GREG EDEN has finally got used to being hailed as the ‘new Billy Slater!’
Giants coach Nathan Brown came up with the tag after watching his young full-back produce a starring role in the recent win at champions Leeds Rhinos.
It was by far the most flattering complement the Galpharm chief could have paid the 21-year-old, with Slater the undisputed best full-back in the world.
That, however, hasn’t stopped Eden’s teammates giving him constant stick about it, with the former Castleford youngster now taking it in his stride.
“The stick was pretty relentless at first,” he revealed.
“With everything I was doing in training, the lads were saying things like ‘Billy Slater wouldn’t do this or Billy Slater wouldn’t do that!’
“It just never stopped.
“But it’s all part of the banter, and I know the boys could be coming out with a lot worse.
“Being compared to Billy Slater isn’t exactly the worst thing in the world, is it?”
As well as the banter aimed at Eden, prop Larne Patrick is another who could easily be in the firing range – thanks to Sky TV pundit Terry O’Connor.
Whenever the Giants are discussed by the Sky team, O’Connor is always the first to admit he’s a big fan of Patrick – although the 23-year-old isn’t complaining about that.
“I’m well aware of what Terry’s been saying about me, and it’s good to hear,” said Patrick.
“I suppose it could make me a target for some banter, but that’s just part and parcel of what goes on at training, it’s all in good spirit.
“But when someone who’s played prop for Great Britain so many times says he likes what you’re doing, you’ve got to be happy about that.
“Terry is such a very well respected player in the game.”
