Dyldam Parramatta Eels forward Pauli Pauli represented the Blue and Gold at the 2015 NRL Telstra Premiership campaign launch, and with the season a week away, the 120kg wrecking ball is raring to go in 2015.
“I’m very excited about the season ahead and I can’t wait for the season to start and see all the boys rip in,” Pauli said.
“I’m raring to go.” He added.
Pauli, who will be playing his second year of First Grade in 2015, is excited for the season to get underway after a long preseason, which began back in November 2014.
However, the 20 year old knows that the hard work off the field is only part of the job, and the Blue and Gold will be looking to put into practice what they have learnt during the pre-season.
“I’m glad the preseason is over now,” Pauli laughed.
“All the tough work is done but it’s now time to apply what we have learnt during the pre-season.”
“I’m very positive for all the boys as well because we have trained hard during our preseason and I’m glad how far we have come and how close we have come as a team”
Pauli has spent the past few weeks featuring in the Eels trial matches, including appearances in the Auckland Nines, Wests Tigers trial match at Alice Springs and last weekend’s successful trial against the Penrith Panthers.
With the Eels kicking off their 2015 NRL Telstra Premiership campaign on Friday 6 March, Pauli is hoping he will be a part of the Blue and Gold season opener.
“Manly are a good side. Hopefully we get the better of them and get on top and come away with the win in Round One,” Pauli said.
“Physically I think I am there but I know I still need to work on a few things, like my fitness, so hopefully I can get it up to the standard it needs to be so I can get picked every week” he added.
The young forward, who will be looking to make a big impact in his second year in the NRL, has credited new Eels recruit Anthony Watmough for vast improvements to his game, and the rest of the forward pack, over the past few months.
“Anthony Watmough has been a big thing for the Club and me as well. Just the experience to have him around, because he is good at encouraging a lot of us younger kids coming up the ranks” Pauli said.
“I am picking up a lot, and learning new things and new techniques from him and he’s been a really big help for me this year” he said.
