NORMAN COMMANDS BIG MONEY
Anthony Watmough could hold the key to Parramatta re-signing Corey Norman.
The Eels need to find another $600,000 over three years to ensure they don’t lose Norman as rival clubs begin to express their interest.
The five-eighth and his manager have rejected the club’s first offer worth $1.8 million which was produced last week.
The 25-year-old is asking for around $800,000 a season for his services, meaning the Eels are $200,000 short of where they need to be to keep him as Kieran Foran’s halves partner.
In a strange twist, Watmough could hold the key to the Eels re-signing Norman should he retire this year.
Watmough is waiting to hear whether his insurance claim for a chronic knee injury has gone through but if it does, it means the backrower’s contract won’t be counted towards the Eels’ salary cap next year.
Watmough has another three seasons on his deal worth almost $2 million which the Eels hope will be paid out in full so they have fresh funds to recruit and retain their stars.
The Eels are very interested in North Queensland enforcer James Tamou, however they’re not currently in a position to make the Test star a competitive offer.
Along with Norman, the club also has Michael Gordon, Nathan Peats, Danny Wicks and Isaac De Gois all off-contract.
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Replies
Of interest in this, is not just Norman but the item re Tamou, also listed are 4 of the main squad that are also with contracts ending. Much depends it would seem on the insurance claim by Choc, which will also likely have an affect on who out of the long list of players off contract at the end of this year, & how many will end up going.
He is a priority signing in my opinion
Other aspect that also keeps coming up is that his wife is desirous of returning to Sydney owing to her family lives there.
I can tell you 100% Tamou is not coming to the Eels. I know this from the man himself...
Anyone could see that Norman was improving consistently, and with Sandow on the outer, plus no guarantee that Foz was coming, there should have been steps taken to lock Norman up long term.
Anyway, it didn't happen so here we are about to enter into a bidding war to keep his services unnecessarily.
Hindsight Tankus - and available cash.
Remember last year there were plenty on here saying that Sandow was the way to go (he was the x factor etc etc) and that Normie was over rated and should be shown the door. I don't think BA or the club were ever thinking that way but the fact is he has pretty much become a superstar this season (starting with the 9's) and his stocks have soared.
I'd imagine BA may well have been keen on extending him last season - they seem very close - but the funds probably simply weren't available. Yes, they were probably trying to adhere to salary cap restraints - who'da thought :D
It's just a first offer rejection - it's standard procedure - I can't see him leaving, the club will move heaven and earth to keep him I reckon. Have a look at the top 4 sides and thier halves pairings - no one else comes close. I can't see the band breaking up in this instance..
Frank, Don't totally disagree but, my thoughts are that the club had a priority list, (still does) of who to sign, with the rumours about Jnr doing the rounds they had him possibly top of list with Norman likely next, at that time the previous off field drama's were over & the area then came in was with Choc & his retirement or whatever & how it fitted in with the cap etc.
There was little doubt that they were talking to Norman but with the current saga its likely hard to gauge what is happening, looking at the story, it does say what was rejected was the clubs first offer, so the talks are ongoing.
The loss of Jnr does mean there is some change in the bank, however who knows what the judgement will be, & if there is a cap penalty in it, which may affect things.
While he would most likely want to stay, be that last year or now, & no doubt he likes playing next to Fonz, under BA & the general camaraderie within the group, he would take some unders compared to what is being bandied around, I doubt it will be great, the club would need to come back with at least $2.1M over 3 years to have a chance.
No doubt that the club & the retention committee will be looking at the off contract list, to see who will be shown the door & who will be offered an extension. When one looks at this weekends Wentworthville side, it some fair quality players in it, of whom many are off contract end of this year.
Maybe, being closer to family rather than going from sweatshop of NQ to ice of Canberra is making a Sydney based move the better option. There was a story in one of the RL news sites that said he has offers from Cows as well as looking to Sydney, if he moved it would be only to one of two clubs, eels being one of them.
As you say, who knows, guess we will know in time.
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