Sport Confidential: Peni Terepo takes break to deal with health issues
He is the Eels’ current longest-serving player but hasn’t been sighted since round six and won’t return for Parramatta’s premiership push after a sudden exit from the club’s COVID bubble.
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Questions have been asked about the whereabouts of Parramatta forward Peni Terepo, who has not been seen since playing the opening six rounds for the Eels.
While the Eels continue their march towards an elusive premiership, Sport Confidential has learnt Terepo has taken a break from the game to deal with some health issues.
He left the Eels’ bubble weeks ago but is still being paid by the club and his welfare remains their priority.
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Terepo has previously spoken publicly about suffering with epilepsy since he was a teen and has said he has relied on twice-daily medication.
He described seeing a “black fly” inch closer towards him to indicate a seizure was approaching.
Terepo said “there isn’t enough numbers” to count how many seizures he’s experienced during the past decade in an interview in 2014.
Those close to him say he remains open minded about his future but — in the short term — is taking a break from all football commitments.
Terepo is off-contract at season’s end but is yet to have any meaningful discussions regarding his playing career.
He has not been medically retired nor will he be part of the NRL’s retiring brigade.
Terepo has been a mainstay for the Eels since making his debut in 2013, going on to play 123 top grade games. Peni is also the Eels’ current longest-serving player.
The Eels lost just one of their opening six games with Terepo starting from the bench.
NEW SYDNEY SPORTS RADIO STATION ASSEMBLES ALL STAR TEAM
Greg Alexander and Stephanie Brantz are the latest to join SEN’s sporting station ahead of its launch later this month.
Fox League commentator Andrew Voss is putting the final touches to the plans for his breakfast show.
Voss, who cut his teeth in radio, said the show would be like reading the back of the newspaper first before working your way to the front.
“We’re not all sport,” Voss said.
“If you tune into the breakfast show you’re going to not miss out on your dose of news. Sport is going to be the biggest vehicle.
“I go all the way back in radio to 1987. I joined 2UE pre-John Laws’ return and before the rise of Alan Jones. I’ve seen how you can start from the bottom and how you want to go about it and build up.
“We’re not there to force an opinion on all things but by the time the show finishes we’ll make sure you’re across everything that’s happening.”
Voss will be joined by Katie Brown at breakfast with the likes of Matt White, Jimmy Smith, Joel Caine and Bryan Fletcher having shows throughout the day.
Alexander will join Matty Johns on Fridays and on White’s Monday morning show. Johns’ show will follow Voss’s on Friday while White will host from Monday to Thursday.
Brantz will have an hour long specific women’s sport show with long form interviews each Tuesday at 8pm.
The station is yet to announce its official start date.
“We’re going to have a red-hot go,” Voss said. “Any previous attempts of a sport station in Sydney have gone horribly wrong. We will be Sydney-centric.”
Smith will host 1-3pm and then 6-7pm before Christmas before taking on the 6-9pm shift in the new year. Caine and Fletcher will host 3-6pm. The station will be heard on 1170AM in Sydney.
GRAND FINAL DISPENSATION FOR STORM
The Storm are set to be allowed entry into NSW a day before the grand final as the NRL continues discussions with Queensland Health.
As per government regulations, teams are only allowed to fly in and out for matches, meaning should the Storm progress to the grand final they would be flying to Sydney from Queensland on game day.
But in a bid to try and ease some of the travel burden, the NRL have been in discussions with Queensland Health for an exemption. The signs are positive that the Storm will be allowed to fly in on the Saturday and spend a night in Sydney before the grand final.
DRAGONS EYE OFF BRONCOS, MAROONS REJECTS
Fresh from being dumped by the Maroons squad, Joe Ofahengaue is the first big-name casualty of the new Broncos era after being officially told this week he is free to move on. Ofahengaue still has two years remaining on a deal worth about $900,000.
Despite that, he has been told he can negotiate with rivals. The Dragons have made inquires but are also continuing discussions with another dumped Maroon in Josh McGuire.
Incoming Broncos coach Kevin Walters has ruled out a McGuire return to Brisbane. The likes of Matt Lodge and Jack Bird also face uncertain futures at Brisbane.
The Dragons added premiership winner Jamie Soward to their coaching staff on Thursday. Soward will be a consultant as the team’s kicking coach.
NRL CROWDS COP COVID WARNING
With crowds raised to 50 per cent for the first time since COVID hit, patrons are being asked to remain COVID-safe this weekend.
About 15,000 people will head into Bankwest Stadium on Saturday night to watch the Eels and Rabbitohs play. It will be the biggest crowd at the venue since round one.
The NRL and the venue are asking fans to wear a mask to and from the venue and when walking around the ground. The match sold out within hours.
YOUNG SHARK SENT FOR SURGERY
Cronulla youngster Blayke Brailey underwent surgery to repair his injured ankle on Thursday which would have ruled him out for the rest of the season had the Sharks progressed.
Brailey was diagnosed with a grade three syndesmoses. He will be right to train when pre-season resumes.
FINUCANE INJURY OPENS DOOR FOR UNDERRATED EEL
Dale Finucane’s injury has opened the door for Parramatta lock Nathan Brown to push his case for a spot in the Blues’ 27 man squad. Finucane is unlikely to play in the preliminary final and is in doubt should the Storm progress to the premiership decider.
Brown has rocketed into contention now along with Parramatta teammates Junior Paulo, Blake Ferguson, Ryan Matterson and Regan Campbell-Gillard.
Blues selectors will add more players on Sunday. Canberra’s Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton will be added to the squad when their commitments are over. South Sydney’s Campbell Graham is also expected to be picked.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES OVER BURGESS DOCTOR
The NRL will work with the respective agencies investigating South Sydney but have stopped short of forcing anyone to stand-down from their roles.
This comes as the NSW medical watchdog begun formal inquiries after receiving a complaint about the conduct of Rabbitohs club doctor Dr Andrew McDonald. The NRL will wait for the relative investigations to run its course before making any decisions.
EVANS CLOSES DOOR ON HORROR EELS STINT
Kane Evans is scathing on his first season at the Eels as his journey at Parramatta nears an end.
“I came as a big name signing,” Evans said. “We ended up coming last and I had the worst year of my career. That was tough.”
Evans arrived as a big-money recruit from the Roosters. He played just eight games in 2018 and was dropped to reserve grade. Warriors-bound next year, Evans has taken time to reflect on his three seasons at the Eels.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way now because I learnt so much,” Evans said. “I just let my body get to where it got to with all the injuries. I wasn’t resilient enough to bounce back. I came with a snapped arm and I kept getting calf injuries. I’ve learnt how to bounce back quicker.
“It was difficult but I’ve learnt how to dig myself out of a hole.”
CLUBS STILL IN DARK OVER SALARY CAP
Clubs are still waiting on the exact salary cap figure for next season despite the new contracting system beginning on November 1.
Club bosses were told in a phone hook up on Wednesday that the NRL is still looking at a 10 per cent salary cap cut while the players were wanting 5 per cent.
PANGAI’S SHOCK NEW JOB
Broncos star Tevita Pangai Jr is learning the grass isn’t always greener — literally.
Pangai Jr has taken up a day job at a Brisbane garden nursery as part of his punishment following the bikie-shop COVID breach which put his Brisbane career in jeopardy.
The Broncos wanted Pangai Jr to be productive after he was stood down from playing duties by the NRL.
In the past month, the Tongan international has been placed at a local plant nursery where ‘TPJ’ is getting his hands dirty with blue-collar work far removed from his luxurious $675,000 contract at the Broncos.
It is Brisbane’s way of giving Pangai Jr an insight into how the other half live.
WALTERS FINALISES COACHING TEAM
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has finalised his team of assistants with John Cartwright and Terry Matterson to be his right-hand men next season.
The 55-year-old Cartwright has extensive experience, having worked as an assistant to premiership-winning coaches Ricky Stuart and Paul Green at the Roosters and Cowboys respectively.
Cartwright also had seven largely successful seasons as Gold Coast’s foundation coach, leading to the Titans to a preliminary final appearance in 2010.
ALL EYES ON
Is the better battle on or off the field ahead of Friday’s grand final rematch? There is no love lost between the coaches Ricky Stuart and Trent Robinson and you can bet that emotion will boil over on the field when the sides face off.
Will Jake Friend’s inclusion be enough to give the Roosters a much needed spark? Or will Stuart’s depleted side again brush aside the underdog tag to win.
FLASHBACK
AUSTRALIA struggled after losing their opening world cup match to England on this day 25 years ago. The Kangaroos were playing without their Super League-aligned players when they went down 20-16 at Wembley. Australia were also hit by injuries to props Paul Harragon (cheekbone fracture) and David Gillespie (hamstring).
BLAST FROM PAST
Paul Stephenson 55 top grade games (43 Manly, 12 Cronulla) from 2004-08
Eventually Noel Cleal got his man. After rejecting the Kangaroos player turned Eels recruitment scout, Paul Stephenson could not resist Cleal’s second advances.
“I was playing in the NSW Schoolboys when the Broncos scouted me,” Stephenson said. “‘Crusher’ (Cleal) tried to get me to the Eels but I was already in the Broncos system. Then he went to Manly and during my time at the Broncos he convinced me to join them for Des Hasler’s first year as coach.”
Stephenson found himself in first grade in time for the Sea Eagles’ round one clash against the Cowboys where he scored a try in their 24-20 win.
“It was a bit of a blur,” Stephenson said. “It’s something you think about as a kid. It blinded-sided me. I thought I would start the year in reserve grade. In the warm-up I felt bullet-proof. I had to mark Paul Bowman in my first game and he was someone I always looked up to.”
Stephenson played eight games in his debut season, mainly at centre, before finding a home on the wing at the end of the following season. The salary cap though was starting to bite hard at the club.
“I sort of just got thrown there on the wing and did well,” Stephenson said. “They made it clear they didn’t have any room in 2006 for me. I had some interest from other clubs and was resigned to the fact I had to go.
“I loved living in Manly so I held off and eventually Scott Donald made the late decision to go to Leeds so they found a spot for me. Financially it wasn’t the best deal but I loved playing for the club.”
Eventually though Stephenson was forced to look elsewhere. At the end of 2006 he inked a two year deal with the Sharks but ended up playing just 12 games before quitting the NRL aged just 25.
“I signed with Stuart Raper but he was let go and they employed Ricky Stuart,” Stephenson said. “I have a huge amount of respect for Ricky. I learnt a lot. I ended up putting a lot of weight on and I played in the second-row. Being in and out of first grade for a couple of years did my head in.
“Mentally it was a tough grind. They couldn’t afford to keep me on what I was earning. I had to sell my place so we decided to move back to Brisbane.”
Stephenson finished his career in the Queensland Cup before becoming CEO of Tweed Heads Seagulls. He now works as state manager of match officials for the Queensland Rugby League.
Originally published as Sport Confidential: Peni Terepo takes break to deal with health issues
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