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Eels in the media

I'm a loser baby...

I'm a loser baby...

Immortal
Messages
42,876
There once was a man known as Lane
Who was an important link in a chain
But when off season rolled round
His teammates soon found
That he'd become a fat useless f**k
 
Gronk

Gronk

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74,158
Eelementary

Eelementary

Post Whore
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56,249
Gronk said:
Parramatta have tabled Shaun Lane an upgraded three-year offer as the towering back-rower allayed fears he could be leaving the club at the end of 2020.

NRL.com can reveal the Eels have come to the party with a new deal for the 25-year-old in recent weeks, who hopes to have his long-term future sorted before the start of the season.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/03/eels-move-to-lock-up-lane-with-new-three-year-deal/
Click to expand...

This is brilliant news!

Shaun Lane is an absolute gun!

I would go as far as saying that a back row of:

11. Lane
12. Matterson
13. Brown

is as good as any in the competition.
 
Poupou Escobar

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
85,334
It'll depend how well we'rere traveling. We have half a dozen or more blokes as good as the workaday Origin players who make up the bulk of the NSW and Queensland teams. If we're killing it they'll get picked from our team rather than the Dragons or Sharks.
 
Gronk

Gronk

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74,158
Matterson lands Eels leadership role after inspirational speech
Author
Dan Walsh & Tanisha Stanton
Timestamp
Wed 5 Feb 2020, 05:00 PM

Ryan Matterson has been elevated to Parramatta's leadership group just three months after an ugly walkout of his Wests Tigers, with an inspirational speech in his first week of training convincing teammates of his commitment to their cause.

Matterson is the most notable inclusion in Parramatta's five-man leadership group led by captain Clint Gutherson, star half Mitchell Moses and forwards Nathan Brown and Junior Paulo.

In far more palatable scenes than the elections oft associated with Parramatta's boardroom in the past, Brad Arthur's entire squad voted in a "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" format to decide on Gutherson's senior deputies.

Matterson only returned to his junior club in November, apologising to Tigers fans on Monday for his "frustrating" exit less than 12 months after arriving at Concord.

The NSW Origin hopeful impressed his new teammates with a prepared address after one of his first training sessions, holding court while reading from his phone in the dressing room.

"Leading, I feel like it happens naturally for me," Matterson told NRL.com.

remote.axd

Matterson in Eels leadership group


Matterson in Eels leadership group

"I really enjoy it and it's pretty exciting now that we've got a leadership group going on here and to be a part of that makes me feel honoured, especially in the short time that I've been here."

Matterson's post-training speech caught Parramatta players off-guard, but had him held in high esteem almost immediately.

"The third session he got up and said this massive speech in front of all of us and the staff and we thought 'wow, he's here to win'," young five-eighth Dylan Brown recalled.

"When he did that, everyone had respect for him already but for him to do that in front of a new club shows he wants to be a leader.

"It's been three months and he's already in the leadership group so it shows what kind of player he is and what he can do for us.

"It was a long speech but it was all about winning and, what was the word ... mindfulness.

Fellow back-rower Shaun Lane added: "It turned into this Ryan Matterson performance for 10 minutes and everyone was a bit blown away, they'd never seen anything like that before.

"But it was very impressive, very good and he showed just how much that this season and this team mean to him."

As well as Matterson, the inclusions of Moses and Paulo point to their continued rise after challenges in recent seasons.

Eighteen months ago Moses was told he was free to leave the club after 2018's disastrous wooden spoon campaign.

He responded with the best campaign of his career and was duly rewarded with Dally M half of the year honours, a new three-year deal and selection for the PMs XIII and Australian Nines squad.

Paulo too has come of age among Parramatta's forwards since returning to the club from Canberra last year.

Midway through 2016 he shifted down the Hume Highway to escape the bad crowd that led to him making headlines for breaking bread with known bikies at the Star casino.

Now with 132 NRL games to his name and a young family keeping him grounded in the golden west once more, Paulo has taken on a mentoring role for rising props Oregon Kaufusi and Stefano Utoikamanu throughout the pre-season.

remote.axd

NRL Fantasy player in focus - Mitchell Moses


NRL Fantasy player in focus - Mitchell Moses

"I'm in a position where I'm coming of age in the game," Paulo told NRL.com.

"I've got to be able to lead on the field and these days I'd like to think I'm not just someone who's focusing just on playing footy.

"I think I've got the ability to take ownership off the field as well and do a few of those extra things around the club too, mostly helping the younger boys.

"There's definitely a lot of those young guys in our team that are looking up and so you've got to set an example.

"It's something that's been really enjoyable, helping bring guys like Oregon and Stefano through and watching them really fit into the first grade set-up."


https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/05/matterson-lands-eels-leadership-role-after-inspirational-speech/
 
Gronk

Gronk

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74,158
Brown ready to flourish under Immortal mentor
Author
Chris KennedyNRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Wed 5 Feb 2020, 03:51 PM
Young Eels half Dylan Brown is receiving a priceless rugby league education under eighth Immortal Andrew Johns – despite never having watched the Knights legend play.

The 19-year-old was born in the year 2000, so he was just six when Johns officially hung up the boots in early 2007 but even then, it was years until the young Aucklander turned his attention from the 15-player code so universally popular in his homeland over to rugby league.

"Yeah, I didn't really watch league when I was younger," Brown admitted somewhat sheepishly.

"I always watched union. I started watching league when I was like 10 probably. There's been a few times like that where they've mentioned these legends, even from my own club, I still get embarrassed!"

But it's not like Brown wasn't aware of Johns's standing in the game when the dual premiership-winner and three-time Dally M Medallist first started attending Eels training to coach the squad's young playmakers.

johnsa.jpg

Andrew Johns passes on tips to Dylan Brown and Eels teammates at training.:copyright:parraeels.com.au
"I still obviously know how significant of a person he is, he's an Immortal," Brown said.

"He still moves like he did in his highlights so it's pretty cool.

"Just how he is, when he walks in, got his sunnies on and looking all cool, it's not even sunny and he's got them on! He can still move, man.

remote.axd

Reagan opens up on Panthers 'long term relationship'


Reagan opens up on Panthers 'long term relationship'

"For him to actually show us what to do helps so much more. The little things, he breaks it right down to the little things. A simple play, he breaks it right down and makes it so much easier. For me being a young and upcoming half it helps a lot."

Senior half Mitch Moses and hooker Reed Mahoney have also been soaking up lessons from Johns through the off-season, along with utility playmaker Jaeman Salmon and fullback Clint Gutherson.

"He's been good for me and during training I've been trying to work in some stuff that I've been working on with him and pretty much just stripped down how to play halfback," Moses said.

"I'm going to take a lot out of that because I've never really had a halves coach before. Being coached by one of the best to ever play the game in the halfback position is special and I definitely listen to whatever he says at training. Hopefully I can take it into the games and better my game."

While Johns is one of the finest No.7s to ever grace the field, he was also a stellar hooker at representative level with Mahoney particularly keen to take lessons in terms of his ball-playing and kicking games.

"He's been great for me," Mahoney said.

"Having him around and helping me out has helped me a lot with my ball playing and kicking game. All of us here will be picking his brain. We're going to stuff up things but you have to stuff up to learn. He's going to be great for us through the year."

mahoneyr-2gp_0601.jpg

Eels hooker Reed Mahoney.:copyright:Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
While Mahoney wants to develop his ball-playing, one key lesson has been around when to take control and when to service his halves.

"I've got to get a feel for the game but when you have Mitch Moses and Dyl on your left and right, when they want the ball you give it to them," he added.

"That's how you create a good spine, is when I know when to give it to the boys and when I can take control of the situation. If we can keep the spine together everything is going to gel a lot better."

For Brown, the steep learning curve of first grade rugby league has also included some harsh lessons around self-preservation, with his rookie season including a three-month layoff with a back injury.

"My main focus this year is for my back but it's good now," he added.

"[My goal is] playing round one to 25 and beyond. Hopefully keep the position as well, I've got to play good to stay in the team."


https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/05/brown-ready-to-flourish-under-immortal-mentor/
 
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