RUGBY LEAGUE
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St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor is expecting the off-field turmoil engulfing Parramatta to steel the Eels ahead of their showdown with the Dragons at Pirtek Stadium on Saturday.
He's yet to pull on a blue and gold jersey but the saga around the future of Manly star Keiran Foran has dominated the build up to Saturday's clash, with the Eels' embattled board facing criticism over the botched contract negotiations that saw two different contracts lodged with the NRL.
Fairfax Media revealed on Friday that Foran, who is now at the centre of a tug-of-war between the Eels and the Sea Eagles, will consider his legal options if the Eels can't guarantee the $4.8 million deal initially agreed upon.
The saga has already forced former chief executive Scott Seward out the door and disgruntled fans will gather at Parramatta Town Hall just hours before kick-off on Saturday to voice their anger at the board.
McGregor is expecting the trying circumstances to bring the best out of the Eels on Saturday.
"I'm expecting a team that's going to come out with a lot of purpose and we've got to meet that," McGregor said.
"They're playing at home in front of their home crowd and a lot has been said about their club this week.
"That can go two ways but I'm sure they'd like to go out and play well. They're coming off the bye which they needed, they were a bit busted there before the bye. We look after ourselves and whatever team we play against we prepare for them at their best and that's what we're expecting from them.
"They've beaten some good sides and they certainly play some footy. They've got an unpredictability about them and they've got some very good skill there.
"They come at you in waves and are a certainly a side where you've got to maintain your focus for the full 80 minutes to get a result.'
The Eels' fan-led campaign, complete with the hashtag #reclaimOurEels, is strikingly similar to that run by Dragons fans earlier this year largely in response the departures of Brett Morris and Trent Merrin.
The #SaveOurSaints campaign has since been muted by the Dragons' on-field success that sees them sitting third on the ladder at the mid point of the season. Peter Mata'utia this week joined a host of players in recommitting to the club that now appears a picture of stability little more than six months into McGregor's tenure.
"It's very pleasing that guys are putting their faith in the Red V and the structures we've got in place," McGregor said.
"We've had some really important key people that have been a big part of what we're about re-sign and stay when a lot of other clubs have been interested in them.
"For me that's a show of faith," he said.
