ORANGE CYMS junior Daniel Mortimer is confident he still has what it takes to match it with the best in the NRL - he just needs an opportunity to prove it.
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The 22-year-old has been granted permission by Parramatta to negotiate with rival clubs after being left stranded in the NSW Cup with the Eels’ feeder side, the Wentworthville Magpies, for the last two months.
A recent move to five-eighth by 2009 Dally M medallist Jarryd Hayne, along with the solid form of Casey Maguire in the halves, has put a dampener on Mortimer making any sort of return to the top-flight.
Add to that the signatures of Chris Sandow and Ben Roberts for next year and Mortimer’s opportunities at the club look limited.
He, however, hasn’t given up.
“Absolutely not. My main intention at the moment is to stay with Parramatta and make it back into first grade this season,” Mortimer told the Central Western Daily yesterday.
“But I’ve got to be realistic and we’ve got to see whether there are other opportunities out there for me. We’d be silly not to have a look around. We’ve been given permission to look around and my manager (Steve Gillis) is out seeing if we can get any nibbles.
“I just want to be back playing in the NRL. Whether that’s with Parramatta or somewhere else, I still feel like I have a lot to offer.”
Since being granted a licence to find new home, the diminutive half has been linked with rival western Sydney clubs Penrith and the Wests Tigers, along with English Super League club Salford.
He ruled out a stint in the UK at this stage of his career.
“That’s all talk at the moment. My manager is talking to a few clubs and we’ll sit down together next week and talk it through,” he said.
“I haven’t heard anything as yet, I just want to focus on training well with Parra and finishing the season well.”
And hard work is something the young playmaker is not afraid of.
Mortimer has been one of Wenty’s best since being left out of the Eels’ round 11 clash with Cronulla.
He believes he is again finding form.
“I actually feel like I have that spark back,” he said after dominating in the No.7 jersey for Wentworthville of late.
“I’m getting my hands on the ball more and I feel like I have that spring in my step.
“I’ve got the confidence back. I just hope I’ll have the opportunity to work my way back into first grade with Parramatta.”
Mortimer’s career started in whirlwind fashion.
He helped take the Eels to the 2009 grand final and was narrowly edged out for rookie of the year honours by giant Canterbury centre Jamal Idris.
He said expectation hasn’t gotten the better of him.
“People can expect what they want but it’s all about what I want to achieve,” Mortimer said.
“I’ve enjoyed my time at Parramatta. You enjoy it a lot when you’re winning, but things haven’t been going that well over the last year-and-a-half. I still love my footy and I know in myself what I’m capable of.”
The Eels take on the Storm on Monday night, with Jarryd Hayne and Jeff Robson named in the halves for Parramatta.
Mortimer and the Wenty Magpies take on Windsor tomorrow.
