Eels media release: Parra young guns re-sign
by Rugby League Week on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 4:14pm
PARRA YOUNG GUNS STICK WITH THE EELS
The Pirtek Parramatta Eels today announced the re-signing of a batch of youngsters Club captain Nathan Hindmarsh rates as good as any to have come through the Blue and Gold junior system.
Blockbusting centre Jacob Loko, 18 heads the pack of young Eels who have re-signed until the end of the 2013 season. He is joined by Taniela Lasalo, Mitchell Allgood and Ryan Morgan.
The Pirtek Eels will welcome back another former junior to the Club next year in Sharks forward Taulima Tautai, who has signed until the end of 2013. Tautai made his NRL debut for the Eels in Round 1, 2008.
The Eels’ talented Toyota Cup trio of Pat O’Hanlon, Marmin Barba and Rory Brien have also committed until the end of 2013, with O’Hanlon lining up in his third NRL appearance tonight against the Bulldogs.
Pirtek Eels Chief Executive Officer Paul Osborne said the signings were a direct result of the Club’s commitment to retaining its promising young players under head coach Steve Kearney.
“Retention is as important as recruitment,” Osborne said.
“We have a terrific junior representative program at the Eels and Steve Kearney is building our future around it.
“The retention of our own players is an integral part of the football program and something we addressed as an area we needed to improve on at the start of this year.
“The decision from our young guys to stick with us is a great boost for the Club and it’s another sign we are heading in the right direction.”
Hindmarsh said:
“You see so many Parra juniors out there playing for other clubs and I know it’s something the fans sometimes get frustrated with, so for us to re-sign these young guys is a huge boost,” Hindmarsh said.
“Put them alongside our other experienced guys like Tim Mannah, Luke Burt, Ben Smith, Matt Keating, Jarryd Hayne and the new players joining us in Chris Sandow, Ben Roberts, Esi Tonga and now Taulima – it’s looking like a great mix.
“I’ve been playing for the Eels for a long time and I’ve seen a lot of great young players come through our system, and guys like Jacob Loko are right up there as the most talented I’ve seen.
“Taniela (Lasalo) has played every game alongside me at second-row this year and he’s only getting better, and Mitch Allgood has been outstanding for us.”
Loko, Lasalo, O’Hanlon, Morgan, Brien, Tautai all played junior representative football with the Eels before moving into Toyota Cup and NRL squads, with Allgood making his way into the side from Toyota Cup and then Wentworthville after joining the Club from Penrith in 2009.
SIGNINGS / RE-SIGNINGS ANNOUNCED TODAY
Taulima Tautai (Cronulla), 23-years-old
Jacob Loko, 18
Taniela Lasalo, 21
Mitchell Allgood, 22
Ryan Morgan, 21
Patrick O’Hanlon, 20
Marmin Barba, 20
Rory Brien, 19
