Parramatta's search for a veteran mentor for five-eighth Daniel Mortimer appears to be a race in two with Cronulla skipper Trent Barrett set to pass up the opportunity for an NRL farewell with the Eels in 2011.
The Eels targeted Barrett along with Canterbury half-back Brett Kimmorley and former Manly skipper Matt Orford as the ideal foil for Mortimer - who has suffered from a bad case of second-year blues for the struggling Eels.
Kimmorley has been squeezed out at the Bulldogs with new signings Trent Hodkinson and Kris Keating to join current playmakers Ben Roberts and Ben Barba at the club in 2011, while Orford is reportedly keen to return home despite having two years to run on his deal with SuperLeague side Bradford.
Barrett however appears set to stick with his original plan to retire at the end of the season. That call is likely to be confirmed on Thursday when he meets with manager Wayne Beavis.
"The last time I spoke to him he was retiring," Beavis said.
"I'm seeing him tomorrow. Nothing's changed."
Asked whether the Eels had tabled an offer for the veteran playmaker - who skippered NSW for the first time in last week's State of Origin finale, Beavis said: "Not that I know of - have you seen one?
"Everyone's telling me there's one but I haven't seen it," Beavis said.
Barrett had maintained that he would only play with the Sharks if he played on for a 16th season, but an opportunity to chase an elusive premiership with a talented Eels outfit would no doubt be tempting.
Eels chief executive Paul Osborne seemed resigned to missing out on Barrett, but he remained steadfast in his commitment to bring an experienced playmaker to the club.
"I think he wants to retire," Osborne said of Barrett.
"But we've talking to managers about Barrett, Orford and Kimmorley.
"We want an old head there in the halves just to guide the team around."
Osborne was due to meet with George Mimis - who manages both Orford and Kimmorley - on Wednesday, but those talks were delayed until later in the week.
Orford is currently back in Australia as he recuperates from shoulder surgery
.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/14/2953802.htm?site=sport§ion=rugbyleague
Replies
NEXT !!!!
The fact that he is still being cagey about having met with the Eels suggests to me something is going on. As I said back in my original report - he's definitely spoken to Parramatta about Barrett. Beavis has so far denied it, and now he's throwing out smart arse lines like "Have you seen it?" If something is not going to happen you normally get very plain denials as in: "Parramatta approached us about a contract for next season but Trent has made up his mind to retire". If there is nothing going on, you don't need to be cagey.
If we do sign Barrett this will be an announcement that the Eels will want to do properly. They'll want to do a full press conference with their sponsors plastered all over the place so they won't go letting the cat out of the bag. I'm keeping my diary open for tomorrow!
This was just after he denied any approach.
"Have you seen it" like we are going to put it on the front page of the telecrap before sending it to Barrett.
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