James Hooper is reporting that Newcastle are only able to offer Best $650k, with another report saying ratchet clauses would be included, while Parramatta are set to offer $850k. Also, Knights are considering moving Fletcher Sharpe to Centre with Sandon Smith at 7 and Brown at 6 once he returns.
Now firstly, yeah Newcastle are losing Gagai so moving Sharpe might not seem a big deal, though they have Toby Winter and Fletcher Hunt too. So is it worth paying Best that much. I digress, with saying take this with a grain of salt since Hooper can be wrong, as has Kent a fair bit on his show and i reckon they would have similar sources. But it is something as well.
Let's for argument sakes say it is true, surely Parra can throw in an extra $50-100k and maybe a ratchet in there to get him over the line? That would truly blow Newcastle out of the water. Best has done this before where he went in Nov 1. then signed with the Knights anyway. The one thing that is different is he says he wants the best deal for his family. Money can be best for the family. Added is the talk of fiancee wanting to move down to Sydney, not that big of a deal living in Newcastle and not a deal breaker or maker, but it helps.
So again, Hooper has gotten things right but also has gotten his fair share wrong. But let's hope it is all right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhW9c5NlR48&t=1814s Go to about 28:00 mark.
Replies
The grain of salt for me is can the Eels land a guy like BEST can they close the deal especially if other clubs get involved.
Xerri got close and then Melbourne put there 10 cents in and the predictable happend.
Best is such a need for Parra it's no joke.Back 5 talent is what we need and he fits the bill positon and talent wise.
Hooper again I almost feels like it's like clickbait while I want him and we need him is he real or is it just for shits & gigs.
Slightly off topic but how the hell can the worst team in the comp attract the talent they do and we struggle I know it's an issue here but this association with talent like Best and not closing is like how many times can you rearrange the deck chairs on the titanic.
The reality is we don't know Coryn, my guest is that Best just does not want to come to a club, that arguably he has preconceived ideas on. You never know Dyllan Brown may convince him otherwise, that said I do not see Dylllan as a salesman either.
The worst club you refer to is St George, a club with a reputation of historical greatness, again preconceived ideas make it acceptable to some, obviously Bostock has his root's there (no pun).
Selling something about Parramatta seems onerous even for the undertakers, maybe a good PR man maybe just as important as a good recruitment agent, but there does seem to be a smell about Parramatta, you only have to look at this site and the type of commentary that comes through it.
Your in NZ, I'm in Brisbane and we follow the team more religiously, seemingly more than the locals, well support rather than follow I guess. I think the mentality needs to be more progressive and I sense that happening, slowly unfortunately but we are having a go at the moment, we cannot ask for much more, other than patience.
How come you follow the side so studiously, did you have origins in the area like I did?
💯 spot on.
With all the signings the Eels are pursuing will that effect the Eels salary cap
Can't see Best wanting to leave Knights but if he was considering it, his future father in law is a big Eels supporter, so that may help add a positive spin for the Eels.
Clutching at straws maybe, but we can only dream of having an Australian rep centre playing for the Eels again.
You may be on to something there EE, clutching at straws is probably better than scratching our arses!
Best over Burton any day of the week for me. But I think Best is staying at knights. I think Fletcher Hunt is the one that will leave the club to make way for Toby Winter in 2028.
Agreed. Burton is a centre wanting 5/8 coin. Hopefully we aren't stupid enough to pay it.
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