Spike
First Grade
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PARRAMATTA Eels' latest recruits Joel Asher and Matt Shipway are both determined to make every post a winner with the high-profile NRL club in 2004 but to do so, the former Port Macquarie Sharks will have to travel along different paths.
Classy centre Asher has joined the Eels as part of the club's prestigious JETS Program while "tough as teak" forward Shipway will have to impress selectors in the forthcoming trials to secure his future.
Both players enjoyed successful seasons at the Sharks in 2003 with Asher cementing a berth in the club's first grade side while Shipway reaped the spoils at the presentation night, winning three major junior awards - and the talented youngsters are keen to continue that momentum with the Eels.
"The move has been alright so far," Shipway told the Port News recently.
"I'm sharing a place with Ashley Graham and Ryan Hinchcliffe and that's made the transition pretty cruisy.
"They've had a couple of seasons with the Eels, so they've been able to help me out and tell me a few things about the club.
"Training, however has been hard - it's a big difference from Port Macquarie.
"I've virtually gone from having fun to being in a serious, and very professional, environment.
"But I kind of expected that."
Shipway's biggest test will come in the Eels' first trial - ironically against a number of his former team mates.
"Yeah, can you believe it - we play Manly, a team that includes Joe Cudmore, Clinton Foot and Matt Farthing, on February 14," Shipway said.
"It will probably be a bit awkward at first, playing against my mates, but I've really got to play well in the trials.
"I want to make the Jersey Flegg team and, in the process, secure my future for 2005."
Asher, who is living with former Parramatta and New Zealand Test legend Mark Horo, has been ear-marked as a potential first grade prospect following his selection in the JETS Program.
"There's five guys,including myself, who are living with Mark and his family.
"They have made us feel very welcome," Asher said.
"Mark's also the Jersey Flegg assistant coach, so it's good to get a bit of advice from him.
"The JETS program, I guess, is a fast track to the NRL - that's the best way to describe it.
"It's only a small group of players but we do extra training sessions and things like that.
"Michael Witt and Chris Armit were former members of the squad, who are now playing first grade.
"It's very professional throughout the lower grades - it's more serious than what I thought it would be."
Asher, who signed a two-year contract with the Eels, admitted he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.
"Everything's going well - it's a bit of a change from Port Macquarie, but it's also something you just have to get used to," Asher said.
"We're training five days a week at the moment, mainly weights and conditioning, however that will step up when we return on January 6.
"I want to go well in the Jersey Flegg side and, hopefully, win that competition.
"If I get a couple of runs in the Premier League side as well, that will be a bonus."
Classy centre Asher has joined the Eels as part of the club's prestigious JETS Program while "tough as teak" forward Shipway will have to impress selectors in the forthcoming trials to secure his future.
Both players enjoyed successful seasons at the Sharks in 2003 with Asher cementing a berth in the club's first grade side while Shipway reaped the spoils at the presentation night, winning three major junior awards - and the talented youngsters are keen to continue that momentum with the Eels.
"The move has been alright so far," Shipway told the Port News recently.
"I'm sharing a place with Ashley Graham and Ryan Hinchcliffe and that's made the transition pretty cruisy.
"They've had a couple of seasons with the Eels, so they've been able to help me out and tell me a few things about the club.
"Training, however has been hard - it's a big difference from Port Macquarie.
"I've virtually gone from having fun to being in a serious, and very professional, environment.
"But I kind of expected that."
Shipway's biggest test will come in the Eels' first trial - ironically against a number of his former team mates.
"Yeah, can you believe it - we play Manly, a team that includes Joe Cudmore, Clinton Foot and Matt Farthing, on February 14," Shipway said.
"It will probably be a bit awkward at first, playing against my mates, but I've really got to play well in the trials.
"I want to make the Jersey Flegg team and, in the process, secure my future for 2005."
Asher, who is living with former Parramatta and New Zealand Test legend Mark Horo, has been ear-marked as a potential first grade prospect following his selection in the JETS Program.
"There's five guys,including myself, who are living with Mark and his family.
"They have made us feel very welcome," Asher said.
"Mark's also the Jersey Flegg assistant coach, so it's good to get a bit of advice from him.
"The JETS program, I guess, is a fast track to the NRL - that's the best way to describe it.
"It's only a small group of players but we do extra training sessions and things like that.
"Michael Witt and Chris Armit were former members of the squad, who are now playing first grade.
"It's very professional throughout the lower grades - it's more serious than what I thought it would be."
Asher, who signed a two-year contract with the Eels, admitted he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.
"Everything's going well - it's a bit of a change from Port Macquarie, but it's also something you just have to get used to," Asher said.
"We're training five days a week at the moment, mainly weights and conditioning, however that will step up when we return on January 6.
"I want to go well in the Jersey Flegg side and, hopefully, win that competition.
"If I get a couple of runs in the Premier League side as well, that will be a bonus."
