Parramatta coach Brad Arthur will give Cameron King a chance to impress before going to the market

MATT LOGUE, The Sunday Telegraph

July 2, 2017 6:00am

PARRAMATTA coach Brad Arthur says he won’t rush into signing another hooker, revealing he will put his full faith in Cameron King for the remainder of 2017.

The Eels have been linked to a number of rival players, including Canterbury’s Michael Lichaa, as cover following Kaysa Pritchard’s season-ending knee injury.

Pritchard is contracted until the end of 2018, but Arthur told The Sunday Telegraph he planned to purchase another hooker as back-up for next season.

However, he said he would be patient and wait for the right player to come up on the open market.

In the meantime, Arthur will give King every opportunity to impress at hooker for the rest of the season.

The 25-year-old impressed in Parramatta’s golden point victory on Thursday night — making 31 tackles in an impressive 62-minute stint.

It was a fair effort from King, especially when you consider it was his first NRL match since 2015 due to a number of serious injuries.

“At the moment we will give Kingy the opportunity,” Arthur said.

“But we are not in a rush to make any decisions (on another hooker).

“We have Kaysa who is signed until the end of 2018 and we will add a third option when we are ready.”

"Can't match Russell Crowes TPA pull that's all this is I have no doubt cap regardless years in the contract I bet you there's a sweet TPA in case of emergencies I'd put money on that.The only way Parra are to land a guy like him is to go silly or…"

"Difference is that Talagi played centre the full SG ball season that eels won the comp in 2023. He even played centre in JF that year. He didn't play in the halves at all that year. Risati has only played 6 for us"

Replies

Tin Tim July 2, 2017 at 9:42am

I thought he played solid for his first game a hooker. He will improve & his fitness will also get better.
Parrakeet July 2, 2017 at 9:58am

Cameron King threw the lightening quick and accurate pass to Moses enabling him the best timing to kick the deciderr. Did you not notice this? Job well done Cameron and considering first game back in the pace of NRL and golden point.
Nath Taylor July 2, 2017 at 10:08am

I thought King had crisper service from dummy half than Smith. It seemed our forwards were going forward with ease while King was on
Alistair Shaw July 2, 2017 at 10:34am

Put in a nice little kick too. Nice to have a third option
Fiddy July 2, 2017 at 10:40am

Would have like to see smith come on earlier for king to give him a break but for first nrl game in 2 yrs, he went ok. But we need better than ok
- colin hussey > Fiddy July 2, 2017 at 12:09pm
  
  The rotation that was working with Kaysa having 20-25 then off until the last 20 worked with Smith coming on for the last 10/15 of first half and 10 into second, that gave Kaysa a 30 minute break in the middle, would like to see the same again with King to see how he goes.
  
  Although I would suspect BA would likely to be looking at increasing Kings time to test his stamina.
2agd8rk0gah1u July 2, 2017 at 12:15pm

I also thought King did a good job considering being out of the NRL for son long and he has a good kicking game as well and can kick goals too. I think he'll get better so long as he keeps injury free.
colin hussey July 2, 2017 at 12:29pm

I'd like to see him a bit more of him over the next few weeks and see how he goes with injuries. On that score the more minutes he plays he increases his workload, I would also note according to the article that he made 31 tacklers while that seems ok very much down on Kaysa's defence though.
El patrón MDV July 2, 2017 at 1:33pm

Fcuk Popps, you could of least warned me. The wife had to pass me the wipes for my screen
MURRKNN July 2, 2017 at 1:49pm

Give king 3 games! And we won't stop talking about him