Parramatta have 1.6 million to spend as Kieren Foran is just the start of the new blue and gold dynasty as the Eels continue to rebuild

http://m.theage.com.au/rugby-league/parramatta-eels/kieran-foran-is-just-the-start-of-a-new-blue-and-gold-dynasty-as-parramatta-eels-continue-to-rebuild-20150320-1m3nks.htmlThe saviour, they say, is coming to Parramatta.Judging by Brad Arthur's reaction to chief executive Scott Seward declaring the club's intention to win two premierships by 2020 at last year's presentation night, that sort of expectation from the ambitious Eels boss is hardly welcomed from the young tactician.AdvertisementBut the reality is, with Kieran Foran on his way to the club on a four-year deal worth just over $1 million a season, the days of settling for mediocrity are over. Foran's signing, they say, is the most significant event at the club in decades.So much so the Eels will build their club around the 24-year-old premiership winner for the next 10 years. "We fully intend for him to be here a lot longer than four years and be remembered as a Parramatta player, not a Manly player," Seward said.But what exactly does Foran's signing mean for Parramatta? Who will stay? Who will go? Who will come in?A lot has been said about the structure of the Eels' salary cap in recent years, but the shock departure of Jarryd Hayne to the NFL has provided the club with some breathing space to reassess its priorities.One of the major priorities is finding or unearthing a world-class centre, however stock is limited with Dane Gagai, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and James Roberts the pick of the off-contract centres in the game. Whether that means Will Hopoate moves back to the centres and the Eels continue their pursuit of South Sydney rookie sensation Alex Johnston to wear the No.1 jersey is still up in the air.Fairfax Media understands Parramatta still have seven spots available on their NRL roster for next season, with $1.6 million to spend. They intend for the off-contract Chris Sandow and Hopoate to be part of that seven, however both would have to take substantial pay cuts to remain at the Eels.Sandow is in the final season of a heavily back-ended four-year deal, understood to be on $800,000 for this season, while Hopoate is earning in excess of $700,000 this year."We can keep everyone that we want to keep but we won't be overpaying for anyone," Seward said. "If it's out of our market or out of our price range, then so be it. If it's to be where we believe market value is, we'd love to keep them. We're not going to get into bidding wars for players. If they are a player we want and we think they're required, we'll pay what we think we need to pay. If that means we lose some, then that's something we have to accept. We're not going to stuff our salary cap position up because of that."Chris has come through Parramatta's darkest days of playing behind a beaten pack and playing for multiple coaches. He's now in a stage where he has the opportunity to play behind an outstanding forward pack with a coach who is going to be here long term and you're seeing the results he's producing. He's well and truly required from our perspective."The search for success and a desperation to return the club to its glory days was behind Parramatta's decision to essentially pay overs for both Sandow and Hopoate to lure them to the club. The Eels had to open the cheque book if they stood any chance of beating Russell Crowe in a bidding war for Sandow.But it's those decisions, tied in with a number of dubious recruitment plans, that has left Parramatta struggling to get off the bottom of the ladder in recent years with little room to work with in the salary cap."My personal view was that there wasn't a view to the future," Seward said of the previous management. "If you go back a few years when we bought some players towards the end of their careers and paid a lot for them. I would have preferred we had taken a punt on three or four local juniors. I don't think anyone went out of their way to destroy the salary cap, so to speak, but the outcome has been that it was an absolute mess. We're going to pay for it in a period of time and we have paid for it in losing some players."There was clearly no philosophy on how the cap was going to work outside of a year-to-year scenario and clearly there were a lot of short-term decisions made that weren't successful. You add to your team by bringing in veterans like Choc Watmough. You don't build a team by bringing veterans in to fill a hole."The fact Peni Terepo and Ryan Morgan are among some of the highest-paid players at the club speaks volumes of the predicament the Eels found, and still do find themselves in trying to manage their salary cap.Which is why some question how the Eels can fit Foran, as well as his former teammate Anthony Watmough, in the cap and still have enough money to be active in the market."Don't believe everything that's out there about the dollars we've paid for Kieran," Seward said. "He made a call that he wanted to come to Parramatta, we put in what we felt was a reasonable and fair offer and he accepted it. We didn't get into a bidding war over it."Regardless of what the Eels have forked out for Foran, his value will be determined in premierships, not dollars.WHAT THE EELS COULD LOOK LIKE IN 20161. Corey Norman2. Semi Radradra3. Brad Takairangi4. Will Hopoate5. John Folau6. Kieran Foran7. Chris Sandow8. Danny Wicks9. Nathan Peats10. Tim Mannah11. Manu Ma'u12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Anthony Watmough14. Joseph Paulo15. Junior Paulo16. Kenny Edwards17. Darcy Lussick back to topBe the first to commentlogin to comment New user? Sign upTerms of UseFull siteFeedbackMoreCopyright © 2015 Fairfax Media The Age

"We keep talking about the great Raiders come back after being down early 14-0. You know what helped? Raiders got 5-straight six-agains after the 8th min. Every restart till the end, bar one. Restarts are worse than penalties because of the fatigue…"

"Look TDS ain't going anywhere anytime soon, but i think it is more paletable if Joash is that 14 where he can fill in at Hooker for short mins and also play other positions if needed, as opposed to a straight up Hooker. TDS can still be in the 19."

"doorey should get dropped not up to it bro gets tired too easily, we need a bench of
Walker
Tuivaiti
Moretti
TDS
stick solid with TDS, Ryley can't play 80 ATM"

Replies

Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 March 20, 2015 at 11:35pm

"Don't believe everything that's out there about the dollars we've paid foran," Seward said. "He made a call that he wanted to come to Parramatta, we put in what we felt was a reasonable and fair offer and he accepted it. We didn't get into a bidding war over it.

I've always said it - The eels weren't the ones who released what Foran's conract was worth.
Don't believe the media hype.
fishbulb March 20, 2015 at 11:40pm

Jesus - even Chammas is getting in on doing a team list. He's got 1EE disease!

Morgan and Terepo among the highest paid players at the club. ...really? A bit cynical about that unless he's talking about the top 25 highest paid players at the club.....
Choco March 20, 2015 at 11:51pm

Morgan and Terepo!!! No way. If it's right then that'll do me. Anyway Chief, it's good to see the newfound attitude around recruitment of not paying overs for players. Quality will actually want to play for the mighty Eels without the massive carrots
Hugo March 21, 2015 at 12:28am

Would LOVE to get James Roberts to the eels. Can you imagine that blinding speed in the backline ???
- Stevo > Hugo March 21, 2015 at 9:42am
  
  Imagine Roberts at #1 coming through taking and offload off watmough/paulo/wicks/mannah... He'd leave everyone in his wake before they'd even know what happened
Blue and Gold March 21, 2015 at 1:39am

That prospective lineup for 2016 looks outstanding.

Folau has an opportunity to cement a spot in FG.

I've given up on Crab Paulo. He could have one claw busted and still make the side. Ideally, Matterson, De Gois, Gower or Fa'aoso (form pending) should be ahead of Sefa.

Given our recent dilemma on where or if Norman goes, I find this a good compromise.
Carl March 21, 2015 at 5:24am

I think Hoppa will go. Sandow will stay. 1.6 mill isn't that much to keep everyone. There's 23 off contract.
Outrunna March 21, 2015 at 7:10am

Im rubbing my eyes. Did they say Terepo and Morgan were amongst the highest paid players in the club? Wtf
GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman March 21, 2015 at 7:19am

Who reads 'the age' ? Lol
I guess Chief does!
- Monster Eel #38 > GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman March 21, 2015 at 7:42am
  
  I do. I read The Age whenever I can, as well as the SMH and The Australian

of 2

This reply was deleted.

Eels Blogs

Parramatta have 1.6 million to spend as Kieren Foran is just the start of the new blue and gold dynasty as the Eels continue to rebuild

Replies

More stuff to read

Eels blogs

1eE Modern day Eels team: Utility, no.14

R2 v Broncos: Back on the Horse

Fox on Track for Rd 2

1eE Modern day Eels team: Winger (redo)

Note: this page contains paid content.

Social Blogs

Irony is Even Deader

Shark Attack..... Moses told to be wary of the surf!

Poppa's Dilemma, Welcome to my Corner, come in and have a Cuppa with a Silly Old Bastard. I think it's New Year Shortly?

Keaon done deal

Note: this page contains paid content.