Oct 29th, 2019

Oct 29th, 2019

Trent Elkin - the man banned over the Sharks' 2011 peptides scandal - is set to make an NRL return after five years out of the game.

Parramatta has hired Elkin as lead strength and conditioning coach for next season.

The NRL banned Elkin, a popular figure among the players, for life when the peptides scandal broke in 2013 and his career appeared to be over.

But Elkin appealed against the ban and the NRL reduced it to 21 months.

Elkin also went before the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) - and was cleared of all charges.

But despite that, the mud stuck - and Elkin could not get a job with another NRL club for five long years before being thrown a lifeline by the Eels.

Elkin had to return to his old job as a school teacher to put bread on the family table but has not been idle in his time away from the game.

He has been studying the latest trends in sports science and recently helped prepare former Shark Valentine Holmes for his stint in the NFL.

Elkin starts with Parramatta next week.