Dyldam Parramatta Eels lock Anthony Watmough is set to become the 23rd player to reach the milestone of 300 first grade games on Monday night when the Eels take on the Storm at AAMI Park for their Round 14 clash.
Whilst the Eels suffered a 36-30 defeat to the Cowboys, Watmough will be keen to turn things around this week in his milestone game.
“It is a big honour and not many players have done it before, but it would have been better to do it on the back of a win. It will be better to get the win down there,” Watmough said.
“The body is feeling every one of the 299 games but it’s what we do and what we get paid to do and you have to get used to playing with the injuries week in week out.” Watmough added.
“We are in it up to our eyeballs again on the weekend so it will be good to get a win away in number 300.”
The Eels have had an honest video review session earlier in the week before they were put through their paces in a tough session under the watchful eye of Head Coach Brad Arthur.
“We have had a tough D session, a few bumps and bruises on the face, but we know where we have to get better and know where we have to improve,” Watmough said.
“It’s another one we threw away.”
“Everyone trains hard, but it’s a matter of taking it from the gym and on the mats into the field. We just haven’t been playing our best.” Watmough added.
Milestone men: Watmough and Norman
Whilst the loss against the Cowboys was ‘horrible’ according to Watmough, the Blue and Gold will need to learn from the clash as they head into their Round 14 clash against the Melbourne Storm.
“Last Monday was pretty horrible. Nobody played the best in our second half and nothing went right for us. We didn’t get the bounce of the ball, but in saying that, that’s footy and this week we get another crack at it.”
“We are not where we want to be but in saying that we are not far off. We put 30 points on them and it’s just little lapses. We have to get better at closing out games and I suppose that is part of being a young team in general. We will get better and learn from it. “
“They had 11 sets to our two and they are a quality team. Johnathon Thurston on the front foot will do that to any team and we just weren’t good enough. All we had to do was stop it for one set but not much went right for us and it’s another learning curve.”
With Watmough set to play his 300th on Monday night, the forward will be looking forward to celebrating the special occasion with his family.
“I was lucky enough to play in Steve Menzies 300th game and it is a massive achievement that I am very honoured to play as many games as I have,” Watmough said.
“A lot of people would of thought I would have been kicked out a long time ago but I am still here and still kicking,”
“It is special and my family have bought me little gifts but I won’t open them yet because I haven’t played, but Monday night, I will fly them all down there and it will be pretty special to celebrate it with them.”
