The Ipswich Jets will embrace the opportunity to play against former premiership-winning hooker Matt Parcell in next month’s trial match against the Manly Sea Eagles.
“Our players are really looking forward to playing against Matty,” Jets co-coach Ben Walker told QRL.com.au
After a standout 2015 season in the Intrust Super Cup with the high-flying Jets, Parcell landed a contract with the Sea Eagles, who loom as one of the big improvers in this year’s National Rugby League after an aggressive recruitment drive.
It’s believed the Sea Eagles will field a full-strength NRL team against the Queensland premiers in the February 20 clash at Narrabeen on Sydney’s North Shore.
But the prospect of playing against a supremely-fit Parcell and formidable Sea Eagles combination isn’t an occasion that will overawe the Intrust Super Cup and NRL State Champions.
“It will be a great experience for Manly to play against us,” Walker quipped.
On a more serious note, Walker said the Jets would look to bring a squad of 20 players to Sydney.
“We’ll still be experimenting a little as we’ve got 10 places to fill, so this will be an important game against quality opposition,” Walker said.
One starting spot that appears settled is the hooking role, with young gun Landon Hayes on target to fill the spot vacated by Parcell.
Hayes is making every post a winner in the pre-season, so much so that his teammates are now calling him “JP” – short for Junior Parcell.
