Parramatta Eels star Shaun Lane taking break from rugby league as he ponders his NRL future
The future of Parramatta star Shaun Lane is up in the air, with the Eels forward set to take an immediate break from rugby league as he considers his place in the NRL.
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Experienced Parramatta forward Shaun Lane is taking an immediate break from rugby league as he ponders his future in the game.
Lane won’t play for the Eels this weekend after being dropped to reserve grade. Parramatta are supporting Lane’s decision to take a hiatus from the game. It is unclear if he plans to retire or if the break is only temporary.
The Eels confirmed Lane would take a time out.
“Shaun Lane is taking some time away from the game to consider his future and won’t be playing this weekend,” the club said in a statement. “As a club we are supporting him through this period.”
Lane was due to play NSW Cup on Monday in what would have been a star-studded Parramatta outfit.
Lane was named alongside former Queensland forward Joe Ofahengaue to take on Western Suburbs on Monday. Ofahengaue has since quit Parramatta immediately with the club’s blessing to take on a multi-year deal with Leigh.
Ofahengaue’s immediate departure clears some cap space for the club while they are yet to spend the million dollars they had on the table for Dylan Brown who will switch to Newcastle next year.
Bryce Cartwright, Wiremu Greig and Ryan Matterson are the other experienced players in Parramatta’s reserve grade team.
Lane still has 12 months left on his contract worth about $500,000 while Cartwright and Greig are off-contract. Matterson is another player whose future may lay elsewhere despite having a season remaining.
Lane had minor knee surgery in the off-season to repair a damaged knee. It led to him missing Parramatta’s opening game of the season but he has since played in their past five games.
Lane has struggled this year which was particularly evident in Parramatta’s last-start loss to Canberra in Darwin which led to his demotion.
The 30-year has been one of Parramatta’s most consistent players since joining the club in 2019. He has not played reserve grade during his seven year stint at the club.
He won the club’s player of the year award in 2022 and was the cornerstone of Parramatta’s run to the grand final.
During his time at Parramatta he has also claimed the coaches award, community award, and players player award.
Originally published as Parramatta Eels star Shaun Lane taking break from rugby league as he ponders his NRL future
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