The Parramatta Eels will begin their 2019 campaign this week with the Blue & Gold pre-season officially getting underway.
The Eels squad will officially return to the action on Thursday 1 November 2018 with new recruits Shaun Lane, Maika Sivo and Andrew Davey donning the Blue & Gold for the first time.
Lane joins the Eels on a two-year contract in 2019 following previous stints with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New Zealand Warriors and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. The twenty-three year old back-rower was the equal leading Sea Eagles try scorer with nine tries from 24 appearances in 2018.
Sivo joins the Blue & Gold for two seasons from the Penrith Panthers Intrust Super Premiership NSW side. The Fijian born winger grew up playing rugby union and represented Fiji in the Under 20s Junior World Championships in 2014 before making the switch to rugby league in 2015. He crossed for nine tries from his 13 appearances in 2018.
Davey, a 27-year-old rangy second rower also joins the Blue & Gold in 2019 from the Townsville Blackhawks where he had 14 appearances throughout the season.
Parramatta local junior Junior Paulo will return to the Club after three seasons at the Canberra Raiders. Signing a four year contract with the Eels earlier this year, Paulo has played over 50 games with the Blue & Gold, making his NRL debut with the Club in 2013.
Due to his 2018 campaign finishing in early October with the premiership winning Sydney Roosters, new recruit Blake Ferguson will join the Eels for pre-season in late November.
Click here to see the Eels 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership Draw announced last week.
Earlier this month, the Eels also confirmed one of their pre-season trial matches ahead of the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership season. The Eels will take on the Penrith Panthers at Panthers Stadium on Saturday 2 March. Click through for more details.
