Michael Jennings is the first high profile victim of Parramatta's disaster season, with the Eels centre set to become the most expensive reserve grade player in the competition.
NRL.com has learned Jennings trained with Wentworthville at Ringrose Park on Wednesday night.
It appears the Eels have lost patience with the out-of-sorts former NSW and Australian centre, dropping him back to play for Wentworthville against the Warriors in the Intrust Super Premiership match in Auckland on Saturday.
It comes on the same day Sydney Roosters winger Blake Ferguson agreed to a three-year deal with the Eels from next season.
Jennings, who is on a deal worth close to $800,000 a year, has taken up an option in his favour to remain at the club until the end of 2020.
His demotion has cast doubt over his future at the club.
Michael Jennings training with Wentworthville on Wednesday night.
Michael Jennings training with Wentworthville on Wednesday night.
©NRL Photos
The Eels have the bye this weekend, however, coach Brad Arthur appears to be holding his senior players accountable for their sub-par performances in 2018 and has drawn a line in the sand.
Jennings has been struggling for form over the past month, but Parramatta's injury woes haven't allowed for change.
He was easily stood up by Tim Lafai in the play that led to the Dragons' first try last week, and then gave up on the chase when it appeared he was still a chance of shutting down the play that finished with Matt Dufty crossing the try line.
It appears that hasn't been lost on the Eels coaching staff, who are in the process of making some significant roster changes at the club for 2019.
Replies
Fine if true; it will test him in terms of wanting to come back into nrl or not. Shame it was not done when we have a match but as mentioned previously, who comes in....
Spot on Darren.
Michael's last two games were very very suss, completely out of left field (so to speak).
I still wonder if a naughty little bird whispered in his ear before his form went downhill over a month ago????
Speak up instead of dropping it and making people guess are you implying he's been more dodgy than sh*t bombing tries and being careless in defence. It's truly uncharacteristic of a players that's been skillful and solid all his career. Park players wouldnt have commited half the stuff he's fecked us over with this year.
Don't listen to the Frog mate, he is full of shit. Pretends to have inside info but it's really just the voices in his head.
It's speculation based on no inside information - just the fact that the way he played was to the extreme opposite in standards to the Michael Jennings standards I've come to know since he played NRL with Penrith, particularly with DEFENCE. With all the big money hot shots keen on our community club being privatised, I would not put it pass these motherfuckers to whisper in players ears, blackmail or not.
So more Casper BS???? Wow who'da thunk it.........
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