NRL 2022: Parramatta Eels teammates reveal scary new nickname for Will Penisini

Rugby league history is littered with talented teens who couldn’t turn a cameo into a career - does Parramatta’s Will Penisini have what it takes to avoid that trap?

Will Penisini has been dubbed ‘Young Mike’ in reference to Michael Jennings. Picture: Grant Trouville

Exciting Eels centre Will Penisini has been answering to a new name over summer.

“Will Penisini is a beast. We’ve been calling him ‘Young Mike” at training,’’ Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson said.

“The way he moves, he’s so similar to (Michael) Jennings. Will’s got the same build as Jenko (Jennings).

“If you had to split them, Jenko may have been a bit lighter on his feet and a little bit faster.

“Whereas Will has got a little bit more power and strength, but no doubt the similarities are there.’’

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The flick pass that put the NRL on notice last year.

Gutherson’s comparison to Jennings – the former NSW State of Origin and Test centre – is music to the ears of Parramatta fans after a torrid off-season that has included the club’s painstaking bid to hold on to their best talent.

Luckily for the Eels, Penisini is locked in until 2023 as he prepares for a long future in the blue and gold.

A graduate of the prestigious King’s School in Sydney’s west, Penisini was signed by the Eels on a development contract at 14 – just four years after his first junior league game. His name has been in the black book of Parramatta’s coaches ever since.

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The 19-year-old showed he was up to playing NRL with five appearances in first grade last season, with two semi-final matches gaining him valuable experience.

His emergence into a regular starting spot in the Eels backline in 2022 is never more timely after the exits in the off-season of outside backs Blake Ferguson, Michael Oldfield and Jennings.

Will Penisini has been dubbed ‘Young Mike’ in reference to Michael Jennings. Picture: Grant Trouville

“The way he goes about his business, for such a young kid in only his second pre-season, he’s come back in great shape and doing some damage already,’’ Gutherson said.

“He’s still learning and finding his way with week-to-week NRL.

“That’s the hardest thing as a kid, playing week to week with consistency.

“For a young kid to be doing what he did at the back-end of last year in huge games it’s pretty special.

“He managed five games at the back-end of last season, but to be able to play 26, 27, 28-games, that’s a different story and we’ll have to manage that.’’

The Eels skipper confirmed positions in the backline were up for grabs in 2022.

“Alongside Will, we’ve still got Waqa Blake, Maika (Sivo) to come back (between rounds 10 to 12), Tommy Opacic, Sean Russell and Haze Dunster, who also played a lot of footy for us last year.

“It gives us some healthy competition at training.

“To be able to push for that spot with Maika out for the first few rounds, there’s going to be two spots up for grabs for starting wingers.’’

Originally published as NRL 2022: Parramatta Eels teammates reveal scary new nickname for Will Penisini