James Hooper - Paulo has signed with the Eels - Eels Blogs

BREAKING: @RaidersCanberra forward Junior Paulo to sign @TheParraEels 4-year-deal worth $2.8 mil. Details @FOXNRL ASAP
— James Hooper (@jimmyhooper) April 18, 2018

Update from Bazza via Fox Sports

Exclusive: Raider Junior Paul signs for Parramatta Eels on four-year, $2.8 million deal
RAIDERS
James Hooper
April 18, 2018 2:40pm
JAMES HOOPER@jimmyhooper
Source: FOX SPORTS
Junior Paulo: leaving Canberra for Parramatta.
Junior Paulo: leaving Canberra for Parramatta.Source: Getty Images

THE Parramatta Eels have outlaid a massive $2.8 million four-year deal to land the signature of Raiders enforcer Junior Paulo.

Despite denying a deal had been agreed less than 24 hours ago, Fox League has been assured Paulo will be returning to the Eels from next season.

The Eels have been the biggest flops of this season starting the year 0-6 with one of their glaring weaknesses being a lack of a power forward in the front row.

Paulo quit the Eels mid-season in 2016 to form a damaging front row combination with Shannon Boyd as the Raiders surged into the grand final qualifier.

But the front row forward was blasted by coach Ricky Stuart at the start of this season after returning from World Cup duties for Samoa at 130kg.

The Raiders fought hard to retain Paulo but ultimately the Eels $700,00-a-season offer gazumped them.

Paulo initially lefty Sydney to move away from “bad influences” but will now be returning to the Eels for 2019.

The Raiders are not expected to release Paulo this year.

"The sad part is these two are the only half decent players returning... Iongi and Tuivati back round 13. Says a lot about our roster. Seriously in need of a quality 5/8, centres (x2) and a middle. "

"Was thinking the same. It's pretty funny on here at times. The sky is either falling or the sun is shining out of everyone's arse. You don't get anything in between. "

"Already have some young players in there. Other than Kelly, Ado-Carr Paulo, Debelin and Walker, most of the other players are pretty young. Saxon Prike finds himself playing NRL well before he expected to. Throwing them all in together is asking…"

Replies

SuperEel 22 April 18, 2018 at 2:37pm

The deal works out to roughly $600,000 per year.
- Kase > SuperEel 22 April 18, 2018 at 2:45pm
  
  $700k per year
  - SuperEel 22 > Kase April 18, 2018 at 2:46pm
    
    Yeh, I didn't get past year 10 maths for a reason.
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > SuperEel 22 April 18, 2018 at 3:06pm
  
  Thank fuck youre not in charge of our salary cap super lol, we might be in a bit of trouble.
  - Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓 > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown April 18, 2018 at 3:15pm
    
    LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
- robert maxwell > SuperEel 22 April 19, 2018 at 2:45pm
  
  $700,000 a season seems a dune deal.
Enforcer Eel April 18, 2018 at 2:39pm

Its a start.
Next ??
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > Enforcer Eel April 18, 2018 at 2:56pm
  
  Yeah its a start.
Pepe Silvia April 18, 2018 at 2:44pm

"No, I haven't agreed to terms (with the Eels), there's only been offers from several clubs from Sydney," Paulo said.
- SuperEel 22 > Pepe Silvia April 18, 2018 at 2:47pm
  
  The operative phrase being "agreed to terms". No doubt that quote was from yesterday, printed today and since then the Eels could have tabled a new offer that he's agreed to.