End of era ... Nathan Cayless. Source: The Daily Telegraph
The 32-year-old became the first Eel to confirm he won't be at the club in 2011, and up to four teammates could also be headed elsewhere as officials prepare to embark on a clean-out that could create enough cap space for an offer to Cowboys half Johnathan Thurston.
Just days after leading Parramatta for a record 200th time, Cayless revealed he'd always intended to hang up the boots at the end of this year but was waiting on post-football job security in real estate before going public with his decision.
He originally planned to make yesterday's announcement closer to Monday night's clash against Canberra, but spoke out after the news was broken on this website at lunchtime.
"Irrespective of what was happening this was always going to be my last year," the Kiwi prop said. "I was always going to announce it once I'd finalised a couple of job positions."
The announcement comes with Cayless in the public firing line for Parramatta's terrible start to the year. Despite having the support of his teammates and senior figures at Parramatta, Cayless's starting spot and captaincy has been challenged consistently over the first four weeks of the premiership.
The 239-game veteran used yesterday's press conference to declare there should be no selection favours as the curtain draws closer to falling.
"I certainly don't want that happening," Cayless said. "[I don't want] to be kept in the team just because of what I've done or because I've been captain for so long."
But Cayless is not the only Eel whose future could lie elsewhere next year.
Although he has verbally agreed to a two-year extension, front row partner Fuifui Moimoi is still to formally sign with the club and has attracted eleventh-hour interest from rivals.
And Parramatta CEO Paul Osborne this week said the club had suspended all negotiations with present players until the team's form improves, stalling talks with off-contract stars Kris Keating, Feleti Mateo, Eric Grothe and Krisnan Inu.
Keating is being chased by the Bulldogs, and Eels insiders privately admit they can't compete with a $400,000 offer the Warriors have made to Mateo. No talks have been initiated with Inu, while Grothe is well-regarded but already has the blessing to earn a final payday in England or Japanese rugby.
Should all those players leave, the Eels would be in a handsome position to transform their interest in Thurston to an offer.
Replies
Especailly Captain Cayless he Derseved More respect then he got.
I am VERY DISPOINTED In Getting rid of 6 players to Sign 1 Story.
We are a Great Family Club.
I think there is still some factionalism in place at the club. I get the feeling that the relationship between Osborne and Anderson is not all peaches and cream. Anderson was hired by Fitzgerald and we've seen what the board have done to remove any remnants of Fitzy's time in charge from the place. It started with Andrew Hill not even being considered for the full time CEO job before Osborne was given the gig even though he stepped in as interim CEO when the emperor was de-throned. Hill was a Fitzgerald ally and that was probably why. I'm thinking Ozzie may have had something to do with the Cayless retirement news being let out of the bag early...
Just my 2 cents...
http://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/possible-cleanout-to-make-way