The Eels have kicked off their pre-season with five key re-signings and hope to add Ryan Matterson and Michael Jennings by the end of the week.
Veteran centre Brad Takairangi has agreed to a one-year deal with the club, while Michael Jennings is expected to put pen to paper on a two-year extension when he returns from international duties with Tonga.
Boom back-rower Marata Niukore has also inked a two-year extension until the end of 2022.
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The Eels also confirmed interchange forwards David Gower and Ray Stone have signed one-year contracts for 2020, while uncapped back-rower Andrew Davey has also been retained in their top squad.
Matterson’s potential return to his junior club could be finalised by the end of this week after Parramatta tabled a three-year deal believed to be worth around $1.5 million, according to NRL.com.
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The Dragons, Titans and Rabbitohs are also interested in the 25-year-old former Tigers and Roosters star, but negotiations with Parramatta have advanced further than any other side.
Matterson and Eels coach Brad Arthur have reportedly resolved their differences from when the Parramatta junior first left the club in 2016.
Matterson was at the time unhappy with Arthur’s plans to push him from the halves into the forwards.
Arthur was excited to have the futures of five of his players sorted before the pre-season heats up.
“We’re really happy to be in a position to retain our players,” Arthur said of the Takairangi, Gower, Davey and Niukore extensions.
“There’s a lot of NRL experience among them which is valuable to our young group of players, and for the juniors coming through.”
Replies
Parralurker think you have outdone yourself yet again(classified information straight from the vault, you little beauty.anyway I'm still waiting for the blog where we are going to sign Fifita then it's time to celebrate.
If they get Matterson signed I reckon we are genuine contenders next year.
I too agree signing Matterson will push us over the threshold from Pretenders to Contenders.
Parramatta Eels 2020 squad as of 4 November 2019.
Andrew Davey
Blake Ferguson
Brad Takairangi
Clint Gutherson
Daniel Alvaro
David Gower
Dylan Brown
Ethan Parry
George Jennings
Haze Dunster
Jaeman Salmon
Junior Paulo
Kane Evans
Maika Sivo
Marata Niukore
Mitchell Moses
Nathan Brown
Oregon Kaufusi
Peni Terepo
Raymond Stone
Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Reed Mahoney
Shaun Lane
Waqa Blake
Will Smith
If & when MJ & Matto sign that gives the eels 27 NRL players, of note though is that the two forwards in the development squad for this season are not mentioned, Stefano Utoikamanu & Salesi Fainga'a, it also means the club is down players going forward, with the minimal number of players required, IIRC, and would appreciate those in the know if they can put up the dates/months or rounds by which the squad has to be compliant with, from memory round 15 is when there has to be 30 players registered by, with March also sounding familiar for one of the earlier lifts.
Other date factors include when development players are allowed to be used in the top team;
Has Dylan Brown extended his contract yet ?
Not yet. Club is still negotiating with him. Don't forget most players are still on holidays so it may take a few more weeks before we hear anything.