An off-contract Gordon reportedly agreed last week to switch camps and sign a long-term deal to be the new Eels fullback, however the Sharks pulled out of the deal at the 11th hour.
Arthur says he hasn’t given up hope of landing the former State of Origin star, but conceded the club might have to look elsewhere to shore up their roster.
“It’s looking unlikely,” he said on Friday.
Gordon had agreed to join the Eels before the deal fell apart at the last minute. Source: News Corp Australia
“It is disappointing. I’d like to see Mick remain in the game for another 12 months. And that’s what we’ve got to offer him — a contract past this year.
“We need to look at trying to strengthen our roster at the moment, so I’d find it unlikely that there’d be something there for him next year if we can’t do something now.” Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said earlier this week that Gordon, who played one game for the Blues in 2010, was never given permission to leave the club.
However Arthur said: “we wouldn’t have gone deep into it if there was an opportunity to come to our club.” The 31-year-old Gordon is considered the answer to Parramatta’s fullback woes this year, having tried Will Hopoate and then Reece Robinson over the opening nine rounds without mixed success. “Losing Jarryd (Hayne), as much as we were trying to say it wasn’t going to affect us — you take Johnathan Thurston out of the Cowboys, Greg Inglis out of Souths — they’re quality players,” Arthur said.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan says that Gordon was never given permission to negotiate with rival clubs. Source: News Corp Australia
“Jarryd was equal Dally M winner last year, so he’s a quality player.
“We’ve been competitive in all our games, but competitive isn’t good enough. We need to win games and that’s where we’re at.” In what has been a dramatic week for the club, Arthur also said he was disappointed in the actions of Kenny Edwards and Kaysa Pritchard after breaching drug-testing protocols in the pre-season. Edwards faces a nine-month ban after he submitted a urine test on behalf of Pritchard earlier this year.
Edwards had already been sanctioned after an off-field altercation on the Gold Coast last season.
Asked whether Edwards still had a future at the club, Arthur said: “Yes, I do.
“It’s not ideal. It’s disappointing. It’s two young boys, they made a silly error. The NRL and the club’s working through it.”
Replies
good chance of still happening when Lussick is back from his 4 game suspension. If Darcy didn't get suspended in NSWcup this would have happened last week.
Totally agree, why would sharks wanna give up Gordon who can play immediately for the Eels, and they get someone they have to wait 4 weeks for.
I was hoping more for the Foran and Lussick swap.
And Pauli Pauli will be at the tigers next year.
WTF? Why have they dropped their opinion of Pauli Pauli so much? I'm glad Peni is re-signing, but its a waste to give up on Pauli Pauli now...
PAULI PAULI any day over terepo!!!!!
it keeps gettn worse
who wouldn't want that and even if Foran is out for another 5 weeks we would get at least 8 games with him this year and be a few games ahead for next season.
But Manly wouldn't do us any favors.
Seriously how could we sign Sefa and Terepo and Fairimo before securing Pauli
Pauli is the only one who has the potential to be a representative quality player
What are we going to do when Dads army retires or gets frequent injuries
Would seriously like to know when Pauli Pauli is going to pull his head out of his arse and have a real go. His defense is terrible and he is still a long way from peak fitness.
His performance tomorrow will decide whether we up our offer I'd suggest. We've always had juniors with potential. Precious few of them fully realize that potential. Pauli is a prime example.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
of 4 Next