Dyldam Parramatta Eels forward Kelepi Tanginoa feels back at home in the Blue and Gold.
The 21 year old returns to the forward pack of the Eels from one season at the North Queensland Cowboys, after making his first grade debut in Blue and Gold in 2013 where he played 13 games.
“I am excited to be back. It’s a privilege to come back to where you started from and I know most of the boys so it’s pretty good to come back and feel like you are at home,” Tanginoa said.
“I know most of the players here. I have been here for a few years now,” Tanginoa added.
“I went away last year, but I’m back and I’m really excited to see what is going to happen in 2016.”
Tanginoa knows there is plenty of depth and stiff competition in the Eels forward pack in 2016, however the forward was keen to work hard and push himself during the pre-season to try and cement his spot ahead of the season.
“There’s a lot of competition but I’m really looking forward to the year ahead,” Tanginoa said.
“I am just taking it day by day. I just turn up to training and train as best as I can and hopefully I can push my name forward for the pre-season trials,” he added.
“I am not looking too far ahead.”
Week Two Pre-season Training Gallery
In the Eels forward pack are NRL veterans Anthony Watmough and new recruit Beau Scott, and Tanginoa was eager to get in their ear and soak up as much experience as he can.
“They have a lot of experience and of course I will be looking to get into their ear,” Tanginoa said of Scott and Watmough.
“I am just soaking in all the experience they have, and it’s exciting to come to training when you know you are learning. I think that is what training is about, always learning new stuff, so it’s been good.”
“It is probably the toughest first week I have ever had in pre-season, I can’t lie there. It keeps the body ticking and I’m really looking forward to what next week is going to bring.” Tanginoa added.
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