Parramatta have turned their attention to South Sydney’s Matt McIlwrick in a bid to solve their hooking crisis after missing out on the signature of Kiwis rake Issac Luke.
The Eels have a capable young dummy half in Reed Mahoney, who is expected to be the club’s long-term No.9. However, Mahoney has only nine NRL games to his credit and there are concerns about Parramatta’s lack of depth in the position.
Kaysa Pritchard was set to share the hooking duties this season, but the Samoan international has taken an indefinite break from the game while dealing with injury issues. While utility Will Smith can slot in at a pinch, coach Brad Arthur is concerned about the lack of options at his disposal.
Luke emerged as a potential solution. While he was contracted to the Warriors for this year, the veteran Kiwi had a handshake agreement that he was free to leave if he received a better offer elsewhere. Luke was signed on a bargain-basement deal for 2019 of $120,000 on the proviso he would be upgraded if salary cap room became available.
The Eels were in deep negotiations with Luke, but ultimately couldn’t agree on a price. The Warriors countered with an upgraded offer with the funds freed up with the departure of Shaun Johnson, effectively taking him off the market.
The Eels have been scouring the globe in a bid to find an alternative, even sounding out Cameron King about a return just months after his departure. However, King opted to remain with Featherstone in England.
Parramatta’s interest has now shifted to McIlwrick. The journeyman hooker has made 56 first-grade appearances since his debut in 2012, joining Souths after stints at Canberra, the Roosters, Sharks and Wests Tigers. The interest in the 27 year old comes before he has even played a single game for the Rabbitohs, where he is stuck behind NSW and Australian superstar Damien Cook.
It remains to be seen whether the South Sydney will be prepared to release him or if McIlwrick is prepared to shift west. However, he is likely to get more game time at Parramatta id Souths feel promising rake Billy Brittain gives them the cover they require.
Replies
Please don't be true...
Parramatta Eels - the team on every journeyman’s list.
Price for him as a backup?
Your not a real journeyman until you have played for wenty on 300,000 a year on a 4 year deal and had BA describe you as a 'real footballer'.
Heehee
BWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAH ''Even sounding out Ex eel Cam King about returning just months after he's left''
FMD, its desperate times for BA, cant believe he believed in KP would get through even half of the season.
Pritchard played 16 games in both 2016 (aged 22) and 2017 (aged 23). Last year was the first time he's missed more than half the season since he became an NRL regular. He's not even 25 ffs. If you knew a 24 year old wouldn't be able to overcome an injury you must be his doctor.
You know things are getting desperate when you have to sound out Cameron King.
I thought we were chasing the Saints' hooker?
I'm surprised we didn't sound out Matt Keating.
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