Eels recruit Joe Ofahengaue’s bizarre week ends in disaster

He started the week with a record win in Wests Tigers colours but Joe Ofahengaue’s week has turned into a nightmare for Parramatta.

Joe Ofahengaue’s Parramatta Eels debut has ended in disaster just minutes into the match, capping a rollercoaster fortnight for the veteran forward.

The former Maroons forward lasted just 10 minutes before leaving the field and heading straight up the tunnel.

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It was not a good sign for the new recruit who had only joined earlier in the week, who was initially given a “50-50” chance to return.

But it was soon revealed he had succumbed to a calf injury and was ruled out of the match.

It’s bad news for the Eels, who are short on props with Reagan Campbell-Gillard out through a long-term groin injury and Junior Paulo on Origin duty for NSW.

At halftime, the score is 6-all after the Eels hit back after the Cowboys scored early through fullback Scott Drinkwater.

At halftime, Greg Alexander said of the injury: “What a blow”.

Ofahengaue has had a bizarre fortnight which started when he reportedly agreed to join the Eels ahead of their round 12 clash against the Rabbitohs.

While he would have played NSW Cup on debut for the Eels, instead he played first grade for the Wests Tigers after his previous club refused to release him.

The Tigers were short on troops as well and brought Ofahengaue into the starting side, as the 27-year-old scored a try and ran 97m in the club record 66-18 thrashing of the North Queensland Cowboys.

He scored his first try of the season last week. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

And went off with injury this week. Photo: Fox Sports

But while he would have been hoping for a repeat of last week’s heroics in his new colours, Ofahengaue appeared to have used all his good fortune in round 12.

It adds to the Eels nightmare injury crisis which sees the likes of Andrew Davey, Ryan Matterson, Campbell-Gillard and Shaun Lane all sidelined through injury.

The Eels are Ofahengaue’s third club in the NRL after playing 105 matches for the Broncos and 56 games for the Tigers.

He has also represented Queensland in three State of Origin matches and Tonga in eight Test matches.

The 6-all halftime score was a massive turnaround from the Cowboys who were blown off the park last week against the Tigers.

At the break, Cowboys hooker Reece Robson told Channel 9 it was big turnaround.

“It was a really good grind there so I’m really proud of the boys there, kept turning up in defence … there was some great defence (from the Eels) to stop Chaddy (Townsend) there close to the line, which would’ve been nice to go in 12-6,” he told Nine’s coverage.

“I’m happy with how the boys are working for each other, just got to keep working for each other and I’m sure the opportunities will come in the second half.”