Parramatta Eels backrower Andrew Davey will make his NRL debut at 28
Parramatta have turned to a 28-year-old carpenter to patch up holes in the Eels’ injury affected team to face Manly, in an NRL debut almost 29 years in the making.
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Parramatta will turn to one of the oldest debutants in NRL history for Saturday night’s clash against Manly with Brad Arthur set to hand 28-year old backrower Andrew Davey a long-awaited first grade jersey.
With Ryan Matterson sidelined by a finger injury the Eels will turn to Davey, a former carpenter who moved to Sydney from Townsville two years ago for one last shot at the big time, to patch up their forward stocks.
At 28 years and 233 days, Davey will fall just seven months short of becoming the oldest debutant in the NRL era.
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That honour goes to Darren Nicholls, who made his debut in the halves for St George Illawarra at 29 years and 80 days old in 2018.
Utility Brad Takairangi will replace Matterson on the right edge with Davey to come in on the bench. Matterson could have pushed to play, but with the club facing a five-day turnaround ahead of next week’s match against the Wests Tigers, the Eels have opted to rest him.
That opens the door for Davey, who has taken the long road to the top.
News of his debut leaked out before the Eels coaching staff had a chance to tell Davey themselves, but after a lifetime of waiting there’s little that could take the shine off Davey’s achievement.
Originally hailing from Emerald in central Queensland, Davey played A-grade in Mackay before earning a trial with Queensland Cup side the Mackay Cutters.
After winning the club’s rookie of the year award at 25, Davey eventually headed to Townsville for a stint with the Blackhawks.
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Eventually, Parra came calling and after a season with feeder club Wentworthville Davey will now fulfil a dream he no doubt thought had passed him by.
“My manager (Sam Ayoub) approached Parramatta when they said they were looking for a backrower,” Davey said before the NSW Cup grand final last year.
“It didn’t take much to convince me to come. From a kid who was playing bush footy four years before that, I didn’t think I would make it in the Queensland Cup, let alone the NRL.
“I thought that ship had sailed a long time ago. It’s rare to sign your first professional contract a month before you turn 27.”
STATE OF O-REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD
- By Dean Ritchie
HE has overcome two broken jaws, a crisis of confidence and change of clubs but big Reggie is again ready to play State of Origin.
NSW chief adviser Greg Alexander says Reagan Campbell-Gillard has powered his way back into contention and the Parramatta enforcer’s numbers this year support his claim.
Fox Sports Stats has Campbell-Gillard posting career-high averages per game in runs (16), run metres (153) and tackle busts (1.3).
In the past three weeks alone he has run for a staggering 635 metres — 233 in round seven, 192 in round eight and 210 in round nine.
He has also completed 26 tackles per match this year.
Campbell-Gillard’s monumental efforts have impressed Alexander, whose NSW side will be shooting for a three-peat over Queensland later this year.
NSW used props Paul Vaughan, David Klemmer and Daniel Saifiti last year. Locks Jake Trbojevic and Dale Finucane also played in the middle, as did Cam Murray, while Payne Haas played in Origin I.
Campbell-Gillard will need to take his form to another level to dislodge the incumbents but he has been strong and aggressive.
“Reg is playing good again,” Alexander said. “I think he’s back to his 2018 form when he was one of the first front-rowers picked. He is back to running at full tilt.”
Two broken jaws rocked Campbell-Gillard and halted his Origin momentum.
After playing just one game for the Blues in 2018, he suffered his first broken jaw in a collision with Sydney Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and needed to have 10 screws and two plates inserted.
Then in December that year, Campbell-Gillard cracked his jaw during off-season training.
More disappointment followed last year when Penrith offloaded an unhappy Campbell-Gillard to Parramatta.
However, the five-year contract he signed with Parramatta has been a godsend for the player and the Eels, who have lost just one match all season to lead the competition.
“The two broken jaws over a period might have put a dent in his confidence,” Alexander said. “But he looks confident again now and he’s mobile. He moves well laterally as well.”
Just a month ago, Campbell-Gillard said: “I’m in a really good mindset, the body’s feeling really good.
“I’ve always had a few niggling injuries over the few years but there’s nothing wrong this season. Touch wood.”
Alexander said the incumbent players who had helped NSW to consecutive Origin series wins would be a “fair way in front” in the selection race but Campbell-Gillard will look to close that gap a little more when the Eels play old rivals Manly on Saturday night at Lottoland.
There is no time to lose because, as Alexander said, “Origin will be here before we know it”.