Eels five-eighth Daniel Mortimer revels in playing heroes
By Andrew Webster From: The Daily Telegraph August 19, 2009 12:00AM
PARRAMATTA rookie Daniel Mortimer has revealed on the eve of the biggest game of his career that he will be "starstruck" when he lines up against Wests Tigers magician Benji Marshall on Friday night.
While Mortimer continues to play beyond his years since his debut in round 12, the 20-year-old freely admitted he was still overawed by the calibre of players on the other side of the trench.
Earlier this year it was Broncos captain Darren Lockyer. Last week his eyes were popping out of his head at the first sight of veteran Warriors playmaker Stacey Jones.
On Friday night at the SFS he lines up against the in-form Marshall in what looms as the biggest match of Mortimer's career with a finals berth on the line.
"It'll be the biggest, easily. Every game becomes the biggest of my career but this is definitely a big one," Mortimer said.
"Benji will be hard to contain, he always is. He's a very naturally talented player so, yeah, I am feeling the pressure a bit.
"I still get starstruck every time I play. It is kind of settling in.
It is just another game of footy and I have to do my part for the team. It's hard. I'm starting to get used to it.
"My favourite player growing up was Stacey Jones. He is someone I've always looked up to. I'll always be very appreciative that I'm here and getting the opportunity."
Marshall gave a frank reminder in his side's 56-10 thumping against the bottom-placed Sharks last weekend that he remains one of the NRL's most potent attacking weapons.
His confident resurgence has helped thrust the Tigers to fifth on the ladder, and Mortimer says his ninth-placed side is already doing its homework on him ahead of Friday night's match.
"We've started doing a lot of video on him," Mortimer said. "I saw most of the game against the Sharks. He's playing very confident at the moment. He is on fire but hopefully we can put it out.
"Our defence has been strong over the last few weeks. For the past three weeks, we haven't let in a try in the second half. We're going pretty strongly. I'm feeling confident we can stop him."
When the Eels played the Tigers in round 14 they were beaten 23-6.
But five consecutive victories, thanks largely to the form of fullback Jarryd Hayne, has them poised to make a stunning bid for eighth spot.
"That was my third game of first grade," Mortimer said.
"And they pretty much spanked us all over the park. We were third last and three points from the wooden spooner.
"Now, there's a lot more excitement around the club.
"When I came in, everyone kind of palmed us off as under-achievers.
"But coming off five wins is so much better.
" The coach is much happier."
