Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is confident rising star Bevan French will be an immediate success at fullback in the upcoming NRL season.
French continued his remarkable tryscoring run since breaking into first grade last year, getting on the scoresheet against in the Eels' trial loss to Penrith on Saturday.
The 21-year-old scored a remarkable 19 tries in 13 games in his rookie campaign in 2016, crossing the stripe in all but two of his appearances.
He backed up a strong Auckland Nines showing by impressing against the Panthers, threatening with the ball and bagging a try in the absence of star halfback Corey Norman.
Young talent Troy Dargan also played well alongside Clinton Gutherson in the halves.
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"(French) went good. We had young Dargs playing his first game in the halves there for us and Gutho is still learning his trade," Arthur said.
"No Corey Norman and Bev's first proper hit-out with us... there's plenty for us to work on, especially the execution with our attack wasn't what we were after tonight.
"We wanted to be physical and make sure our effort was there defensively. (French will) be fine, we're backing him the same as we're backing Gutho. Once we put Normy there we'll be right."
Arthur is optimistic Norman will overcome a calf injury picked up at the Nines to be ready for round one, but failed to guarantee veteran Isaac De Gois the starting hooker spot.
Kaysa Pritchard stepped into the role for a rested De Gois against the Panthers, while Arthur has a third option in Cameron King.
Recruit Siosaia Vave is the only other injured player on the club's roster, although forward Peni Terepo is unavailable until round four after copping a suspension for a careless driving charge.
"Normy definitely, not sure with Isaac. We're just resting him at the moment," Arthur said.
"We still don't know when Vaves will be right and we've got Peni Terepo to come back in at some stage to put some pressure on them."
