Nathan Hindmarsh comeback talk a hoax

PARRAMATTA Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh said he was considering a shock return to the NRL.

Hindy stitches up Eels fans

PARRAMATTA Eels fans were given false hope that club legend Nathan Hindmarsh was returning to the NRL after a radio hoax.

Hindmarsh appeared on the Triple M Grill Team this morning, saying he was considering a comeback after three years in retirement.

The second rower, who played 330 games for the Eels, said he still dreamed of winning a premiership with his former club.

“There’s not a day goes by I don’t think about trying to win one of those,” he said.

“We’ll just have to wait and see.

“It’s something you can’t take lightly to go back playing after four years...it’s going to be a massive decision.

“I’ll need to sit down and talk to my wife about it, trainers all that type of stuff ... and whether the body’s going to cope with it as well.

“I’m a bit excited. I’m looking forward to it but I won’t count my chickens before their hatched.”

Hindmarsh said he’s been been trying to keep as fit as he can: “You don’t want to go out there and make a ‘d*ck’ of yourself,” he said.

“And also the game has probably sped up a little bit since I did retire. The thing in my favour is the interchange rule.”

Fans reacted positively on Facebook and Twitter to the news.

But Hindmarsh confirmed to the Parramatta Advertiser his supposed comeback was a hoax.

“Mate, I’m 36. We were talking about the news about ‘Choc’ (Anthony Watmough) and I was asked in the spur of the moment.

“I think a few people have taken it seriously but it was all a bit of fun.

“A couple of mates have messaged me saying ‘you’re a d*ckhead’, they could tell I wasn’t fair dinkum.

“I’m comfortable with the decision I made. I’m happy I got to retire on my own terms.”

Making his NRL debut in 1998, Hindmarsh played his entire career at the Eels, in 2010 breaking the record for most games with the club.

He played his final NRL game alongside retiring winger Luke Burt against the St George Illawarra Dragons in September 2012, going down to the Dragons 29-8.

Former NSW teammate Bryan Fletcher told The Grill Team his partner in crime on the Matty Johns Show was “training the house down”.

“He’s powerwalking every day. His diet has completely changed. He is garnishing his donuts with kale now,” he joked.

“If anyone can do this it’s Nathan.

“He’s fair dinkum.”

The Eels said they have had no discussions with Hindmarsh about a possible return.

The hoax came off the back of reports Anthony Watmough could be forced to retire effective immediately due to a chronic knee injury.

Watmough, 32, had surgery last July on a chronic knee injury and has since endured a hugely disrupted pre-season at Parramatta due to the injury.

Foxsports.com.au reports Watmough’s knee has degenerated so badly the Eels backrower struggles to train and required painkilling injections to get on the field for the majority of last season.