Parramatta Eels prop Peni Terepo turns down chance to join Melbourne Storm
Happy at Parra: Peni Terepo has knocked back a Melbourne offer to stay with the Eels. Picture: Brett Costello
Source: The Daily Telegraph
MEET the 20-year-old butcher who knocked back the golden chance to play under Melbourne master coach Craig Bellamy.
Softly spoken giant Peni Terepo decided instead to stick with Parramatta, a club in the doldrums.
Although there are three weeks of the season remaining, Eels officials are continuing to plan for next year by signing rampaging prop Terepo to a new two-year deal.
After being left red-faced by the failed recruitment of ageing trio
Chris Walker,
Carl Webb and
Paul Whatuira - who have all since retired - the club is determined to pin its hopes on youth.
Terepo is part of the Eels' generation next, which includes Jacob Loko,
Taniela Lasalo,
Ryan Morgan, Pat O'Hanlon, Rory Brein and Matty Eisenhuth.
Terepo, who has produced some big hits in the Toyota Cup this season, was tempted to join the Storm.
"Melbourne offered me a one-year deal, but the people I've met at Parramatta, and other people outside of footy, I wanted to stay," Terepo said.
"I grew up in south Auckland and it was a pretty tough life. There was a lot of fighting, trouble and violence. I tried to stay away from the trouble that could have taken me away from what I was looking for and trying to achieve.
"Parramatta is like a second home now, and seeing players like Jacob Loko and Pat O'Hanlon, guys I played with in the Toyota Cup, I'd love to play with them and get up there [NRL] as well.
"I can see the change Steve Kearney and his boys have brought to the club. It's all positive and you can see the club improving."
Coach Kearney has spoken about the Eels moving forward during the countless press conferences he has fronted in his first season.
Terepo, who is also in the second year of his butcher's apprenticeship, has already been thrown into the NSW Cup in a bid to season him against bigger opponents.
Some say the 183cm, 106kg Terepo runs hard and hits like
Fuifui Moimoi, the cult hero the youngster would love to model his game around.