Ritchie Fa'aoso signs deal with Eels

PARRAMATTA have resurrected another fallen NRL star, securing prop Richie Fa’aoso for next season.

Fa’aoso’s career looked to be over after he broke his neck while playing for Manly just prior to last year’s grand final.

However, doctors gave him the all clear to return last month and the race for his second coming quickly boiled down to a two-horse affair between the Eels and Roosters.

Fa’aoso’s relationship with Eels coach Brad Arthur, whom he played under at Manly in 2013, was a key factor. It’s understood the Eels have signed him for one season, with an option in the club’s favour for a further 12 months should their new recruit make a successful comeback.

Former Sea Eagles prop Richie Fa'aoso will return to the NRL next season with Parramatta. Source: News Limited

Fa’aoso is not the only front row gamble for Arthur, who has also taken a punt on jailbird Danny Wicks. The former Dragons and Knights enforcer has not played NRL since 2009, when he was arrested and charged for serious drug trafficking offences.

Parramatta also remain hopeful of gaining disgruntled Sea Eagles star Anthony Watmough for next season. Talks continued this week toward granting Watmough an early release, with Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey the lone stumbling block.

Toovey feels that he could set a dangerous precedent by letting Watmough leave 12 months before his contract expires, with fellow senior stars Steve Matai and Brett Stewart also requesting releases from Toovey at various stages this year.

The Eels have had to purge their own stocks to create room for the new buys. Kelepi Tanginoa, Brenden Santi and Mitch Allgood were all given permission to leave, while Ken Sio, Fuifui Moimoi, Willie Tonga and Ben Smith won’t be on deck next year.

1. Iongi 2. Fox3. Russell 4. Samrami/Penasini 5. Simmonson 6. Pezet7 Mo8. Jnr 9 Smith 10. Hopgood/ Williams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12 kit Kautoga 13. Debelin 14. Da Silva 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Walker17. Doorey * Kelma did enough and is a strike weapon…

"He's not running from there the defense is too compressed that extra step is taking time off Pezet the only reason the kick is an option because his times gone.
Go back and have a good look at TDS's service it's the worst part of his game the fact…"

"That pass is actually an example of good dummy half play. That close to the line you're not going to beat the defenders with a pass straight off the ground. His step back and dummy holds up the A and B defenders which sees the outside men come up…"

Replies

slip October 3, 2014 at 8:07pm

Jailbird Danny Wicks. Lol They print that in the paper. And great, we now sign players with broken necks. I'm no doctor but surely he will never be the same.
- Ham Sammich > slip October 3, 2014 at 8:10pm
  
  No he won't be the same. But I don't think this will be a Top 25 signing so really it means nothing unless he plays first grade, which is very unlikely.
- Bizlack > slip October 4, 2014 at 11:03am
  
  Ben Ross came back a played for quite a few seasons in a starting first grade rotation.
The royal OON October 3, 2014 at 8:09pm

Is this confirmed ?
- Ham Sammich > The royal OON October 3, 2014 at 8:13pm
  
  Not by the club. I reckon come Feb next year he'll have a profile on the site much like Liam Foran, Ben Jones, Toby Evans, and Evander Cummins did at the start of this year.
- The royal OON > The royal OON October 3, 2014 at 8:18pm
  
  Well fox sports have confirmed it just read it
Danny Crnk it up October 3, 2014 at 8:09pm

He played for us previously didn't he?
- Ham Sammich > Danny Crnk it up October 3, 2014 at 8:13pm
  
  Yeah in 2008.
- ParramAddict > Danny Crnk it up October 3, 2014 at 8:15pm
  
  yeah 1 game back in 2007
The Offside Eel October 3, 2014 at 8:12pm

When Glenn Morrison broke his sternum the season before he signed with us people thought he was done.

Pj marsh 2 years out of the game with a broken neck came back he was a major role in us winning the minor premiership.

It's worth the risk.

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