Parramatta legend Peter Sterling has raised doubts over the impact Eels hooker Joey Lussick can have in Reed Mahoney's absence and believes playmaker Will Smith must be given a spot in the starting side.
The Eels' quest to break a 35-year premiership drought was dealt a thumping blow when Mahoney was ruled out for the remainder of the season, having suffered a setback to his left shoulder during last Friday's loss to the Rabbitohs.
Lussick got a shot as starting hooker in three games in succession in June, as a shoulder injury kept Mahoney on the sideline.
And in light of what Lussick showed in those three games and the excellent form of Smith off the bench this season, Sterling says Smith must become a permanent starter if the Eels are to thrive in Mahoney's absence.
"I think Will Smith needs to be part of the 17 every week ... whether that's to cover the halves or to come on around dummy-half and buzz," Sterling said on Wide World of Sports' Sterlo's Wrap.
"I think he's an integral part of what they need to produce now with Reed Mahoney out of the side."
Mahoney had banked such a classy season-and-a-half that he shot into this year's Queensland State of Origin squad, earning a spot on the extended bench.
But a potential Origin debut was dashed when the crafty rake was forced out of the squad just days out from the series-opener, after suffering a shoulder injury in the Eels' clash with the Knights in Round 13.
Sterling has been impressed with some parts of Lussick's game this season, but he said the former Sea Eagle didn't have the weaponry to be as influential as Mahoney.
"Joey Lussick, I'm assuming, will come in. And he did a great job (in the games he played during Mahoney's absence)," Sterling said.
"The thing about Joey is that while he's solid – really good defender, gives good service from dummy-half – is he probably doesn't offer what Reed has established in the attacking side of the game.
"Good to see him get out of dummy-half there to score a try and we will need to see more of that over the next four, six, eight weeks – however many it is," Sterling said as footage rolled through of Lussick burrowing over for a try against Wests Tigers in Round 14.
"Joey will come in and do a good job but he just won't do the job that has Reed Mahoney established in his time in the top grade."
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from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/news-2021-parramatta-eels-reed-mahoney-injury-joey-lussick-will-smith-peter-sterling-exclusive/14e136c5-c99d-40ba-977f-06d64d692e60
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