http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...p/news-story/49be27236c511e8cce6cf6559ad9e8ea
Frank Pritchard to return to NRL in Parramatta Eels leadership group
Frank Pritchard will make a triumphant return to the NRL this year with his new club Parramatta giving him the honour of naming him in their leadership group.
Pritchard has returned to Sydney after playing one year with Hull in the English Super League. He previously had five years with Canterbury, leaving in 2015, after eight seasons with Penrith until 2010.
Eels coach Brad Arthur recognises the experience and value the 33-year-old Samoan international brings and has placed him the leadership team under co-captains Tim Mannah and Beau Scott. Scott already filled that role last year when Kieran Foran was released from his four-year deal.
“Beau and Tim are admired and respected by their teammates and coaches alike and I look forward to working closely with them over the course of the season,” Arthur said in a statement to Eels members tonight.
“In 2017, we want to build the leadership capability amongst our team so I am pleased that we have appointed a leadership group with an energetic mix of respected senior players and emerging leaders, all with their part to play in our club’s development.”
Arthur made another interesting choice in his senior player group by including five-eighth Corey Norman. The highly talented half had a mixed season off the field in 2016 by being mixed up with crime figures, sex tapes and drugs charges.
It all amounted to him being investigated by police and the NRL’s integrity unit, leading to an eight-round suspension in July and a $20,000 fine.
But Norman now finds himself in the eight-man leadership group alongside Pritchard, Issac De Gois, Tepai Meroa, Michael Jennings and Manu Ma‘u to complete his redemption in the eyes of his club coach.
“I am proud to part of the leadership group in 2017. As a group we want to drive the standards and behaviours that will make our team successful in 2017,” Norman said to the members.
Arthur said Scott and Manah had been “the standout leaders” for the captaincy but it was a key focus for the team to develop its overall leadership capabilities for 2017 and beyond.
“We have a responsibility to set a healthy example to the playing group on what we stand for as a team and as a club,” Mannah said
Parramatta CEO Bernie Gurr said the Eels were focused on building a first class, successful sporting organisation that would be driven by strong leadership both on and off the field.
“As we continue to transform our football club, we want to ensure that all our decisions and behaviours are consistent with our core values of integrity, respect and excellence. That’s where the leaders of our club play a vital role in ensuring that we place these words into tangible actions across everything we do.”
It can only be up from here for the Eels after the $3 million salary cap rorts over the previous four years were revealed in detail last May. The club was stripped of points and missed out on playing in the NRL finals.
