Michael Chammas Nrl.com
Parramatta have met Canberra five-eighth Blake Austin about the potential of joining the club next season as a potential replacement for Corey Norman.
NRL.com understands Austin is being looked at as a potential replacement for Norman, however the out-of-favour Eels No.6 hasn't attracted much interest from rival clubs.
The Eels are keen to explore the idea of Austin as Mitchell Moses's halves partner for 2019, but they won't be in a position to do so until they know whether Norman will be at the club.
As it stands, the Eels are happy to release Norman from the final year of his deal and would have even allowed him to leave before the June 30 transfer deadline had he managed to find a new home.
However, clubs have baulked at his lucrative price tag, including Manly, who went cold on the notion of a Norman-Marty Taupau swap deal with the Eels.
Austin, who grew up in western Sydney as an Eels fan, isn't after a huge deal and NRL.com understands he is happy to sign a modest one-year contract and back himself to play his way into a more lucrative deal at Parramatta or another club.
His potential signing would bring some much-needed size in the halves at the Eels - who have also been linked to Marika Koroibete - and allow Moses to become the dominant playmaker.
The Eels have also started a review of their football operations, which is likely to recommend the club brings in a head of football. NRL.com understands Cowboys football manager Peter Parr, who is also Brad Fittler's football manager for the NSW Blues this year, is the frontrunner having previously been sounded out for the role.
Replies
This is a strange move to be honest. Austin is a solid player, but this puts a lot of pressure on Moses to be chief play maker. I don't know if he has the mental fortitude to be able to do this all game every game. It also seems to be news to Norman based on other reports. Not sure what to make of it.
The bloke is a plodder, honestly BA is kidding himself if he thinks this bloke will improve the side.
Stuck with two runnings 6's and both very average in defence, the idea when you recruit is to improve the side not weaken it.
Go Moneyball!!!
FFS Allen’s,why don’t you enlighten us which your preferred pick?
I'd rather keep Norman here and give him the 7, much better option than paying him to play elsewhere while signing a bloke like Austin who is bog average.
Someone like Blake Green would of been excellent for two years to help Moses learn his trade until Dylan Brown is ready. He is easily the most talented half to come through out systems in a long long time.
Looks as if Michael Chammas may have been scrolling through 1ee pages
you got the 1st 5 words correct:
BA needs to be removed
EE the thing is the head of recruitment and retention is MR PETER SHARP so all of you that put the whole blame on BA might want to have a little step back and not blame only him for the debacle that we find our self in at this point in time as there seems to be a lot of people who have got it wrong
*Peter Sharp. Steve is the former chairman.
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