Former Parramatta Eels prop Pele Peletelese challenges Currumbin youngsters to oust him from team

One-time NRL prop Pele Peletelese will retire a happy man if Currumbin’s emerging brigade can force him out of the club’s top 17.

ONE-TIME NRL prop Pele Peletelese will retire a happy man if Currumbin’s emerging brigade can force him out of the club’s top 17.

With several of their veterans hanging up the boots at the end of last season, there is a considerably younger vibe about the Eagles’ Rugby League Gold Coast A-grade squad in 2019.

Peletelese and captain Phil Ramage are among the last older heads standing, and that’s a scenario the former Eel is comfortable with.

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“I like giving back to grassroots footy and mentoring these young kids coming through our system,” the 34-year-old said.

“Currumbin has got a great junior system. We have got a lot of 20s boys that took out the under-19s title last year.

Currumbin’s Pele Peletelese takes a hit-up against Runaway Bay last year. Picture: Jerad Williams

“There’s a lot of young boys there. I mentioned it to them the other day: You boys can push me out of my spot and I’d be a happy man to retire. I’d love to see that.

“There’s a handful of 20s that are playing this year, which is refreshing.

“I think you need a couple of old heads in there just to steer the team around the park. With the likes of Daniel Mortimer there too, he just adds more direction.

“With his calibre in the game, it’s only going to lead to great things at the back of the season for us.”

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Currumbin clinched the minor premiership last season before a straight sets exit from finals.

Having been impressed with his side’s defence through the opening four rounds, Peletelese believes they can contend even better this time around.

“If we can hold the ball and get to a kick on our last, I think it will be hard for teams to keep up with us,” he said.

Peletelese played one NRL game for Parramatta in 2010. Picture: Mike Batterham

“Last year we were on a roll from the start, we were winning every game and leading up to the back end of the season where it was crucial, that’s when things started to fall apart for us. “I would prefer to have a few losses at the start of the year.”

The Eagles have a 2-2 record heading into their Saturday afternoon home game against Runaway Bay, who will field a significantly reshuffled line up.

Bay have been forced to select a makeshift halves pairing of lock Tane Rapira and centre Keanu Rimene given that playmakers Jimmy Poland, Steve Rooney, Alan White and Shaun Nipperess are all unavailable.

In Sunday action, Bilambil will host Tugun while Southport are at home against unbeaten Burleigh.