Merrin, Prior, Leilua move on
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But if they can’t, rival NRL clubs are queued-up to enter the equation.
Fox Sports has learned there are meetings locked in with rival clubs for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.
The situation is a huge call for Eels powerbrokers who have been under pressure over the course of the last 12 months for the way they’ve handled contract negotiations.
Chairman Sean McElduff, new CEO Jim Sarantinos, head of football Mark O’Neill, coach Brad Arthur and recruitment manager Peter Sharp all form the Eels recruitment and retention committee.
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There’s a strong view Parramatta should have secured Brown’s signature well before the November 1 open market deadline.
Especially considering the Warriors six-year $2.8 million offer to try and lure him across the Tasman from earlier this year.
Sure, Brown is only 19-years-old and still signed for the 2020 season but given the talent he’s already showcased, it’s one of those deals you just get done.
The Eels had from March to November to try and strike a new contract for the teenage playmaker, yet here we are in December and rival clubs are ready to strike.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/f1304849bdbcb783f1cb9f143315ebc6?width=400 400w,
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/f1304849bdbcb783f1cb9f143315ebc6?width=480 480w,
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https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/f1304849bdbcb783f1cb9f143315ebc6?width=700 700w" alt="Dylan Brown has been targeted by rival clubs for a move away from the Eels." />
Dylan Brown has been targeted by rival clubs for a move away from the Eels.Source: Getty ImagesIf Brown is allowed to begin the process of meeting with rivals, Eels fans are entitled to be fuming.
This is a player the club identified at 16 years of age, moved to Sydney, nurtured through high school and now what?
The Eels don’t get the deal done? It would be a public relations disaster.
Since the entire football club review at the end of 2018, the Eels have worked hard on reforming their corporate governance and due process.
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But there’s a view the club has now gone too far down the road of being shrouded in red tape systems and structures and those problems are now flowing on into issues within the football department.
The retention and recruitment committee’s penchant for checks and balances surrounding every decision means negotiations can often drag on far too long.
The protracted negotiations of captain Clint Gutherson and the loss of some of the club’s best young talent headed by Stefano Utoikamanu to the Wests Tigers are classic examples.
Ultimately, most NRL clubs have one person who is responsible for doing the lion’s share of assembling the club’s roster.
At Parramatta, there’s seems to be a lot of different voices.
It’s a big 24 hours for the Eels.