Cappuccino
Kennel Legend
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2019
- Messages
- 9,088
- Reaction score
- 16,254
EXCLUSIVE: Reed Mahoney breaks silence on shock Dogs switch and how he broke news to BA
James Hooper from Fox Sports
Parramatta hooker Reed Mahoney has broken his silence on the decision to sign with arch-rivals Canterbury-Bankstown to reaffirm his commitment to the Eels for 2022.
Pound for pound, Mahoney has fast gained a reputation as one of the NRL’s most durable dummy-halves.
And the good news for the legion of Eels faithful is the tough little No. 9 is all-in on trying to make his farewell season at Parramatta a winning one.
“I don’t mean to be rude but for me right now all I am focused on is Parramatta and trying to win a premiership with the Eels,” Mahoney told Fox Sports.
“It’s a great club and a big club and it’s been a long time since Parramatta were able to win a title.
“Every club is focused on trying to win the premiership at this stage of the year and at Parramatta we’re no different.
“We’ve got a great group of players, we’re all aware of the history of the Eels and we’re all committed to trying to have as much on-field success as we can.
“That’s no disrespect to Canterbury – I obviously made a decision at the end of last year that means I’ll be a Bulldog in 2023 – but my focus for this season is 120 per cent on Parramatta.
”I owe it to the club because the club has been very good to me.”
The Mahoney move to Belmore for 2023 was one of the NRL’s biggest post-November 1 plays, along with the likes of Storm hooker Brandon Smith signing with the Sydney Roosters and Panthers premiership-winner Api Korisau linking with Wests Tigers.
Mahoney confirmed once he’d made his decision in December the first priority was sitting down with Eels coach Brad Arthur to break the news and then fronting the Parramatta playing group.
“The first thing I wanted to do once I’d made my decision was to go and see Brad and let him know,” Mahoney said.
“The type of person that I am I wanted to be the first to let him know face-to-face and then I also wanted to make sure I could get in front of my teammates to tell them what was happening.
“The boys have been great. Everyone is excited about what we can try and do as a club at the Eels this year and the good thing is the new season is coming up quick.”
Mahoney, 23, was on the cusp of State of Origin selection for Queensland last year before a shoulder injury in Round 20 ruled him out for the Eels run into the finals.
The Eels hooker has since undergone a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season and is on target to return in the trials ahead of Parramatta’s Round 1 clash with Gold Coast on March 13.
Against the Panthers in week two of last year’s finals, it was evident how much the Eels missed Mahoney as the club went toe-to-toe with the eventual premiers.
“It was tough to watch at the end of the year. We’d put ourselves in a position to play in the finals but it wasn’t easy trying to watch the boys,” Mahoney said.
“I had a full reconstruction at the end of the season but the good news is the rehab has gone as good as possible and I’ll be OK for the trials and round one.”
The Eels hooker nominated young gun Eels centre Will Penisini as a player on the rise for the blue and golds in 2022.
“Will Penisini has been going great in pre-season. He’s had a taste of first grade last year and looked like he was up to it,” Mahoney said.
“With another year under his belt and an opportunity in the centres I think he’s in for a really good year.”
James Hooper from Fox Sports
Parramatta hooker Reed Mahoney has broken his silence on the decision to sign with arch-rivals Canterbury-Bankstown to reaffirm his commitment to the Eels for 2022.
Pound for pound, Mahoney has fast gained a reputation as one of the NRL’s most durable dummy-halves.
And the good news for the legion of Eels faithful is the tough little No. 9 is all-in on trying to make his farewell season at Parramatta a winning one.
“I don’t mean to be rude but for me right now all I am focused on is Parramatta and trying to win a premiership with the Eels,” Mahoney told Fox Sports.
“It’s a great club and a big club and it’s been a long time since Parramatta were able to win a title.
“Every club is focused on trying to win the premiership at this stage of the year and at Parramatta we’re no different.
“We’ve got a great group of players, we’re all aware of the history of the Eels and we’re all committed to trying to have as much on-field success as we can.
“That’s no disrespect to Canterbury – I obviously made a decision at the end of last year that means I’ll be a Bulldog in 2023 – but my focus for this season is 120 per cent on Parramatta.
”I owe it to the club because the club has been very good to me.”
The Mahoney move to Belmore for 2023 was one of the NRL’s biggest post-November 1 plays, along with the likes of Storm hooker Brandon Smith signing with the Sydney Roosters and Panthers premiership-winner Api Korisau linking with Wests Tigers.
Mahoney confirmed once he’d made his decision in December the first priority was sitting down with Eels coach Brad Arthur to break the news and then fronting the Parramatta playing group.
“The first thing I wanted to do once I’d made my decision was to go and see Brad and let him know,” Mahoney said.
“The type of person that I am I wanted to be the first to let him know face-to-face and then I also wanted to make sure I could get in front of my teammates to tell them what was happening.
“The boys have been great. Everyone is excited about what we can try and do as a club at the Eels this year and the good thing is the new season is coming up quick.”
Mahoney, 23, was on the cusp of State of Origin selection for Queensland last year before a shoulder injury in Round 20 ruled him out for the Eels run into the finals.
The Eels hooker has since undergone a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season and is on target to return in the trials ahead of Parramatta’s Round 1 clash with Gold Coast on March 13.
Against the Panthers in week two of last year’s finals, it was evident how much the Eels missed Mahoney as the club went toe-to-toe with the eventual premiers.
“It was tough to watch at the end of the year. We’d put ourselves in a position to play in the finals but it wasn’t easy trying to watch the boys,” Mahoney said.
“I had a full reconstruction at the end of the season but the good news is the rehab has gone as good as possible and I’ll be OK for the trials and round one.”
The Eels hooker nominated young gun Eels centre Will Penisini as a player on the rise for the blue and golds in 2022.
“Will Penisini has been going great in pre-season. He’s had a taste of first grade last year and looked like he was up to it,” Mahoney said.
“With another year under his belt and an opportunity in the centres I think he’s in for a really good year.”
