Player Profile - Dean Widders

Dean Widders admits he has finally matured as a rugby league player.

At 26 and in his sixth first grade season, the Parramatta "super sub" is an elder statesman of a young Eels side that is nervously counting down to Sunday's NRL grand final qualifier against North Queensland.

But asked if he is seen as a "calming influence for the younger blokes", Widders laughed: "I'm not that old yet!"

"I still look at myself as one of the young blokes who needs to be calmed down every now and again.

"When I get on the footy field I like to play off the top of my head, do the things that the crowd thinks are pretty exciting.

"Sometimes it's me that needs to pulled in and calmed down."

But Widders certainly has done a lot of growing up in 2005.

The former Sydney Rooster who joined Parramatta in 2002 reckons he has finally realised what it takes to be a productive first grader - and it shows.

In his 22 games to date this season, Widders has exploded off the bench to notch 11 tries - almost double last year's tally.

In fact, Widders had just 15 career tries from 78 games before 2005.

"I think I have taken a while to mature as a football player," he said.

"Just learning what it takes off the football field to train hard and keep fit and it is starting to pay off - I'm really enjoying my footy."

Widders dreams of a premiership ring - and more.

"There's representative duty. If your team goes far in the finals, anyone's a chance at those sort of things but it's not something I am focussing on," he said.

"I think I am 12 months away from playing rep football.

"I've got to work on a really big off season next year.

"I'm setting my sights on making Country Origin next year - that would be a great achievement for me."

Widders said Parramatta wasn't sweating on forward Fuifui Moimoi playing again in the finals but did hope his nine game suspension would be lessened with the Tri Nations on the horizon.

Parramatta has sought leave to appeal the Kiwi's suspension and is expected to learn his fate this week.

"We realised that Fui wasn't going to play a part in our chase for the finals this season," he said.

"We've moved on with it. I think Adam Peek and Michael Vella have done a great job, we haven't really missed a beat there.

"I think the boys would like to see Fui ...play in the Tri Nations at the end of the season.

"To see him get off that suspension and be able to play ...would be a really good achievement for him."