Manly skipper Jamie Lyon believes Anthony Watmough would be a suitable candidate should Parramatta be looking for a new co-captain before what is shaping as a blockbuster opening round encounter between the arch-rivals.
New in blue: Anthony Watmough will turn out for Parramatta in 2015.
The NRL is yet to finalise its draw for the 2015 season but it is likely the Eels and Sea Eagles will face each other in round one. The clash will be one of the highlights of the year afterWatmough's acrimonious departure from Brookvale.
The Eels are likely to appoint a new co-captain to share the load with Tim Mannah after Jarryd Hayne's shock exit to pursue his NFL dream. Lyon said Watmough would be an ideal person to fill the leadership void at the blue and golds.
"He's been around a lot and he has that experience," Lyon said.
"I'm sure he'd do a good job if he got selected, Choccy, he's obviously got a lot of experience and played at the highest level. He'd be a good candidate."
Lyon knows all about the feeling between the clubs after he walked out on the Eels mid-contract, eventually linking with Manly after a stint in the Super League.
"The good, ol' club Parramatta, I get looked after pretty well when I go out there," Lyon said of the prospect of a first-round meeting.
"I'm sure it will make pretty good theatre out there. [Laughing] We'll probably get a full house out in the west there at the Wanderers home ground at Pirtek.
"I'm sure it will be a tough game with plenty of hype and good for the NRL.
"We're rivals with just about every club out there and they are one of our bigger rivals. We tend to have a tough game every match and we tend to have a pretty good crowd. If it comes through, it comes through. It would be good if it was at Brookie but we'll see what happens."
Watmough has played 278 games for the Sea Eagles (plus eight for the Northern Eagles) but will not have to wait long to face his former club. Manly and Parramatta are also scheduled as the opening game for the Auckland NRL Nines tournament.
Asked if it will be surreal to come up against his long-time teammate, Lyon said: "It will be different, I've played with him for a long time, Choccy. There's a couple of other guys as well, Darcy [Lussick], Will [Hopoate] and [coach] Brad Arthur. There's a bit of a Manly connection. It will be different, that's for sure."
The Eels have released Mitchell Allgood to Super League club Hull KR in a move that will further add to their war chest of funds created by Hayne's departure.
"I've been at the Eels since I was a teenager and this place has been my home over the last seven years, and it¹s sad to be leaving," Allgood said.
"But at the same time, I'm excited and looking forward to this new opportunity I have to play at Hull KR.
"I've made a lot of lifetime mates and I'm very thankful for the opportunities I've had at this club, and I wish nothing but success for all the boys in the coming season."
Replies
Thanks for your thoughts Jamie.
Now f off.
LOL
LOL
LOL Note he called pirtek stadium 'the wanderers home ground'' LOL, that was a sly little dig, sure it was in good spirits, but one of our guys needs to martyr himself and bash the tripe out of this little pig fondling clown.
It the wanderers don't start winning a game or 2...they can take their home games to Ringrose park....
How about Jamie takes his opinions about Parramatta out to Wee Waa and shoves them up a pig before putting that pig on a flight to England and then, after a couple of years, bringing it back to Australia and buying it a house on the North Shore.
Parra officials.. have arranged for a special presentation with brian smith to Hi 5... jamie as he runs onto the field...also wonder if the local crowd can keep their hard earned change in their pockets?
LOL
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