NRL 2021: Why Parramatta Eels signed Keegan Hipgrave
He’s one of the most penalised players in the competition but Parramatta coach Brad Arthur had to have Keegan Hipgrave at the Eels.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Parramatta will be living on the edge this season with firebrand forwards Nathan Brown and Keegan Hipgrave ready to leave a bruising mark on the competition.
Brown’s confrontational style has earned the NSW Blues forward a reputation as one the toughest enforces in the game. Now Brown will have a bash brother in former Gold Coast hit man Hipgrave.
The Eels lost some mongrel from their forward pack when hardman Manu Ma’u departed the club for the English Super League at the end of 2019.
But coach Brad Arthur has helped reinject some aggression with Hipgrave’s signature for 2021.
“One of the main things he [Arthur] said was he liked my tough, aggressive nature,” Hipgrave said.
“He thought I‘d fit in really well in the side under him and with the players we’ve got around us.
“I had a really good conversation with Brad a couple of weeks after the season. I think with a couple of finishing touches this year we can have a really successful season.”
Keeping the whistle blowers busy, Hipgrave was pinged just over once on average in every game he played between 2017 and 2019.
According to Fox Sports Lab, Hipgrave was penalised 30 times in 27 games played during that time.
The forward was penalised five times in his debut, and only match, in 2017.
In 2018, Hipgrave well and truly lived up to his reputation as firebrand when he was sin-binned twice in the same game.
Despite being binned last season, Hipgrave showed a turnaround in discipline and was only penalised five times in 13 games.
The 24-year old has assured Eels fans he has learned to harness his unbridled aggression in a way less damaging to his side.
“He [Arthur] loves the tough, aggressive nature, it‘s just a matter of picking the right times,” Hipgrave said.
“I’m a lot better now with treading that line.
“I think last year was a good example of that.
“When I first came into grade a couple of years ago I trod the line pretty closely just because I wanted, I don‘t know, I was really competitive and wanted to win everything.
“Obviously I’m still competitive and want to keep that competitive nature because that’s a strength of mine but treading that line, I think I’m fine with that.”
Hipgrave said he has been training both on an edge and in the middle during the pre-season as he pushed for a place in Arthur’s 17.
But the Nerang Rooster faces stiff competition for a place on the bench with the likes of Bryce Cartwright, Isaiah Papali’i, Ray Stone, Oregon Kaufusi and Marata Niukore, who won’t be available in round one due to suspension, all vying for a spot.
Hipgrave revealed Cartwright, his former Titans teammate, has been leading the charge for round one selection.
“He came back so fit. He‘s leading all the fitness stuff with us forwards. He’s a skilful player. He’s in a great environment here, he’s been training well and killing it,” Hipgrave said.
Gutho’s pick of the Parra young guns
With a number of spots up for grabs in Brad Arthur’s side, Parramatta’s crop of rising rookies are already staking their claim ahead of the 2021 season.
Arthur’s biggest selection concern is finding a replacement for seasoned centre Michael Jennings.
Jennings is provisionally suspended under the NRL’s Anti-Doping policy after he tested positive to banned substances in September, leaving Arthur in search of a replacement at centre.
Arthur does have more experienced options in new recruits Tom Opacic and journeyman Michael Oldfield but a number of youngsters who have impressed in the pre-season.
Skipper Clint Gutherson heaped praise on rising back Will Penisini, The Kings School prodigy who was selected in the NSW Youth Boys Sevens squad in 2018.
The 18-year old is only his first NRL pre-season but his footwork and power are turning heads at Eels training.
“We’ve got Will Penisini, I think if he really puts his head down he could have a big future in the game and especially at this club,” Gutherson said.
“But [for the] the young kids it takes so long for them to develop in the modern game, only a special few can go straight in and prove how great they are.
“It’s such a long season the NRL and you use a lot of players and I’m sure if they do get the chance they will be ready.
While Gutherson heaped praise on Penisini he remained coy about the frontrunner to fill-in for Jennings.
“We’ve had a few [train] there [at centre] … I have just been getting flogged on the side at the moment and slowly get into it back slowly this week,” he said.
“We have been mixing the team up a little because we have enough players there.
“We’ve got Waqa [Blake, Will Penisini, Oldie [Michael Oldfield] … we’ve got heaps of players there who can do the job.
“Whoever Brad decides to go with in round one or in the trials, it’ll go a long way … but I’m sure the staff will pick the right player.
The other option for Arthur is fellow rookie back Haze Dunster.
The athletic 21-year made his NRL debut for the Eels against South Sydney in week two of the finals series.
“Blaze has been great. He got a taste of it in an awkward sort of circumstance last year but he did a great job for us in the semi final and he has come back bigger and better,” Gutherson said.
“He has finally realised he could do it.
“He probably lacked a bit of confidence in himself. He is training the house down, he is as fit as anything.
Also in the running for a place on the bench in 2021 are boom forwards Sam Hughes and David Hollis.
“They’re are big young kids, strong too and physically very well developed,” Forward Shaun Lane said.
“They didn’t get to play much footy last year but that hurts a bit. They just need to get caught on playing that first grade style of footy.
“They will be ready to go when they are called upon.
Arthur has plenty of depth in the forwards with the likes of Oregon Kaufusi, Ray Stone, Isaiah Papali‘i Bryce Cartwright and Keegan Hipgrave all vying for a place in the 17.
GUTHERSON: FERGO IS FLYING IN THE OFF-SEASON
Gutherson is backing Blake Ferguson to “unleash” this season as the veteran winger looks to secure his NRL future.
In November reports emerged that Ferguson had been told his contract at the club, which expires in 2021, won’t be extended beyond this year.
Despite the speculation Gutherson revealed Ferguson has been in high spirits and is primed not only to save his career at the Eels but also impress any potential suitors.
“I’ve been super impressed with what Fergo [Ferguson] is bringing and I can’t wait for him to unleash this year and prove how good he is,” Gutherson said.
“He’s been good chirpy at the moment [at training].
“He is picking his moment a little bit better this year and just put his head down and just working hard and I’m sure Brad [Arthur] and the staff have told him what they need from him.”
Gutherson also said he had yet to address the rumours Ferguson was on the outer at Parra.
“I saw that but I don’t know if that’s true or not, you don’t really ask those types of questions at training,” Gutherson said.
“He’s been great since I have been back.
“He is fit and his body is feeling good. He had a couple of surgeries in the off-season so he’s ready to go … he is really prepping like he is.
“We need Ferguson at his best for us to be out our best.”
Ferguson arrived at Parramatta in 2019 on a three-year deal worth around $1.5 million after winning a premiership with the Sydney Roosters.
The 30-year old made an instant impact at the western Sydney club during his first season as an Eel and was one of the side’s best.
The powerful finisher scored 10 tries in 19 games but the four-pointers dried up in 2020 and he only managed four tries from 20 games.
Ferguson’s first try for the season in 2020 came in September against the New Zealand Warriors in round 17 and was almost 12 months in the making.
An up-and-down 2020 season for Ferguson ended when he was ruled out of the Eels week two semi-final clash against South Sydney with a knee injury just 24-hours before kick-off.
“I think everyone goes through those years at some stage and I think last year was Fergo’s year [to go through it],” Gutherson said.
“He’s left that in last year and that’s what we need him to do. We need him at his best … it is crucial he gets his body right.
“He’s flying at the moment. They have him a little bit modified to make sure he gets to the right peak when we need him and he is looking in good shape.”
After finishing third on the ladder, the Eels fell short again in the finals series and bowed out with two straight losses to Melbourne and South Sydney.
Gutherson believes the Eels are edging closer to ending a 35-year premiership drought and delivering some success to long-suffering fans.
“We’d love to be in that top four again, it’s always our goal to be in that top four … in the last two years we finished sixth and then third, so we are heading in the right direction but the ultimate goal is to win it,” he said.
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2021: Why Parramatta Eels signed Keegan Hipgrave
How NRL plans to exploit rugby chaos and raid the Wallabies
As Rugby Australia battles a costly legal challenge and broadcast uncertainty, the expanding NRL is ready to pounce with key salary cap dispensations.
Hand of Dyl: Edwards opens up on grand final try saver
Dylan Edwards’ try saving tackle in the 2024 NRL grand final may appear to be a miracle to many, but the Penrith fullback explains it was just the perfect execution of a move he had practised over and over at training.