There is speculation mounting that the Eels won’t promote promising halfback Ethan Sanders to first grade because of an impending move to a rival club.
The Eels are in the midst of a halves dilemma since Origin rep Mitch Moses fractured his foot. Five-eighth Dylan Brown has moved to halfback but has failed to move the needle in that position.
Youngster Blaize Talagi played the last two games at six, but he has since been dropped for the more experienced Daejarn Asi ahead of this weekend’s clash against North Queensland.
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“The experience Blaize has got from the NRL, he’ll really benefit from that and he’s done a good job for us, but at the moment as a team we need a bit more experience alongside Dylan in the halves, and Daejarn has that,” Eels coach Brad Arthur told the SMH.
Sanders is an uncapped 19-year-old who is plying his trade in Parramatta’s winless NSW Cup team.
With the Eels lacking direction in Moses’ absence, calls are growing louder for Sanders, a natural organiser with a solid kicking game, to come into the side so Brown can move back to five-eighth.
However, journalist Brent Read said on NRL 360 said Arthur reportedly has some hang-ups with Sanders’ game at the moment.
“I’m told he’s got some concerns around Ethan’s defensive abilities and ability around the wrestle and winning the ruck,” Read said.
“I find it strange to be honest. The speculation is because he’s leaving the club at the end of the year. He’s in talks with Canberra and can’t resume those talks until after this weekend.”
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“It wouldn’t be because of that though would it? When you are desperate and there’s a guy sitting there who can do the job,” NRL360 co-host Braith Anasta said.
“It’s not the first time it has happened though,” Paul Kent said.
“I’ll tell you why I find it strange, is because Ethan Sanders has a very good kicking game and the one thing that has been missing for the Eels since Moses got injured is there kicking game. It’s basically not effective.
“I would as a coach to back myself is at least hide him in the defensive line so he wouldn’t get exposed too much, given the club desperately needs his toolkit.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie then reported that Sanders will sign a contract for next year with the Raiders after Round 6.
As per the recently changed NRL rules, Sanders can’t negotiate with rival clubs until the end of Round 6. He had reportedly been in talks with the Raiders last season.
“Round 6 he’ll sign the contract, he’ll go straight away,” Ritchie said.
“Because the reason he’s not going to get picked right now is that he’ll sign with the Raiders in Round 6 and ask for an immediate release?” Kent asked.
“No I’m not saying that, I’m saying it’s a possibility,” Ritchie replied.
Kent went onto say that if Arthur is being stubborn and not picking Sanders because of a move elsewhere, he is “sacrificing” the Eels’ season.
“Parramatta can lose control of their season very quickly while Mitch Moses is out if they don’t fix what is happening at the club right now,” he said.
“We don’t know how long he’ll be out, but if they lose all six games he’s out, suddenly their season looks very bleak.
“To do that out of stubbornness because you don’t want to pick a bloke because he’s leaving the club next year, I get the sentiment, but he’s sacrificing his club to punish the player and sacrificing therefore, the rest of his own players staying at the club.”
“I don’t think that’s the reason Brad is doing it. I think Brad doesn’t think he’s ready and got better options,” Read opined.
“I’m sure Brad thinks Daejarn Asi will do a better job this week.”
While Read says he doesn’t think Sanders isn’t getting picked out of spite, he thinks he should be who the Eels roll with.
He added that the fact Asi has been selected ahead of the teenager goes against what Sanders was promised by the club last year.
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“Last year the Eels sat down with him in contract talks and Sanders walked out of those talks believing he was promised if Mitch or Dylan Brown went down, he’d be next in line,” Read said.
“This happened last year. Six months later, Mitch has gone down and they’ve gone with someone else.
“They’ve plucked Daejarn Asi out of reserve grade but they haven’t won a game all year so you can’t point to the reserve grade team and go well ‘Daejarn is going better than him’. They haven’t won a game.
“I looked at their stats today and Ethan Sanders is going every bit as good as Daejarn Asi. So Brad Arthur obviously doesn’t believe he’s ready.”
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