Eels plan on playing home games in
New Zealand

The Parramatta Eels are poised to become the latest National Rugby League (NRL) club to play a "home" game against the New Zealand Warriors in New Zealand.

The Eels are in negotiations to play the Warriors at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium next year, following in the footsteps of the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers who surrendered home ground advantage to Wellington and Christchurch last season.

"It hasn't been confirmed 100 per cent but the club has been discussing it," Eels coach Brian Smith said.

"We've been to the stadium and we're very impressed. We're reasonably confident it's going to happen."

Meanwhile, Smith confirmed the Eels would play a pre-season trial against the Warriors in New Plymouth on February 13.

Smith indicated his team would have a strong New Zealand flavour for the visit to Yarrow Stadium.

Club captain Nathan Cayless, fellow prop Aaron Cannings, new signings Henry and Marcus Perenara, former Warrior Peter Lewis, Eels' rookie of the year in 2004 Jack Afamasaga and 19-year-old forward Weller Hauraki are all expected to play.

meanwhile the Parramatta Eels have not given up hope of signing Kiwis test rugby league halfback Thomas Leuluai although negotiations with the New Zealand Warriors appear to have foundered.

Brian Smith expressed frustration yesterday that the club had not been able to finalise a deal with the Warriors, who told the 19-year-old during the National Rugby League (NRL) season that he was free to look elsewhere.

Leuluai, who is currently with the Kiwis Tri-Series squad in England, is sought by the Eels to fill the pivotal No 7 jersey.

Smith said the Warriors agreed to allow Leuluai to assess the Parramatta set-up in the lead-up to the October 16 trans-Tasman test in Auckland but the Eels had been unable to close the deal.

"We're a bit confused and a little bit frustrated as well," Smith said.

"We were told about Thomas' availability and we went through the front door with the Warriors and asked for permission for him to come over and have a look at us.

"We had a great meeting. We were down the path of negotiating the deal but we can't get the Warriors to the phone.

"We can't get anyone to talk to us," Smith said.

"I don't why they let him negotiate with us. The boy got his hopes us and we got our hopes up. We just want to complete the thing."

Smith suspected the Warriors had gone cold on the idea of Leuluai transferring to a rival NRL club.

"We get the feeling they (Warriors) want him to go to England and not play for another NRL club and embarrass them."

Former Auckland Warriors and Kiwis coach Frank Endacott has indicated he wants Leuluai to accompany him to Widnes when he begins a two-year term at the struggling Super League club next month.

Leuluai may be the incumbent Kiwis playmaker but he made only 10 appearances in the NRL this year, spending most of the season playing for Otahuhu-Ellerslie in the Bartercard Cup.

His fall from grace at Ericsson Stadium was of no consequence to Smith, who is holding the halfback spot open.

"He's a talented boy to be playing at halfback in the national team ... holding his gloves up as well as he does at his age is quite remarkable."

Smith has also failed to contact Leuluai to reconfirm his interest.

"He can't have global roaming on his phone," he said.