Once a $1500 Bulldogs reject, Reed Mahoney is committed to returning as a star after Eels finals run

The 24-year-old says he’s fully committed to making the move back to where it all started; though first, there’s a run into the finals with Parramatta.

Canterbury declined to pay just $1500 to retain Mahoney in 2016.

The Eels saw his potential and snapped him up, with Mahoney starring in Parramatta’s run to the NYC grand final in 2017.

Those were different times, with different people at the helm at Belmore, and Mahoney is philosophical about the way he left things.

“That was a long time ago,” he tells CodeSports. “I wasn’t the greatest player then but I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am.

“There were plenty of talented players before me and that’s all part of the business.

“These things happen.”

Now four years into his first grade career, Mahoney says he’s a changed man, on and off the field.

“I came here as a kid, not knowing much, and was pretty stupid off the field,” he says.

“But I really learned how to be professional, how to be a good man and a good trainer. I’ve learned a lot here and I’m still learning and the boys have kept me pretty honest.

“I’m just trying to be the best person and best player for this club and the players. I know I’ll never get to play with some of these boys again.”

At 24, he’s hardly a veteran, but is old-school, cut from the same cloth as hookers who played a generation or two before him.

Eels legend Ray Price holds Mahoney in high regard and is furious that his old club let him leave.

“Why would you let him go, ffo Christ’s sakes?” Price asked CodeSports a week ago. “Geez, do they not know a footballer?”

A nippy runner with great vision, Mahoney was in State of Origin contention just over a year ago, before Ben Hunt and Harry Grant staked their claims to the Maroons hooking job.

Parramatta’s inconsistent form over the past two seasons hasn’t helped his rep chances either. He says stringing together more high-quality football has been spoken about within the club.

“Those things, you can’t let it go in one ear and out the other. We stopped it in its tracks,” he says of discussions about consistency.

“We talked about it a lot. We have been inconsistent, we know that.

“But we’ve spoken about consistency over the past few weeks and two wins is a good start.”

Mahoney was in his element during Friday’s 28-18 win over the Warriors.

Enjoying early dominance, the Parramatta No.9 was dangerous around the ruck and set up Waqa Blake’s first try of the night.

Parramatta had dominated most of the opening 40 minutes but only held a 10-6 advantage at the break, before three tries in 14 minutes put the result beyond doubt.

“We were dominating field position and defending really well (in the first half),” Mahoney says.

“But you don’t need to come into half-time up by 30 points. We just need to grind out the game. They’re a quality side, they try hard and carry the ball strong.

“We just stuck to our plan and we knew that in the first 10 minutes (of the second half), if we got into the grind, we’d get them eventually.

“That was the plan and we executed that really well for 75 minutes.”

The result shores up Parramatta’s spot inside the top eight. Brad Arthur’s side is on 24 points alongside the Broncos and Melbourne, before the Storm’s showdown with the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

Without shock defeats to the lowly Tigers and Bulldogs earlier in the season, the Eels could be outright second on the ladder.

With only seven games left in the regular season – including crucial clashes with Brisbane, Penrith, Manly and Souths over the next month – Mahoney is desperate to translate Parramatta’s potential into a premiership.

“I‘m just trying to give it my all, training and playing with the boys and giving it all I can,” he says.

“The last few weeks have been really good and hopefully we can make a strong finals appearance and I can leave this club a premiership winner.”