Just joking, I promise this isn't going to be a story quite like that.
This story is to say thank you and good luck to one of my very favourite Eels over the last couple of years. Matt Keating.
As you all know, in June this year Ricky Stuart announced that 12 Eels would be told by the club that they were no longer needed and that they were not in Ricky's plans for 2014. Matt Keating was one of those players. As a result he will not be in blue and gold in 2014 and he played his last home game in front of his home crowd on Monday night.
Over his time at the Parramatta Eels, Matt Keating has been one of my favourite players. I truly believe he has been one of our unsung heroes and that people will not realise how much work he does until he has left the club.
Matt Keating is often criticised for his lack of creativity. However, the reason Matt's lack of creativity has been so heavily scrutinised over the past few seasons is because Parramatta have not had attacking halfbacks and have struggled to get our halfback combination right. Matt Keating is a defencive hooker and does a tonne of work in defence. This work often goes unnoticed because people are too focused on what he is achieving in attack. I would argue that Parramatta have not had a balanced team and that because of a lack of attacking prowess in our various halfback combinations, Matt Keating has been too heavily criticised.
Over his time at Parramatta, Matt has been a quiet achiever, but he has always been extremely hardworking (so much so that he often trains extra when lots of the boys have gone home). He has listened to criticisms from the coach and players, is held in extremely high regard by his team mates and always has plenty of time for his fans. I have appreciated Matt's contribution to the blue and gold and will be very sad when he leaves.
He now joins a long list of underdog players who have left Parramatta and who have been favourite players of mine, including Shane Shackleton, Justin Poore and Jeff Robson.
Matt made his debut for Parramatta in Round 1 of 2008 against the Bulldogs and has played the entirity of his career at Parramatta.
I'll miss you Matt Keating.
If you could all indulge me today and get #tweetingforKeating that would be senational. I have also listed a selection of my very favourite Matt Keating slogans to help you get through the day:
- Get off your seating for Keating!
- You'll cop a beating if you don't get off your seating from Keating.
- The opposition will be retreating from our hooker Matt Keating.
- Stop what you're eating to get off your seating for Keating.
Of course, I also couldn't resist posting some photos of the man himself as well!
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
P.S. Check out whose face in on the t shirt I am wearing.
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