Parramatta have tabled Shaun Lane an upgraded three-year offer as the towering back-rower allayed fears he could be leaving the club at the end of 2020.
NRL.com can reveal the Eels have come to the party with a new deal for the 25-year-old in recent weeks, who hopes to have his long-term future sorted before the start of the season.
Lane created a stir late last month when he went public with frustrations that contract negotiations with the Eels had dragged out over the summer.
It's understood he has met with the Dragons recently amid interest from several NRL rivals, though Lane declined to comment on any potential suitors.
The 198cm forward said on Monday that he is edging closer to a resolution and could happily see himself in blue and gold beyond 2020.
"I'm not going anywhere this season," Lane told NRL.com.
"I really do love it here and I love the players and the staff and the feel around the place. I'm all in for this season, and whatever happens after that happens. I'll sort that out in the next few weeks.
"I'm definitely not saying I'm leaving. It's just a matter of a process that I've got to go through.
"I'll leave the contracts and all the negotiations and that up to my management. When the time comes and all offers are on the table, I'll sit down and have a look at what my options are.
"I've instructed my manager that I want that done before the season so I can concentrate on my football."
Parramatta have been busy on the retention front since their finals run in 2019, re-signing key figures Dylan Brown, Maika Sivo and Michael Jennings.
Oregon Kaufusi, Brad Takairangi, Marata Niukore, David Gower, Ray Stone and Andrew Davey have also been handed extensions, but Lane remains off-contract at the end of 2020.
Rather than raising Brad Arthur's ire for his public comments, Lane said the Eels coach had seen where he was coming from, and reassured him he was very much a part of Parramatta's long-term plans.
"BA's always supportive of his players and he's always up front with everything," Lane said.
"The fact was Parra was a little bit slow with negotiations, and he was actually a little bit, not apologetic, but he saw my side of it.
"He had a bit of empathy for me, and he said the club is going to work with my management from now to try and get something sorted.
They've put in an offer since then, my management told me about that so it's just a matter of waiting to see my other options and we're working through that."
https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/03/eels-move-to-lock-up-lane-with-new-three-year-deal/
Replies
Get it done
Yeah
I reckon Brad Arthur has every right to be pretty pissed with how this has played out - Lane should've gone to Arthur with his concerns rather than airing his dirty laundry all through the press and trying to hold Parra to ransom. I like watching Lane play, but if this is how he conducts himself with regards to his employment, he seems pretty immature and self-centred. He has a contract until the end of 2020 and the season hasn't started yet - put your head down and get on with your job in this now great team and let your manager and employer come to terms for your next contract without publically stamping your feet and demanding future certainties.
Heya Poppa - I didn't mean "Great" as in all conquering, just that it looks very promising on paper!
Get it done Parra we all know you want to just speed it up and put it to bed. . Lanes given 100% from the moment he jumped into our colours. Lane has every right to be disappointed with not being a signing priority.
I'd suggest that he was made an offer some time ago but his manager has been the one to draw it out, trying to negotiate a bigger contract. The truth is we don't know what is going on behind the scenes, but it is strange that these issues seem to dissappear once they go to the media. Parra seems to be doing a good job with contracts lately but they do need to avoid airing dirty laundry to the media.
"He had a bit of empathy for me, and he said the club is going to work with my management from now to try and get something sorted.“
thats as close as BA would ever get to dissing his club ever.
All I can suggest is this:
https://youtu.be/CSA_oQ2PSSE
The only teams that would need him are ones he's played for or ones you don't want to play for.If its more money he wants just put off negotiations play well in a winning team then watch your price go up and sign for the highest bidder.Atm he's good but not great.Still drops as many chances as tries he scores.needs to go up a gear if he wants top dollar and to play origin .
That's why Parra have to get this over the line before he reaches SoO level if he does he may price himself out of our range.
He just needs a bit of a raise and signed for 3-4 years to insulate us against his rising play and the market.
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