NRL Transfers: Parramatta greats blast club in wake of Reed Mahoney’s defection to Bulldogs
Two Eels legends have come out swinging over the departure of Reed Mahoney, but perhaps it was the astonished reaction of a modern-day warrior that might prove the most telling of all.
Parramatta legends Ray Price and Mick Cronin have come out swinging over the loss of Reed Mahoney to their old arch rivals, the Bulldogs.
Price slammed the club’s current administration, declaring “they haven’t got a clue” and “are pathetic”.
The premiership-winning captain also reckons the people running the club “wouldn’t know a footballer if he picked his nose”.
Mahoney has taken the money and scooted over to Belmore.
Cronin’s beef related more to the demise of loyalty in a modern game, where “it seems to be all about the dollar”.
It is understood the Eels were blown out of the water by the Bulldogs’ four-year deal worth a reported $2.4 million, compared to the three-year term worth $1.5m that Parramatta put on the table.
Parramatta chairman Sean McElduff came out this week and said it was “absurd” that the Eels had been criticised for low-balling players during negotiations.
But there is just no denying that when push came to shove Canterbury’s new football boss Phil Gould played the Bulldogs’ old rivals off the break to sign the 23-year-old hooker who league legend Cooper Cronk has labelled a future captain.
Mahoney is said to have tossed and turned over the decision on Wednesday night before fronting coach Brad Arthur on Thursday morning.
He was apparently upset that the news then broke publicly before Mahoney got the chance to tell his teammates.
There has been speculation that the decision has also somewhat strained Mahoney’s relationship with his coach.
But his agent Sam Ayoub was adamant Mahoney would not be seeking a release from the final year of his existing contract.
“Of course, like the rest of the squad there, his ambition is to be winning the comp with Parramatta (in 2022),” Ayoub said.
But according to Price, the Eels have really dropped the ball by losing Mahoney on the back of Isaiah Papali’i and Maratha Niukore signing with the Wests Tigers and Warriors respectively.
“What are they doing?” Price fumed.
“He is a quality hooker. He is a very good player.
“But so is Papali’i.
“Jesus Christ.
“It can’t go on like this. They need players and they are just letting them go.”
And Price couldn’t hide that he was also fed up that former players from the Eels’ glory years no longer felt welcome at the club.
“There is not much we can do because they just don’t listen to anyone,” he added.
“We are the only team that won something and they couldn’t give a s**t about us.
“The majority of the people that are having anything to do with the club and the side wouldn’t know a footballer if he picked his nose.
“They haven’t got a clue. They are pathetic.”
Cronin, as is his way, did not want to make it personal, but was certainly “disappointed” with the way the game has changed.
In his day Cronin was famous for turning down significantly bigger offers from rival clubs to stay loyal to Parramatta, and he reckons many of his former teammates did the same.
“Blokes like Ella, Kenny, Price and Sterling would all come into that category,” Cronin said.
“They would have all taken unders to stay.
“I am not going to be hypocritical because the club can get rid of you pretty quick.
“But it disappoints me from a game perspective that there is not a lot of loyalty. It is just the modern game.
“All I am saying is that the game has changed. It seems to be all about the dollar.
“That is dead set a good offer and I can’t blame him.
The 23-year-old has one last chance to inspire an Eels premiership run.
“But as I said, it probably shows you to a degree now that it is just about the money.”
Cronk was also baffled that the Eels didn’t do more to keep the rising star, labelling it a “huge blow”.
“I reckon Parramatta would be scratching their heads,” Cronk told Fox Sports.
“He is courageous, he is tough, always putting his body on the line and they are the type of guys you can really form a good core around.”
Cronk also reckons Mahoney shows the character of a future captain: “Take performance out of the equation, I think Reed Mahoney has got a really good temperament, looks like a really good kid and someone you really can help instil a humble, hardworking culture.
“So I would have thought Parramatta would have tried to move heaven and earth to keep him.”
Replies
He's brought all of that on himself. The bloke pisses on the club any chance he gets.
Price was great in his playing days, lately he's been used as a stooge by morons trying to destabilise the club and it's tarnished his reputation big time. That's on him. Right now he's doing damage to the club and he should shut his pie hole. Even in his playing days he wasn't kept around for his wit and intelligence, and that was over 100 concussions ago.
Speaking of money-we must have a decent stash ready to play with now.
Fergo gone: $500k, Gutho and RCG re-signed for the same coin they were already on. Papalii, Niukore and Mahoney would have to be on around $600-$700k combined and we haven't signed anyone of note to date.
You would think conservatively there would be $1m to play with in available cap space
Yep we can now offer $500k for a Wests Tigers 3rd back up hooker and then congratulate ourselves on prudent cap management.
Same with Papa, we couldnt buy anybody for 600 as good.
Reeds the same
story in the papers today on hoe the roosters have rolled out the red carpet for him, so yeah, doubt we have a chance. By the way didnt we sign Simon Woolford as an assistance - hooker with reputation as a recruiting guru?
“So I would have thought Parramatta would have tried to move heaven and earth to keep him.” Boats, cars, brown paper bags, second sets of books etc.
But we have already shown how completely shit we are at cheating
Nothing wrong with cheating, we just need to get better at it.
Like, a lot better, but we am is v.slow learners
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