Eels Announce New Appointments for 2016

Author: parraeels.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 15 Oct 2015, 05:00 PM

The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have today announced the appointment of a club Chief Medical Officer, along with the creation of two specialised roles within the football department.

Dr Louis Shidiak MBBS FRACS (Orth) FAOA B. Appl. Sc. (Physio) has been appointed as the Blue and Gold’s Chief Medical Officer, commencing at the club from the 2016 pre-season.

Along with Dr Shidiak’s appointment, the Eels have appointed strength coach Jarrod Wade and contact coach Brett O’Farrell to begin working with the club’s NRL squad from November.

The two new roles in the Eels’ football department will extend the specialised skill and power development of its playing roster and complement the existing training and coaching staff, headed up by Physical Performance Manager, Paul Devlin.

“Revamping our structure inside the football department, as well as at the executive management level, is all part of our ongoing aim to ensure that our processes, governance and performances are always at the highest level,” said Acting CEO John Boulous.

“Dr Shidiak has an incredible wealth of experience that will help us look at player safety, player welfare, medical processes and reporting in a cohesive way across the club,” Boulous said.

“It’s also vital for future success that the club looks right across professional sport to find the best candidates to work with our playing roster, and I’m excited to see what Brad Arthur and his team can achieve for this club.”

Throughout 2015, the Eels have also introduced internal structures to formalise player involvement and engagement in issues of player welfare and education, including the Welfare and Education Committee, comprised of Welfare and Education Manager Matt Francis, player representative David Gower, PNRL Director Geoff Gerard, Acting CEO John Boulous, Head of Football Operations Daniel Anderson, Luke Burt from the Eels’ coaching staff, Eels Career Coach Dean Feeney, Dr Jioji Ravulo of the University of Western Sydney, and the NRL’s Paul Heptonstall.

The Eels are also pleased to announce that Joseph Grima will be head coach of the Eels’ partner club, the Wentworthville Magpies NSW Cup side, while club legend Luke Burt has been appointed head coach of the Eels’ Holden Cup team. Video analyst Craig Crossman and Head Trainer Craig Sultana have also been added to the Eels’ NRL coaching staff.

About our New Appointments:

Chief Medical Officer - Dr. Louis Shidiak MBBS FRACS (Orth) FAOA B. Appl. Sc. (Physio)

Dr Louis Shidiak is an orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty interests in hip and knee arthroplasty (anterior hips), hip preservation and sports injuries including hip arthroscopy. Dr Shidiak has also been the doctor to the Parramatta and Wentworthville Rugby League clubs.

Strength Coach – Jarrod Wade

Jarrod Wade joins the Eels after working in the AFL for more than eight years as both a rehabilitation coach for Essendon, and performance analyst for Geelong Football Club. Wade’s focus has included the reduction of soft tissue injury rates in elite athletes in the AFL.

Contact Coach – Brett O’Farrell

Brett O’Farrell is a former NRL player for the Melbourne Storm, Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks, and champion Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Freestyle Wrestling competitor. O’Farrell’s specialty is coaching defensive and offensive contact for athletes in rugby league, rugby union and AFL.

Head Trainer – Craig Sultana

Craig Sultana joins the Blue and Gold from his role as Head Trainer at the Melbourne Storm. Sultana joined the Storm in 2006, working with the club’s Premiership-winning Holden Cup side in 2009, and has also worked as a trainer for representative sides including the Junior Kangaroos.

NSW Cup Coach – Joey Grima

Joey Grima returns to Parramatta from London, where he was head coach of the London Broncos in the Super League. Grima has a long-standing relationship with the Parramatta Eels, including coaching at District Representative, Under 20s and Premier League level. Grima has also worked as an assistant coach at Cronulla and St George-Illawarra.

Under 20s Coach – Luke Burt

Former Parramatta Eels winger Luke Burt steps into the role of Holden Cup Head Coach for 2016 after two years working as a specialist outside backs coach for the NRL squad. Burt played 264 NRL games for the Blue and Gold, and holds the record of most tries scored for the club, 124 in total.

Video Analyst – Craig Crossman

Craig Crossman joins the Parramatta Eels coaching staff from the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, having also worked in video analysis for the Wests Tigers and sports statistics at NRL Stats.