Jonathan Wright comes home with the Eels
BY ROBERT DILLON
8/06/2009 4:00:00 AM
THREE years ago he was playing alongside Cory Paterson, Scott Dureau, Tim Natusch and Akuila Uate dreaming of making his NRL debut at EnergyAustralia Stadium.Yesterday Jonathan Wright realised that lifetime ambition albeit as a member of the visiting side.
The 22-year-old centre from Mannering Park was still in a state of euphoria well after helping Parramatta to an upset 20-18 win against Newcastle in his maiden top-grade game.
"Oh mate, awesome," was how he described the experience. "I'm from Newcastle, and used to play for the Knights, so it's sort of ironic to come back here and make my debut.
"But Parramatta have given me a chance to start my career with them, so I couldn't be happier to get a crack at it."
Wright explained that he joined Parramatta at the start of the 2007 season after following head coach Michael Hagan down the F3.
In his first year with the Eels he helped them reach the Jersey Flegg grand final, where they were beaten by Penrith who had accounted for his Newcastle teammates 12 months previously.
Last year his season ended on a happier note when he was part of the Wentworthville team who pipped Newtown in the NSW Cup decider.
"I've been in a GF three years in a row, so it was nice to win that one last year," he said.
Eels coach Daniel Anderson said Wright had been training all season with Parramatta's full-time squad and progressed to the stage where they could no longer ignore his form.
"He's basically been training with us since November," Anderson said. "We've thought he was always going to play first grade this year.
"He made his position so hard for me not to select him, and that's why he's in . . . he was due."
Wright attracted a warm verbal reception from his opposite number, Junior Sau, especially after Sau strolled into a yawning gap from a scrum win to score in the 30th minute.
Anderson admitted Wright "got his pants pulled down proverbially by Junior" on that occasion but gave him top marks for his overall display.
"I thought he was outstanding," Anderson said.
Wright's form yesterday would suggest big-name centres Ben Smith and Krisnan Inu could struggle to win a recall for some time yet.
Wright confirmed Sau had produced some "cheeky" comments but enjoyed his tussle with the powerful Kiwi.
"I've played against Junior a couple of times, and he's very quick and agile for a big bloke and he likes to get outside you," Wright said. "But it was a good test, and I wanted a test in my first game, just to see if I was up to it mentally and physically."
His only minor regret was that he was unable to cap the occasion with a debut try, having been tackled just short of the line in the 70th minute.
"It would have been a dream run," he said.
"But I can't complain. I've got this one out of the way, we had a good win, and hopefully we can build on this."
With a host of family and friends cheering him on, Wright felt quite at home as a member of the visiting team.
"The whole mob came there was a few of them and they're all very proud and happy," he said.
