Port Macquarie Sharks junior Harry Hanley signs with Parramatta Eels
HARRY Hanley knows exactly what he's going to be doing for the next two years.
The Port Macquarie Sharks junior will call Bankwest Stadium in western Sydney home after signing a contract with the Parramatta Eels.
It will see him in blue and gold until the end of the 2020 season.
Hanley starred in the Sharks under-18 Group 3 grand final win last year and then with the help of Jake Hawkins and Joey Cudmore found himself directed towards the Eels.
Hawkins and Cudmore put him in touch with the club and the rest is history.
"They (the Eels) offered me a train and trial contract from October until March where I trained with the summer squad," Hanley said.
"I was then told my contract would be extended and I'd stick with the boys for the next two years."
The talented backrower admitted he was still getting his head around the change in environment from bush footy in Port Macquarie to the professional world at Parramatta.
"They expect your behaviour to be top notch down here because there are plenty of eyes on you especially off the field," he said.
"If you're being an idiot, they'll soon know about it and act on it."
Hanley was used to two one-hour sessions a week with the Sharks, but he did more than that in one day at the Eels.
"We've been meeting four or five times a week and we train for a good four hours," he said.
Hard at it: Harry Hanley (second from left) during pre-season training. Photo: supplied
"We start off in the gym and then if we need to we do a quick video session and then a field session.
"The way we train is a lot different to anything I've ever done before and it's a real eye-opener."
Hanley headed to the Northern Territory during the off-season for a few days as part of a community camp which enabled him to rub shoulders with a number of the Eels first graders.
"I got to go up there and meet Nathan Brown and Manu Ma'u and interact with them," he said.
The Eels kick off their Jersey Flegg season on March 23 against the Bulldogs and Hanley expects to bide his time on the bench.
He remained focused on making the step up to the starting side in the next two years.
"I'm going to work my way up, try and get a starting position and basically improve as much as I can," he said.
"An NRL debut is definitely on my mind but there's still a long way to go from there."
https://www.portnews.com.au/story/5...makes-the-transition-from-port-to-parramatta/
