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Mortimer signing will be no half measure
If Daniel Mortimer makes the decision this week to play with the Eels you can expect him to move into the famous Eels number seven jersey.
Mortimer wants to play half back and the club looks set to make him the centre of their attack going forward if he commits to the club.
While he may not start the season at half - I've been told Jeff Robson is still likely to be named there for the opening round - you will see Mortimer play a lot of first receiver and the longer term halves combination is likely to see Daniel partnered with Kris Keating, who will return to his junior position of five-eighth. We'll likely play with a fairly fluid halves combination to start the season with Keating coming off the bench but getting a fair bit of time rotating with the halves.
Mortimer's future will be sorted out before the start of the season, with the Dogs offer expiring next week. An article in the Sydney Morning Herald today said that Mortimer had headed away for the weekend to make a final decision.
That article said a two-year deal was on the table but I'm still hearing there is a chance it will be a three-year contract as the Eels look to lock in a lot of their future structures around Mortimer and Hayne.
With Mortimer at seven, Parramatta have a number of options at six with Keating and Mateo (both of whom are off-contract), newcomer Tom Humble as well as current halves partner Jeff Robson.
If Mortimer does sign with the Eels, the Dogs are likely to throw big money at Mateo and will also target Keating as a halves option later in the season.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Johnny Suede on -
You'd have to think Mortimer was staying at Parra. Why would he announce a week before the season proper he's changing teams? If he does go over he's gonna spend the season being booed while playing for Wentworthville. And with the Mortimer name, you'd have to think there was less pressure on him at Parra.
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Permalink Reply by blueNgold on -
Interesting. What's your thoughts on this Phil? I personally believe that Morts is a season or 2 off being an NRL standard halfback, his playmaking/kicking needs some work. Personally I think KK is more developed in these areas thus it would make more sense for him to be 7 and Morts 6.
However saying that they are quite similar players, so I doubt it would make a great deal of difference. Especially when neither of them will be the focal point of attack anyways, while we have Hayne and Mateo in the team.
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Permalink Reply by 1Eyed Eel on -
It's not the way I would have gone. I think Kris is half of a yard of pace off being a great six. For me, his acceleration makes him much more dangerous closer to the ruck. When he played six in 08, he kept making half breaks but was always just pulled down. Very similar to Robson last year at seven. I still have doubts over Mortimer as a seven as well. I struggle to come up with any try assists he got from passes last year and he has yet to show he can dominate a game. He didn't play much half in juniors so he's going to have to get up to speed very quickly.
All that said, I'm guessing what DA has in mind is essentially playing with two number sevens. His challenge is to structure our game so that he can get Feleti and Jarryd into the game as much as possible. So I think you'll see Feleti and Kris playing off one side, as they have already got a nice combination going and Daniel and Jarryd off the other.
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Permalink Reply by Barra Eel on -
so stupid that no matter what we do. Its almost definant we will lose either mortimer,keating,mateo or inu. Fu*&n really? all because we have exceptional players like hayne and need to keep them,we cnt afford to keep a squad. Salary cap is a joke.
Sorry bit of a lash out i know bout the financial issues and fair trade crap and all that, but im just sick of hearing about my squad gettin ripped apart because scum like the dogs cnt build a team of their own and the season hasnt even started.
Thats footy at the moment i know but, seriosuly hate the doggies.
And yes mortimer should b a half back. KK at 6. hopefully he is resigning with us because he wants to be an eel and not because its just easier for him. If he want to be a dog. Then go be a dog.
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Permalink Reply by Barra Eel on
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And is there an actual date of when he will be making his decision? or just next week sort of thing.? coz i gotta get ready to have my phone on for that time. I will be flooded with messages and calls when it happens. Just like when cayless and hayne got cleared for the gf last year.
Just a question if anyone knows. cheers
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Permalink Reply by Bourbon Man on -
You know its interesting...of the current NRL squad for the Dogs, only Tim Winitana, Heka Nanai, Brad Morrin, Jamal Idris, Ben Barba and Gary Warburton are actually Dogs juniors!! So much for that "Bred, not bought" bullshit they go on and on about.
Compare that with our Cayless, Hindmarsh, Grothe, Hayne, Inu, Mateo, Mannah, Mitchell, the Keating boys, Reddy, Wright, Mortimer (despite his Dogs lineage, he started with us), Brendan Oake and Ben Smith! And now consider all our juniors running around for other clubs!
I understand the point of the salary cap is to keep the comp even and keep clubs from going broke, but it doesn't seem that the NRL do enough to compensate the teams that generate the players which drive the league. I don't see how it is fair to allow clubs like the Roosters or Manly (who do nothing for Rugby League) to be in complete parity with clubs like Parramatta, St George and Penrith (who produce and nurture most of Sydney based Rugby League talent).
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Permalink Reply by Donnsta on -
I agree totally with what you are saying Bourbon Man. We never get any compensation for our breeding ground. We can't keep all of our juniors as they have to play somewhere but I still believe that if a club's juniors are loyal to their home club then the club should be allowed to pay them for their loyalty with the salary cap being raised for local juniors. This will ensure that there are more loyal players who have aspired to play in their own colours. This would encourage clubs to put more into their junior ranks. Melbourne is a great example - they have players from NSW and Brisbane but whilst the Storm have been successful - how many kids are actually playing rugby league in Victoria compared to the number of kids playing AFL in NSW and Queensland?
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Permalink Reply by ZipZip on -
Totally - Gotta hate the Bulldogs... Always have, always will...
Though I wouldn't be surprised if they end up chucking Mateo into 6 to run off of Mortimer at 7 so they can save KK for the backend of the game, kinda like last years KK... who's now sadly gone to Penrith...
Our backline would be like the Harlem Globetrotters of Rugby League!
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Permalink Reply by EELATION on -
Yes i know it will suck that we have to lose one or two good players in all this but i hope we get to keep Mateo!!!
Remember years ago we did the same to the doggies we almost bought there whole forward pack.......Pay,Dymock and Mccraken.
Would love to see Morts in the 6 - KK in the 7 and Mateo in the 13....with Hayne in the number 1 and our forward pack!!! we have no excuses not to win a comp!!!
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Permalink Reply by matthew butcher (aka parraeel82) on -
mateo is the man we need to resign asap.more then mortimer i feel..our forward pack would lack a fair bit of flair if we lost mateo..
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Permalink Reply by EELATION on
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i agree Mateo is the man the EELS need his off loads are the best in the game by far!!!
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Permalink Reply by Mathew Clarke on -
Couldn't agree more, Mateo should be the MAIN FOCUS. He is with out doubt one of the best offloaders in the game and our forward pack would loose alot of its potency without him. Mateo offloads are a major part of Parra's go forward, he will run 10 or more metres and then offload to someone else who will run anywhere from 10+ metres to the rest of the field.
Lets hope Parra didn't pay to much for Mortimer, who i really like and think is a great future talent, and are still smart enough to hold onto one of the most exciting players in the comp.
Please Parra coaching and officials, don't loose Mateo!!!
Mateo isn't a future star, he is already and only getting better?
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