Manly throw chequebook at Mateo
Andrew Webster | May 24, 2007
Parramatta have thwarted a massive offer from Manly to retain back-rower Feleti Mateo.
The highly-rated 22-year-old has re-signed for three more seasons and was one of five key signings the Eels announced yesterday.
Halfback Tim Smith, prop Josh Cordoba and hooker Matt Keating were signed until the end of 2009, while former Queensland forward Daniel Wagon is likely to complete his NRL career with the club after extending his contract for a further season.
But it was the signature of Mateo that pleased Eels officials the most, with chief executive Denis Fitzgerald trumpeting in a press release: "I'm particularly pleased with the retention of Feleti as I am aware of how keenly sought after he was on the open market, especially with one particular club."
Three clubs are believed to have chased Mateo, with the Sea Eagles offering a deal worth about $240,000 a season.
Mateo - a junior who hails from Lalor Park and has represented Tonga - has impressed the Eels coaching staff in the past eight months and they consider him a star of the future.
He produced a barnstorming display in the Eels' 44-14 thumping of North Queensland at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.
"Given how hard he has worked in the last six to eight months, it was imperative that we re-signed him," Parramatta coach Michael Hagan said last night. "We are delighted to have retained him because we understand there was a lot of interest in signing him.
"He has the potential to develop into a very damaging ball runner and is a player of the future for our club, along with the other players we have re-signed."
Meanwhile, the Storm have been dealt a serious blow with back-rower Michael Crocker expected to be sidelined for a further 12 weeks because of his injured right shoulder.
The Maroons enforcer will undergo surgery on Monday.
Storm physio Mary Toomey said Crocker had a labral tear that was hindering his rehabilitation from an overall shoulder problem.
Toomey said while Crocker should be back for the late NRL rounds and finals, the Queenslander could require more surgery after the season.
"As long as everything goes all right with his rehab there's no reason to think he won't be back in that time," Toomey said.
"It's actually, in the end, going to be very similar to the surgery that Andrew Symonds had and came back from.
"It is possible that they might need to do some more work on it at the end of the season but it will be a case of see how it goes."
Crocker could not be contacted last night but Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said the injury was a huge blow for the premiership favourites.
"He's only played four games this year and we've certainly been able to cover for him but it's a huge loss," Waldron said.
"But if he gets it right now and gets back for the finals that would be a great result for us.
"He's had a horrific run [with injuries] but that's how he plays the game and you're always going to be a victim to your own courage at some time when you play this game and that's what he's suffering from."
Waldron said the club was taking every precaution with the 26-year-old to preserve his future at the club.
"He should have another couple of years with us and it's important we take a long-term view for this," Waldron said.
The future of troubled Canberra half Todd Carney could be decided as early as today.
Carney, who has been charged with serious driving offences after a high-speed chase with police at the weekend, will meet with Raiders officials and coach Neil Henry. While his contract isn't expected to be terminated, he is likely to be suspended, possibly for the remainder of the season.
And Warriors winger Cooper Vuna has been given a release and will join Newcastle immediately.
Andrew Webster | May 24, 2007
Parramatta have thwarted a massive offer from Manly to retain back-rower Feleti Mateo.
The highly-rated 22-year-old has re-signed for three more seasons and was one of five key signings the Eels announced yesterday.
Halfback Tim Smith, prop Josh Cordoba and hooker Matt Keating were signed until the end of 2009, while former Queensland forward Daniel Wagon is likely to complete his NRL career with the club after extending his contract for a further season.
But it was the signature of Mateo that pleased Eels officials the most, with chief executive Denis Fitzgerald trumpeting in a press release: "I'm particularly pleased with the retention of Feleti as I am aware of how keenly sought after he was on the open market, especially with one particular club."
Three clubs are believed to have chased Mateo, with the Sea Eagles offering a deal worth about $240,000 a season.
Mateo - a junior who hails from Lalor Park and has represented Tonga - has impressed the Eels coaching staff in the past eight months and they consider him a star of the future.
He produced a barnstorming display in the Eels' 44-14 thumping of North Queensland at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.
"Given how hard he has worked in the last six to eight months, it was imperative that we re-signed him," Parramatta coach Michael Hagan said last night. "We are delighted to have retained him because we understand there was a lot of interest in signing him.
"He has the potential to develop into a very damaging ball runner and is a player of the future for our club, along with the other players we have re-signed."
Meanwhile, the Storm have been dealt a serious blow with back-rower Michael Crocker expected to be sidelined for a further 12 weeks because of his injured right shoulder.
The Maroons enforcer will undergo surgery on Monday.
Storm physio Mary Toomey said Crocker had a labral tear that was hindering his rehabilitation from an overall shoulder problem.
Toomey said while Crocker should be back for the late NRL rounds and finals, the Queenslander could require more surgery after the season.
"As long as everything goes all right with his rehab there's no reason to think he won't be back in that time," Toomey said.
"It's actually, in the end, going to be very similar to the surgery that Andrew Symonds had and came back from.
"It is possible that they might need to do some more work on it at the end of the season but it will be a case of see how it goes."
Crocker could not be contacted last night but Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said the injury was a huge blow for the premiership favourites.
"He's only played four games this year and we've certainly been able to cover for him but it's a huge loss," Waldron said.
"But if he gets it right now and gets back for the finals that would be a great result for us.
"He's had a horrific run [with injuries] but that's how he plays the game and you're always going to be a victim to your own courage at some time when you play this game and that's what he's suffering from."
Waldron said the club was taking every precaution with the 26-year-old to preserve his future at the club.
"He should have another couple of years with us and it's important we take a long-term view for this," Waldron said.
The future of troubled Canberra half Todd Carney could be decided as early as today.
Carney, who has been charged with serious driving offences after a high-speed chase with police at the weekend, will meet with Raiders officials and coach Neil Henry. While his contract isn't expected to be terminated, he is likely to be suspended, possibly for the remainder of the season.
And Warriors winger Cooper Vuna has been given a release and will join Newcastle immediately.
