PARRAMATTA coach Brad Arthur is looking for kids who give up their seat.
Watches for it, he says, before video sessions. Again at team meetings. Arthur is forever on the lookout to see which of his young Eels, after noticing there aren't enough seats to go around, will return to their feet so an older player can sit.
"And Kelepi Tanginoa, he's always in that category," the new coach says of his promising back-rower. "Yes, he has ability. But the reason we really want him here, want to ensure he's one of the local juniors who remain here for a very a long time, is because of all those other qualities he brings with that talent."
Only eight weeks into his new gig and Arthur is looking to stop one of the NRL's greatest leaks.
No, not his Eels board, but the wealth of junior talent which, in recent years, has been cast aside only to achieve superstar status elsewhere.
Despite boasting one of the world's great league nurseries, the Eels have been increasingly mocked as a host of juniors - think James Maloney, Jorge Taufua, Tony Williams, even Paul Gallen - have been let go only to achieve State of Origin and international honours.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Arthur is so determined to stop the rot, he's employed club greats Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt to head a specialist mentoring scheme.
Under the new program, the pair will work specifically with local juniors identified as future stars. And at the top of that list are Tanginoa, centre Jacob Loko and 2011 Australian Schoolboys prop Junior Paulo.
"Everyone knows the potential of those three guys," Arthur says. "But, importantly for us, they don't walk around at training like they've already played 50 or 60 NRL games.
"And that's one of the reasons we've employed Nath and Burty to come in once a week and work with them. I want people at this club who love the Parramatta Eels."
Asked how he felt about the Eels' player drain, Arthur said: "Let me say that it's impossible to keep everyone.
"And when you do have as many young players coming through as Parramatta, there will always be a couple who return to bite you on the backside.
"You look at Paul Gallen and Jorge Tafau. What I'm more concerned about now is developing and keeping the quality young guys we do have."
Replies
Best article i have read about BA, the more i hear about young Kelepi the more i think we have found our next great 2nd rower. His game against Gallen is just his 4th to 5th first grade game was epic. Twice he stopped him dead close to the line with a full head of steam. We just need him to stay on the park, Paulo to is another who impressed me greatly last season he will be Fui's replacement in the years to come.
Interesting read. I would have thought Anderson would have taken charge of all things juniors, yet it seems Arthur is behind this latest development. By the way I really wish these guys would get their facts right. Maloney isn't really an Eels junior; we got him from the Central Coast or somewhere round there. And I don't think Williams was simply 'cast aside'. From memory I think the salary cap restricted us from keeping him, and couldn't match Manly's big offer. Wait what am I saying? Facts don't matter to the Telegraph if they get in the way of a good story.
William's was offered double of what we are willing to pay him, and as for Maloney why do we never hear articles about the storm letting him go???? But Hagan needs a bullet for letting him and Hodko go while keeping Finch on huge money.
I'd say Arthur is involved in this because it concerns his first grade roster. He's concentrating on the development of his squad. I'd imagine that Anderson is still in charge of our junior ranks.
I thought Anderson was responsible for letting go of Maloney and Hodkinson. He recognised Mortimer as the player we should focus on. That turned out well... Also not convinced that Gallen was a genuine junior. He's a Wentworthville junior. How long has Wenty been under Eels' jurisdiction? The partnership in NSW cup only started in 2008.
I'm 58 Ewra, & since I started following the Eels, 48 years ago, Wenty has been under the Eels jurisdiction. You do know that Wentworthville is 4 kms from the heart of Parramatta don't you? - Whose jurisdiction do you think they might be under? - Penrith? - Wests/Tigers? - Ha!!
They were both gone before ando got here, the club always saw Albert Kelly as our future halves star but too bad his behaviour wouldn't allow him to stay. Morts never did much in the U20's and when he got into first grade he rode on the coat tails of Hayne and a team on absolute fire. Bit like he did for the Roosters this year. Ando made his own retention blunders but Maloney and Hodko weren't two of them.
I Seriously doubt we would of got Gallen back for that price/??? And with all the drama with Smith and Gallen that has resurfaced last year i doubt he would have wanted Popeye Gallen back.
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