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He may have only played three first grade games so far this season, but rookie Eels centre Johnathon Wright has given coach Daniel Anderson a pleasant selection headache heading into Parramatta’s preliminary final showdown against the Bulldogs next Friday.
Wright was called into the Eels starting seventeen three weeks ago against the Dragons, when in form winger Eric Grothe was forced out of the line-up due to injury.
Even though Parramatta were humbled 37-0 against the Dragons that night, Wright left nothing but good impressions after his first dose of NRL football.
He did everything that could have been asked from a debutant both in defence and attack, against a red hot Dragons outfit that was thought to be building ominous form heading into week one of the finals.
With the imminent return of Eric Grothe from injury, it seemed Wright would have to wait an entire off-season to push his claims for a first grade spot.
An injury to Kiwi star Krisnan Inu however allowed Wright to add on his maiden first grade appearance against the same opposition that tore his side to pieces nine days earlier.
Out of nowhere the young centre suddenly found himself playing in an elimination final against the minor premiers in front of a packed Oki Jubilee stadium baying for Parramatta blood.
If Wright was feeling the nerves that came with playing the minor premiers in the first week of the finals, he certainly did not show it.
In a pressure cooker opening for the Eels, Wright held his head in defence, establishing a solid combination with winger Luke Burt that constantly foiled everything the likes of Jamie Soward and Ben Hornby were trying to conjure up in attack for the home side.
In the few moments he did get possession, Wright made valuable yardage on the flanks against a Dragons defence that was the real benchmark in the NRL this season, up until three weeks ago.
His performance against hardened veterans such as Wendell Sailor and Matt Cooper was a testament to his abilities as a footballer under pressure.
He never seemed overawed by the occasion and found himself playing an integral role in the Eels amazing upset victory over the Dragons.
Despite a great showing last week though, Wright would have still found himself on the outer against the Titans if Inu had recovered from his injury.
However, the Kiwi international once again needed to nurse his knee, all the while he was watching his replacement carve up the Titans in the Eels 27-2 semi-final win.
All the confidence and maturity that Wright had amassed in his previous two matches was on show against the Gold Coast, as the rookie centre stamped his case for a permanent first grade spot.
Wright made 125 metres with the football in hand, which was the second most yardage gained by any player on either side.
Only mercurial Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne made more metres.
Indeed Wright made the most of his good form against the Titans, scoring a try next to the posts, fending off acclaimed workaholic forward Luke Bailey after receiving the ball from an Eels scrum.
It was the icing in what has so far been a memorable few weeks of NRL football for Wright, who has done everything in his power to find himself playing in a Grand Final qualifier against great rivals the Bulldogs next week.
But with Inu expected to be fit in seven days time, Eels coach Daniel Anderson will have to make a tough decision regarding the kiwi’s return to the starting line-up.
Although Inu himself has been playing some great football, one feels it would be foolish for coach Anderson to disrupt Wright’s momentum, especially after such terrific displays against both the Dragons and the Titans in sudden death finals football.