With news that a change in ownership at Manly could threaten the Watmough deal, there's another angle - and that's the fact that it could bring DCE back onto the radar.
The DCE to Parramatta meme was pretty much silenced with Watmough being linked to the Eels, because he was perceived to be in the "other camp". The divide there appeared to be the old guard (Penns, Watmoughs, Stewarts) against the new guard (Quantum, Perrry) who was prepared to prioritise the signing of DCE over the old stalwarts.
If the Penns drive an about face and instead prioritise making Watmough, Stewart and Foran life players, there simply won't be enough in the Sea Eagles cap to re-sign DCE, who is biding his time for a massive upgrade to his next contract. He can potentially double what was rumoured to be a $500k per year contract.
And there's got to be some chance that if Manly do move in the opposite direction that something could be on the cards for next year. Watmough would have relieved salary cap pressure for Manly and letting DCE go would also give the Sea Eagles the chance to move forward next year without any of the tension and internal politics that seemed to de-rail their chances at the end of last year.
DCE hardly set the competition alight in the back-end of last year season, so if the Sea Eagles think they can get by without their half, releasing DCE would solve their cap issues and allow them to strengthen their forward pack which looked off the pace when compared to the likes of Souths and the Roosters come finals time.
Replies
He may have been playing injured at the back end of the season which may explain his form dip, I dunno. But right now, Foran would still be my preference. A Foran/Sandow halves pairing would work for me.... As opposed to a DCE/Norman pairing...
Wouldn't be unhappy if we got DCE by any stretch but would prefer Foran as target #1
I don't see why you couldn't pair DCE and Sandow. Except for the fact they're both right-side players, I think Sandow playing six and then feasibly with a little less responsibility for organisation, would be able to play more of his natural game.
From day one, I've never really beleived that Watmough will be an Eel.
I'm not sure why but I really don't think he'll leave Manly. I think he is just ruffling feathers and we are being used for him to get a better deal there. I would not trust this deal until it was signed in blood.
I can see DCE coming to Parra before Foran.
DCE followed the Eels growing up and Foran lived on the Northshore.
For my money I think we will see a DCE at 7 and Sandow at 6.
I would even consider putting sandow to fullback if you wanted to retain Norman.
I think Norman and DCE would play well together.
1 Sandow
3 Hopoate
6 Norman
7 DCE
I think this will all at last become clearer in the course of next week with Sharpe and Arthur back and pre-season beginning.
To be honest, Foran or DCE would be a massive coup. They are the best halves partnership in the comp and adding one of them to the fold will mean massive things for the Eels.
However, we do have to ensure our forwards are going to stand up. Our defence this year was almost as bad as 2013. Our saving grace was our attack. This will take a hit with losing Hayne and it's obvious we will need a premiere half moving forward in 2016, but it must go hand in hand with 2 experienced, tough forwards and that is what sways me towards Watmough/Foran, rather than DCE and the unkown.
Still very interesting times ahead, and I have to say there hasn't been this much off-season excitment/activity on 1eyed for quite some time. Something must be going right.
But where does that put Norman. We've signed him for three seasons. There's no point in having a player commanding as much as he is in NSW Cup.
Ricky Stuart would take Norman in a heartbeat if we were looking to offload him.... Sticky would probably even give him a pay rise and we wouldn't have to pay any of his salary in 2016!!!
Centre, he defends decently, can run pretty well, able to pass it decently.
Foran
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