PARRAMATTA Eels’ Toyota Cup captain Tim Mannah believes he is leaving the side in capable hands with Orange’s Dan Mortimer in 2009.

Mannah captained the 2008 Eels, who lost their elimination final to St George Illawarra 23-22 just over a week ago.

The forward will move on to the Eels’ NRL squad for the 2009 season but is confident Mortimer will have a big impact on the Toyota Cup side next year.

“I think ‘Mort’ and Anthony Mitchell (hooker) will probably be the standouts next year,” Mannah said.

“I think the side will give it a real run. They’ll have the same coach in Matt Cameron.”

Mannah and a number of Mortimer’s Toyota Cup team-mates were in Orange on the weekend to have some fun before getting back into preparations for the 2009 season.

Mannah said it was disappointing to lose their final to St George Illawarra after a roller coaster season.

“We had a really good start to the season. Then that middle section wasn’t good with all the injuries,” he said.

“We slipped down to ninth at one point. For us to finish equal second was a good achievement.

“We really picked up in the last few months and started playing some good footy. It was just that last hiccup. If we’d won that game (against the Dragons) I think we could have gone close to taking out the premiership.”

This was the first time the Toyota Cup had been run, with NRL clubs each having a corresponding under 20s side.

The under 20s played before the NRL matches all season.

The boys have been impressed with the competition’s first year but said there is still a noticeable gap between the under 20s and the NRL competition.

“The Toyota Cup is unreal for under 20s. You won’t find a better comp in the country for under 20s,” Mannah said.

“There’s a bit of a gap between the under 20s and NRL. If you’re a good player it doesn’t matter but for some guys they finish in under 20s and aren’t sure what to do.”

Mannah believes the Eels will still be competitive in the 2009 Toyota Cup with a number of players coming up from this year’s SG Ball side, which won through to the grand final.

One to look our for is Albert Kelly, who played a number of Toyota Cup matches this year and teamed up with Mortimer in the halves.

In Sunday’s Toyota Cup grand final the boys believe the Brisbane Broncos will come out on top against the Canberra Raiders.

They also have a favourite for the NRL decider.

“It’s hard to see how Melbourne will get beaten,” Mortimer said.