https://www.nospam47.com/au/league/...re-season-training/18scqpgevq3u91ds0avrq5rqqy
Parramatta Eels prodigy Dylan Brown 'fainted' during pre-season training
Written By Troy Whittaker
Pre-season training is notoriously tough and one Parramatta Eels player has felt its full effects.
Teenage prodigy Dylan Brown exerted himself so much in fitness drills that he passed out at a camp in November.
The rookie halfback - who the
Warriors attempted to poach to replace Shaun Johnson - has the chance to make his first grade debut with
Corey Norman moving on to St George Illawarra.
And Brown seems to have won the approval of senior players at the club through his work ethic.
Eels co-captain Clint Gutherson revealed just how committed Brown has been.
"Dyl stepping in, now that Normy's gone he's sort of taken a bit more control ... so it's impressive," Gutherson said on
The Talk in Parradise podcast.
"He pushes his body to the limit in everything he can do, and I think we could've seen that from week one when he was pushing and fainted - that's how hard he was running.
"It's exciting to see that - a young fella, 18, coming into the squad just trying to push his case, and I'm sure the coaches, Brad [Arthur] and the coaches, really want to see that.
"And I know that he earned a lot of the boys' respect by doing that, so that's something you want to see.
"I think he's going to have a massive year no matter where he's playing."
Brown was a sensation for the Eels in the Jersey Flegg under 20s last year and impressed in his step up to reserve grade with the Wentworthville Magpies in the later rounds of the season.
He is contracted to Parramatta until 2020.
Aside from Brown, incumbent pivot Jaeman Salmon, Will Smith and Gutherson are the options to partner Mitch Moses at the scrum-base.
But the versatile Gutherson - who spent time at fullback, five-eighth and centre in 2018 - has stated his desire to wear the No.1.
"I like playing fullback, [I can] sort of roam around and do my own thing and just gel with the other players and the halves.
"I can sort of play anywhere, and I just want to be playing footy.
"I just love competing and trying to do my part for the team.
"At the moment I'm playing fullback and I'm loving it."
After 'winning' the wooden spoon last year, Parramatta will be hopeful that an injection of youth can help them climb back up the ladder.
