By PETER JESSUP
Aucklander Alex Chan came to the NRL about as late in life as you can, with time left to make it.
He was 25 before he made his debut for the Northern Eagles in 2000. . He played only five games for them before shifting to Parramatta
in 2001.
The prop turned out in the grand final, then had a disastrous season last year, breaking his right arm twice in the same place.
This year it's been all bad for the Eels, who have lost six matches from eight, and half of their first-choice players to injury.
The misfortunes of others have created an opportunity for Chan, and he's taken advantage of starting games to push his case.
It's not easy when he has Kiwi captain Nathan Cayless and Kangaroo Michael Vella ahead of him. But he learns a lot from the pair and feels that if he's pushing them for a spot then he must be playing okay and doing no harm to his chances of higher honours.
Chan was a Junior Kiwi in 1992 and 93. He toured England and France, and still hasn't given up hope of attaining full national status.
Props come into their own later than players in other positions, he says.
"I'm still learning the job. I feel I'm still improving, and I've never lost hope of representing my country again."
From Taupo, he took his Christmas pay in 1994 and went to Sydney for a holiday just after New Year. He got work as a scaffolder and stayed.
He was playing for the North Sydney Bears' first division side when picked up for the Eagles, and it was then he started to realise he had a chance as a professional.
But it was only last year that Chan was added to the fulltime roster at Parramatta, allowing him to quit the building sites.
"It's good. I get to spend more time with my family [partner Maureen, daughters Shaun, 4, and Giaki,2, and son Joe, 1]. We've just bought a house in Sydney - we're lucky."
He wasn't so lucky last season, breaking his right arm after a handful of games.
And he was only 10 minutes into his return when he broke it again, in the same place. His season was over. But there's no injury hangover. He's feeling fitter and stronger than ever.
The atmosphere within the side remains good, despite the hard start to the season, Chan says. "There is no despair, no panic."
But, when reminded of all the injuries to those around him, he admits: "We can't win an argument at the moment." Young players were standing up and, despite Chan's relative inexperience in games played, he was enjoying the responsibility of leading as a senior in the team - age-wise.
"I want to start every week, so there's lots for me to focus on in trying to provide some leadership. It drives me on. And knowing Nathan [Cayless] is going to come back keeps me on my toes."
He rates some of the new boys highly, especially two-game halfback Michael Witt: "He's playing like he's been in the NRL for years, and I'm sure he will do a good job against the Warriors."
Chan hasn't played in Auckland since 1999 when he represented NZ Maori against Great Britain in the tri-series.
But it will be like a homecoming, with lots of Auckland-based family, joined by a van-load from Taupo, at Ericsson.
* Visit nzherald.co.nz throughout the weekend for Warriors updates.
NRL points table and fixtures
By PETER JESSUP
Aucklander Alex Chan came to the NRL about as late in life as you can, with time left to make it.
He was 25 before he made his debut for the Northern Eagles in 2000. . He played only five games for them before shifting to Parramatta
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