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Shaun Lane may have hung up the boots earlier this month, but his connection to rugby league and the Parramatta Eels is far from over. The club announced today that the former second-row forward has returned to the blue and gold, taking up a new role focusing on athlete wellness and mental skills development within the NRLW program and elite pathways.
Lane, who played 186 NRL matches across four clubs and won the Ken Thornett Medal as Parramatta’s player of the year in 2022, will now dedicate his energy to supporting the next generation of athletes. His expertise isn’t just built on the field — Lane has completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Positive Psychology.
For Lane, the decision was never about walking away from the Eels.
“I owe Parramatta everything,” Lane said. “This club took me in, believed in me, and gave me some of the best years of my life. Parramatta will always be my family. Even though my playing days are done, I’ll keep giving back to the game that gave me everything.”
Teammates once described him as the “glue” of the Eels’ forward pack, known for his tireless work ethic and calm leadership. Now, those same qualities will shape his off-field role, helping to build mental resilience, performance habits, and holistic wellbeing for both NRLW players and rising stars in Parramatta’s pathways.
“It’s about more than footy,” Lane explained. “I’ve seen how much pressure young athletes carry, and I want to help them not just as players, but as people. If I can give back in that way, then I’m doing my job.”
For the Eels community, Lane’s return is more than symbolic — it ensures that one of their most respected figures continues to shape the club’s future, long after his final whistle.
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