GREG EDEN has “reinvigorated” Sheffield Eagles in his short time at the club, according to coach Craig Lingard.
The 35-year-old joined Sheffield in June, his third team of the season and twelfth of a career which has included a prolific spell with Castleford Tigers and an NRL stint with Brisbane Broncos.
After starting the season with financially-troubled North Wales Crusaders, then returning to the top flight for two matches at Bradford Bulls, Eden made his Eagles debut off the bench in last month’s narrow 18-16 defeat at Barrow Raiders.
He then started at fullback for subsequent home games against Whitehaven and Dewsbury Rams, scoring a total of three tries as Sheffield won 50-14 and 42-30 respectively.
“Bringing in Greg has reinvigorated us a bit,” said Lingard.
“He’s changed our attacking dynamic. We had Joe Brown at fullback out of position – he was doing a decent job for us but he’s not a fullback, and it took away a lot of the strengths he has when he plays on the wing.
“Greg is a genuine attacking threat at fullback – a pass threat and a run threat.
“We’ve scored nearly 100 points in two games and I don’t think it’s a coincidence we’ve done that since moving Greg to fullback. It’s made us more threatening with ball in hand.”
It’s solved a puzzle the Eagles have had since March, when first-choice fullback Matty Marsh suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
“We tried to get one or two people in on loan but for one reason or another that didn’t materialise,” added Lingard.
“Then we had the opportunity to bring Greg in and it’s nice having that natural fullback.
“We’re also starting to get competition for places. A few people are coming back fresh like Conor Fitzsimmons, who hadn’t played for four months, and Jack Bussey who had three months out.
“Coming into the end of the season we’re feeling fresh.”