Whaitura Signs with Eels

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/whatuira-puts-troubles-behind-him-to-join-eels-rebuilding-push-20101216-18zl9.htmlGlenn JacksonDecember 17, 2010Incentive deal ... Paul Whatuira will return to the NRL after a turbulent three-year stint with Huddersfield. Photo: Getty ImagesPARRAMATTA are poised to sign former New Zealand centre Paul Whatuira as the club tries to rebound from the departures of Timana Tahu and Eric Grothe.Whatuira agreed to a one-year deal yesterday - with an option in the Eels' favour for 2012 - and will formally sign with the club subject to a medical on Monday. The dual premiership winner was set to retire after a three-year stint with Super League club Huddersfield before a meeting with new Eels coach Stephen Kearney, a former teammate, gave him an NRL lifeline.''It's good to be back,'' Whatuira said yesterday, shortly after agreeing to a modest deal, which includes incentives. ''It's a good opportunity for me to try and establish myself back in the NRL. It's been three years, and I'm really looking forward to it.Advertisement: Story continues below''I always thought I'd come back and hopefully finish up in the NRL. It's a great opportunity Parramatta have given me … it's a great club with tradition, and they've got some quality players there. I've still got that hunger and I'm still willing to learn, and I'm just stoked.''I was contemplating retirement, but one door closes and another one opens. Losing Timana was a big loss for the club, and Eric Grothe announcing his retirement is a huge loss too, but that's given me an opportunity to try and work my way back into the system. It's great timing.''After losing a host of players from their 2010 squad, culminating in the expected departure of Tahu and the retirement of Grothe, the Eels this week signed former Manly winger Chris Hicks, who had been playing at Warrington, and there had even been suggestions former Bulldogs winger Matt Utai might be eyeing off a deal at the club.Alongside Whatuira, the Eels have also offered a lifeline to another experienced outside back, Chris Walker. Both will be gambles on Kearney's part. Kearney decided to take the punt on Whatuira, who won premierships in 2003 and 2005 with Penrith and Wests Tigers respectively, after talks on Tuesday. Whatuira made his Test debut in 2004 alongside Kearney and was a club teammate at Melbourne in 2001.''He's definitely a coach that I want to learn off,'' Whatuira said. ''I know they've been working hard in the pre-season, and I definitely see Parramatta as a club on the rise.''Jarryd Hayne's a freak. It'll be awesome to play alongside him. And Nathan Hindmarsh is a great leader. It's definitely a club on the rise, and they've definitely got the talent there. I just want to try and work hard and be a part of it.''Whatuira's comeback is stirring given the bouts of depression which resulted in his arrest for assaulting two Huddersfield fans last year and a subsequent stint in a psychiatric hospital. The 29-year-old was reluctant to discuss the ordeal yesterday but said his life had turned around after the birth of his daughter, Gabrielle, who is almost one.His move will bring him closer to his family, as well as that of his wife Vanessa. But Whatuira was not about to get carried away with his impending shot at an NRL return.''I'm not going to promise anything,'' Whatuira said. ''I just want to give it my best shot. I know I'm going to have to work hard and put my head down. It's something I really feel that I can achieve. I don't expect to jump straight into the squad. I know they've got some quality centres there. I'm just going to have to fit into the set-up and work hard and bide my time.''

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  • not a bad signing , im happy with it

  • Looks like your christmas presents come early Phil.

     

    Would be a good signing if it eventuates.

  • This is a good signing and I know Phil has been a fan of signing Whatuira as per previous blogs. Thanks EE for the article. Let's hope Whatuira has his head right-I know he had some issues a while back

  • I personally believe this is a great signing for us; if he trains well and has his issues under control then he would be a star performer for us in the centres.

  • who has the oldest team in the nrl now? us or the titans?

  • hmmm, interesting.

     

    better than Hicks IMO

  • :-)

     

    Perfect. Established representative centre, who with a solid pre-season under his belt should produce some good form, and will be able to pass on his knowledge to the likes of Loko. A signing made with the big picture in mind and in a bad situation, it's a pretty good result.

     

    Now who took my bet that Whatuira is who we'd sign?

     

    That will do me - we've got solid depth in all other positions now - time to use that money we have left under the cap to restructure some deals and leave us as much money to go after someone like Quade Cooper next year. Unless something unfolds with Orford I don't see any better options out there than what we have.


    Now if we moved Jarryd to six, I'd be a happy man again

     

    1. Burt 2. Hicks 3. Whatuira 4. Reddy 5. Walker 6. Hayne 7. Robson/Mortimer/Humble

  • And good luck to Paul. He's had his share of well publicised dramas, but we all hope he's able to come out the other side of that and finish his career with his flourish

  • a good solid centre. I think whaitura and hicks will be our centres. they are both good quality, solid players who will miss minimal tackles and run good lines. We are definately in front from last year. All good.

  • Whatuira can play centre and wing, so it's good cover for the loss of Tahu, plus it gives us some experience on in the centres with either Reddy or Hicks.
    Quite a good signing.
    Looking forward to seeing him in action.

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