The Parramatta Eels have confirmed Trent Elkin will make his NRL coaching return with the club, six years after being banned for his involvement in Cronulla's supplement saga.
Elkin will join the Eels new look athletic performance department as a strength and conditioning coach, following Brenton Inkster's promotion to head of athletic performance.
Inkster replaces the outgoing Lachlan Wilmot, who left the club to pursue other opportunities.
Elkin, who has spent time at Canterbury, Parramatta and Cronulla, was handed an indefinite ban in the fallout from Sharks' scandal, but successfully appealed ASADA's suspension in 2014. He had been recently involved with assisting Valentine Holmes' switch to the NFL, but the Eels role will be his first since the saga.
Elkin will be joined at Bankwest Stadium by incoming assistant coach Ryan Carr, who arrives from English club Featherstone.
Elkin had remained out of the spotlight during his time away from the game, except for an interview with the Sydney Morning Heraldย where he chastised Cronulla for scapegoating him during the scandal.
Paul Gallen, the former Sharks skipper, admitted on Monday that he will "never get closure" for the drugs saga which kept him out of football for 12 months.
โIt was the hardest time ever. What I saw players go through ... it was extremely lucky no one harmed themselves. Extremely lucky. It was a terrible time for everyone," Gallen said.
โThere will always be people out there who will call me a drug cheat. I cop that. I can't change it.โ
