Ian ConstantineEels - Secure Gun half Kris Keating
May 2nd 2008 02:47
The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have secured the services of gifted playmaker and local junior Kris Keating for the 2009 & 2010 seasons.
The re-signing comes hot on the heels of his NRL debut, the Cabramatta product coming off the bench in the Eels 20-16 loss to Manly in round six.
The multi-talented 19 year old has also been one of the Eels best in their undefeated start to the Toyota Cup season, confirming a reputation earned by captaining the club at every junior level.
Keating said choosing to take the new deal wasn’t a hard decision to make.
“I made it pretty clear I wanted to stay so once the offer was on the table I said yes pretty much straight away,” Keating said.
“I’ve been at the club since starting with the Harold Matthews Cup in 2003, so it’s a comfortable place for me to be.
“I’ve had a taste of first grade now and I obviously want plenty more in the future so I’m more than happy to be sticking around.”
Parramatta Eels Chief Executive Denis Fitzgerald said the retention of Keating is a massive boost for the club.
“We are very pleased to re-sign one of our most outstanding juniors, who has played Matthews Cup, SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg for Parramatta over the past few years,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.
“In round six Kris became our first Toyota Cup player to play NRL and he performed very well in his debut.”
--
He is a good kid, and his older brother Matthew has impressed on debut this year playing at hooker for the injured Mark Riddell
This is an article I wrote on Kris earlier this year before he fulfilled his 'dream' of playing alongside his brother in 1st grade.
And just to prove he is not the only talented one, here is the article I wrote on his older brother
Both Boys have Eels in their blood and both have Parramatta Stadium instilled into their being. I hope they both stay at the club - they played their as 6-year-olds - what a great story if they were to become Eels Superstars like the Johns Brothers...
I am not an Eels fan, but I would love to see local boys making good
We will wait and see...
The re-signing comes hot on the heels of his NRL debut, the Cabramatta product coming off the bench in the Eels 20-16 loss to Manly in round six.
The multi-talented 19 year old has also been one of the Eels best in their undefeated start to the Toyota Cup season, confirming a reputation earned by captaining the club at every junior level.
Kris Keating - Eels prodical son
Keating said choosing to take the new deal wasn’t a hard decision to make.
“I made it pretty clear I wanted to stay so once the offer was on the table I said yes pretty much straight away,” Keating said.
“I’ve been at the club since starting with the Harold Matthews Cup in 2003, so it’s a comfortable place for me to be.
“I’ve had a taste of first grade now and I obviously want plenty more in the future so I’m more than happy to be sticking around.”
Parramatta Eels Chief Executive Denis Fitzgerald said the retention of Keating is a massive boost for the club.
“We are very pleased to re-sign one of our most outstanding juniors, who has played Matthews Cup, SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg for Parramatta over the past few years,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.
“In round six Kris became our first Toyota Cup player to play NRL and he performed very well in his debut.”
--
He is a good kid, and his older brother Matthew has impressed on debut this year playing at hooker for the injured Mark Riddell
This is an article I wrote on Kris earlier this year before he fulfilled his 'dream' of playing alongside his brother in 1st grade.
Eels unleash another teen star
Talented Eels five-eighth Kris Keating will use the Toyota Cup as a springboard into first grade as he aims to become the latest Parramatta junior to break into the club’s senior side.
Keating will play for the Eels Toyota Cup side in their trial against the Roosters at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night as he begins his quest to challenge the established pairing of Tim Smith and Brett Finch for a place in the first grade side.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a decorated junior career with the Eels, captaining NSW and Test winger Jarryd Hayne throughout their junior careers, playing in every possible representative side, from NSW Schoolboys through to the Junior Kangaroos, and playing Australian Schoolboys alongside the likes of NRL stars Jarrod Mullen, David Taylor, Cory Paterson, Darius Boyd and Mitchell Pearce.
He believes the NRL’s new national youth competition, will be the perfect stage for him to press his first grade claims especially with games to be covered live on Fox Sports.
“I’m looking to play well in the Toyota Cup and hopefully I will get a run in first grade sooner than later,” Keating said.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for the Eels and it will be awesome to play in the NRL.”
The Centenary season promises to be a memorable one for the Keating family, with Kris’s older brother, Matthew, also poised to break into the Eels’ first grade ranks as a back-up to hooker Mark Riddell.
Both brothers will be on show against the Roosters on Saturday night with Matthew playing off the bench for the Eels’ first grade side.
“My ultimate dream would be to play for Parramatta alongside my brother Matt,” Kris said.
“That would be awesome.
“It is something we have always dreamed of and for it to happen would be unreal.
“Neither of us has played in first grade, so that is something we are both working really hard towards.”
The brothers honed their skills playing endless hours of football in the backyard – not surprisingly, the family competition was fierce.
“Yeah, those games did get heated occasionally,” Keating said with a grin.
“We both wanted to win every single game.
“I’m sure we each gave as much as we got.
”Talented Eels five-eighth Kris Keating will use the Toyota Cup as a springboard into first grade as he aims to become the latest Parramatta junior to break into the club’s senior side.
Keating will play for the Eels Toyota Cup side in their trial against the Roosters at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night as he begins his quest to challenge the established pairing of Tim Smith and Brett Finch for a place in the first grade side.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a decorated junior career with the Eels, captaining NSW and Test winger Jarryd Hayne throughout their junior careers, playing in every possible representative side, from NSW Schoolboys through to the Junior Kangaroos, and playing Australian Schoolboys alongside the likes of NRL stars Jarrod Mullen, David Taylor, Cory Paterson, Darius Boyd and Mitchell Pearce.
He believes the NRL’s new national youth competition, will be the perfect stage for him to press his first grade claims especially with games to be covered live on Fox Sports.
“I’m looking to play well in the Toyota Cup and hopefully I will get a run in first grade sooner than later,” Keating said.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for the Eels and it will be awesome to play in the NRL.”
The Centenary season promises to be a memorable one for the Keating family, with Kris’s older brother, Matthew, also poised to break into the Eels’ first grade ranks as a back-up to hooker Mark Riddell.
Both brothers will be on show against the Roosters on Saturday night with Matthew playing off the bench for the Eels’ first grade side.
“My ultimate dream would be to play for Parramatta alongside my brother Matt,” Kris said.
“That would be awesome.
“It is something we have always dreamed of and for it to happen would be unreal.
“Neither of us has played in first grade, so that is something we are both working really hard towards.”
The brothers honed their skills playing endless hours of football in the backyard – not surprisingly, the family competition was fierce.
“Yeah, those games did get heated occasionally,” Keating said with a grin.
“We both wanted to win every single game.
“I’m sure we each gave as much as we got.
And just to prove he is not the only talented one, here is the article I wrote on his older brother
Matt Keating may be new to the NRL but no player knows Parramatta Stadium better than the young Eels hooker.
The Fairfield United and Cabramatta junior first played at the stadium as a seven-year-old and knows every blade of grass after completing a two year horticulture course at the ground.
After coming through every grade in the Parramatta system, Keating is living hi s dream of playing for the club he grew up supporting.
“We used to go and play there at half-time in under 7’s and 8’s,” he said.
“It was always a huge thrill to play on Parramatta Stadium at that age, it was awesome.
“I used to go and watch as many games as I could, I’ve always loved Parramatta Stadium, the crowd is on top of you and really gets behind you.
“Hopefully I have plenty more years playing there.”
Keating is not the only talented player in his family and hopes to one-day play in the NRL alongside his younger brother, Kris, who is impressing in the Toyota Cup under 20s competition.
“I definitely want to play first grade with my brother,” Matt said.
“I think he is just biding his time and he is looking forward to it as much as I am.
“We go down to the park together and do some kicking when we don’t have training, we’re both just looking to put in a bit of extra effort and hopefully it pays off.
“We are both pretty competitive and often played in the backyard as kids, but to play together in first grade would be unreal.”
Matt has played every game this year after making his debut in round one and has been a solid performer for the Eels, coming off the bench as a replacement for Mark Riddell.
“First season in it doesn’t really bother me if I come off the bench,” he said.
“ I am just looking for every opportunity, if (Michael) Hagan wants me to come on and add a bit spark to the team out of dummy-half, I am happy filling in that role.
“We have the Titans this week and hopefully we can play well and get the win in front of a big crowd at Parramatta Stadium, it is always good playing there on Friday night.
The Fairfield United and Cabramatta junior first played at the stadium as a seven-year-old and knows every blade of grass after completing a two year horticulture course at the ground.
After coming through every grade in the Parramatta system, Keating is living hi s dream of playing for the club he grew up supporting.
“We used to go and play there at half-time in under 7’s and 8’s,” he said.
“It was always a huge thrill to play on Parramatta Stadium at that age, it was awesome.
“I used to go and watch as many games as I could, I’ve always loved Parramatta Stadium, the crowd is on top of you and really gets behind you.
“Hopefully I have plenty more years playing there.”
Keating is not the only talented player in his family and hopes to one-day play in the NRL alongside his younger brother, Kris, who is impressing in the Toyota Cup under 20s competition.
“I definitely want to play first grade with my brother,” Matt said.
“I think he is just biding his time and he is looking forward to it as much as I am.
“We go down to the park together and do some kicking when we don’t have training, we’re both just looking to put in a bit of extra effort and hopefully it pays off.
“We are both pretty competitive and often played in the backyard as kids, but to play together in first grade would be unreal.”
Matt has played every game this year after making his debut in round one and has been a solid performer for the Eels, coming off the bench as a replacement for Mark Riddell.
“First season in it doesn’t really bother me if I come off the bench,” he said.
“ I am just looking for every opportunity, if (Michael) Hagan wants me to come on and add a bit spark to the team out of dummy-half, I am happy filling in that role.
“We have the Titans this week and hopefully we can play well and get the win in front of a big crowd at Parramatta Stadium, it is always good playing there on Friday night.
Both Boys have Eels in their blood and both have Parramatta Stadium instilled into their being. I hope they both stay at the club - they played their as 6-year-olds - what a great story if they were to become Eels Superstars like the Johns Brothers...
I am not an Eels fan, but I would love to see local boys making good
We will wait and see...
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