Eels Top 25 Roster for 2015

Hi everyone,Would like to get everyone's thoughts on our predicted NRL Top 25 Squad for 2015!!Mine would be (including my starting 17):1. Will Hopoate2. Semi Radradra3. Brad Takairangi4: Beau Champion5. Reece Robinson6. Corey Norman7. Chris Sandow8. Junior Paulo9. Nathan Peats10. Tim Mannah (c)11. Ken Edwards12. Manu Mau13. Anthony Watmough14. Ryan Matterson15. Tepai Moeroa16. David Gower17. Pauli Pauli18. Isaac De Gois19. Richard Faaoso20. Darcy Lussick21. Shannon McPherson22. Ryan Morgan23. Joseph Paulo24. Peni Terepo25. Danny WicksNotable absentees:Ben CrooksZach Docker ClayBureta FaramioJohn FalouFabian GoodallJustin HuntTui KamikamicaLuke KellyHalauafu LavakaCody NelsonKaysa PritchardVai ToutaiJoseph Ualesi

Replies

Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown January 7, 2015 at 4:11pm

Welcome to the site Andrew, im hearing all the talk that Shannon Mcpherson has retired and will not be playing in eels colours which is disappointing.
Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" January 7, 2015 at 4:27pm

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA - team list.
Big Dave January 7, 2015 at 4:39pm

Toutai, Kelly and Hunt are top 25 NRL contracted players. Fa'aoso is unregistered and has not be cleared but I guessing he has been offered a top 25 contract.
Big Dave January 7, 2015 at 7:10pm

If Hunt can't get another top 25 contract in the NRL or an English Super League contract he will remain in our top 25. Just because he has been told to go elsewhere doesn't mean the club can terminate the contract. He could end up playing for Wenty in the Ron Massey Cup.
Big Dave January 7, 2015 at 7:48pm

From what I understand Hunt has been told not to turn up to training and he won't be playing for us. I'm guessing that the Parra club selects the NSW Cup Wenty team and or have significant influence. I wouldn't think he would play for Wenty in the NSW Cup. Its possible that he may pick up a small NSW Cup contract somewhere else like Souths and Parra pays the vast majority of his money but he still stays in our top 25, like what happened last season when we had 4 top 25 contracted players at other clubs.
Webby January 7, 2015 at 8:11pm

Unsure why there is "Norman hate". He was very consistent for us and is calming influence on Sandow. Not to mention he had a few line break assists for Hayne
- Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" > Webby January 7, 2015 at 8:20pm
  
  You must be talking about GREG Norman Brett.
  
  Dozey did jack shit most of the time.
- Big Dave > Webby January 7, 2015 at 10:13pm
  
  I don't dislike Norman, but I think the expectation on him was very high from the start. He also started to look a bit shaky towards the end of the season in defence and got caught out in poor one on one attempted tackles. With Hayne gone the expectation on Norman will only increase.
Big Dave January 7, 2015 at 9:52pm

I never heard what money he was on. I'd be very surprised if he was on 200K or more but that is just my guess. I think the motivation for Hunt signing with Parra was because it was a 3 year top 25 contract, and at the time he signed the contract he would have thought he would have been a real chance of getting a starting NRL wing spot due to how weak our squad was. But as you know he fell out of favour very quick and other guys took their chances and he didn't.

It is a ruthless business and clubs can be very harsh. I know of a previous Parra top 25 contracted player who was given 48 hours by BA to leave and play somewhere else on a reduced payout of his contract or languish in the Ron Massey Cup with Wenty. It is usually career ending for a young player to go from top 25 NRL to Ron Massey Cup so the player will most likely take the reduced payout if they can find another club.

Hunt still has 2 months to find another club so he does have some time on his side but if he doesn't find a club prior to Round 1 his value drops quickly on the market and that will mean Parra will have to pay more to extinguish his contract.

I would have thought he would be picked up by a Super League team but the sticking point could be what percentage Parra would be prepared to pay.
- Glenn Lifetime Eel > Big Dave January 8, 2015 at 10:22am
  
  Hunt is a very good NSW Cup player but found first grade just a step too far. Surprised we signed him after watching his performances for Souths in fg, was this another great RS signing?