Brad Arthur’s son Jake is among a crop of exciting young Parramatta rising stars pushing for a chance to impress in this Thursday’s trial match against St George Illawarra at Kogarah.
It comes after the Eels suffered a setback on Sunday with confirmation Bryce Cartwright has a broken jaw that is likely to sideline him for between four and six weeks.
The match against the Dragons was expected to be Cartwright’s first in his new colours following his shift from the Gold Coast.
Cartwright suffered the injury during training last week.
While it is not likely to keep him out for an extended period it will probably end his hopes of pushing for selection in round one against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on March 12.
Arthur is yet to name who will play in Thursday’s trial but the game is for those who played 12 NRL games or less last season.
That means some of the club’s young guns such as halfback Arthur, promising prop David Hollis, and outside backs Sean Russell and Haze Dunster should all be in the mix.
The Eels are also likely to apply to the NRL for some exemptions for players just over that limit, including Titans recruit Keegan Hipgrave.
Jordan Rankin, Nathaniel Roache, Isaiah Papali’i and Joey Lussick are also expected play in this game.
Jake Arthur is a talented young playmaker who was one of the stars in the Blacktown Patrician Brothers team that won the schoolboy competition last year.
Jake is considered a genuine NRL prospect in the making, although probably still a good 12 months away from legitimately pushing for NRL selection up against the likes of Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown.
What he does have on his side right now is a terrific kicking game and game management beyond his years, while his running game is said to be improving all the time, as is his size.
There has been plenty of pressure on him coming through the grades at Parramatta just because of who he is, or more to the point, who his old man is.
But those who have watched his development say he has really earned his place just by the way he has continued to rise to every challenge with an outstanding attitude and dedication.
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Looking forward to the trial game against the Dragons and also the selection. It should be very interesting.
I liked the part about "the Eels are applying for an exemption ...". Ha ha ha, who do they think they are, the Roosters or something?
Ha. Eels have to make applications in writing including with " references " and other attachments to support. Roosters just make a phone call .
Is this trial game being being streamed online by the club?
Good article, I have a slightly different take on Jake Arthur, outstanding as he is.
I am assuming it would be commonly held that he is not ready for NRL yet, mainly because of his age and size.
On that basis I believe we should be playing Joey Lusick at half as from a reality point of view he would be the logical replacement if Moses was injured.
Just a thought, I don't have strong views on it.
At least we have one junior who's going to be given every chance... even if he is weighing in at 34kg
I love to see Jordan Rankin in action as he can fill most in the backline.
It's only available to NSW and QLD residents Daz... I think the club's quote was something along the lines of "Victorians can get f####d", or something like that.
Bit off topic, but what the hell is going on with Daniel Andrew's lobes? That's ridiculous. You can't have a bloke in a senior public position with lobes you could sell advertising space on - they literally flap in the wind. Surely the Victorian taxpayers could chip in and get the poor bloke a lobe reduction.
Gold Kram, I think I saw John Kolc hinding in one of those lobes....
Get back into class, George
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