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A sweet talking Jarryd Hayne was a key factor in NSW prop Justin Poore's decision to join Parramatta from NRL rivals St George Illawarra, the Eels fullback has revealed.
Parramatta pulled off a huge coup on Wednesday in securing the services of Poore and Sydney Roosters forward Shane Shackleton for the start of the 2010 season after the pair put pen to paper on three-year deals.
Hayne, who played alongside Poore in the NSW side against Queensland last week, said he persuaded Poore to join after the 24-year-old discussed a possible switch to the Eels with him.
"Poorey spoke to me about it in Origin camp and said he was thinking of signing for us," Hayne told AAP.
"He hit me up straight away, he was racking my brains about it and I said it was a good club, you get well looked after and everything is in the one spot.
"He was a bit worried about travelling over from Cronulla every day but I assured him there were some of the other guys here who live that way as well so he would be in good company.
"It's awesome and good for our forward pack that they have joined.
"I met Shack in the City-Country game and he seems like a good bloke who will be a great signing for us."
Eels forward Nathan Hindmarsh shared Hayne's excitement in securing the services of Shackleton and Poore.
"We are all smiling because we have signed Shane and Justin ... and we are all very happy with that," Hindmarsh told AAP.
"I knew we were chasing Poorey and I didn't know too much about Shane, but it is very exciting and they are going to add a lot to the club."
Eels coach Daniel Anderson said the news was a huge lift to everyone at the club and said he was looking forward to working with both players.
"It is a tremendous filip ... it's a boost for us that we have signed two players who have broken through for representative football this year and (it) gives us a bit of variety and shape to our pack of forwards," Anderson said.
Poore agreed a three-year deal worth $350,000 a season, making him one of the highest paid forwards in the game, and Anderson said he felt it would be money well spent.
"I am not sure of the numbers ... but he is a State of Origin player and one of the best emerging players in the NRL," he said.
"For us to secure his services is a huge boost for our club and probably a shot in the arm for Parramatta fans."
Anderson admitted the arrival of Shackleton and Poore would see some players leave the club at the end of the season, with Jeremy Latimore, Todd Lowrie and Junior Paulo all off-contract and likely to be playing elsewhere.
Exciting young half Albert Kelly, who is the cousin of Queensland superstar Greg Inglis, is also yet to sign a new deal with the club and Anderson admitted he was unsure where the 18-year-old, who is yet to play first grade, will be playing next season.
"There are players that are off-contract that won't be here next season, that is the way at every club each year," he said.
"Albert has got an offer in front of him which we think shows we value him, but at the end of the day it is not our decision to make, it is his.
© 2009 AAP
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http://news.leaguehq.com.au/breaking-news-sport/eels-sign-poore-shackleton-to-nrl-deals-20090610-c2kz.htmlI hope that we don't lose Jeremy Latimore as he has been very impressive in both of his first grade appearances & I think that he will develop into a top player learning off players like Hindmarsh & Poore.
:lol:
