Parramatta have avoided a showdown with three of their star players after backing down on a contract deadline imposed on Clint Gutherson, Reed Mahoney and Junior Paulo just 24 hours out from its expiry.
The Eels dropped a bomb on three of their off-contract stars earlier in the week, a move that could have had major ramifications on the club’s future.
The Eels had grown frustrated with the protracted contract negotiations and this week imposed a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum on Gutherson, Mahoney and Paulo.
The trio, who are all managed by Sam Ayoub, originally had until the end of tomorrow to mull over respective offers on the table from the club.
However the club contacted the Herald late Thursday afternoon to declare the club had had a change of heart and decided to withdraw the deadline and avoid a likely public spat with its players.
The Eels had originally planned to head back to the drawing board to reassess its options if the players didn’t take up their respective offers by Friday.
Options included the withdrawal of the offers to some or all of the players mentioned, or potentially placing a freeze on negotiations to hit the open market and explore alternative options.
The decision to pull the deadline, which was relayed to Ayoub on Thursday, could be an indication that a deal with at least one player is imminent, but the club would not comment about the status of negotiations.
The Herald understands the Eels’ offer to Gutherson is a two-year extension, which would see him remain at the club until at least the end of 2024, worth between $1.5m - $1.6m.
Mahoney, who was spotted having dinner with influential Bulldogs figures at Canterbury Leagues on Tuesday night, has been presented with a three-year extension worth around $450,000 a year to stay at the Eels. It's the club's first offer to the hooker.
Despite claims from Canterbury that no ‘formal offer’ had been made to the hooker, the Herald has been told that the Bulldogs have verbally offered a four-year, $650,000-a-season deal to lure him back to the club where he played his junior football.
It’s unclear what the Eels have offered Paulo, but they consider him an integral part of their plans.
The club opened discussions with Ayoub about extending Gutherson back in May but have struggled to reach an agreement. They decided to put negotiations on hold leading up to the finals series as speculation ran wild as to Gutherson's asking price.The current stumbling block doesn't appear the $750,000-$800,000 offer per season, but instead the length of the contract as Gutherson holds out for an extra year.
Despite a number of knee injuries as he broke into the NRL, Gutherson has proven his durability by playing in every single game bar one in the past three seasons - a game in which he was rested before this year's finals.
However the Eels are holding firm on the two-year extension and could be forced to test the market for another fullback if he doesn't commit his future on Friday. Unlike Mahoney, Gutherson doesn't appear to have a suitor ready to make him an offer. Paulo has been offered to the Dolphins.
The club has lost back-rower Marata Niukore to the Warriors from 2023 on a four-year deal worth $2.5 million. The Eels weren’t willing to match the Warriors offer, which was worth around $150,000 more than the Eels were willing to pay per season.
Niukore's decision could prove a blessing in disguise for the Eels, who may need to significantly increase their offer to Mahoney to keep him out of Canterbury's grasp.
They may also need to up the offer to back-rower of the year Isaiah Papali’i. He has been offered an upgrade of around $75,000 for his 2022 contract, plus $425,000 for the next two years.
The Wests Tigers have expressed an interest in Papali'i's services and have discussed spending up to $600,000 on him. The Tigers are refusing to entertain Luciano Leilua's manager's asking price of $700,000 and see Papali'i as a better value alternative at that price.
Papali'i's preference is to remain at the Eels, who now have the money to up his offer and keep him at the blue and gold on the back of Reagan Campbell-Gillard last week recommitting to the club until the end of 2025.
Replies
Exactly. And other player's and managers are watching no doubt with great interest how this unfolds. This could make or break Ayoubs career moving forward. A manager utilising more demand players to get a better deal for a less demand player. If we decide to sign another FB what's Guthersons offer from his fallback club going to look like ? 800k per year when they know he's unemployed ? Nar not likely. . Ayoub looks like a fuckwit.
or
we crumble , add another year on Gutho contract or another 200k, Reed goes to Canterbury or JP to Dolphins cause we can't afford him and Ayoub gets 3 big paydays and looks like a hero, other players think he's Jerry Maguire and moving forward these drawn out blackmail bundling games become normal signing routines .
Imagine being Mahoney and Paulo , knowing your manager was using you as a pawn to get his unwanted player an unrealistic deal worth more than your own.
If the club had brains they'd slip a rival managers card in their gym bags because I'd be questioning whether I want this manager.
Problem is, even if they cut their manager, that manager still gets a portion of their salary until the end of their contract with that manager.
100% correct Wizz and sadly our 'captain' is happy to play along.
So many players at so many clubs all on the market but all the media want to do is talk about Eels players. The reason for this is the Eels have a lot more fans and members than the others. Lets face it, do a story on the roosters and 3 people read it.
Plus how Joey Manu accepted unders to stay at the Chooks.
Uncle Nick will get sore shoulders playing a lot of shit golf.
Gutherson's influence as a money hungry captain has now been passed on through the club. As we can see with Mahoney being spotted having lunch with the dogs, it's another case of not putting Parra first.
A great coach would have nabbed this in the bud and has Gutherson cut ties with his manager earlier. The club will suffer greatly. Gutherson cannot be the captain if the eels want to survive
once again another bullshit statement from the flip flopper......
isn't Brissy the Flipper lol
A great coach? Like Craig Bellamy?
Oh, who's that openly meeting with Queensland teams? Brandon Smith.
Ridiculous statement Chief.
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