Eel Slips In To Knights Camp

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday June 26, 2007

BRETT KEEBLE RUGBY LEAGUE

FORMER Parramatta powerhouse Zeb Taia could make his debut for Newcastle on Friday night against South Sydney at EnergyAustralia Stadium after signing with the Knights yesterday.

Newcastle's latest recruit was contracted to Parramatta until the end of 2008, but the Eels agreed to release him immediately so he could join the Knights for the rest of this season and a further three years.

The 22-year-old back-rower played in Parramatta's premiership-winning Premier League teams of the past two seasons. He arrived in town yesterday to meet Knights coaching staff and will begin training with his new teammates today.

Taia played three NRL games last year, scoring a try on debut against Penrith. He has made three more appearances this season, but the Eels' glut of experienced back-rowers made him surplus to requirements.

"They just re-signed Feleti Mateo and Daniel Wagon, so I knew if I stayed, next year was going to be exactly the same as this year and I'd probably struggle to get another three games under my belt," Taia said.

He is managed by former Eels first-grader John Frare.

"I told my manager and he asked Hages [Parramatta and former Newcastle coach Michael Hagan] if we could get released from next year's contract and it went from there.

"I asked Johnny if he reckoned Brian would be interested in me, Johnny rang Brian, and Brian was interested.

Continued Page 60

ZEB TAIA

Position: Second-rower

Height: 186cm

Weight: 104kg

Born: Auburn, NSW;

October 11, 1984

Junior clubs: Enfi eld Federals;

St Clair Comets

NRL debut: Eels v Panthers,

Parramatta Stadium; April 9, 2006

NRL games: 6

Eel ready to slip straight into Knights top side

From Page

"Hages was willing to let me go, so I appreciate what he did and we left on good terms. Hages is a good coach and everything, but I'm looking for an opportunity to play NRL.

"I've won the Premier League comp two years in a row, so I'm ready for that next step to play NRL consistently and really establish myself."

A shocking injury toll that includes Kirk Reynoldson (knee) and Mark Taufua (arm), plus the likely loss of Steve Simpson to NSW, means Smith is tipped to include Taia in his squad to tackle the Rabbitohs.

"It's possible, he'll come into reckoning, but it will depend a bit on who else is available," Smith said.

Taia said Smith monitored his progress through Parramatta's junior rep teams and lower grades and was one of the reasons he signed with Newcastle.

"Brian liked what he saw of me in 2005 and brought me into his full-time squad in 2006," Taia said.

"That's probably the reason why I came here, because I know what Brian's like and I know how he coaches, so that made the decision easier for me.

"I had other clubs after me too, but I wanted to go somewhere where I knew the coach already."

Smith described Taia as a "a likeable sort of character" who would fit in well at the Knights and strengthen their pack.

"He plays on the edge and can play in the middle a bit as well, he's got good speed, he's a tough kid, and he's worked hard to get his chances," he said.

"Zeb wasn't one of those blue-chip guys. He was playing local club footy out around Blacktown, but he came and did all the hard yards to get himself through the grades at Parra, so he's created his own opportunities on the back of his hard work."

Born in Sydney of Cook Islands heritage, Taia represented NSW Residents last year.

He was selected in the same team to play Queensland Residents before Origin III in Brisbane tomorrow week.

But Taia said he would withdraw from that side to focus on establishing himself as a regular NRL player.

"I'm prepared," he said.

"I've been ready to play NRL for the last four or five weeks, so if they give me the call-up this week, if Brian needs me, I'm ready to go."

Smith said 15 players who had played first grade this season, including Andrew Johns and Luke Davico (both retired) and Clint Newton (Melbourne), were unavailable to play against Souths.

Chris Bailey (knee), Dan Tolar (hamstring) and Brad Tighe (shoulder) joined the growing list of unavailable players when they sustained injuries in Newcastle's 28-22 loss to the Titans at Carrara last Saturday.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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