DANIEL Mortimer has been earmarked for a switch to hooker as Parramatta move to unveil a fresh halves combination in Ben Roberts and Chris Sandow next season. Roberts became Parramatta's second high-profile recruit for 2012, inking a two-year deal that's expected to see him join Sandow at the blue and gold scrumbase.
Currently stranded in NSW Cup at Canterbury, the Kiwi international yesterday declared his desire to wear the Eels' No. 6 jersey, which for now belongs to Mortimer.
The Daily Telegraph has learned the Bulldogs playmaker was persuaded to join the Eels after a series of discussions with former Canterbury teammate Reni Matua, who resumes his NRL career at the club on Friday after a two-year drugs ban.
But after a standout rookie season in 2009, the diminutive Mortimer, 21, has struggled to re-capture his first-up form as opposition big men continually target him.
Mortimer was required to make more than 40 tackles in several games last year and the defensive workload got several Eels directors thinking he might be better suited to the hooking role.
Parramatta has rake Matt Keating contracted for next season, while veteran
Casey McGuire is one of a host of older players who are free agents at the end of 2011.
Roberts has also played hooker off the bench for the Bulldogs, as well as centres. But his best performances have come at five-eighth and with Parramatta looking for more potency in the middle, the 25-year-old was sought for the remainder of this season.
The Bulldogs, however, blocked the bid out of concerns their depth will be tested should either
Kris Keating or
Trent Hodkinson suffer an injury.
Cronulla and Gold Coast were also chasing Roberts, but the Eels won out primarily because of the presence of Kiwi Test coach Stephen Kearney. "For one, Steve Kearney as a coach ... he's a great coach and I think they've got a lot of good players there," Roberts said.
"We've had a little chat here and there with Steve.
"He's going to challenge me next year with my game and that's something I'm looking forward to.
"I honestly think he can probably improve me as a footballer. That's probably one of the main reasons I'm going there.
"The best advice he has given me for this year is just to keep my head up, to stay up-beat and just keep playing good football.
Roberts admitted his frustration in reserve grade, but is committed to playing five-eighth in the NRL again.
"I'd like to think just five-eighth. That's my preferred position, I'll just work on that," he said.s
"It's a mental challenge every week [playing in NSW Cup]. But when my chance comes I've just got to make sure I'm ready.
"That's something I can't control and I'm going to leave that up to the coaches."
