Hindy Rulz
Juniors
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Rugby League
Thanks to coaches
19Sep06
AS the Parramatta Eels spotlight switches to the Premier League team's bid for a grand final berth, in-form young gun Feleti Mateo is pumped about his NRL prospects next year.
Mateo, a former Lalor Park junior and Terra Sancta College student, made his debut in the 2004 season in the same game as fellow 19-year-old Ben Smith.
While Smith's now a regular, Mateo hasn't added to that single appearance.
Before re-signing midway through this season, the 21-year-old received an encouraging phone call from Eels 2007 coach Michael Hagan.
``He said what things are going to be like next year and it sounds pretty exciting, what's going to be happening,'' Mateo said.
``I've heard from other people as well what he's like. He likes to give young boys a chance.
``Even just talking to him made me more confident, rather than going to start training without even knowing him.''
Mateo has been starring for the Premier League side in recent weeks.
The minor premiers play their preliminary final against Manly at Aussie Stadium on Friday at 5.35pm.
Mateo, who is 191cm tall and weighs 102kg, plays as either a back-rower or five-eighth.
He points out that when he starts in the forwards, he is sometimes switched to five-eighth and even centre during games.
``I'm just happy to be anywhere on the field,'' he says.
Mateo made the 2003 Australian Schoolboys with such luminaries as Benji Marshall and Karmichael Hunt, as well as his current Premier League teammate Brendan Oake and the Junior Kangaroos the following year.
But at the start of 2005 he was hit by injury and then went on loan to the London Broncos in the Super League.
Back at the Eels this season, Mateo said he got injured again early on, came back for one game and then had his tonsils out. Since resuming, he's enjoyed a clear run.
Mateo came from the same Lalor Park junior team as Eels NRL centre Brett Delaney, who is off to the Gold Coast Titans next year.
``We had a really good team,'' Mateo said. ``We won the comp three out of four years. We had a good coach, Marty Ryan. He's sort of the base of where I am today.''[email protected]
http://www.blacktownadvocate.com.au/article/2006/09/19/660_sports.html
Thanks to coaches
19Sep06
AS the Parramatta Eels spotlight switches to the Premier League team's bid for a grand final berth, in-form young gun Feleti Mateo is pumped about his NRL prospects next year.
Mateo, a former Lalor Park junior and Terra Sancta College student, made his debut in the 2004 season in the same game as fellow 19-year-old Ben Smith.
While Smith's now a regular, Mateo hasn't added to that single appearance.
Before re-signing midway through this season, the 21-year-old received an encouraging phone call from Eels 2007 coach Michael Hagan.
``He said what things are going to be like next year and it sounds pretty exciting, what's going to be happening,'' Mateo said.
``I've heard from other people as well what he's like. He likes to give young boys a chance.
``Even just talking to him made me more confident, rather than going to start training without even knowing him.''
Mateo has been starring for the Premier League side in recent weeks.
The minor premiers play their preliminary final against Manly at Aussie Stadium on Friday at 5.35pm.
Mateo, who is 191cm tall and weighs 102kg, plays as either a back-rower or five-eighth.
He points out that when he starts in the forwards, he is sometimes switched to five-eighth and even centre during games.
``I'm just happy to be anywhere on the field,'' he says.
Mateo made the 2003 Australian Schoolboys with such luminaries as Benji Marshall and Karmichael Hunt, as well as his current Premier League teammate Brendan Oake and the Junior Kangaroos the following year.
But at the start of 2005 he was hit by injury and then went on loan to the London Broncos in the Super League.
Back at the Eels this season, Mateo said he got injured again early on, came back for one game and then had his tonsils out. Since resuming, he's enjoyed a clear run.
Mateo came from the same Lalor Park junior team as Eels NRL centre Brett Delaney, who is off to the Gold Coast Titans next year.
``We had a really good team,'' Mateo said. ``We won the comp three out of four years. We had a good coach, Marty Ryan. He's sort of the base of where I am today.''[email protected]
http://www.blacktownadvocate.com.au/article/2006/09/19/660_sports.html
