NRL Transfer Market: Parramatta Eels target Dane Gagai; Brent Naden set to join Bulldogs
Michael Carayannis
,
Dean Ritchie
and
Fatima Kdouh
6 min read
April 27, 2021 - 6:37PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
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A Test and Origin star has emerged as a potential replacement for off-contract winger Blake Ferguson at the Eels next season.
Parramatta have launched a bid to sign Dane Gagai after meeting with the Test star.
Take it for what is a rumour.
NRL Transfer Market: Parramatta Eels target Dane Gagai; Brent Naden set to join Bulldogs
A Test and Origin star has emerged as a potential replacement for off-contract winger Blake Ferguson at the Eels next season.
Gagai looms as a potential replacement for off-contract winger Blake Ferguson as the Eels prowl the player market to add potency to their backline. They have been linked with Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs but on Tuesday turned their attention to Gagai.
With Ferguson’s future at the club still unknown it is likely Gagai would make a home on the wing.
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His ability to play centre is also an attraction, although the Eels have the injured Waqa Blake contracted until the end of 2023 and have highly touted centre Will Penisini contracted until the end of next year. Tom Opacic joined the side on a one-year deal from North Queensland this year.
Gagai is the highest profile outside back off contract with seven Tests and 16 matches for Queensland to his name plus 210 top grade games.
Dane Gagai is on the Eels’ radar as a possible replacement for Blake Ferguson. Picture: NRL Photo/Jason O'Brien
Dane Gagai is on the Eels’ radar as a possible replacement for Blake Ferguson. Picture: NRL Photo/Jason O'Brien
The 30-year-old has also been linked with a return to the Broncos or as a potential target for any expansion team in Brisbane if he is willing to ink a one-year deal.
The Eels have a stack of players whose futures remain unsettled, including Ferguson.
The Eels told Ferguson last November that 2021 would be his final season at the club.
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“I just want to be with a team that wants me,” Ferguson said this month.
“Obviously I’d love to stay with Parramatta but if they have other plans, I feel I’ll definitely add value wherever I go.”
Mitchell Moses has until round 10 to take up an option in his favour to remain at the club and has been heavily courted by Brisbane, while Nathan Brown and the Eels are back at the negotiation table despite the club withdrawing an offer to the NSW lock last month.
Manly pulled out of talks with Brown. Publicly, Brown and Moses have indicated their desire to remain at the Eels long-term.
Ryan Matterson also has an option in his favour which he is yet to take up.
Gagai is in the final year of a rich four-year deal at the Rabbitohs.
South Sydney have not closed the door on keeping Gagai but have told him they cannot make a move until halfback Adam Reynolds’ situation becomes clearer.
Eels winger Blake Ferguson is off-contract at the end of this season. Picture: Matt Blyth/Getty Images
Eels winger Blake Ferguson is off-contract at the end of this season. Picture: Matt Blyth/Getty Images
If Reynolds, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Sharks, leaves the club at season’s end then South Sydney will return to the negotiation table with Gagai.
Gagai told News Corp last month he would be willing to sign a cut-price deal to help keep Reynolds at Redfern.
“This is my last season,” Gagai said. “But I don’t want to go anywhere. 100 per cent (I would take a pay cut to keep the team together). I want to be part of what we are building and do my bit.”
They would be prepared to offer a short-term deal if Gagai has an option on the table to potentially again reunite with Wayne Bennett at a new Brisbane franchise.
While much of the attention has centred around Reynolds, the Rabbitohs have a host of players off-contract, including Jaydn Su’a, Mark Nicholls, Benji Marshall and Braidon Burns.
Replies
NOPE
Seems to be a lot of anti LGBTQ sentiment in this blog, very disappointing.
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was a joke
Hahaha.
i thought it was ok
i cant wait till theres a player with the last name Pussey.
I want the ''Eels chase Pussey'' headlines.
I can imagine the headlines ... Eels GM Mark O'Neill seen at restaurant eating out Pussey !!!!
????????
I really hope we don't as we will be paying overs for him
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