Former Eel Isaac De Gois laced up the boots 225 times in the NRL and now he is heading up the Club’s biggest junior rep trials in search of the game’s next great player.
De Gois himself worked his way into the NRL through the pathways system, and is now giving back as the Eels’ Pathways Recruitment and Retention Manager.
“We’re a pathways Club, you look at the kids who have come through the pathways like Dylan Brown, Junior Paulo, Ruby-Jean Kennard and so on.”
“They started here and have moved all the way up through the system,” De Gois said.
The Club hasn’t held junior rep trials in two years due to Covid.
More than 600 up and comers are this week trialling for the under 16s development team, under 15s development team, under 14s development team, Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale teams.
The players are nominated to trial from local rugby league clubs in the catchment area.
The opportunity affords young talent to see the standard of football in the area and pull on a Parra jersey for the night.
“I was lucky enough to be coached by really good coaches in pathways,” De Gois said.
“Being a youngster around high calibre coaching and rep level footy brings out the best in you.
“If you’re willing to put in the hard work you’ll see the rewards,” he said.
The week-long long event is in alignment with the Eels’ development club philosophy.
“Our junior league is important to us and, following a couple of interrupted seasons due to Covid, it is pleasing to provide an opportunity for our young men and women to trial for our development and junior rep squads,” Eels General Manager of Football Mark O’Neill said.
“Many current Eels NRL players have come through this pathway and we look forward with great anticipation to unearthing the next generation of home grown NRL and NRLW players,” he said.
All trials will be facilitated at McCredie Park Guildford and wrap up on Sunday.
