New Eel Tom Opacic in box seat to replace banned centre Michael Jennings

One of the main contenders to replace Michael Jennings has conceded he won’t be there in round one, opening the door for one of the newest Eels.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 18: Tom Opacic of Parramatta runs the ball during the NRL trial match between the Parramatta Eels and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on February 18, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Tom Opacic is set to win the race to replace Michael Jennings on the Eels’ left edge with speedster Haze Dunster conceding the former Cowboy is likely to line-up in round one against Brisbane.

Dunster was one of the contenders to replace Jennings – who is banned under the NRL’s anti-doping rules – but the 21-year old told The Daily Telegraph that coach Brad Arthur prefers to play him on the wing.

Journeyman Michael Oldfield was also a potential replacement for Jennings but will now miss at least the first four rounds after suffering an MCL injury in last Saturday’s trial match against St George Illawarra.

“Yep [he’s likely to play in round one], Tom has been training at centre,” Dunster said.

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Tom Opacic impressed during last weekend’s trial against the St George Illawarra Dragons.

“I’ve been training on the wing. I hope to move into the centres eventually but for now I just want to perfect my craft and get more game time and if that is on the wing then I am happy to do that.

“But when the opportunity comes up, I’ll be putting my hand up.”

Jennings’ unavailability means the Eels go into the season missing his 298 games of experience.

But Dunster believes Opacic has what it takes to fill the void left by Jennings.

“On the weekend against the Dragons he scored a nice try and ran a nice line off Will Smith, he finished that off real nice,” Dunster said.

“He makes some good defensive reads.

“I don’t think there is going to be much of a gap between Jenko [Jennings] and Tom. He’s going to fit in there real well.”

Dunster is one of 13 players off contract at the end of the season. The youngster told The Daily Telegraph that he is close to securing his future at the club.

“I want to stay here 100 per cent. The club and my manager are sorting stuff out right now. Hopefully we’ll come to an agreement soon and it’s all sorted,” Dunster said.

Haze Dunster has conceded he won’t fill Michael Jennings’ shoes, come round 1. Picture: Richard Dobson

While Dunster might not be the man replacing Jennings in round one, the Eels junior was the man called on in the 11th hour to replace Jennings in last year’s 38-24 semi final loss to South Sydney.

Arthur made the last minute phone call to inform Dunster he would be making his NRL debut after a tumultuous week for the club.

Arthur had already lost wingers Maika Sivo and Blake Ferguson to injury when news broke on the morning of the semi final that Jennings had been banned.

“I found out the morning of the semi final. I had no idea at all. I did the Captain’s run the day before the game so I knew what the team was going to be with Jenko and Waqa Blake on the wing so expecting a cruisy day” Dunster said.

“But that morning I got a call, lucky I checked it because it was Brad … I almost ignored it.

“He asked me what I had done the night before. I said I’d only watched a movie and he said ‘good, because you’re going to play today’.

Despite going down to the Rabbitohs, a debut in a finals series has given Dunster all the motivation needed to work towards cementing a more permanent role in Arthur’s side.

“Getting that first taste is addictive. You get a taste and you want more,” Dunster said.

Originally published as New Eel Tom Opacic in box seat to replace banned centre Michael Jennings