Josh Addo-Carr is facing at least three months on the sidelines should any club throw him a lifeline following his recent roadside drug test failure.
Addo-Carr’s camp is still awaiting formal notification of his B-test sample after he tested positive for cocaine in September.
The NRL and the Eels will wait on that result before any sanction is handed down.
While Parramatta are yet to make a formal decision on Addo-Carr’s future, it is highly likely that the Eels will reluctantly sack the flying winger from his $400,000 contract if the second test result comes back positive.
The NRL are also set to put a 12-game ban on him should any club look to sign him meaning he will be sidelined for almost half of next season.
Even if he is retained by the Eels, they will be missing him for a large chunk of the season. The 12-game ban is in line with the NRL’s illicit drug testing policy, which deems players are automatically sidelined for that period after a second failed test.
The NRL website states: “Players who record a second contravention will serve a 12-match ban, the prospect of contract termination, a fine, and further treatment and monitoring.”
Two years ago, Addo-Carr was sacked by the Bulldogs after failing a roadside drug test
The NRL may not formally announce the sanction should the Eels rip up his contract given he will no longer be a registered player.
However this column has learnt that should a club want him and the NRL allow him back into the game then the 31-year-old will have a long stint on the sidelines.
The former NSW flyer has been in a rehabilitation facility since his positive test result.
Addo-Carr was driving in Sydney’s inner-west along Enmore Road in Newtown when he was stopped for a test just days after he played in Parramatta’s final game of the season.
This time last year, Addo-Carr had returned to the Kangaroos line-up and was part of Australia’s extended World Cup squad before the positive test.
He was sacked by Canterbury in 2024 after he again failed a roadside drug test.
Addo-Carr looked to have resurrected his career with the Eels with Parramatta officials talking glowingly of his impact at the club on and off the field since his arrival in 2025.
Replies
If the Eels have grounds to terminate the foxes contract therefore not having his contract amount on there salary cap, sacking him is definitely the best option. You don't need to be Einstein to work out that paying someone ( on good money ) who can't play for close to half a season is simply stupid. We know that the Eels are in the market for 1 or more quality outside backs and the fox's money would be better spent in this area.
This is only true if we can get an adequate replacement for JAC's cap space. Maybe we've got someone lined up but preseason is two weeks away. How many clubs will have someone worth that much that they are willing to release this close to preseason? They would need to replace them.
Listen to what Cappy and Pou said! ......what's more you would adjust his salary for the games suspended.....JAC's dont come along like a "mango season" you just cant go to the shop and buy them!
lol this isn't a hypothetical contract where you can just make adjustments. Unless he agrees to us scrapping his contract and doing a new one , which also has to get NRL approval, he's on full pay .
We all know you have a soft spot for your choccy milk, but you're being ridiculous. I wonder if this were Sean Russell being caught second time around if you'd be so supportive.
Ditto for others wanting to be the Parramatta Salvation Army , if we announced we were using JACs money to pursue Best , would you still wish to stand by JAC at the expense of Best ? I get the calls to keep him as we don't have better , that's fair, but to keep him as some kind of duty of care is bullshit. He's a grown man , a very rich and privileged grown man , who has zero , zero respect for the club.
Ha! you start off talking about "hypotheticals" and finish with a surplus of them.....you fcuked up that one Wizzy!
Just to make a point, "soft spot for your choccy milk" "Sambo Sandow for a Sandwich" ......how do you feel about the Jews, just checking to see that "racism" is not on your agenda?
The best thing cap wise would be to sack him and get him back on a reduced contract, not sure if the NRL would buy that though. Alternative might be to extend him for '28 but on a reduced deal, say 700k for 2 years. Again the NRL would have to agree.
At least you are thinking along the lines of wanting to keep him Mat Bo, how we do it becomes an exercise in wanting to do it.
Again we don't know how the cap is going to be this year......but people like Super are looking for ways out, rather than the real question....do you want him?
Who is this mythical and availale outside back we're going to sign for the 2027 season who will take JACs spot?
If we get them and they're a genuine improvement, then sure, sack JAC. But I don't know who it is...
Yes that applies to so many of these discussions, we say (some of us) that yes he would be a good buy but don't pay centre's or winger's money......well guess what Parra, we need to pay anything we can afford to get a better player.
Taking that to your level Cappy is, who is the winger we are going to get that is better than JAC?
The only way I would keep him is if he forfeits his salary while out - then he can come back; but that is not going to happen I feel.
Such a shame but hey he is on big bickies and knows the responsibility here.
I also have to mention - didn't he also go off the grid during COVID time?? Think he violed the rules more than once.
Such a shame; great player and good for the club but drugs is shit look too.
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