There was also speculation that the former Penrith captain would re-kindle his relationship with premiership-winning coach John Lang at Souths.
But Gower has chosen to ink a new three-year deal with French rugby union club, Bayonne.
Gower's manager Greg Willett told The Sunday Telegraph this week. "He's re-signed with Bayonne and he's looking forward to the next three years there.
"He'll be right for the Six nations and to play in the World cup with Italy. He had some interest from a few clubs and was looking at coming home. But he's got a good three years ahead of him over there now.''
Ironically, it was dumped Eels coach Daniel Anderson who first spiked interest in luring Gower back to the NRL with Parramatta.
Gower, a dual international with over 230 first grade games experience, was considered by Anderson as the prefect mentor for rookie Eels halves Daniel Mortimer and Jeff Robson.
However, the Parramatta coach's recent sacking also severed any hope of Gower returning to Parramatta where newly-appointed coach Stephen Kearney has declared his focus on signing Matt Orford.
Canberra and South Sydney just didn't have the finances to lure Gower back home, while the appeal of playing in next year's world cup in New Zealand was a carrot that no NRL club could compete with.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/gower-sticking-with-union/story-e6frexnr-1225939643722
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Hahah who was it that said it was a done deal on this website a while back?
Thank christ they dnt know wats going on coz gower would have been a horrible signing.
Miatch, a member on this site is a teacher in Penrith, he teaches Gower's nephew and put these rumours to bed months ago. Gower's own words were "no way, im to unfit now for the NRL!".
I suspect as he has now signed a three year contract extension at Bayonne, the NRL rumours were used similar to Quades rumours, and that was to bolster the prospective amount of any current and future contracts.