He may not be quite ready to go but Nathan Brown has taken up the 2021 player option to remain with the Parramatta Eels.
Brown, who has become a fan favourite for his hard-running and aggressive style, will yet again don the blue and gold.
With players having to accept the option before May 30, Brown knew accepting it before the season starts was best.
“I had to do it before May 30,” Brown said.
“So I thought I would do it before the season starts and now I can move on and just concentrate on playing footy.”
With the Eels building a roster many view as talented, that and several other factors convinced Brown to stay.
“We have a great squad here and I really think we can do something special,” Brown said.
“That’s probably one of the main reasons why.
“All the boys are a really tight squad here and we all get along well together.”
With players hitting their straps and a good blend of youth and experience, Brown said this is the side the players want to be in.
“This is the squad we’ve got now that everyone wants to be a part of and everyone wants to stay,” Brown continued.
“We’re trying to keep as many as we can and everyone’s hoping that we can keep the same squad here for a couple of years.”