Eels five-eighth Jaeman Salmon’s powerful drink driving message

Parramatta rookie Jaeman Salmon considers himself lucky after hitting three cars and flipping his own vehicle with a blood alcohol reading of 0.068. Now he’s telling his teammates why.

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Jaeman Salmon stood in front of his teammates and delivered a presentation about the impact his drink-driving charge had on him.

As part of his punishment, Salmon had to give PowerPoint presentations to the NRL and under-20s squad detailing the consequences of his incident last year.

The 20-year-old was lucky to have escaped serious injury after hitting three cars and flipping his own vehicle with a blood alcohol reading of 0.068. The Eels board hit him with a suspended $10,000 fine and he was banned from playing in round one.

Salmon has been forced to think about his actions. Image: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

“I told the team and the under-20s boys about the events that occurred with my incident,’’ Salmon said. “They listened well. I wasn’t too nervous with the NRL boys because I’m with them every day.

“I was more nervous with the under-20s boys because they are my age. I don’t know them too well. They were really good. They had plenty of questions.”

Each presentation went for about 20 minutes. Salmon said he delivered core messages to his teammates.

“From me how much I’ve matured from the incident,” Salmon said. “And key messages like having your mate’s back, how much you’re drinking and always making sure you’re not driving the next day.

“(I had) a presentation with slides and key info about what happened. It wasn’t too much writing, just me talking.

“It’s probably the first one I’ve done since school. I forgot how to use it.

“There was a lot of talking in that 20 minutes.”

The learning process will help Salmon on and off the field. Image: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

The incident cost Salmon a near certain starting spot in round one. He spent a large chunk of the pre-season training at centre but instead has found himself back in the No.6 jersey after an injury to boom teen Dylan Brown.

“Mitch (Moses) has been helping me out a lot on the field,” Salmon said. “For him to lead the team around and I just play off the back of him. He is doing most of the work. It’s been a good opportunity for me playing at six.

“This off-season I didn’t spent much time there at all. I spent most of the time at centres. An opportunity opened up at six so I’ve slotted straight in. Having not played there in the off-season was a bit hard to get used to the first couple of games.

The playmaker has plenty of potential, wherever he plays. Image: Matt Blyth/Getty Images

“I’m slowly finding my feet. Some days I think I’m a six, some days I think I’m a centre. At the moment I would like to keep playing six. When Dyl (Brown) comes back I don’t know what will happen. He is a great player so if he slots back into the six so be it. I’m going to keep doing my job and if that’s at six that’s at six. If it’s at centre it’s at centre. I’ll play in any position.”

Salmon will again line up at five-eighth against a desperate Newcastle side today who are under increasing pressure having won just once this year. Salmon said his said had spoken about the prospect of being ambushed by an under-fire Knights side.

“They are playing for their season,” Salmon said. “We know they will come out firing. We are ready for a big game.”