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Feleti heads for the halvesBy Nick WalshawDecember 15, 2007 12:00am FELETI Mateo - the kid who scares even senior Eels with his flamboyant flick passes - is finally set to receive a licence to thrill. Parramatta coach Michael Hagan yesterday named Mateo and Brett Finch as his likely halves pairing for the 2008 centenary season. And with the future of wayward halfback Tim Smith still largely unknown, league great Andrew Johns has been asked to help fast-track the 23-year-old's development. "Feleti has played a lot of junior footy at five-eighth and even wore the seven for Tonga," Hagan told The Saturday Daily Telegraph . "And obviously we've got Joey working closely with both players over summer which will be of great benefit to them." Asked if the new role gave Mateo free reign with those one-handed carries, Hagan said: "Well, there will certainly be chances for him to play a similar role to what he was doing as a back-rower. "And Finchy proved a great on-field leader for us last season. He's played plenty of footy at halfback too so we expect him to take on that role again." Johns was expected to have a huge impact on the development of Smith in 2008 - helping him to achieve the success first touted when he was named 2005 NRL Rookie of the Year. The Runaway Bay (Queensland) product was always going to miss the opening rounds as he overcame shoulder surgery, but his long-term future is now unknown. http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,22926630-5006066,00.html |