‘Off-season iceberg’: Eels’ looming salary cap crisis as $4.2m in talent set to go on open market
https://www.foxsports.com.au/pmd/images/2021/08/04/807432_640x360_large_20210804191304.jpg 640w" alt="Eels $4.2M off season headache!" />
The Parramatta Eels are facing a salary cap crisis with $4.2 million in talent set to come off contract next year making them free to negotiate with NRL rivals from November 1.
Brent Read revealed on NRL 360 that the Eels have a fight on their hands to keep seven of their most important stars that come off-contract next seasonwith rival clubs set to cricle as of November 1.
“It doesn’t get any easier against the South Sydney side next up and it is a really critical three months for them,” Read said on NRL 360.
“They are clinging to a place in the top four. On November 1 they have about $4.2 million worth of talent that is up for grabs led by Clint Gutherson.
“Dylan Brown has an option on his deal, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Matterson Isaiah Papali’i and Marate Niukore.
“Beyond the finals up until November 1 it is a really crucial period for this club because they are going to come under siege when these players become available.”
Clint Gutherson $750,000, Dylan Brown $500,000, Ryan Matterson $550,000, Reed Mahoney $550,000, Isaiah Papali’i $600,000, Junior Paulo $700,000 and Marata Niukore $550,000 are all off contract and are worth a total of $4,200,000 based on their projected base rates for their next contract.
“Do you think they will be able to keep all those guys?” Paul Kent asked Read.
“I can’t see how they can,” Read said.
“I don’t see how they can either,” Kent replied.
“If you look at someone like Papali’i, I think he was on $140,000,” Read said.
“They are going to have to quadruple his pay packet because that’s what he will get on the open market.
“I rang around and asked and these are the figures. Niukore has clubs sniffing around him already at that ($550,000) price figure.
“I think it is impossible to keep them all. That Gutherson figure of $750,000. If you remember when Gutherson did his last deal it got pretty ugly and messy and it was played out publicly.
“In the end he took a little less to stay. I don’t think his management are in the mood to take less again. I think they will squeeze them for every cent they can get. I think $750,000 is conservative in their view about what they think he is worth.”
Kent also pointed out there is not a lot of wriggle room in the Eels’ squad.
“There is not a lot of players elsewhere at Parramatta who you say well he is retiring, he’s leaving or he is going elsewhere, so it is not like there will be a lot of room to cater for the bump ups in these contracts,” Kent said.
Cooper Cronk believes Clint Gutherson and Reed Mahoney are the priorities out of the seven players off-contract.
“Gutherson and Mahoney are the top targets for me,” Cronk said.
“We have all spoken about how tough their run home is. I think this is the one game (Souths) that the Eels need to get their season on track because Parramatta’s forward pack can run through South Sydney and that’s what they need to do.
“If they can do that they might get their season back on track.”
Yvonne Sampson pointed out how brutal the NRL salary cap management is given the Eels have finally built a strong and consistent roster.
“Brad Arthur has finally built a quality roster that is a proven finals team and they’ve got key rep stars and now he is going to hit this off-season iceberg,” Sampson said.
“Welcome to the big league’s,” Kent replied.
“That’s the way it works and every year except for Melbourne given the way they manage their cap.
“But whenever a team wins the competition then every player is worth 10 to 15 per cent more.”
Replies
Simple, let Gutherson, Matterson and Paulo go.
Can't keep them all.
Scott
Gutho and Paulo? Ew. I'm glad you aren't in charge, pal!
Are you honestly going to tell me that Paulo is playing like a $700k a year player, RCG maybe but not Paulo, if he wants to play for $500k a season then yes re-sign.
Gutherson is a good defensive fullback but have a look at the good fullbacks in game now, Tedesco, Turbo, Ponga, Papenhouzen, Hynes..... they are all attacking weapons, there's no doubting Guthersons heart and effort but he's just not in the same caliber as these players.
The teams in contention all have one thing in common, world class fullbacks...... Gutherson isn't our answer.
Cheers,
Scott
I think if you gave Guth the room those players get then you would not notice a great deal of difference Dreggsie.
It also shows you do not understand the leadership and inspiration that he has, not just with the team but its supporters as well.
Probably a bit heavy for someone with the lateral thinking ability of a field mouse.
Leadership qualities that abuses players when they make a mistake, that's not instilling confidence into players...... he's not a leader.
Gutherson would have won us the Raiders game if he was half as good as people on here make him out to be.
Cheers,
Scott
I'm sorry Scott dregs I don't like it, won't work
Never two bigger wankers around the NRL than Reed and Kent.
Next...
How come you always seem to follow Shawn Grunts, have you been visiting the long white cloud and tasting some mutton.
Dylan Brown i thought was on 700K? anyway, Kent saying we have nobody leaving, uhhhhhh Fergo? who is on half a mil, granted not alot but still cash none the less.
For me Mahoney is a priority, then depending on how Sean Russell develops followed by if they decide to maybe move Gutho to 6 or how JA develops Brown could be one to go, Gutho i reckon will be 2nd to stay.
But yeah players go and stay it's the NRL but out of those i think Matterson is expandable, Junior maybe but again depends on how players like Kaufusi, Greig and Hollis develop to replace them. This where our juniors are really crucial to develop at this point.
I'd like you to explain in detail how Matterson is expandable?
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