry that his drunkenness and actions let down the club and its fans," Fitzgerald said.

"He telephoned the complainant to apologise for any of his actions or words that may have offended the man and his family."

Smith confessed to having a problem with alcohol and has agreed to undergo counselling.
He was also fined $1000.

"Tim admitted he has a problem with alcohol and will continue to have counselling sessions with a leading specialist in alcohol related behaviour," coach Michael Hagan said.

Kenny warned Smith not to throw his career away. "He is earning good money," Kenny said.

"Certainly more than any other kid his age. He has to realise that he has an opportunity to set himself up in the future.

"He has to concentrate on his football. I have seen a lot of guys that have gone to the wayside."

Kenny also accused the Eels of putting too much pressure on Smith in the past.

"You think about what has happened to him and the club is to blame for a lot of it," Kenny said.

"They have put a lot of pressure on him with the comparisons to Peter Sterling and they should have done more to dismiss them.

"Maybe he read it and started to believe it. But he just has to knuckle down and play some good football.

"He has to learn from this."

2007-12-09T21:04:00.000+11:00

Eels pin hopes on Joey's magic

PARRAMATTA have their eyes set on an NRL premiership, banking that one-on-one coaching from the game's greatest halfback will add to their sparkling attack in 2008.

The Eels lost to eventual premiers Melbourne in the 2007 preliminary final.

But despite being one week shy of the grand final, Parramatta's maligned halves were criticised for most of the year.

Brett Finch and Tim Smith are perhaps the NRL's two most critiqued players, but Eels coach Michael Hagan is confident direct tutelage from Andrew Johns will take both their games to the next level.

And that's a serious concern for the rest of the NRL, with the Eels shaping as early contenders for next year's premiership.

"For our attacking game, (Johns) will add a lot to what we can do," said Hagan, whose Eels were ranked sixth in the NRL for tries scored in 2007.

"It's an opportunity for them to improve as players.

"In the end, they (Finch and Smith) got our team to within a week of the grand final. I didn't really agree with the criticism they copped at different times of the year.

"They're going to be very good for us this year and I think Feleti Mateo will probably come in and play a bit of six (five-eighth) at times this year.

"The reason (Johns) is coming is to improve the individuals and the team and that's the motive and what he wants to do."

Finch has no doubts Johns could be the final piece in the puzzle for Parramatta to improve on their 2007 efforts.

"Well, that's what we're paying him for," said Finch when asked if Johns could help the Eels win a premiership.

"We weren't too far away last year and we got criticised but we certainly put up a great fight to Melbourne who ended up winning the grand final in a canter.

"So we're very confident with the team we've got here.

"We lose a couple of important guys like Timana (Tahu) and Ian Hindmarsh but certainly with Joey's help I know our game is going to get a lot better and hopefully that will help us in the long run."

Johns started his first session at Parramatta today with some "reasonably basic" training drills among the group of six halves, which included backrower Mateo.

Hooker Mark Riddell and fullback Luke Burt will also join the group during the year with Johns to conduct weekly sessions at the Eels.

But Smith and Finch aren't expecting an overhaul of Parramatta's freeflowing football, rather polish added to their sometimes erratic displays.

"It's just the finer details he used to carve out such a great career, just a little polish," Finch said.

"It was pretty basic today but as the weeks go on I'm sure we'll go down the track further."

Smith, who along with Johns is one of the best exponents of the banana kick, says trickery won't be part of their practice sessions.

"We'll just worry about the simple stuff. If you ask him he will tell you the simple stuff wins games,"Smith said.

"He is a great player and you just want to learn from him.

"What he did in the game on the footy field was remarkable and he will be a big influence on us, especially the halves."

2007-12-09T21:00:00.000+11:00

Stand down Nick, says Denis

PARRAMATTA chief executive Denis Fitzgerald caused a furore yesterday by demanding powerful rugby league figure Nick Politis resign from the NRL partnership board.

Fitzgerald told yesterday's NRL chief executives conference in the Hunter Valley that no director affiliated with a club should be allowed on either of the NRL boards.

Politis, the Sydney Roosters chairman, sits on the NRL partnership board while Cronulla chairman Barry Pierce and St George Illawarra director Bob Millward are NRL board directors.
Pierce, Millward and Politis - all ARL appointed - last night quickly rejected Fitzgerald's claim.

But Fitzgerald - the self-appointed doyen of CEOs - claimed the three directors should stand down to ensure "transparency and independence".

"These days there is far more emphasis on corporate governance and compliance," Fitzgerald said.

"All 12 directors (six on each) should not have a present formal position with any of the 16 NRL clubs.

"I think the ARL and News Limited should make this policy in the interests of all clubs and in the perception of fairness, transparency and independence. The three directors should stand down."

Told about Fitzgerald's comments, Politis said: "I wouldn't stoop low enough to comment on such a silly statement."

Pierce claimed Fitzgerald's claims smacked of hypocrisy.

"Denis was once on the ARL, NSWRL and NRL boards while Parramatta CEO," he said.

"Bob (Millward) and I were appointed by the ARL and we've never had a problem.

"If ever there was a conflict, I would abstain (from voting). We have the full support of people in the game.

"Everyone has an opinion but Bob and I have worked hard on these boards for a long time."

Millward took little notice of Fitzgerald's comments.

"I've got very little to say on it. I wonder whether Denis says it tongue-in-cheek," he said.

"We've never encountered a conflict of interest and if we do we'd abstain."

Meanwhile, the NRL CEOs yesterday agreed to a forum in the new year to discuss rugby league's long-term future.

"Early next year it will be time for a strategic look at the game," Cowboys CEO Peter Parr said.

"The Sydney clubs are facing some real challenges and we have to look at different revenue streams and make sure the game remains healthy."

The CEOs also agreed to further investigate developing "new media" models, sponsorship structures and venue arrangements as part of their strategic review.

"The centenary season will certainly be a great tribute and it already represents two years planning," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.

"Today we've taken clubs through a detailed schedule of more than 80 centenary events.

"But at the same time as we are putting those plans into action, we need to be looking closely at options for 2009 and beyond to complement our existing strategic documents.

"Clearly there are lot of financial pressures building on our clubs just as there is an ever changing media and technology landscape."

2007-12-09T20:59:00.000+11:00

Bronze statue call for Price

ANGRY Eels fans have thrown their support behind embattled hero Ray Price - demanding the club erect a statue of the legend outside Parramatta Stadium.

In a staggering show of unity, The Daily Telegraph was yesterday inundated with phone calls and emails after exclusively revealing a decision to rename the Ray Price Lounge at Parramatta Stadium.

More than 1500 readers also responded to our website poll, with 93% labelling the decision by Parramatta Stadium Trust "the ultimate insult".

As a result, furious supporters are now demanding the club erect a monument similar to the one of Wally Lewis outside Suncorp Stadium.

"Because Ray Price epitomises this club," cult supporter John Ryan, aka Parramatta Jesus, said last night.

"Sure, people will argue about our greatest player. But I think everyone agrees Pricey represents what this club has always been about.

"I mean, that's why people are so upset.

"I was on your website at four o'clock (yesterday morning) and people were already blowing up.

"A statue of Pricey outside Parramatta Stadium is the perfect way to show him exactly what he has and always will mean here."

Canberra have already erected a bronzed likeness of champion playmaker Laurie Daley outside their stadium while British club St Helens is preparing to do the same for Keiron Cunningham.

And yesterday Eels supporters were threatening to boycott games, hand in memberships, even form a petition to oust chief executive Denis Fitzgerald unless demands were met.

In response, Eels officials sent out a release distancing themselves from the decision, while also stating Fitzgerald was not at the meeting which ratified the changes.

Venue manager Luke Coleman had, however, previously described the decision of the seven-man board as "unanimous".

2007-12-09T20:56:00.000+11:00

Eels dump Ray Price

THEY called him Mr Perpetual Motion - but Parramatta hero Ray Price has finally been floored by the ultimate insult.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Price has slammed the Eels for stripping his name from the main lounge bar at Parramatta Stadium.

In a letter received from the Stadium Trust last week, the Eels legend was told his room had been renamed the Cumberland Lounge for "business strategy" reasons.

The snubbing means there is now not one public facility - grandstand, terrace, lounge or bar - named after the only man to play in all seven Parramatta grand finals.

"Mate, the whole thing is pathetic, sickens me," Price fired yesterday.

"I mean, why give me something if you're only going to take it away again?

"And then to come up with some excuse about it being for a business strategy or something. Is my name really that f...... bad?"

Despite being arguably the greatest Parramatta player ever, Price has never received the same honours as fellow champions Ken Thornett, Michael Cronin, Peter Sterling or Brett Kenny.

And the Budgewoi carpenter fears this latest insult is the result of his ongoing feud with Eels boss Denis Fitzgerald - himself one of seven Trust board members.

"There's definitely a stench to it," Price conceded.

"I mean, first they took down the (Ray Price Lounge) sign for a couple of years. I know that because I went in there and the bloody thing was gone.

"Even when I received life membership they gave me grandstand tickets on halfway, but do you know where they are now? They're down behind the dead ball line.

"So what can you say? Do they really want me gone that bad?"

Defending the board's decision, Fitzgerald last night said the lounge was hired out "100 times a year" for weddings, seminars and corporate functions.

"So it's not just a football room," he said.

Eels chairman Alan Overton agreed the renamed room would be "easier to hire out" while venue manager Luke Coleman described the decision as "unanimous".

As a trade-off, Price's name will now be attached to a smaller suite in the corporate bleachers - a decision already angering club supporters.

"Because Pricey is a hero to the battlers, not the suits," Joe Saad, a fan for 30 years, spat. "But they'll probably take that too . . . eventually just name a chair after him."

Asked if he feared his footprint being removed from the club completely, Price added: "That's probably their aim, yeah.

"But to be honest, I don't give a s... about the officials. The only people I care about these days are the fans.

"And I still have my achievements. That and all the great memories . . . mate, they can't take that away from me."

2007-11-14T22:22:00.000+11:00

Eels resume training

The off season is officially over for the Parramatta Eels.

The blue and gold began their quest for the 2008 Telstra Premiership with a session at Parramatta Stadium on Monday.

New recruit Joe Gulavao (right) was among the players sweating it out on their first day back at "the office".

The Eels will play a trial against the Panthers at Albury's Lavington Oval on February 22. They will also play the Roosters in a trial at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford on March 1 before hosting the Bulldogs in round one of the competition on the weekend of March 14-17.

2007-11-12T22:49:00.000+11:00

Hayne's centre switch

JARRYD Hayne is facing a permanent move to centre as replacement for NSW Waratahs recruit Timana Tahu as the young Eel considers a lucrative new two-year deal.

Hayne's manager Wayne Beavis met with the Eels last week to discuss a contract extension.

"There is a formal offer there and I'll sit down with Jarryd over the next few days,'' Beavis said.

"It's certainly a competitive offer but we'll need to tinker with it.''

South Sydney have expressed an interest in Hayne after the 2008 season, but Beavis said there had been no talks.

"There have been expressions of interest from a few clubs but nothing more than that at this stage,'' he said.

"I'll be getting back to Parra before considering going down that path.''

Eels coach Michael Hagan made it clear both Hayne and outstanding young winger Krisnan Inu, who is also off contract at the end of next season, were major priorities.

He indicated other Eels players off contract would be sacrificed if necessary.

2007-10-31T22:12:00.000+11:00

Joey jumps to the Eels

Andrew Johns is set to become a coaching assistant at Parramatta for the 2008 NRL season. Eels coach Michael Hagan yesterday confirmed he has spoken with Johns about coaching Parramatta's halves regularly and the rugby league legend was keen, pending details being sorted out.

"It's something Andrew wants to do and he would be very helpful to our first grade halves Tim Smith and Brett Finch and young players like Kris Keating," said good friend Hagan, who coached Johns for much of his career at Newcastle.

Johns retired early this year because of a recurring neck injury which could have left him seriously impaired if it were aggravated. He retired as a player rated by many as the best in the game's history. But that rating was sullied when Johns recently admitted to a long-term dependence on amphetamines.

The Australian Rugby Union sacked him from an intended role as a coaching consultant during the Wallabies' World Cup campaign in France. Hagan said the Parramatta involvement could be therapeutic for Johns.

"It's something he needs to get his teeth into; it will be good for him and good for Parramatta," said Hagan, who attended Johns's wedding last Saturday.

The coach said Parramatta would start full-time training for the 2008 season next week and he hoped Johns could start his new role in December. Hagan said former champion Canterbury goalkicker Daryl Halligan had also been signed to a two-year contract as a consultant.

"Daryl was a great benefit to our kickers Luke Burt, Krisnan Inu and Jarryd Hayne this season," he said.

Meanwhile, the silly season has already started with speculation about where young superstars Inu and Hayne will be in 2009 after coming off contract next season.

Parramatta's difficulty will be fitting them both under the salary cap and Hayne has been linked with South Sydney, for whom his father Manoa Thompson played.

2007-10-29T00:15:00.000+11:00

Big Wednesday deadline to secure NRL's best

Rugby League's silly season is about to get underway on November 1 as clubs allowed to negotiate with players on the open market with some of the NRL's brightest and best coming under the spotlight.

Clubs and players were previously only allowed to negotiate after June 30, but the new move should allow players to concentrate on their football during the season rather than be distrated by trade talks.

Under the new rules, players will not be able to be registered with their new club and the NRL until round thirteen 2008, unless the player's current club allows.

Parramatta pair Jarryd Hayne and Krisnan Inu are expected to create a bidding frenzy if not secured by the Eels prior to next Wednesday.

The same goes for Melbourne star Israel Folau, who has been compared to the great Mal Meninga and is widely recognised as the future of the game having made his debut for Australia at just eighteen years of age.

The other big names on the market are: Braith Anasta, Matt Bowen, Danny Buderus, Matt Cooper, Brett Finch, Dallas Johnson, Luke Lewis, Benji Marshall, Nathan Merritt, Brett Stewart, Willie Tonga, Taniela Tuiaki, Anthony Tupou, Trent Waterhouse, and Carl Webb.

Parramatta didn't spend at all for season 2008 and it's thought the plan was to keep as much cash possible in the coffers given the calibre of players off contract.

Hayne's manager Wayne Beavis could have had his young charge re-signed to the Eels on a long-term deal mid-season but opted to wait on the basis that his worth would increase as the season went on.

At the time, Beavis said Hayne's worth was equal to that of Greg Inglis who earns $400,000 a year at the Melbourne Storm.

"Jarryd is an exceptional talent," Beavis told Fairfax newspapers in July.

"You only had to see the two tries he scored in the Origin series to know that. Parramatta have flagged to us that they would like to negotiate a new contract, but there's no gamble in Jarryd waiting, because he's just going to get better.

"Jarryd's happy at Parramatta and the club has been very supportive of him, but I've got to do the best for the kid. His earning capacity was going to go up even if he stayed on the wing, but his value has got the potential to go through the roof if he shows what he can do at fullback. I see a clear parallel between Jarryd and Greg Inglis, in that Inglis rose very quickly through his club and then through representative football, and Jarryd, who is 12 months younger than the other bloke, is doing the same."

If the Eels are fortunate enough to retain the services of both Hayne and Inu, it is highly unlikely that Brett Finch will remain at the club, despite encouraging signs of a combination developing between he and halfback Tim Smith towards the back end of this season.

It was rumoured that Finch could be on the move to St. George-Illawarra who would be in the position to let him play in his preferred role of halfback, despite buying Jamie Soward.

Yesterday, the North Queensland Cowboys began discussions with fullback Matt Bowen with an eye to securing his services until the end of 2011.

Bowen is also managed by Beavis but it's thought that re-sgning the Townsville crowd-favourite will be a no-brainer given Bowen's reluctance to leave far north Queensland.

"Today was the first step in a long process," Cowboys boss Peter Parr told News Limited.

"It was a good, positive meeting. Wayne will go back and talk to Matty and we will go from there." "We didn't discuss dates or time limits," Parr said.

"As you do every season, we have a few guys coming off-contract, but at the moment Matty is our priority."

Also in the easy-basket is Brett Stewart who is believe to be close to agreeing to terms with the Sea-Eagles.

2007-10-02T22:05:00.000+10:00

Burt and Moimoi among Eels re-signings

Parramatta have announced the retention of Luke Burt and Fuifui Moimoi among four contract extensions for the NRL club.

Fullback Burt agreed to terms until the end of 2010 while New Zealand Test squad prop Moimoi will remain at the Eels for the next two years.

Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald also announced two year deals for young up and comers Taulima Tautai and Tim Mannah.

Tautai played centre in the Eels' Premier League premiership-winning side on Sunday while Mannah was prop in the losing Jersey Flegg grand final side.

"The future of the club looks very bright when players of this calibre re-sign," said Fitzgerald.

"Luke and Fuifui have been regular members of the NRL squad for a number of years now and had tremendous seasons in 2007.

"Taulima and Tim were both involved in grand finals in Premier League and Jersey Flegg respectively and will be pushing for a crack at the NRL in 2008."

2007-10-02T21:59:00.000+10:00

Eels claim thrilling last minute Premier League win

Match SummaryThe Parramatta Eels have taken out the 2007 Premier League title with a thrilling last minute victory over the North Sydney Bears at Telstra Stadium this afternoon.

The Eels led 10-4 at half time. North Sydney opened the scoring after five minutes with Yileen Gordon scoring a powerful try. The missed conversion from Williams left the Bears up 4-0.

It wasn’t long before the Eels responded, with Justin Horo running onto a superb pass to score and put the Eels up 6-4 after nine minutes. The half remained scoreless until the 35th minute after that point, with the Bears looking like the better team but with handling errors costing them dearly.

The Eels pushed out to a 10-4 lead with Blake Green throwing a superb cut out pass to Iwi Hauraki. The Bears had an attacking opportunity just before the break, but again the ball was dropped.

Seven minutes after half time the Bears pulled back to 10-8 with Troy Boston chasing a pinpoint kick to score in the corner.With 17 minutes to go, Parramatta were penalised for a strip and the ensuing penalty goal from Joe Williams levelled the match at 10-all.

Norths then added four more points a minute later, with Reece Simmonds latching onto a cut out pass from David Peachey. Joel Reddy levelled the game back up at 14-all with a superb individual try, running past the entire Norths team to dot down in the corner.

After both teams missed field goals, Joe Williams put the Bears up 15-14 with three minutes to go.

In what is becoming a Premier League tradition, the match was not done with. Norths were penalised for a strip, and the Eels turned down the penalty goal.

The move – which took a 50/50 kick into a try scoring opportunity or an easy field goal opportunity paid off, with Weller Hauraki crashing over to score the match winning try with 15 seconds to go.

Aaron Wood added the conversion as the Eels ran out 20-15 winners, claiming their third Premier League title in a row.

2007-09-26T20:22:00.000+10:00

Future rosy as Eels tah-tah Tahu

PARRAMATTA coach Michael Hagan admitted after yesterday's 26-10 loss to Melbourne that the game would miss rugby union-bound Timana Tahu next year, but the Eels believe the talent the club has unearthed this season would hold them in good stead.

Tahu and second-rower Ian Hindmarsh, who has retired, bowed out with strong performances yesterday to highlight their contribution to Parramatta's efforts this season. But the likes of Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo have already shown they have big futures.

"We've got a lot of good young guys who are going to learn from this season," Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless said.

"It's great for those guys to have a full season in first grade and there's a few guys in premier league who are going to be pushing for first-grade spots next year. We're at a healthy stage as far as the club is concerned but it still doesn't take away from the disappointment of losing."

Hagan said it was disappointing that the game was losing players of the calibre of Tahu and Storm centre Matt King, who is heading to Warrington next season.

"I thought Timana's last eight weeks or so have been tremendous for the Parramatta football club and he laid on a tremendous pass for Inu to all but score in the corner in the second half. He's been aggressive and he's been quality every week so he's going to be a loss for sure," Hagan said.

"I think King from Melbourne going to England is another disappointing situation for the game and clubs are struggling to keep their quality players."

Tahu signed off from his nine-year league career in style, among the Eels' best yesterday.

"It's a bit disappointing, I was looking for that fairytale ending but it didn't happen," Tahu, who will play for the NSW Waratahs in the Super 14 next season, told AAP.

"I'm pretty shattered because now it's the end of my NRL career but I'm looking forward to rugby and looking forward to what's coming ahead. I don't have any regrets at all, it's disappointing to lose tonight but my career's just turned to a new chapter and I'm looking for bigger and better things."

Despite having a number of close calls go against them from video referees Bill Harrigan and Phil Cooley, the Eels had no complaints about the decisions and admitted the better team won.

Hagan also declined to comment on the high shot from Melbourne forward Jeremy Smith on Hayne.

2007-09-26T20:20:00.000+10:00

Hagan rues missed chances

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan says a combination of missed opportunities and poor discipline cost his team a place in the NRL Grand Final.

The Eels settled much better than the Melbourne Storm in Sunday afternoon's preliminary final at Telstra Dome, and scored first in each half to firstly grab a 4-0 lead and then level things up after the break at 10-10.

But the former Newcastle boss told reporters after the Storm had grabbed the Grand Final berth with a 26-10 win that better execution of their game plan and skills would have made all the difference.

"I thought we gave ourselves a real chance after half-time to go to 10-all, and I thought we played some good footy at times," Hagan said.

"We didn't execute as well as we needed to, to give ourselves a genuine chance."

"I think we missed two genuine chances and probably turned the ball over on a couple of half chances which you know they punish you for those errors. But I thought we were pretty courageous at different times in the game."

"I thought our players acquitted themselves very well and gave themselves their best chance anyway. I think we made plenty of line breaks in the game and we certainly challenged them physically at times."

"Probably there was a period just in that 15 minutes before half-time we conceded three or four penalties which really gave them a good roll-on and they took advantage of that. They're hard to handle when that's the case."

Twice in the second half Krisnan Inu came close to scoring a try that would have given the Eels hope, but on each occasion video referee Bill Harrigan ruled that he had touched the sideline just before forcing the ball, and the second instance was a blow according to Hagan.

"I think that try had to be scored at that time, whether it was (a try) is hard to say because there wasn't a genuine replay for a few minutes, but I think it's fair to say he was probably out," Hagan said.

Captain Nathan Cayless was bitterly disappointed by the result, especially after his team had had its opportunities in the game, but his mood was helped by a positive outlook for the future.

"We've got a lot of good young guys who are going to learn a lot from that season," he said.

"We had a to put up with a lot of criticism but I thought we finished off the season really strong. It's just disappointing that it ended today."

"It's great for those guys to have a full season in first grade, (Jarryd Hayne) Haynesy and Krisnan (Inu) and there's a few guys in Premier League who I'm sure will be pushing for first-grade spots next year."

"They're going to be in their third grand final in a row, so we're at a healthy stage as a club but it still doesn't take away from the disappointment of today."

2007-09-23T18:48:00.000+10:00

Storm puts away gallant Parramatta

MINOR premiers Melbourne will meet Manly in the NRL grand final after the Storm put away a gallant Parramatta 26-10 at Telstra Dome today.

The 16-point margin was hardly indicative of what was a closely fought contest, the Storm prevailing to earn a return trip to the decider and a chance to avenge last year's grand final loss to Brisbane.

The game looked headed for a thrilling finish when the Eels tied it up at 10-10 midway through the second half, but the Storm were just too composed with two late tries sealing the result.

It was all the Eels early with Melbourne looking like they had been struck by stagefright in front of a 33,427-strong crowd, the largest to attend a Storm match in the Victorian capital.

Parramatta were rewarded for their dominance when a brilliant two-man cut-out ball from Tim Smith found an unmarked Eric Grothe for a 4-0 lead, Krisnan Inu's sideline conversion swinging across the face of the posts.

Perhaps feeling the effects of the week off, Melbourne looked a little out of sync, their kicking game leaving a lot to be desired as the Eels were handed easy turnovers of possession.

The Storm finally got some field position on the back of a Parramatta leg-pull penalty and Cameron Smith maintained some pressure by securing a repeat set of six.

From there Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk swapped positions and it sparked a backline raid as winger Steve Turner made good use of limited space to lock it up at 4-4 after 28 minutes.

It was just the spark Melbourne needed as another penalty from the restart saw them march downfield, Cronk stepping through weak Brett Finch and Josh Cordoba tackles to score adjacent to the posts.

Melbourne went close again when Anthony Quinn was pushed into touch a metre short of the line, Parramatta the happier of the two sides to hear the halftime hooter as they clung to a six-point deficit.

Whatever Eels coach Michael Hagan said to his side at the break had the desired effect with Parramatta having the perfect start to the second half, a repeat set leading to a Joel Reddy try to again lock it up.

Melbourne edged ahead when Timana Tahu showed a little too much aggression in slamming opposite number Israel Folau's head into the ground, Cameron Smith slotting over the simple shot at goal.

Again one pointscoring play led to another as the Storm extended to what proved to be a matchwinning 18-10 lead after 54 minutes, Inglis finding Ryan Hoffman who bumped through a pair of Parramatta defenders to send Matt King on his way.

The Eels tried everything to get back into the contest but were denied by the barest of margins, Inu twice going within millimetres of getting his side back into the contest only for the video referee to rule in the home side's favour.

Cameron Smith took it out to a 10-point margin when Finch was ruled to have stripped Jeff Lima close to the line before King scored his second of the day in the final seconds to kick off the home side's celebrations.

2007-09-22T19:18:00.000+10:00

Bellamy and Hagan trade final barbs

Rival coaches Craig Bellamy and Michael Hagan continued to pile the pressure on referee Tony Archer with tit-for-tat barbs on the eve of their NRL preliminary final at Telstra Dome.

Following on from comments from Bellamy that Parramatta were the best 'milkers' of penalties in the NRL, Hagan said his opposite number had little to complain about given their favourable treatment they had received from whistleblowers.

"I've done a bit of research and I think Melbourne have won 10 of 13 penalty counts at Olympic Park this year," Hagan said.

"So they've obviously got a very good record at home and we're just thankful we're not playing at Olympic Park on Sunday.

"It doesn't bother me, I'm very confident with the way we play and very confident with Tony Archer as referee and we haven't had any issues with him in the past and I don't expect to have any issues tomorrow."

Bellamy claimed the Eels, who received a league-best 209 penalties in their favour this season, were the kings of milking penalties.

Rookie winger Krisnan Inu in particular came under heavy fire with Bellamy claiming the young Kiwi had learnt the art of drawing a penalty "pretty quickly".

"I just know I've seen those stats (on how many penalties the Eels get) and they get more than anybody else," Bellamy said.

"There's a couple of reasons why I suppose."

Eels skipper Nathan Cayless played down the gamesmanship between the rival coaches, but refuted claims Parramatta deliberately tried to con the referee.

Hookers PJ Marsh and Mark Riddell were brilliant at exploiting the Bulldogs around the ruck in last weekend semi-final win, the Bulldogs penalised on a number of occasions for having their markers offside.

"I don't know about milking them, the penalties we've been given this year we've certainly deserved them," Cayless said.

"When you play the ball fast and play open attacking football obviously defending team is going to try to slow you down.

"That's what we've been able to do well the last couple of weeks which is generate good quick play the balls and generate exciting football which I think everyone likes to see."

While Hagan and Bellamy tried their best to get some sort of advantage over the referee, they also made sure they left a good final impression, just in case Archer was one to indulge in himself with a newspaper over his morning cup of coffee.

"Tony's obviously the No.1 ranked referee at the moment so ... he'll do a good job, he's done a good job all year," Bellamy said.

Hagan was just as lavish in his praise.

"We are more than happy with Tony Archer as referee," the Eels coach said.

"I think he's been the best referee this year and I would think he would be a big chance of being the referee next week as well."

Bellamy said he would leave his players to their own devices on Saturday night with no group viewing organised for the Manly-North Queensland preliminary final in Sydney.

2007-09-22T19:16:00.000+10:00

Hagan declares Wagon a certain starter

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan says lock Daniel Wagon is a certain starter in Sunday's National Rugby League preliminary final against Melbourne.

Wagon had been in doubt with a neck injury but has improved remarkably over the past 24 hours and completed the Eels' final training session in Sydney this morning.

The Eels have just departed Sydney Airport to head to Melbourne and while Wagon did not arrive with the team Hagan said there was nothing sinister about his absence and he would definitely play on Sunday.

"Daniel Wagon is fine, he trained this morning. He just lives near the airport so he made his own way here," Hagan said.

Hagan expects his side to be unchanged from the team who beat the Bulldogs last week.

2007-09-22T19:14:00.000+10:00

Hindmarsh says Eels can beat Storm

NATHAN Hindmarsh laughs when older brother Ian is quizzed about retirement.

"Oh, he's gunna miss us," the Parramatta superstar interrupts.

"Especially when he's stuck in the house next winter with the kids, the wife, it'll be tough."

The retort, however, comes just as quick from this fella now only weeks away from his move west to that Cowra property.

"Mate, I'm not going to be stuck in the house. There will be work to do. It's full on. We can't all be like you and spend our days doing nothing."

And so the banter continues as the Hindmarsh brothers look ahead to what may be their last NRL game together against Melbourne this Sunday.

The sibling back-rowers have made it all the way to grand final day once before, beaten by champion halfback Andrew Johns and his Newcastle Knights in 2001.

But the ghosts of deciders past definitely aren't haunting this pair.

"I feel really confident about this Storm game," Ian enthuses.

"I don't know why. I just really believe we're going to win it.

"And all the talk about last games and stuff, I haven't been thinking about that at all.

"I'm just convinced I'll be at training again next Monday morning."

2007-09-19T19:26:00.000+10:00

Baby Eels ready

Parramatta have spawned two of the NRL's last three rookies of the year in Tim Smith and Jarryd Hayne, and the pair are maturing at the right time as the Eels unleash their next crop of youngsters.

The league's three most recent Dally M rookies of the year will be on display at Telstra Dome on Sunday with Melbourne centre Israel Folau, who won the prize this year, also part of the preliminary final.

Smith took the award in 2005 and Hayne last year, but the Parramatta side will also include stars on the rise Krisnan Inu, 20, Feleti Mateo, 23, and Joel Reddy, 21.

Fullback Hayne, yet to celebrate his 20th birthday but already a bona fide NRL superstar, said the emergence of the new breed had relieved the pressure on all of the Eels' young brigade.

"Last year I did (feel the pressure) but not so much this year, there's a couple of young boys in there that sort of take it off me and the likes of Inu and Feleti have been getting a lot of exposure which is good," the NSW State of Origin winger said.

"(The media) sort of have one week with them, then one week with me, then one week with Inu so it isn't just on the one person.

"They can't say you're the young bloke in the team because there's a couple of us."

Lock Mateo, who debuted against the Storm in 2004 but has come of age under Michael Hagan this year, said the Eels' young guns were motivated by an event which is almost ancient history to some of them - the 2001 grand final loss to the Hagan-coached Newcastle.

"Obviously you want to go all the way and I think the boys missing out in 2001, they'll be looking to get there, especially the older boys, for Ian (Hindmarsh) and Nathan Cayless," he said.

"I don't think they've won a premiership so it would be nice to get one for them.

"It's not really talked about, I think it might be in the back of people's minds but for the time being I think we're just focussed on Melbourne and trying to get the job done."

Centre Reddy, the son of former St George great Rod Reddy, was pitched into his first finals match against the Bulldogs last Saturday when experienced centre Ben Smith was ruled out with a knee injury.

But Reddy, who has played more fullback and wing than centre, said his September debut had been made easier by his involvement with the first grade squad throughout the year.

"I've been lucky, I've been 18th man a few weeks and then going back and playing Premier League so I've always felt a part of the squad throughout the year," he said.

"It's not like I've just been thrown in the deep end, I've always felt a part of the squad and I've always been in there.

"With anyone being injured early in the week I'm in there until they come back in later on in the week so there hasn't really been a big jump."

2007-09-18T11:24:00.001+10:00

Parramatta CEO accuses Melbourne of dirty tricks

MELBOURNE was last night accused of "outrageous and shameful behaviour" after secretly attempting to replicate Olympic Park's smaller field dimensions to this weekend's venue, Telstra Dome.

The NRL was last night forced to step in and order Telstra Dome management to mark out a full size field for Sunday's grand final qualifier against Parramatta.

Olympic Park is 6m narrower than all other NRL fields and 2m shorter in its in-goal areas.
On the reduced field, Melbourne has won 30 of their past 31 games.

Melbourne this week sent Telstra Dome officials measurements for field markings on the AFL venue, but asked for the same sized dimensions as Olympic Park - infuriating Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald.

"It's disgraceful, shameful and outrageous behaviour - they have tried to hoodwink the NRL," Fitzgerald said.

"We've played on Olympic Park all year and we anticipated we would play on the same size field at Telstra Dome. It is the same for both teams," Storm CEO Brian Waldron said.

But a fuming Fitzgerald labelled the move selfish.

"As for Parramatta, it's lucky we put pressure on the NRL to check the field measurements," he said.

"Melbourne's attempt to secure an unfair advantage is just selfish.

"The NRL has assured us they will have representatives on the ground when the markings are done this Saturday to ensure everything is 100 per cent.

"They have played 13 games on their mini field this year and then they have the hide to try and get the grand final qualifier on a smaller ground.

"It really is an outrage but I'm not surprised given what has gone on down there in their turbulent 10-year history.

"I have strongly voiced my disapproval over the past decade about the Storm being allowed to use their mini field when all other clubs have home grounds that meet the correct field dimensions."

Waldron said he was happy for the NRL to mark out Telstra Dome to the same measurements Sydney sides use.

"If the NRL determine that they want the ground measurements changed, we won't have a problem.

"Our players are used to playing on a shortened field but as I said, if the NRL want it altered that's okay with us."

Told about Waldron's comments, Fitzgerald said: "Brian is an AFL blow-in. He has only measured AFL fields which are oval-shaped."

Eels coach Michael Hagan admitted Melbourne would have gained an unfair advantage playing on a smaller field.

"Of course they would have," Hagan said. "Their defensive structure, their line speed and their kicking game are their strengths on the smaller ground.

"We would be expecting to play Melbourne on a full-size field."

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said his organisation would ensure all ground measurements meet the the game's strict standards.

"Regardless of the view anyone at Melbourne may have about this, all matches in final series are NRL controlled events," Annesley said.

"The Olympic Park dimensions are reduced because of the restriction of the running track but no such restrictions apply at Telstra Dome. We will be playing on a full-size pitch.

"Should Melbourne win and progress to the grand final, they will be playing on exactly the same size pitch at Telstra Stadium."

The outspoken Fitzgerald, the game's longest serving CEO, has been a long-time critic of Melbourne, often questioning whether the Victorian club should be retained in the NRL competition.

2007-09-17T23:24:00.001+10:00

Eels claim Storm short-change rivals

ILL-feeling between Parramatta and Melbourne has resurfaced ahead of Sunday's grand final qualifier, with the Eels asking the National Rugby League to stop Storm transferring Olympic Park's dimensions to the Telstra Dome.

Though coach Michael Hagan and Eels players are confident meeting the Storm away from their "awful" regular home venue, Parramatta boss Denis Fitzgerald wants officials to oversee Telstra Dome markings to make sure they meet guidelines.

Olympic Park is narrower than a normal NRL ground and its in-goals are shorter. And given the Storm's 30 wins in 31 games there, it is not a favourite place to visit.

But Fitzgerald said Melbourne should, like all other teams, provide a full-size field in the finals.

"Melbourne is the only team that has a home ground which is a mini-field," Fitzgerald told The Daily Telegraph.

"At Olympic Park you would be better off playing with 10 men rather than 13.

"I will be requesting that the NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley do a survey on the ground to ensure Telstra Dome meets the minimum requirements in terms of width and in-goal depth.

"With our exciting backline, we like to play an expansive game."

Storm chief executive Brian Waldron last night fired back at Fitzgerald.

"Given Denis's concerns, we welcome him down to Melbourne as early as possible this week to mark the ground himself," Waldron said.

"He is the self-professed doyen of the game. I'm sure he's done everything in rugby league except mark the fields. Here's an opportunity for him to say he's done it all."

The free-flowing Eels believe shifting Sunday's second preliminary final to the wider expanses of Telstra Dome is a bonus for them over Melbourne.

"I think anywhere other than Olympic Park suits us," Hagan said.

"It's an awful ground to play at. I'm not a fan of going to there and nor is anyone else. It's too narrow and it's not a genuine footy field.

"The in-goals are too short and Melbourne play to those conditions better than anyone because that's what they do well."

Although beaten 14-10 at Olympic Park in round 23, the Eels emerged from that game oozing confidence they could reverse the result.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said his organisation would ensure the ground meets all requirements.

"Telstra Dome has ample room to meet the full dimensions as prescribed by the NRL," he said.

2007-09-17T23:22:00.001+10:00

Tahu in awe of younger colleagues

Parramatta centre Timana Tahu says he is impressed how easily the Eels' younger players are coping with the pressure of the NRL finals series.

The Eels have won both their play-off matches so far and will meet minor premiers Melbourne in the second preliminary final at Docklands on Sunday.

Full-back Jarryd Hayne is only 19 while Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo have not previously played in the finals.

Tahu said he had great confidence in his younger team-mates.

"They're really mature for their age," he said.

"Usually when you get rookies coming in to the finals and they haven't had much experience, you get a little bit worried but with Jarryd Hayne, Feleti Mateo and Kris Inu, they'll do the job for us."

Tahu said the trio were tailor made for the finals.

"They're just pure athletes and they've got a good footy brain as well," he said.

"Sometimes if they do make little mistakes - usually some people go into their shell - but with Kris Inu and Feleti and Jarryd they just seem to keep on kicking on and they've got heaps of confidence and they're not ones you really worry about."

Meanwhile, the Eels have announced the signing of New Zealand international Joe Galuvao for two seasons.

Galuvao had one more year to run on his contract with South Sydney but has been out of favour with the Rabbitohs this season.

The second rower won a premiership with Penrith in 2003.

2007-09-17T23:20:00.000+10:00

Galuvao lands new NRL deal

Joe Galuvao's NRL career has been handed a lifeline with the former New Zealand Test forward agreeing to a two-year deal with Parramatta on Monday.

Galuvao will link with the Eels in 2008 and 2009 after falling out of favour at South Sydney this season.

The 29-year-old ended the season playing for Easts in the Queensland Cup and it was believed his NRL career was as good as over before the Eels swooped.

2007-09-16T19:42:00.000+10:00

No celebrations from Hindmarsh

Is Nathan Hindmarsh becoming the grumpy old man of Parramatta?

The Eels qualified for a shot at the NRL grand final with a 25-6 victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday night, but Hindmarsh still wasn't satisfied.

Even after coach Michael Hagan told his players to enjoy the moment, Hindmarsh was thinking ahead.

He has bigger goals to achieve.

"Everyone is telling me to start smiling, but I will smile when I'm holding up the cup in two weeks time," said Hindmarsh.

It's not the first time Hindmarsh has played devil's advocate.

Three weeks ago the tireless backrower complained about his younger teammates free-spirited football style.

He knew it wasn't the way to win a premiership, never mind the fact they had just run in 13 tries in belting 2006 premiers Brisbane.

Hindmarsh knows defence and completions, not flashy football, is what wins premierships.
And although defence is something Parramatta can hang their hat on lately, Hindmarsh knows there is plenty of improvement left in the Eels.

"We are getting better, we don't want to go in too confident but we know we're getting better," he said.

They face `mission impossible' with a preliminary final date with minor premiers Melbourne at Telstra Dome next Sunday.

Nobody expects Parramatta to continue their charmed run as underdogs but it hasn't stopped Hindmarsh from revealing his desire to win the 2007 premiership.

He's already missed two golden opportunities at a title, the first in 2001 when the Eels lost the decider to Newcastle, and the most recent their shock 2005 preliminary final 29-0 failure to North Queensland.

And this season marks his last playing alongside brother Ian before his older sibling retires.

"Playing in a grand final and losing one, that is what is driving me, definitely," he said.

"Playing for blokes like my brother (Ian) who haven't played in one (grand final) and will finish at the end of the year.

"And Timana (Tahu) who is off to union and he wants to win another one (premiership).

"Everyone is doing it for everyone that is in the side."

2007-09-15T23:54:00.001+10:00

Eels end Bulldogs' season

Parramatta booked a date with Melbourne in the NRL preliminary finals after defeating the Bulldogs 25-6 in their semi-final at Sydney's Olympic stadium on Saturday evening.

The Eels prevailed in a contest marred by a litany of wasted attacking chances, but their four tries were enough to end the Bulldogs' season in the second week of the final.

The Bulldogs' cause was not aided by a right forearm injury sustained by start backrower Sonny Bill Williams, which consigned the New Zealand international to the sideline in the opening half.

The Eels scored tries through Mark Riddell, Eric Grothe Timana Tahu - whose farewell to rugby league will be put on hold for at least one more week - and Jarryd Hayne.

Krisnan Inu made all four conversions and Brett Finch added a field goal.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard through a try to Matt Utai and a conversion from Hazem El Masri.

It was the Eels who enjoyed the early running in attack but a turnover deep inside the Bulldogs' half led to to the opening try scored by Utai in the sixth minute.

Williams made a midfield break before offloading to Luke Patten, who subsequently found a rampaging Andrew Ryan in support.

The movement seemed to die when Ryan passed to Willie Tonga, who slipped to the ground, but the former Australian international was able to get the ball away to Utai for a try in the left-hand corner.

El Masri landed the conversion from the sideline, but the Bulldogs suffered a blow midway through the half when Williams left the field with his injury.

Williams' absence possibly buoyed the spirits of the Eels, who found a response in the 20th minute when Riddell touched down on a grubber that was poorly fielded by the Bulldogs close to the tryline.

Inu added the extras and he did so again in the 34th minute to establish the 12-6 half-time lead following the try to Grothe, who benefited from an overlap on the last tackle to score down the right flank.

The second half was littered with missed opportunities from both sides, with the Bulldogs going close early after the break when Brent Sherwin was held up over the tryline.

The wasted chance was costly, as the Eels were able to put themselves more than a converted try ahead when Finch slotted a field goal against the run of play in the 52nd minute.

They took their time to ice the victory, eventually doing so in the 74th minute when Tahu pounced on spilt ball from Reni Maitua before running 60 metres to score the third and final Eels' try.

Hayne simply added to the Bulldogs' heartbreak when he crossed out wide in the final minute of play.

Parramatta 25 (M Riddell, E Grothe, T Tahu, J Hayne tries; K Inu 4 conversions; B Finch field goal)
Bulldogs 6 (M Utai try; H El Masri conversion)

2007-09-15T23:53:00.000+10:00

Inu opts out of two-year Mormon mission

The Kiwis and Parramatta Eels can breathe easy - rising star Krisnan Inu has decided against walking away from rugby league for a two-year Mormon mission.

On the eve of the Eels' National Rugby League (NRL) elimination semifinal against the Bulldogs, Inu confirmed the mission had been canned in favour of continuing his league career as a role model for youngsters of the same faith.

"It is a case where I believe I can do more for the church by staying," Inu told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

"I had a talk with my parents, and together we decided that it is best if I pursue my career. In no way does this mean I am losing faith."

Inu, whose father is a bishop, spoke this season of the need to quit the NRL for two years and complete his mission overseas, following the path of compatriot and now Cronulla centre Fraser Anderson.

"At first I did feel pressure, and then as the games kept coming and I started playing better, people saw the positives of me staying."

One of the finds of the NRL season, Inu looks certain to add to his solitary test cap against the Kangaroos in Wellington next month and make his first senior tour for the Kiwis in Britain later in October.

2007-09-12T23:27:00.002+10:00

Tim Smith a danger man for Eels: Sherwin

They have shared a barrage of criticism this season but Bulldogs halfback Brent Sherwin has identified his opposite Tim Smith as the man to stop in Saturday's NRL semi-final clash with Parramatta.

Both number sevens have endured patchy form this season and still have plenty of doubters as to their ability to lead their sides long-term ahead of the do-or-die clash at Telstra Stadium.

Sherwin has come under fire for his kicking game and lack of involvement, while Smith's decision-making and consistency have also come under the microscope.

But Sherwin doesn't buy into the argument Smith could be the Eels' weak link, instead tipping the pacy pivot to be the danger man for the Bulldogs.

"We're going to have to watch him, because everything he touches seems to be turning to gold at the moment," Sherwin said.

"He's been on fire over the last couple of weeks and has got his team going very well, so that's what I've got to do to my side for us to be a good chance."

While Sherwin has shown glimpses of his best form since returning to first grade midway through the season, he acknowledges he still has his share of sceptics.

But the 29-year-old said he would be focussed on only what Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes thinks come Saturday night.

"I don't really worry about what everyone else says but I've kind of gotten use to it," Sherwin said.

"Folkesy's got me playing how he wants me to play, so if I keep him happy I stay in the side.

"I'm trying to get my kicking game in order and I think I'll get a lot more confidence out of that so if I can get that on song it goes a long way to us staying alive for a another week."

The Bulldogs return to full-strength for the clash with Sonny Bill Williams back from a one-week suspension and Willie Mason and Mark O'Meley both in the side after injury-layoffs.

Young forward Jarrad Hickey said having all three big men on deck would inspire the rest of the troops.

"It's unbelievable, this is the first time we've had a full strength side all year and what better time to get it than going into semi-finals football," Hickey said.

"It's unbelievable the feeling (to play with them), the whole forward pack is an inspiration to play behind and when I get out there it makes my job a lot easier.

"I really feed off them, they can teach me a lot and I really learn from them.

"When you've got Willie Mason running next to you, you want to do your best job and not let him down, so you really put in and go that extra step."

2007-09-12T23:27:00.001+10:00

Eels wingers stand tall over Bulldogs

Stopping Sonny Bill Williams might be a difficult task, but the tallest order in Saturday's semi-final with the Eels will be how do the Bulldogs combat Parramatta's towering wingers?

In a mismatch tailor-made for the Eels, Parramatta's wingers Krisnan Inu and Eric Grothe come up against arguably the shortest wing pairing in the NRL of Hazem El Masri and Matt Utai.

New Zealand sensation Inu, at 185cm, has a slight height advantage over NSW opposite El Masri who is listed at 178cm tall.

Meanwhile, Grothe is one of the tallest wingers in the NRL at 189cm and he will come up against one of the shortest in 168cm Utai.

While the Bulldogs have made no secret of their plan to attack Eels kickers Tim Smith and Brett Finch, the Parramatta pair have set their sights on exploiting the Dogs lack of height out wide - even if they don't admit it.

"I just think the ability of our wingers to contest high balls is an advantage full stop," Finch said.

"It doesn't matter who we play against we certainly know it's a strength of ours the way the guys contest the high balls and whatever team we play we send kicks that way.

"I'm sure if the opportunity arises for Timmy or myself to put one across to our wingers we will.

"I don't think we'll be targeting anyone, it's just something we do a fair bit anyway.

"Hopefully (the height advantage) helps and hopefully we can get a result out of a few cross field kicks.

"(But) Hazem El Masri and Matt Utai they haven't survived as long as they have if they've got a weakness there.

"We certainly don't see it as us targeting them it's just that our two wingers are good in the air and we go to them anyway."

Eels coach Michael Hagan admits the size superiority could be used to his side's advantage, but it would only help Parramatta if they execute properly.

Last week against the Warriors both their tries in the 12-10 victory came from kicks, however neither Inu or Grothe were involved.

In fact, it was Inu who was peppered at the other end as the Warriors targeted the 20-year-old rookie to perhaps find a chink in his armour by scoring the New Zealand team's first try of the game.

"It's some advantage there as long as your execution of things is right," Hagan said.

"The quality of their (Bulldogs) wingers is different by virtue of what they provide and they're both quality players.

"I don't think we've got a huge advantage there. It helps but you need to be confident by playing well."

2007-09-12T23:26:00.001+10:00

Eels forwards deserve more credit: Hagan

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan says he is more than happy with the efforts of his 'under-rated' forward pack as the Eels look to keep their finals aspirations alive.

The Eels come up against the star-studded Bulldogs forward pack in the semi-finals on Saturday night after the Parra big men held their own against the Warriors on Friday .

"Our forward pack is underrated," Hagan said.

"I think they've done a really good job in the work they've done against the Warriors, against Brisbane the week before and even Melbourne a few weeks back.

"I think they're probably not getting the wraps they deserve at the moment."

The Bulldogs' pack will also be bolstered by the return of suspended forward Sonny Bill Williams, but Hagan says the Dogs will need to find a way to stop wingers Eric Grothe and Krisnan Inu.

"That's certainly a strength for us at the moment, the form they're both in and Jarryd Hayne at the back.

"They're going to be important again this week, they'll be put under plenty of pressure by Sherwin.

"I thought they handled it pretty well last week, they were put under a lot of pressure early on and came up pretty good."

The strong Parramatta side are not without their injury concerns for the Olympic Stadium showdown.

Ben Smith underwent surgery this morning to determine the extent of a knee problem he sustained against New Zealand, the big centre unlikely to feature in Saturday night's semi.

2007-09-12T23:24:00.000+10:00

Dogs, Eels back to the future

TWO decades after the Bulldogs and Parramatta forged one of rugby league's great rivalries, a crowd of 50,000-plus is expected to pack Telstra Stadium this Saturday night to see it rekindled.

And just like it was back in the 1980s, it will be a battle of the Bulldogs' brutal forward pack taking on the magic of the Eels' electric backline.

With the return of Sonny Bill Williams to the Bulldogs side after suspension, the semi-final is shaping as a clash of "muscle versus magic" with the Belmore club yesterday talking up the return of their powerful forward pack to full strength.

With the exciting Eels backline proving a handful in recent weeks, the clash looms as a tantalising throwback to the 1980s where Canterbury and Parramatta fought out several epic premierships battles.

"It's been a while," Bulldogs forward Reni Maitua said last night. "But we are back together now.

"I'm excited to have Sonny Bill back. He's my right-hand man. It is all on the line for us.

"There will be no more excuses, otherwise we'll be looking to next year."

The Bulldogs arrived back in Sydney yesterday afternoon after a gripping 20-18 loss to North Queensland in Townsville over the weekend.

Williams will be back alongside Mark O'Meley, who returned from injury against the Cowboys, and Willie Mason, Maitua, Corey Hughes and Andrew Ryan - who all came through the game unscathed.

"It's a great bonus having our top squad available for such a big game," Ryan said.

"It is as good a time as any to start performing.

"If we don't, it's all over."

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan is well aware that the Bulldogs will field their most potent forward pack for the sudden-death game.

"They have lost their past two games but they haven't had all their players together," Hagan told The Daily Telegraph.

"Mark O'Meley is now back and Sonny Bill returns.

"If they are all together and they all fire, then it will be a tough night for us.

"They have quality in the forwards. I'm not sure we fear them but we certainly respect them."

A huge crowd is expected at Homebush for the game between two of Sydney's oldest and fiercest rivals.

The other option of playing the game at the neutral Sydney Football Stadium was discounted, despite Telstra Stadium being the Bulldogs' home ground and the Eels earning a "home region" advantage.

"I think the game will be great for that part of Sydney," Ryan said.

"It should be a massive crowd and played between two teams who have had a lot of success.

"They have a lot of good young players so that makes it important we have a good kick-chase game."

Maitua claimed he already had nerves.

"It will be a huge clash - I've got butterflies just thinking about it," he said.

"We have played Parramatta twice this year and it's one each.

"Parramatta like to play a wide-running game. They probably went a bit too wide too early against the Warriors but in the second half they ground away."

Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten said his side was tired of being talked up in the media.

"We're over that. We've done all our talking," Patten said.

"We have to get to training and do all the hard work and let our football do the talking.

"They are always willing affairs against Parramatta.

"We were beaten by the Cowboys but we still took a lot out of the game."

The two teams played grand finals in 1984 and 1986, winning one each.

2007-09-12T23:06:00.000+10:00

Eels defence chokes Warriors

Steven Price lamented missed opportunities and Eels captain Nathan Cayless used phrases such as "toughening up" and "grinding it out." The two differing perspectives summed the Warriors 10-12 home finals game loss up perfectly.

The Warriors got off to an inauspicious start right from the get-go as from the very first hit-up prop Sam Rapira was left stunned and shaky after a shuddering shoulder check from Eels captain Nathan Cayless. It was a taste of the uncompromising and passionate defence that was the key feature of the Sydney side's game on the night.

Rapira did recover promptly to play the ball and a solid Warriors opening set of six ensued but the Warriors never quite came to grips with the Eels' passion and commitment.

Early opportunities missed

The Warriors threatened twice within the opening half hour adopting a clear strategy of taking the Eels on at their own aerial game. Michael Witt ignored a three-on-one overlap early to kick early in the tackle count, his chipped kick to second string wing Patrick Al Van bang-on but Al Van's handling was not.

Witt then tried to repeat the dose on 25mins with another well weighted kick to Al Van's wing after the Warriors had consecutive sets of six. This time Al Van soared high and successfully tapped the ball down to centre Todd Byrne who inexplicably failed to ground the ball in-goal as a try seemed certain.

The Eels also had two clear-cut scoring chances but were unable to capitalise as No 6 Brett Finch - whose commitment and smarts epitomised the Eels on the night - broke the line but didn't have the legs to outrun McKinnon and Crocket who hemmed him and forced him into an injudicious pass.

The Eels were undaunted, however, and on the half hour a sloppy Al Van handling error saw possession lost on the first tackle and from the next set of six the Eels cashed in. Parramatta halfback Tim Smith benefited from a quick play of the ball darting out of dummy half and throwing a perfect short ball for centre Timana Tahu to collect at speed and cross the line.

Replays showed that Tahu had lost control of, and never grounded, the pill as a brave tackle from Michael Witt dislodged his grasp.

McKinnon and Crockett both made crucial try saving plays in the dieing stages of the first half as McKinnon cut down a rampaging Ian Hindmarsh after excellent Eels offloading and support play cut the Warriors defence to shreds.

McKinnon tested the referee's judgement to the limit: wrapping Hindmarsh's legs up and slowing the play-the-ball for five valuable seconds as his team mates desperately scrambled back in defence.

With the halftime hooter poised to blow the Eels spread the ball wide to Crocket's wing where he somehow covered a three man overlap and showed great desperation to turn and chase down a grubber on his line.

The game was dead even over the first stanza as reflected by the game stats that saw the penalty count ready five to four in favour of Warriors but possession favouring the visitors at 55%.

The Warriors drew the first blood of the second half when, after two consecutive, fluid sets of six - aided by a penalty, Michael Witt found himself with the ball - and time to think - in centre-field 10 metes from the Eels line.

In keeping with the game plan he launched another pinpoint bomb to Al Van's wing and again the strategy reaped rewards with Al Van again out-jumping his opposite and volleying a pass straight into the eagerly waiting hands of Byrne to score and redeem his earlier blunder.

Surprisingly, and crucially, Michael Witt missed the conversion from a handy angle.

Turning point

Between 49-57 minutes the Warriors hammered at the Eels defence with four consecutive sets and excellent kicks from halfback Grant Rovelli pressuring the defence into mistakes.

But the pressure reaped no rewards as desperate Eels defence twice miraculously denied overlap try scoring opportunities. The first came on the third tackle of the third set of six when Logan Swann inexplicably ignored a two man overlap and went for the line - only to be held-up inches from scoring.

Two tackles later wing Krisnan Inu saved a certain try as he nullified another two man overlap: stretching out to tap the final pass astray. The attacking momentum was completely lost on the fourth set when Steve Price threw a marginal forward pass on the third tackle.

Parramatta showed the kind of ruthless opportunism that finals footy demands as they finally won some territory after two much needed penalties gave them some much need respite and momentum. Finch then tapped a flat, short, Smith cross field kick back to Feleti Matteo - one of the Eels best on the night - who scored another kick assisted try.

Teenage star Inu had a 'grim reapers' smile on his dial as he coolly lined up a forty five degree angle conversion and nonchalantly buried it.

With 15 minutes left Al Van came within inches of scoring on the back of a trademark scything break from Warriors fullback McKinnon (faultless on the night and too furious to speak coherently aftermatch) who fielded a kick on his own line and carved off forty metres.

The Warriors kept the ball alive and travelled the length of the field only for Al Van to be dragged down and stripped of possession agonisingly, inches, short. The referee, however, failed to see the Eels hand that raked out the lost ball.

Marsh has the last laugh

But it was a former Warriors favourite son PJ Marsh who drove a icy cold stake through his former fans' hearts as he worked a double around move and surprised the home defence with a clever short grubber kick off the outside of his foot.

Jarryd Hayne had motioned for the kick through and made no mistake as he outpaced Steven Price and Michael Witt to the bouncing ball for the clinching try. Grim reaper Inu again made no mistake with the simple conversion.

Not over until Witt says so...

But the Warriors had one riposte left, to keep a slimmer of hope alive, ensuring an excruciating final two minutes as Michael Witt conjured up a brilliant try. The (vastly improved) stand-off spotted Todd Byrne steaming down the wing and picked him out with a pin-point kick for Byrne to draw Inu's cover tackle and return the favour with a pass inside to Witt with no defenders ahead.

Witt was then cut down before he could catch the ball as Chad Robinson resorted to a desperate professional foul. Referee Bill Harrigan saw it as such and correctly awarded the penalty try.
This time Witt converted and from the next attacking set he launched a towering bomb and as the packed house watched with hearts in mouth Brett Finch again came up trumps, bravely putting his body on the line to handle the kick as a wall of Warriors rushed towards him.

Finchs' courageous final play summed up the Eels effort and the wafer fine line between victory and defeat on the night.

Eels 12: Tries: Feleti Matteo, Tamana Tahu. Cons: Krisnan Inu (2).
Warriors 10: Tries: Todd Bryne, Michael Witt. Con: Witt.

2007-09-05T23:57:00.000+10:00

Eels ready to get gritty

Parramatta are preparing to go from pretty to gritty for their NRL qualifying final clash with the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday night.

The Eels were electric in their stunning 13-try 68-22 final round rout of reigning premiers Brisbane last weekend, stunning the Broncos with some inventive and incisive razzle-dazzle play.

Prior to leaving Sydney for Auckland on Wednesday, senior Eels suggested some of last week's tricks were likely to be left in the cupboard as they attempted to overcome a free scoring Warriors outfit.

"If the weather's different we're going to have to pull back on a few things," forward Nathan Hindmarsh said.

Centre Timana Tahu felt Parramatta would need to grind out a win over the Warriors.

He was especially wary of the threat posed by fullback and former team-mate Wade McKinnon.

"I think Wade McKinnon is a big danger," Tahu said.

"He's an intense bloke and a competitive fullback, and I think he's one of the best fullbacks I've played this year. It wouldn't surprise me if he did get an Australian jersey.

"He's probably the massive danger. If the Warriors get a roll on, he can carve us up, so we've got to watch out for him.

"They are a big forward pack and once they get a roll on, they get confidence in their team, they can throw the ball around too.

"We've just got to try and stay on our toes and try to grind out the game with them."

Hindmarsh stressed the Warriors' firepower stretched well beyond their starting line-up.

"You can't really pinpoint all their threats because they are strong across the board, from fullback to front row and they've got great bench players," Hindmarsh said.

"A lot of teams, their bench can let them down, but I think with the Warriors it keeps their momentum going."

Last week's sensational win over the Broncos ended a three-match losing streak and infused Parramatta with renewed confidence, but it hadn't made them cocky, according to Hindmarsh.

"The way we played we're not over confident, but we took a bit of confidence out of the game," Hindmarsh said.

The listed 17-man Parramatta squad was accompanied by back Joel Reddy and injured fullback Luke Burt, who paid his own fare to Auckland to support his team-mates.

2007-09-05T23:55:00.000+10:00

Eels regain momentum

David Fairleigh said last week he got particular joy from working with the Parramatta backs.

The Eels assistant coach said this was because he was amazed by their skills. The backs gave those skills their greatest exposure when the stars came out to play in the 68-22 romp against the Brisbane Broncos at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday.

Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu, Timana Tahu and the rest it finished as a game of touch football-basketball-volleyball-handball in the park against a hapless Broncos outfit running out of troops, running out of legs and run off their legs.

It won't be like that for the fifth-placed Parramatta against the third-placed Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, this Friday night.

There are two schools of thought about the value of Sunday's romp as preparation for the New Zealand finals match, with Parramatta virtually certain of a second chance should they lose. One school would have it that a game which featured 17 tries was hardly the hard hit-out needed before tough finals football.

Another school would have it that the win more than restored confidence and momentum after four losses in five games. With just a five-day turnaround, such a soft game (that's relative; there are no soft games) was just what was needed given the quick back-up, and Parramatta suffered no injuries.

And given that the Warriors have players with basketballers' handling skills from 1-17, Parramatta's abundant attacking skills needed a workout for what might be a tryathon. Friday's game is unlikely to finish 12-8 to the winner.

The quick turnaround might present as big a challenge as the Warriors. What should concern the Eels is the four first-half tries conceded in 20 minutes against the Broncos. Well three, but it should have been four. Broncos winger Nick Emmett's losing the ball over the line has him a star player in any Max Mannix video highlights package.

Brisbane were able to score almost at will when they reached the Parramatta quarter until then. The incident broke the ailing Broncos' spirit but the final score couldn't hide those structural defensive problems. Early on, Parramatta still looked like a team high on effort but low on cohesion.

Five days is a short time to get a season's deficiencies right.

2007-09-04T19:51:00.000+10:00

Pin-up boys need to cool it

CAUTIOUS Parramatta players fear only one thing heading into an explosive 2007 NRL finals series - and it's standing in their own backline.

A group of senior Eels have this week spoken at length with flamboyant NRL pin-ups boys Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo.

Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless admits the trio - who bagged a staggering seven tries in the final-round thrashing of Brisbane - are the most exciting players to don the blue and gold in years.

But the Eels skipper has also warned them to pack caution in their kit bag of flicks, chips and looping cut- outs when they play the Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium on Friday night.

"The way those young guys play, it either gives you the X-factor or it ends up a weakness,'' Cayless tells The Daily Telegraph frankly.

"I mean, the younger boys are certainly not afraid to chance their arm and that rubs off positively on the rest of the team.

"But they also need to understand there are times when you need to take the tackle. Hold the ball and go to ground. But these guys are so young. They haven't learned that yet.

"And that's why we've been so inconsistent ... the boys just need to use some judgement.''

Kangaroo superstar Nathan Hindmarsh admitted after the Broncos thumping that he was "peeved'' with some of the fancy passes while coach Michael Hagan praised senior players for addressing the situation.

"As exciting as these young guys are, there are times when you have your heart in your mouth because they're taking an option that isn't in the best interests of the team,'' Hagan says.

"But we also have to understand where they're at in terms of their development. Understand that we may have to wear some mistakes like Krisnan passing that ball back in-goal against Melbourne or Jarryd's mistake in the Origin game.''

Eels hooker PJ Marsh agrees, adding: "I would never tell those young guys what to do. It's more about getting our backyard in order, making sure our completion rates are up.

"And that's what Hindy was talking about after the Broncos win. If Jarryd Hayne thinks the chip kick is on ... we still want to see him go for it.''

Cayless adds: "We understand these guys are young and they just don't seem to get nervous or worried. "And while that will certainly be to our advantage in the finals ... well, I think they leave all the stressing up to us older guys.''

Over in Auckland, meanwhile, Warriors cult hero Peter "Mad Butcher'' Leitch says the city's first home finals series is attracting so much interest he will ring Eels players and ask to buy up their complimentary passes.

Leitch, who hammered the Full House sign on to the Mount Smart Stadium gates before the Manly match in round 24, is now hopeful of doing it again.

"Oh, there's a bloody great feel about the place this week,'' the Butcher says. "I've had people ringing me from Invercargill, from Christchurch, there are people from all over the country wanting tickets for this game.

"At the start of the year we were giving away Warrior car flags and posters to get people to home games. Now we haven't got enough tickets for everyone.''

2007-09-02T20:31:00.000+10:00

Eels destroy Broncs to take fifth spot

The Parramatta Eels devastated the Brisbane Broncos 68-22 in their final round NRL clash at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday, claiming fifth spot on the ladder.

The Eels will now face the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland on Friday night, while the Broncos finish the season in eighth spot and will travel to Melbourne to face the minor premiers next weekend.

Parramatta played a phenomenal game, running in 13 tries to the Broncos' four.

"We came out with one goal and that was just to complete our sets and I think we did that pretty well in that first half," Eels half-back Tim Smith told ABC Grandstand.

"I think our forwards were our main thing for us - the outside backs get all the glory but I think you've got to look at those forwards, they've been doing it week in, week out for the last 25 games.

"They're (Brisbane) a quality side and we knew we were going to be in for a tough one.

"To our credit I think we stuck through the grind, we're just really happy to get those two points.

"But we've got to go over to New Zealand next week, that's going to be a tough one."

Parramatta winger Krisnan Inu put in a stellar performance, racking up 26 individual points, including three tries and seven conversions.

Team-mates Timana Tahu, Jarryd Hayne, Ian Hindmarsh and Feleti Mateo also backed up with two tries apiece.

The Eels surged to a 34-16 lead at half-time, despite some early shaky defence.

The Broncos' Steve Michaels crossed in the left corner for the visitors in the ninth minute and moments later Justin Hodges ran out of dummy half to score under the black dot. Corey Parker went on to kick the conversion.

Hodges was in the thick of it again only minutes later when he collected a grubber kick and made his way over again.

Parker added the extra two, and it was suddenly 16-6 to the visitors after 17 minutes.

But the Eels seemingly kicked themselves into gear, scoring the next five tries for the half and going on to dominate the rest of the game.

Parramatta 68 (K Inu 3, I Hindmarsh 2, J Hayne 2, T Tahu 2, F Mateo 2, E Grothe, T Smith tries; K Inu 7, T Smith conversions)

Brisbane 22 (S Michaels, J Hodges 2, B Thorn tries; C Parker 3 conversions).

2007-08-29T21:30:00.000+10:00

Preview: Eels v Broncos

Venue & Time: Parramatta Stadium, 3:00pm AEST, Sunday September 2
Last Time: Eels 20 - Broncos 16 at Suncorp Stadium, round 19, 2007

Walking Wounded:For the Eels, fullback Luke Burt (knee) is not expected to return until the finals, while second-rower Ian Hindmarsh was cleared of a serious neck injury against the Dragons and will be a certain starter.

Interchange forward Chad Robinson is in doubt with a dislocated shoulder. Despite not being named, Test star Karmichael Hunt is still a hope of returning from a hamstring injury for the Broncos, while Justin Hodges is in slight doubt with a lower leg injury suffered last week against Canberra. Shaun Berrigan (fractured eye socket/cheekbone), Michael Ennis (shoulder), David Stagg (knee), Darren Lockyer (knee) and winger Brent Tate (knee) are all season-casualties at the club.

Form:The Eels have been dreadful over the last three weeks, going from top-four specials to a side now slightly exposed to missing the finals altogether. They were terrible against the lowly Dragons on Monday night, offering little in attack and defence to meekly surrender a game they should have won. This is simply not good enough for a side possessing some of the most damaging backline runners in the game. The Broncos took full advantage of some rather fortunate video refereeing calls last Sunday to turn a 6-13 half-time deficit into a solid 30-19 victory over the Raiders on a day that saw the club farewell five stars including skipper Petero Civoniceva. Brisbane made 23 offloads compared to the Raiders' eight and had a greater respect for possession to finish strongly in a match it had to win to stay in finals contention. The result pushes the reigning premiers back into the top-eight and in control of their destiny with just one round remaining.

Who's Hot:Nathan Hindmarsh didn't have much of a chance to shine in attack against the Dragons, but made up for that in defence, finishing with a staggering 63 tackles. Nice numbers for Hindmarsh, but the workload does need to be shared around a little more. Skipper Nathan Cayless was next in line with 34 tackles. Departing forwards Brad Thorn and Petero Civoniceva led the way in terms of hit-ups and metres-gained for the Broncos on Sunday with Thorn also topping the tackle count for his side and showing great determination to bag a four-pointer late in the game - his first of the season. The platform created by these two was capitalised on by halfback Shane Perry who was responsible for orchestrating the Broncos' second-half fightback with some deft passing and clever kicking.

I think:With both sides capable of slipping from the top-eight and the Eels still in the picture for a top-four finish, expect this encounter to have the intensity and desperation of finals footy. Eels by 20!

2007-08-29T21:29:00.000+10:00

My fault we're losing

A DEJECTED Tim Smith yesterday took responsibility for Parramatta's three straight losses, which has the club on the brink of missing the National Rugby League finals.

The half back admitted he and five-eighth Brett Finch were "playing without confidence" and had to improve if the Eels were to be a premiership force.

Statistics show Smith and Finch take the line on less than any other established set of halves in the National Rugby League.

Parramatta face a must-win home encounter with Brisbane on Sunday.

"We are going to have to turn it around if we are going to be in the big one at the end of the year," Smith, 22, said.

"Obviously we haven't been setting the house on fire. The last three games haven't been good but we are still kicking along.

"I think we need to get a bit of confidence back. I really think that is all it is. Critics are always saying stuff about us but we will just let them talk."

Smith, a former Dally M rookie of the year, said he and Finch would talk about the problem this week.

Senior Eels forward Nathan Hindmarsh yesterday defended Smith and Finch, saying they were not to blame for the side's poor form.

Hindmarsh, who yesterday escaped a charge of making a lifting tackle on Dragons player Ashton Sims, said Monday night's loss was costly, but not a complete shock.

"St George Illawarra are still a very good side," he said.

2007-08-29T21:27:00.000+10:00

21 years and Parramatta's still counting

THE year was 1986. The music charts were dominated by The Bangles and Bon Jovi, and Tom Cruise - who was then regarded as sane - was monopolising the box office in Top Gun.

And on the rugby league field the mighty Parramatta Eels reigned supreme.

I was there at the Sydney Cricket Ground on that glorious September day when the victorious Eels captured their fourth - and so far their last - premiership title.

I jubilantly scrambled over the Members' Stand fence and entered the Parramatta dressing room unchallenged to join in the celebrations.

As a 16-year-old schoolboy yet to discover the joys of sex, that day was one of the highlights of my life.

A lot has happened since then. I lost my virginity, entered the work force, married, bought a house and fathered a son who, like me, is also an Eels supporter - he just doesn't know it yet.
But as much as those momentous occasions have sustained me for 21 years, I am again ready.
I'm ready to savour the glow of knowing my team are the NRL premiers. I'm ready to embark on a week-long drinking binge.

I'm ready to walk into the TAB and hand over my ticket which, like every other year, I exchanged at the start of the season for a crisp $100 note and a prayer that this year would be our year.

But, deep down in my blue and gold heart, I'm also ready for the disappointment.

As a die-hard Parramatta fan for three decades, I've taken countless trips to watch my team.

I've flown to Auckland, Melbourne and Brisbane. I have driven to trial matches at Port Macquarie, Ballina and Maitland.

I've braved the Canberra cold and Friday night Bulldogs games at the Sydney Showground.
But there is one trip I take with Parramatta every year that I never look forward to - the journey to despair.

In 2001, I took my journey at the very last minute, when my flight was hijacked by a terrorist named Andrew Johns.

In 1998, my ticket was booked by a band of Bulldogs and the boot of Daryl Halligan.
This year, I've departed a little earlier.

Three straight losses and my hopes of an Eels premiership are fading as fast as the print on my uncollected "Grand Final Winner - Parramatta" TAB tickets.

But, come Sunday, I'll be there at Parramatta Stadium, high up in the Ken Thornett stand, where I've occupied the same seat for years.

I'll be cheering the tries and berating the ref and hoping against all hope that my journey to despair will be postponed for at least another week.

2007-08-27T22:37:00.000+10:00

Dragons fire to upset Eels

The St George Illawarra Dragons have rocked the Parramatta Eels' finals campaign with a shock 14-6 win at WIN Stadium tonight.

Playing to kick clear of the club's first wooden spoon since 1938, he Dragons proved too strong to post a 12-0 lead at half time and rattle an error-ridden Eels outfit. With just one round of the minor premiership to go, the result sees the Eels surrender a home semi-final and slip to sixth spot on the ladder after a top four spot beckoned prior to kick off tonight.

The Dragons enjoyed ample possession and field position for the opening 20 minutes before five eighth Rangi Chase ran in support of centre Mark Gasnier to score under the posts.

The Eels conceded their second try five minutes later when winger Jason Nightingale ran onto a clever cross-field kick from halfback Jamie Soward, capping off a dominant first half for the home side.The second half saw the Eels step up a gear with lock forward Feleti Mateo crashing over in the 60th minute to peg Saints back to a six point lead.With an arm wrestle developing in the final stages it was the Dragons who kept their composure, Soward kicking a long range penalty goal with just two minutes remaining.

Venue: WIN Stadium
Crowd: 13,488
Referee: Sean Hampstead

St George Illawarra Dragons 14
Tries: Rangi Chase, Jason Nightingale
Goals: Jamie Soward (3/3)

Parramatta Eels 6
Tries: Feleti Mateo
Goals: Krisnan Inu (1/1)

2007-08-17T22:28:00.000+10:00

Storm sneak home over Eels

STORM 14
EELS 10

MELBOURNE halfback Cooper Cronk saved his side's perfect home record and possibly the minor premiership as the Storm escaped with a 14-10 win over Parramatta at Olympic Park tonight.

Melbourne haven't been beaten at home this season but looked like losing that record as Parramatta fought back to almost knock over the competition leaders.

With 12 minutes remaining in the match the Eels sent the ball through quick hands and winger Eric Grothe dived across the line but a flying tackle by Cronk did enough to loosen his grip on the ball, with video referee Bill Harrigan ruling no try.

It would have handed the visitors the lead after they trailed 14-4 at halftime.

The Storm looked like they may have run away with the match after a dominant first-half performance but the third-placed Eels showed that they too are premiership contenders.

Both sides came out after the break fired up and it took until the 60th minute for any second half points to be registered.

First half villain Krisnan Inu, whose error handed Melbourne fullback Billy Slater a try in the 33rd minute, turned hero for his side when he leapt high above his opposite Matt Geyer and then touched down, with his own conversion from the sideline closing the lead to just four points.
Inu's first half blunder came after Cronk put a neat kick through and winger Matt Geyer managed to throw the ball back into the field of play as he was going into touch.

It was picked up by Inu, who rather than take the tackle, repeated the feat and this time Storm fullback Billy Slater pounced on the ball and managed to ground it.

Harrigan ruled the benefit of the doubt, with Melbourne out to a 10-point lead.

The signs weren't good early for Parramatta as they were forced to bounce back from two blows.

They lost halfback Tim Smith to what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder just four minutes into the match and then the Storm scored a minute later.

Smith's night looked over as he left the field clutching his arm after he damaged his shoulder while attempting to tackle a rampaging Clint Newton, however he made a surprise return 26 minutes into the match.

Melbourne took advantage of the uncertainty in the visitors' ranks as their skipper Cameron Smith took the ball from dummy half and charged straight through Eels captain Nathan Cayless.
Parramatta's first-half try was also scored by Grothe after a sweeping backline move.

After a week where the "grapple tackle" was a hot issue with both clubs, referee Tony Archer pounced on anything high.

Parramatta centre Timana Tahu was placed on report in the 25th minute for an alleged high tackle on Slater, who came in for plenty of attention during the half.

Former representative forward Michael Crocker's return to the NRL after shoulder surgery could be short-lived after he was placed on report in the 43rd minute for an alleged high shot on Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi.

MELBOURNE 14 (C Smith, B Slater tries; C Smith 3 goals)
PARRAMATTA 10 (E Grothe, K Inu tries; K Inu goal)
Referee: Tony Archer.
Crowd: 11,549.

2007-08-14T21:23:00.000+10:00

Stuart furious at ref despite Sharks win

Fuming Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart has launched an extraordinary attack on referee Jason Robinson after his NRL side's stunning 25-24 golden-point upset over Parramatta.

The Sharks claimed their first win since mid-June when halfback Brett Seymour booted a 35-metre field goal four minutes into extra time at Parramatta Stadium.

But instead of lauding his injury-ravaged side for breaking a horror seven-game losing streak and backing up from Monday's heartbreaking loss to Melbourne with an inspirational win, Stuart used his press conference to give the officials an almighty two-minute spray before storming out, refusing to answer any further questions.

"Look I'm really, really excited, really happy for the players. But that refereeing performance nearly cost us that win," Stuart began, after Parramatta won the penalty count 11-7.

"I'd like to apologise to all our Sharks fans and supporters. I won't be staying here for any longer now, because I'm very, very terrified of costing the club $10,000 and we can't afford that.
"But I'm absolutely filthy on the refereeing performance.

"That's happened to us at least four times this season and it's wrong.

"I can't say anything to protect it. The last time I got fined $10,000 (by the NRL) was when I mentioned a statistic in regards to refereeing, and I got fined $10,000 so I'm petrified of getting fined $10,000 again, so it's probably best left at that. Thank you."

Eels coach Michael Hagan refused to get roped into any discussions about the refereeing performance, concentrating instead on a lacklustre showing from his third-placed side, who were red-hot favourites despite the late withdrawal of Australian back-rower Nathan Hindmarsh.

"I probably wouldn't go too far down that track (of the referee) to be honest," Hagan said.

"I'm more concerned about our performance and our attitude tonight was down a touch.

"But full credit to Cronulla, the way they played and hung in there, and obviously they would be very happy with the win."

After storming to a 22-12 lead with two tries to start the second half, the Sharks looked well in control until a bell-ringer of a hit from Eels centre Timana Tahu on Fraser Anderson changed the momentum in an instant.

Mark Riddell scored a try just moments after, before the plucky hooker crossed again in the 73rd minute to send the game into extra time at 24-24.

Both sides had their chances to break the deadlock, with the Sharks missing three long-range field-goal attempts, and the Eels two, in regulation time and golden point.

It was left to Seymour to finally land the killer blow in the 85th minute - capping a remarkable three weeks for the halfback, who was unwanted by the Sharks a month ago but, after a string of impressive performances, now appears set to be retained by the club next season.

As well as the field goal, Seymour also set up the Sharks opening try with a well-worked scrum-base move, as well as two other scores from kicks.

Five-eighth Greg Bird, back a week early form a broken thumb after only having his cast removed on Monday, was also strong for the Sharks coming in as a late replacement for UK-bound Adam Dykes, who may have played his final game for the Sharks after succumbing to a groin injury.

Hagan said Hindmarsh - who was sorely missed - should be right to return next week.

2007-08-03T22:55:00.000+10:00

Bulldog accused of biting

PARRAMATTA 34
BULLDOGS 22

PARRAMATTA withstood a thrilling Bulldogs fightback tonight to move a step closer to securing a home final with a 34-22 victory, but it was overshadowed by a stunning biting accusation aimed at Dogs backrower Brad Morrin.

Morrin was put on report just before halftime when rugby union-bound Eels centre Timana Tahu made an official complaint to referee Sean Hampstead as he pointed to a mark on his arm.
It took the gloss off a magnificent game of rugby league at Telstra Stadium as the Bulldogs never gave up, Eels winger Krisnan Inu finally sealing the result with a try just before fulltime for a six tries to four win.

Asked a number of times if he wanted to make his accusation official, Tahu left Hampstead, Morrin and the live television audience in little doubt as he approached the referee.
"You f...ing bit me you dog," Tahu was heard to say over the effects microphone.

He told the Nine Network after the match: "It was just a normal tackle and I felt a sting go on my arm.

"He bit me, I retaliated and got (penalised) for it.

"I was pretty upset and a bit angry but I had to get on with the game.

"It was a bite so what happens during the week happens."

Replays indicated the Bulldogs backrower could have a case to answer at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.

Former Cronulla forward Chris Beattie was the last player banned for bitting when he was given two weeks on the sideline in 2001.

The Bulldogs staged an amazing comeback after Inu had looked to have put the game beyond doubt with a penalty goal for a 24-10 lead after 55 minutes.

Cameron Phelps scored his second of the night three minutes later to put the home side back in the hunt but the Bulldogs looked to be dead and buried when Tahu went over out wide after a pair of long balls from Brett Finch and Tim Smith.

Again the Bulldogs came back via centre Daryl Millard and it looked like Sonny Bill Williams would be the hero for the second week in a row when he stripped Eric Grothe in his own in-goal, but the Kiwi backrower was denied for propelling the ball forward before touching down.

Inu finally sealed the win when he chip and chased for the corner - the Kiwi international tip toeing along the sideline as he ducked in to complete a personal haul of 14 points.

The Eels had made a flying start after the Bulldogs let the kick-off dribble over the sideline, powerful prop Fuifui Moimoi powering over on the second tackle of the match.

The visitors were beating the clock when Eric Grothe reeled in a ball that was floating over the sideline before stepping his way over for a 12-0 lead after eight minutes.

Williams single handedly dragged his side back into the contest when he carried three Eels defenders over the line but it was all two easy as Parramatta lock Chad Robinson ran straight through the heart of the Bulldogs defence for an 18-6 lead.

Again the Bulldogs surged, Willie Tonga drawing three defenders before flicking a ball out for an unmarked Phelps to put the ball over just inside the corner post.

PARRAMATTA 34 (E Grothe K Inu F Moimoi C Robinson B Smith T Tahu tries K Inu 5 goals) BULLDOGS 22 (C Phelps 2 D Millard S Williams tries H El Masri 3 goals) at Telstra Stadium.

Referee: Sean Hampstead.
Crowd: 27,201.

2007-07-29T18:22:00.000+10:00

Manly slip past Eels

Manly five-eighth Jamie Lyon returned to haunt his former teammates after running in two late tries in the Sea Eagles' 32-24 win over Parramatta on Sunday.

Lyon, returning to Parramatta Stadium for the first time since walking out on the club three years ago, was booed throughout the match by an Eels crowd still hurting by his acrimonious departure.

That he joined bitter rivals Manly only heightened their fury, but Lyon ensured it was he who had the last laugh with tries in the 58th and 71st minutes to turn a 24-20 deficit into a 12-point win in what was a thrilling contest played before a near capacity crowd.

The Sea Eagles trailed 18-8 at the break but two tries in the ten minutes after halftime to Steve Menzies and Brent Kite saw the visitors take a two point lead.

The momentum swung back again when Krisnan Inu, who also kicked four from four - did his best impersonation of Superman to dive over out wide for an Eels lead.

But it was Lyon - the Man of Steel winner for player of the year during his stint in the English Super League - who then stole the show before being serenaded off the ground to chants of "Lyon's a wanker".

The game started at a cracking pace with the sellout crowd seemingly more intent on booing former favourite son Lyon than cheering on their own side.

Perhaps the Eels players were guilty of a similar mindset with the Sea Eagles running in two tries down Eric Grothe's wing, Michael Robertson scoring the first before showing a cool head to pass inside for Brett Stewart to go over millimetres from the corner post.

Feeling a sense of responsibility for the 8-0 deficit, Grothe took it upon himself to get the Eels back in the contest with a powerful run so reminiscent of his famous father with only the facial hair and flowing locks missing.

He brushed aside three defenders to bring the home side back to 8-6 before two tries in the space of four minutes gave Parramatta an 18-8 lead - video referee Bill Harrigan called in to adjudicate on the second to Jarryd Hayne with the suspicion of an obstruction in the lead-up to the try.

Glenn Hall was put on report just before halftime after appearing to drive PJ Marsh's head into the ground, but it is unlikely the Manly prop will be in any trouble with the NRL match review committee.

2007-07-29T18:18:00.000+10:00

Mateo bares his soul

IT'S hard to believe Feleti Mateo ever doubted himself. That he wondered if he'd make the grade.

That the superstar rookie with the one-handed carry and the cheeky offload, in one of his darker moments, thought about giving the game away.

"There were times I thought I wasn't going to make it," Mateo says.

"My family and my friends stood behind me, always encouraged me to keep going.

"Some things happened that made me think that I could still make it, made me feel that if I kept in there it would come.

"At times I considered quitting, like when I went to England. At the time, players were going there to finish their careers and I was only 21.

"I didn't know if that was the end of my career.

"I was frustrated at the time, but instead of thinking, 'Just work harder and I'll get another shot', I went into my shell.

"It's probably the worst thing I could have done, because after that I went downhill. When I think back, I realise I should have put my head down and worked harder."

After making his first-grade debut for Parramatta in 2004, Mateo almost become a one-game wonder.

He was overlooked in favour of other back-rowers by then Eels coach Brian Smith, and was dropped back to the lower grades, where he was plagued by injuries and a crisis of confidence.
Mateo admits he was about 10 kilograms overweight. To make matter worse, he was shipped off to Super League side London to get his act together.

"I was going nowhere," he says. "I didn't think I was going to go back up the grades. I don't think I thought much of myself there.

"I knew I had ability but I didn't think I was good enough and didn't know if I was going to improve."

The decision to hang in there has paid off.

He matured a lot during his five months in England and Eels trainers Hayden Knowles and Craig Catterick have flogged him into shape since his return home.

Since getting another opportunity in the top grade this year - more than two years after his debut - the 23-year-old has starred to the point of being a leading contender for the NRL's rookie-of-the-year award.

His recent efforts have earned him a lucrative new three-year deal with Parramatta rumoured to be more than $700,000, although the ball-playing back-rower isn't allowing any of it to go to his head.

The Sydney-born Tongan international credits his large family - three brothers and two sisters - and junior rugby league club Lalor Park for keeping him grounded.

"My family is No.1 for me," Mateo says. "My club coach at Lalor Park, Marty Ryan, has been like a family figure, as well.

"When other people have tried to coach the one-handed carries and stuff out of me, he told me to keep having fun and keep doing it.

"Everyone in our team came from struggling backgrounds.

"Marty had the same upbringing, a troubled childhood, and brought us all together.

"Everyone in our team had a story and he could relate to everyone, he was good for us.

"I wouldn't say our family was poor, but there were people in my team worse off.

"Two of my best mates … the struggles that they went through … I felt their pain, as well. It was good to be in that environment because it was so much more than football."

Mateo is destined to become a future international, but the country he will next represent is unclear.

The former five-eighth has already represented Tonga - "my dad is a proud Tongan" - and he is keen to do so again at the World Cup next year.

He also qualifies for the Lions through his English mother, and Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart has called for him to pledge his allegiance to Australia.

Mateo said he was proud of his heritage - his big right arm is tattooed with part-Maori, part-Tongan symbols - but didn't want to choose between Australia and Tonga.

"I don't want to come out and say 'I want to play for this or that', because if I had the opportunity I'd play for both," he says.

"I'm only half-caste [Tongan], so people doubt how proud you are of your heritage, but wearing the Tongan jersey is one of my proudest moments."

Mateo will have some other tough decisions to make in the near future. He described his stint in England as "awesome" and will consider returning to the Super League in the future.

And then there's rugby. He played at school and the chance to become a dual international has appeal.

"If I think I could do it well, I'd consider it," he says. "It is appealing, but whether I'd do it or not is a different story."

Five-eighth who made move forward

If Feleti Mateo doesn't look like your conventional back-rower, it's because he's not. He has spent most of his career in the halves, where he partnered Benji Marshall at Australian Schoolboy level in 2003.

"He was one of the biggest five-eighths you'd ever see," said Marty Ryan, Mateo's coach at junior club Lalor Park.

"He's got it all. He can play left and right side, he's got the one-handed carry and he can do it in either hand.

"The good thing about him recently is that he's not just doing the flair stuff, he does the hard yards as well."

Mateo was considered overweight in his junior years.

"My wife managed a cake shop and all the other boys used to hook into the cakes, but Feleti was one of the few guys who looked after himself," Ryan said.

2007-07-23T22:15:00.001+10:00

Eels too slippery for Broncos

PARRAMATTA 20
BRONCOS 16

PARRAMATTA gave Brisbane an instant reminder of what life will be like without Darren Lockyer with a 20-16 win at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

Brisbane hooker Shaun Berrigan ensured a thrilling finish with two tries in eight minutes to give the Broncos a shot at victory.

The Eels jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead on the back of a 10-point haul from young Kiwi international winger Krisnan Inu before withstanding a spirited second-half fight back from Brisbane.

With Test players Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Justin Hodges and Lockyer missing, Brisbane at times looked rudderless in the opening 40 minutes.

Parramatta scored tries to winger Inu (12th minute) and forward Nathan Hindmarsh (26th) and managed to keep Brisbane scoreless until powerhouse young forward David Taylor set up a try for centre Darius Boyd in the 43rd minute.

Brisbane missed Lockyer's kicking and passing game and his ability to keep the opposition defence guessing.

Parramatta halfback Tim Smith, who had a hand in both first half tries with a deft kick and a super pass to centre Timana Tahu, popped up another great ball for Ian Hindmarsh to score for a 20-6 lead in the 60th minute.

Berrigan showed great strength and determination to beat three Parramatta defenders to score out of dummy half in the 69th minute to cut the margin to 20-12.

He then came up with a spectacular try in the 77th minute, managing to ground the ball while most of his body was over the sideline.

Brisbane, down 20-16, declined to take the kick with two minutes remaining but could not pull of what would have been an amazing win.

PARRAMATTA 20 (N Hindmarsh I Hindmarsh K Inu tries; K Inu 4 goals)
BRISBANE 16 (S Berrigan 2 D Boyd tries; C Parker 2 goals)
at Suncorp Stadium.

Referee: Ben Cummins.
Crowd: 25,762.

2007-07-23T22:11:00.000+10:00

Hayne keen to stay with Eels

IN a boost before tonight's match against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne signalled his intention to re-sign with the Eels long-term.

Hayne is under contract with Parramatta until the end of next season but the club has opened negotiations to ward off the anticipated flood of offers from rival clubs.

Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald has spoken with Hayne's manager Wayne Beavis about a new deal.

"We haven't made a firm offer just yet but we're talking," Fitzgerald said.

But it appears Hayne - who commands about $300,000 a season - is more than happy to remain an Eel.

In just over a year Hayne has gone from Premier League player to one of the NRL's hottest stars.

He scored two stunning tries for NSW in this year's State of Origin series after being chosen in Australia's Tri-Nations squad last year.

When asked whether he wanted to stay at Parramatta, Hayne said: "For sure, of course. This was the club where I made my debut.

"That will play a factor in things," he said. "You never what will happen but this being the club where I started my career will certainly come into consideration."

Brisbane's preparation was thrown in chaos during the week when their Test fullback Karmichael Hunt injured his hamstring at training. He will not play for the next six weeks.
Denan Kemp will be the new Brisbane fullback.

Already Brisbane have lost skipper Darren Lockyer for the season with a knee injury.

He joins Justin Hodges and Brent Tate on the sidelines through injury.

Parramatta have been solid this season without showing any sustained brilliance.

But coach Michael Hagan will send a big and strong backline and a hard-working forward pack. Second-rower Chad Robinson withdrew on Saturday with the flu, so Ian Hindmarsh will start with Weller Hauraki coming onto the bench.

"They have a few out but they still have a lot of dangerous players," Hayne said.

"We have to start well and hopefully we can get away with a win."

In his Brisbane newspaper column, Lockyer said his team must retain focus despite the club's growing injury toll.

"The game against the Eels is still about doing the same things that we have done well to win in the past five weeks, when we haven't gone out to play the teams off the park," Lockyer said.

"Let's play a patient game with the football. Let's be enthusiastic in defence.

"The boys would do well to try to go through teams rather than go around them.

"That's probably why Tonie Carroll is five-eighth - he can hit a hole from a pass and cause a bit of havoc."

2007-07-17T20:33:00.000+10:00

Ex-teammates amused by verbal battle of the bantamweights

Mark Riddell and Dean Widders were having a chat in the gym next to the media conference room at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday when Eels coach Michael Hagan departed after fulfilling his post-match commitments and Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor entered for his turn.

Riddell, the Parramatta hooker, was about to say hello to Taylor, his former coach from the second half of last season, but didn't get a chance because as soon as Taylor and Hagan came across each other, it was on for young and old.

Taylor was upset that Parramatta had refused to let Souths run their pre-match warm-up on the field directly behind the southern end of the stadium. Souths are adamant the Eels had agreed during the week leading up to the game to let them use warm-up space at the opposite end of the field to the home team.

Details of the slanging match were still a bit sketchy on Sunday night, but after talking further to witnesses, the Herald has been able to establish its content.

Hagan made a joking reference to recently retired superstar Andrew Johns coming down from Newcastle to join the Eels' coaching staff. It was a retort to a quip made by Taylor when he spoke on stage at Parramatta's end-of-season presentation function last year.

Taylor had joked that Parramatta halfback Tim Smith had better get used to coaching the Eels this year, because Johns had coached Newcastle when Hagan was the official mentor. If ever there was a one-liner to fuel a feud, that was it.

Numerous players and officials saw Taylor and Hagan verbally get stuck into each other. Riddell had been warming down on a stationary bike when Widders, who had played alongside him at Parramatta before joining South Sydney this year, came in to catch up with his old teammates after the game.

Riddell and Widders, who were only a few metres away from the Taylor-Hagan action, both said it was something to see.

"Me and Deano were talking and I saw 'JT' walk in," Riddell said.

"I was going to shake his hand and talk to him, but next thing him and 'Hages' were into each other."

With a laugh, Riddell then added: "They were coming up with some good lines. I was going to throw my two cents' worth in at one stage, but I thought better of it. Me and Deano were standing there with our mouths open. I said to Deano, 'Oh, f---, we might have to go toe to toe ourselves here."'

Lock Widders was thoroughly entertained by the altercation.

"Hages said a few things to him, and I thought JT came back with good replies," Widders said. "I was just enjoying it, really. I don't think [Taylor] let his emotions spill over. He had things to say and he said it.

"It never got out of hand. It never looked like it was going to be something that would do any damage to the game or the clubs.

"I think they both did it in a good way and got on with it. It never looked like it was going to get physical; they were both in control. It was enjoyable."

There is nothing wrong with a good yelling match in rugby league. It's even better if the combatants can manage to come up with some stinging lines, which Taylor and Hagan did.

At the very least, it shows how much they care. "Two bantamweights going head to head is good for the game," Souths chief executive Shane Richardson said yesterday.

"There should be more of it. I hope we make the finals and come across the Eels again. It would sure make for a lot of interest."

The stink in full

TAYLOR: How was your warm-up?

HAGAN: Good, thanks, how was yours?

TAYLOR: It's pretty f---ing ordinary that you wouldn't let us warm up on the [southern] field.

HAGAN: Well, it's obviously rattled you.

TAYLOR: F--- off.

HAGAN: We're going to get Joey down for a couple of [training] sessions this week.

TAYLOR: You should, you need him.

HAGAN: Why don't you work on catching the ball instead of wrestling all f---ing game?

TAYLOR: How f---ed are you? You're living off what Brian Smith built here, while he's up in Newcastle rebuilding what you f---ed up.

2007-07-17T20:30:00.000+10:00

That's my team

Parramatta Eels fan Jennifer Jones, 34, of Macquarie Fields, found inspiration in her footy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I'VE loved the Parramatta Eels since the 80s when I developed a huge crush on Peter Sterling. I had an I Love Peter Sterling shirt made for myself when I turned 14. I used to wear it everywhere. I've actually met him a few times. Whenever I see him, I ask: Peter, when are you going to marry me? He and my husband find it funny but I'm serious.

The first Parramatta game I went to Peter Sterling came close to the fence where I was sitting. I was so happy I jumped up and down until I accidentally slammed my hand on the fence, cutting it open. It bled all over the place but I refused to leave until the game ended. Later that night I got five stitches.

I've been sick the last three years with breast cancer and I'm only just beginning to get better now. It's been a hard period but what's held me up is my footy and my kids. I haven't been able to get to Parra games often because I need to be careful with myself but I watch every game on Fox. I sit near the heater on my blue and yellow lounge.

My house is full of Parramatta gear. The walls of the house are blue with yellow stripes, and are covered with posters, framed photos and jerseys. I have Parra lounge, chairs and bean bag, and a Parramatta lead, collar and frisbee for my dog. My car has a Parramatta theme, and when my son was younger I used to dress me and him in Parra gear everywhere we went. My husband isn't a footy fan but he puts up with me.

2007-07-17T20:28:00.000+10:00

Inu is staying put

Forget the Jason Taylor-Michael Hagan trivia: Krisnan Inu dropped the real bombshell words on Sunday.

The gifted teenage back was quoted as saying after the 18-12 NRL win over Souths that he was considering giving rugby league away for two years.

Inu was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald as saying he was considering going on a two-year overseas mission, as required by his Mormon religion.

''Growing up in the church, the church always comes first, then the family, then everything else,'' he told the Herald.''I will talk to my family and friends and make a decision. They prefer that I do the mission but they leave it up to me.''

Krisnan Inu has no immediate plans to leave the Eels.

'They just advise me to do it before the age of 25, but for me I would rather do it at a young age, then come back and work on may game.''

But by Monday Inu said there was no drama and his football came first.

''I'm not thinking about it at all,'' he said. ''I don't think I'm going just yet.''I haven't discussed it with my family. It's my decision and we'll see what happens.''

Inu said it was not certain that he would ever go, he was just concentrating on his football and added he wouldn't be going anywhere away from Parramatta next season.

The utility back, who played for New Zealand in the Anzac Day Test after just one first-grade game, said he had been hearing about his supposed mission all Monday and had reassured Parramatta he was staying.

2007-07-17T20:25:00.000+10:00

Sharks face huge task in finals race

Fate has dealt Parramatta a fortuitous hand as they push for a finish in the NRL top four, while over at Cronulla it's hard to imagine how anybody could be so cruel.

A look at the run home for all sides in finals contention - which is everybody with last placed Penrith only six points out of the eight - shows the Sharks have by far the hardest draw with their next five games against sides inside the top six.

Throw in a long list of unavailabilities and it's looking like mission impossible for Ricky Stuart's side, who would need at least five more wins to guarantee a berth.

At the top of the table Melbourne and Manly look assured of top two berths while Parramatta, Brisbane, North Queensland and Wests Tigers are favourites to fight it out for the top four and home ground advantage in the first week of the finals.

The Broncos could struggle without skipper Darren Lockyer for the remainder of their campaign, his absence a double bonus for top four rivals the Eels who play Brisbane twice over the last seven rounds.

The Cowboys and the Tigers have relatively easy runs home with North Queensland's only game against another top eight side being their round 20 meeting with the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.

The Tigers play only one other top eight side, the New Zealand Warriors.

Despite the congested table, 26 points again looks like being the cut-off.

It means teams like the Sharks, South Sydney, Canberra, St George Illawarra, Sydney Roosters and Penrith can't afford too many more slip ups.

"It would make it awfully hard that's for sure," Dragons coach Nathan Brown said when asked if Saturday night's clash against the Panthers was must-win.

"Basically 26 points has made the eight the past three or four years and if that's that case we need to win six out of seven games."

Down at the bottom end of the top eight it's a logjam with the Warriors, Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Newcastle locked on 18 competition points in positions seven through ten.

It makes Friday night's clash between the Bulldogs and the Titans crucial.

"We need to win at least half of our games and a couple of those teams we will be playing against will be on the same points as us," Bulldogs star Sonny Bill Williams said.

"We really need the two points this week to stay up there with the rest of the boys.

"You do pay attention to the ladder because you know if you string a couple of good wins together you're going to be up there.

"Brisbane put five on the trot and they're in the top four now - we know if we string a couple together we'll be alright."

But while getting enough points is vital, so is staying healthy, something Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes knows all about that after losing prop Willie Mason for the remainder of the regular season.

"You're elite players are the cornerstone of your side. Guys like Lockyer - Brisbane will find it more difficult without him, we'll find it more difficult without Mason," Folkes said.

"Depending on the player that's injured, if he's one of you best, one of your playmakers ... it can certainly put a fair dint in your aspirations."

2007-07-15T21:45:00.000+10:00

Coaches collide in spiteful spat

Rival coaches Jason Taylor and Michael Hagan have traded bitter verbal blows in an explosive post-match argument following the Eels' tense 18-12 win over Souths at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday.

Former Eels and now Rabbitohs boss Taylor was overhead by reporters telling Hagan: "How f…..d are you? What's here (at Parramatta) was already in place for you."

"Smithy's only re-building what you f….d up." - a clear reference to the job Brian Smith is doing at Hagan's old club Newcastle.

It continued the feud between the pair, which Taylor started at a Parramatta post-season function when he taunted Hagan with the line: "Let's see how he goes without Joey (Andrew Johns)."

Hagan had the last laugh after his side's six-point win, telling Taylor: "We won without Joey."

Sunday's blow-up, which took place outside the Parramatta Stadium media room, followed a disagreement over the teams' pre-match warm-up area.

Taylor refused to elaborate when asked about the incident, but Hagan, Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald and Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson were happy to talk.

Fitzgerald accused Taylor of immaturity and said it was that trait which went against the caretaker coach when the Eels' fulltime coaching job was up for grabs.

"It was a display of immaturity and petulance by JT (Taylor)," Fitzgerald said.

"I think it was a big build-up for him coming back to Parramatta and the immaturity that he showed was one reason why he didn’t get the job here."

Richardson shot back: "It was one of the greatest days of my life when Denis Fitzgerald said he (Taylor) was too petulant for the job."

"The day he became coach of South Sydney was the best thing that's happened to South Sydney in 25 years."

"I want to thank Denis very, very much for making that decision."

Explaining Sunday's argument, Hagan revealed: "There was a bit of dialogue about why they were denied permission to warm-up where we'd always warm up for a home game."

"Opposition teams to my knowledge wouldn't warm-up there, so we informed them they'd need to warm-up somewhere else and I don’t think Jason took too kindly to that advice."

"He asked me how our warm-up was and I said 'very good thank-you, how was yours?'

"It escalated from there. Obviously he's not happy and that's understandable but that's footy too."

"It was just a conversation and I'm not bothered about what was said to be honest."

"It's how he's chosen to deal with it and it’s different to what you'd expect but that's up to him."

Parramatta five-eighth Brett Finch suggested: "They (Souths) had sour grapes at half-time instead of oranges."

The off-field blow-up dominated post-match talk and overshadowed a great finish to an absorbing match.

The Rabbitohs scored a late converted try to trail by six points and pounded the Parramatta line late in the match looking for the four-pointer which may have sent the match into extra-time.

But the Eels held on to secure victory and move into third spot on the NRL table.

2007-07-15T21:41:00.000+10:00

Eels hold on against Rabbitohs

The Parramatta Eels have claimed a hard fought 18-12 victory over a determined South Sydney Rabbitohs side at Parramatta Stadium today.

The Eels held a 14-0 lead at half time, but were very nearly run down by the Rabbitohs late in the game. The Eels took a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes through a Krisnan Inu penalty goal. The two point lead quickly turned into 14 points, as the Eels threatened to embarrass the Rabbitohs.

Nathan Cayless scored after Inu offloaded a Finch bomb into his arms on 21 minutes, and in the 26th minute Timana Tahu scored a fine individual try, running around defenders and though the middle of the field. Souths managed to hold out for the rest of the half despite strong Eels attacking raids.

As soon as the second half started it was apparent that Souths would improve their attack. They got on the board after 51 minutes through a Shane Rigon dummy half run. The Eels looked to have wrapped the game up after 63 minutes following a Joel Reddy try. The scrambling Souths defence rescued them again, pulling down Fui Fui Moi Moi metres from the line late in the game.

Souths gave themselves a chance with five minutes to go after Ben Rogers and Nathan Merritt combined to produce a fine try for Merritt. Following a missed Brett Finch field goal, Souths broke down the field and were given a repeat set after a Parramatta knock on.

They were unable to crack the line, and Eric Grothe took a brilliant catch on a bomb in the final minute to ensure the Eels would get away with the two points.

Parramatta Eels 18

Tries: Nathan Cayless, Timana Tahu, Joel Reddy

Field Goals: Brett Finch (0/1)

Goals: Krisnan Inu (3/4)

South Sydney Rabbitohs 12

Tries: Shane Rigon, Nathan Merritt

Goals: Nathan Merritt (2/2)

2007-07-13T00:12:00.000+10:00

Hayne has lots to gain by waiting

JARRYD Hayne's manager, Wayne Beavis, says he will resist attempts by Parramatta to re-sign the young star to a long-term deal before the end of the season unless the Eels can come up with something extraordinary.

Hayne is contracted to Parramatta until the end of next season, but Beavis said the Eels - who are obviously determined not to let other clubs get a crack at the 19-year-old - had already approached him to talk about a new deal.

Beavis says Hayne can rival Melbourne's 20-year-old star, Greg Inglis, for earning capacity and that there is no risk in waiting to see how Hayne goes between now and the end of this season before talking about his future beyond 2008.

Hayne, who has made his name in first grade and for NSW in State of Origin on the wing, switches to fullback to cover for the injured Luke Burt against South Sydney at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday. Burt is out for up to eight weeks with a knee injury.

Hayne has been waiting for an opportunity to play fullback, and, while the circumstances are unfortunate, with the in-form Burt getting hurt against Newcastle on Monday, he will be aiming to grab the opportunity with both hands.

"Jarryd is an exceptional talent," Beavis said yesterday. "You only had to see the two tries he scored in the Origin series to know that. Parramatta have flagged to us that they would like to negotiate a new contract, but there's no gamble in Jarryd waiting, because he's just going to get better.

"Jarryd's happy at Parramatta and the club has been very supportive of him, but I've got to do the best for the kid. His earning capacity was going to go up even if he stayed on the wing, but his value has got the potential to go through the roof if he shows what he can do at fullback. I see a clear parallel between Jarryd and Greg Inglis, in that Inglis rose very quickly through his club and then through representative football, and Jarryd, who is 12 months younger than the other bloke, is doing the same.

"Jarryd has only played 30 first-grade games, but he's made a huge advance in that short time. The try he scored in Origin III was incredible. He beat four or five defenders in a very small space. He's tough, he's durable and he's got a great grasp of the game. That's why there's every chance he'll be just as successful at fullback as he's been on the wing."

Inglis is earning $400,000 a year and now that the Storm five-eighth is out of his teens, Hayne is the hottest teenager in the NRL.

"We're in no hurry to do a new contract," Beavis said. "Jarryd is only halfway through a three-year deal. We'll keep talking to Parramatta, but he's better off waiting until the end of the season before he thinks about his future. Parramatta would have to come up with something stunning to convince Jarryd to re-sign this early."

Hayne would become one of the most sought-after players on the market if other clubs were allowed to talk to him about 2009.

Meanwhile, Wests Tigers yesterday lost prop Bryce Gibbs from the side they named for tomorrow night's game against Manly at Brookvale Oval. Gibbs has not recovered from a medial ligament strain to his knee sustained against Penrith last weekend and will be out for two games.

Tigers coach Tim Sheens yesterday brought Jarrod Saffy into the 17-man squad for Gibbs, but there was no indication which forward would be elevated from the bench to the starting side.
And Brian McClennan yesterday confirmed he was quitting as New Zealand Test coach to take over at Leeds Rhinos in England.

2007-07-13T00:11:00.000+10:00

Dislocation puts Hayne back in place

THE horrific knee injury to Parramatta fullback Luke Burt has opened the door for New South Wales wing Jarryd Hayne to take the position earmarked for him since his days in the club's lower grades.

A dislocated kneecap will sideline Burt for at least eight weeks, with Hayne preferred as his replacement for Sunday's game against South Sydney at Parramatta Stadium despite being one of the most damaging wings in the game.

"Haynsey has gone back to fullback and everyone knows what a good player he is," Burt said. "I don't think there'll be many who think we can't stay in the top four."

Burt was still coming to terms with an injury that made even the most hardened player wince as he writhed in agony on Monday night during the Eels' 34-10 loss to Newcastle.

"I had one quick look and didn't want to keep looking," Burt said. "My kneecap was around my knee and it was pretty ugly. It would be right up there (for pain).

"There was a lot of shock, too, when I saw how bad it was."

Knights and NSW captain Danny Buderus, a veteran of 202 games, could be seen grimacing as he walked away from the scene.

Buderus ended up on the bottom of the pile and was confronted by Burt's leg laying across his chest. The Knights skipper, who joined teammate Daniel Abraham in helping Burt before the medical staff arrived, visited the Eels' dressing-room after the game to check on the fullback's condition.

"That's something you never want to see a player go through," Buderus said. "I've never been in that situation before. You see a fair bit on the footy field and I don't know how it happened. His whole leg was across my body and when I looked down his kneecap was to the side of his knee." Hayne was also in the vicinity and felt even worse.

"I got tackled near him and I saw his kneecap on the side of his knee," Hayne said. "I got up thinking, 'That can't be right' and then had another look. I just spun out. I thought I was going to faint."

Burt had his kneecap put back into place by Eels doctor Michael Johnson in the dressing-room before being transported to Baulkham Hills Private Hospital for scans.

"I was fearing the whole season was gone and most of the pre-season. Even when I came into the sheds the doc prepared me for the worst and said I could need a reconstruction," Burt said. "I got the good news yesterday and hopefully I will be back later in the season. I won't come back until it is fully right and I won't rush it.

"I'll be doing my best to get back there ASAP. I don't expect it to affect my kicking or running."
Burt, 26, has been in outstanding form this season, scoring nine tries and booting 59 goals for a total of 154 points. The next best is Bulldogs sharpshooter and last year's leading pointscorer Hazem El Masri, who has six tries and 51 goals for 126 points.

"I would have to probably say (I'm in career best form). There have been a couple of years there when I've done OK, but playing in different positions it is hard to say," Burt said. "Now I am playing fullback, I am enjoying my role and place in the team, knowing who to run off and what to do."

2007-07-10T21:15:00.000+10:00

Eels hit by injuries

The Parramatta Eels are counting the cost in the wake of their 34-10 loss to Newcastle on Monday night.

The Eels suffered a horrible injury toll and now face an extended period without at least two of their stars.

Fullback Luke Burt suffered a dislocated kneecap and medial damage.Burt will undergo further scans this week and it remains unclear just how long he will be out of action.Utility Daniel Wagon has a rib cartilage injury. His return depends on how quickly he responds to rehabilitation.

Centre Ben Smith suffered a severe gash to his knee that required "cleaning".Smith will miss Sunday's clash with the Rabbitohs but is hopeful of taking part in round 19.

Promising five eighth Blake Green suffered a shoulder injury in Monday's Premier League fixture and faces three to four weeks on the sideline.

The first grade team to play South Sydney at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday, July 15 at 3pm is:

1. Jarryd Hayne, 2. Joel Reddy, 3. Krisnan Inu, 4. Timana Tahu, 5. Eric Grothe, 6. Brett Finch, 7. Tim Smith, 8. Josh Cordoba, 9. Mark Riddell, 10. Fuifui Moimoi, 11. Nathan Hindmarsh (c), 12. Feleti Mateo, 13. Chad Robinson, 14. PJ Marsh, 15. Ian Hindmarsh, 16. Weller Hauraki, 17. Aaron Cannings, 18. Todd Lowrie.

2007-07-09T22:04:00.000+10:00

A night of Knights

Knight 34 Eels 10

A dislocated kneecap to Parramatta fullback Luke Burt capped a horror night for the Eels after they were handed a 34-10 NRL thumping by Newcastle.

The Eels had no answer for what was a flawless display from the visitors, halfback Luke Walsh and skipper Danny Buderus leading the way in the six tries to two romp.

The loss was only the second at home for the Eels this season and it may have come at a high cost after Burt was forced from the field on the medicab six minutes after the break.

Play was held up for some time as the NRL's leading pointscorer was taken off after Buderus landed on his knee as the Knights defence had trapped the in-form custodian in his own in-goal.
The injury had little impact on the result however after the Knights had run up a 20-0 lead by the break.

They erased any doubt about the two competition points three plays later when quick hands to the right allowed James McManus to get outside a Parramatta defensive line which had been reshuffled as a result of Burt's injury.

Newcastle made it 30-0 when a Cory Patterson short ball, one of a litany of Knights offloads in the greasy conditions, put George Carmont over for his second of the night.

The home side finally got on the board when Feleti Mateo ran through a yawning gap to crash over, but any thought of adding respectability to the scoreboard vanished when Adam MacDougall again exposed Parramatta's left hand defence to make it 34-4.

Eels centre Krisnan Inu added his side's second try of the night in the closing stages and he may have secured a role as Burt's replacement kicker after converting from near the sideline.

Newcastle were awesome in the opening 40 as they ran in three unanswered tries, the first coming after just three minutes when Mitchell Sargent crossed under the sticks after fellow prop Adam Woolnough had offloaded with three defenders hanging off him.

NSW forward Steve Simpson made it 12-0 when he backed a Daniel Abraham grubber and clever pick up and pass from veteran centre MacDougall.

The Eels threatened to get into the contest when they earned a pair of repeat sets, but it proved to be an exception to the rule with halves Tim Smith and Brett Finch enduring disappointing nights with the boot.

Buderus ensured the Knights made the most of their dominance when he capitalised on some slack marker defence, bursting out of dummy half from his own side of halfway to give Carmont a saloon passage to the line.

2007-07-07T19:14:00.000+10:00

Coaches' rivalry not personal

COACHES Michael Hagan and Brian Smith agree on one thing.
The clash between their rival sides Parramatta and Newcastle on Monday night means little more to them than the vital two competition points.

Nothing personal, they both claim. Yeah, right.

Believe that and you're easily led.

It's the first meeting of the pair in their new roles since they traded coaching jobs in a blaze of publicity last year.

Smith was told in late 2005 that the following season, his 10th at Parramatta, would be his last.
Around about the same time, Knights officials were plotting to rid themselves of Hagan after six years at the helm in Newcastle.

Painted into a corner, Hagan could see the writing on the wall. When the Eels came knocking, he ushered them in.

It took a little longer for Smith to complete the coaching swap.

He'd pulled the pin at the Eels mid-season and spent some time in England to clear his head after getting the call from the Knights.

He'd been down the coaching pecking order as far as the Knights were concerned but was the last coach standing when the likes of Craig Bellamy, Matthew Elliott and Tim Sheens said no.
Their coaching styles are about as similar as night and day.

Smith is more hard-nose, a noted disciplinarian, likes things done his way and is considered one of the great teachers of the game.

Hagan is mild-mannered, less structured and happy to allow input from a lot of areas.
Some would argue they are the perfect fit to follow one another at a club.

Newcastle officials privately claim that after six years of Hagan, the club needed someone like Smith to come in and shake up the place a little.

"Brian's noted for his discipline and that was probably what was needed but the other big thing is his teaching skills," one source said.

"He has also had to make some big decisions regarding personnel and oversee everything with Joey not being around. That would have been tough for Hages given he had been here for a long period."

Likewise at Parramatta, the suggestion is that after a decade of Smith, the club needed a fresh approach.

A more relaxed approach even, from a coach who while still successful, was a little more laid back.

Talk to Eels players and they will tell you they have never enjoyed themselves more. And it's reflected in their footy with the side currently holding down third spot without a lot of fanfare.

On the other side of the coin, talk to Knights players and they will tell you that despite the recent unheavals brought on by the broom sweeping through the player ranks, they have never learned so much about the game.

There is no lack of spirit either from a side which has been decimated by injuries and the loss of the game's most influential player in Andrew Johns.

Hagan even acknowledges Knights players would be learning things under Smith they may not have come across before.

"No doubt – every coach has his own style and his own methods," Hagan said. "We all know different things. I'm certainly not the be-all and end-all of coaching. I didn't put the air in the ball.

"As far as Parra is concerned, I'd like to think everything is going pretty well. The players seem to be enjoying themselves and that's reflected in the way we are playing at the moment."

Hagan says he has well and truly moved on from the disappointment of having to leave the Knights.

On Monday's game he says: "It might feel a little strange but at the end of the day it really does only amount to two competition points that we need to secure."

Smith said a return to Parramatta Stadium won't affect him at all, pointing out he has done this sort of thing a number of times in his coaching career.

"It really doesn't mean too much and even if it did, you can't afford to let anything get in the way of the objective which is winning the game," he said.

"It's funny but there have been plenty of times this season where I have found myself watching games and actually cheering for Parramatta. It might be hard for some people to understand that but a lot of the same players I coached for a long while are still there."

But there will be none of that on Monday night.

There are two competition points at stake and that's all that matters.

Yeah, right.

2007-07-07T19:12:00.002+10:00

Eels prepare upgrade for Hayne

PARRAMATTA is set to reward Jarryd Hayne for an outstanding State of Origin series by handing the New South Wales wing a lucrative contract extension.

Hayne, who began the Origin series as a rookie and finished it as one of the game's elite players, is signed until the end of next year.

But Eels are keen to secure his services for as long as possible, and preliminary talks between the club and Hayne's manager, Wayne Beavis, are understood to have started.

The Eels are optimistic something can be finalised in the next fortnight.

Despite playing in a losing series, Hayne's worth sky-rocketed over Origin. He enjoyed mixed fortunes in Origin I, scoring a wonder try on the stroke of half-time before conceding another with an errant pass.

However, he showed his class by bouncing back with assured outings in games two and three.
Beavis spoke to Hayne, 19, yesterday, but he said they were yet to discuss the prospect of extending the player's contract with Parramatta.

"He's a special kid and a special talent," Beavis said.

Beavis also refused to rule out taking Hayne to the open market, but he stressed the wing was happy at Parramatta.

Hayne would be one of the most coveted players in the game if he were shopped around the NRL.

"That may be something we would consider," Beavis said.

"We respect Parramatta's position. If we get an approach we will certainly sit down and have a chat to them."