News article: The words that could free the Parramatta Eels

WEIDLERFor weeks now we've been hearing and reading about Anthony Watmough's injury and as the salary cap drama has taken twist after twist the one constant is that Watmough's injury is the absolute key to extracting the Eels from the situation they have been placed in by a board that didn't know how to cheat.Now for the first time here are the 15 words from Eels chief medical officer, Dr Louis Shidiak, that will keep the Eels premiership dream alive.Written in the medical report which proves that his career is over, the doctor concludes "unlikely to be able to return to full capacity as a professional rugby league player."AdvertisementIt was written as an answer to the key question in the report. What is current prognosis? The report explains what his injury is – and how it happened – confirming that it was a collision with Beau Scott.And equally important to note: February 14 – Valentine's Day - is when the injury occurred. From this column's understanding that would mean three-quarters - or close to it – of Watmough's contract will be written off their salary cap over-spend. And it should get the club back on track. In other words – it's Watmough to the rescue. He has tried his best to defy the doctors but knows that football has passed him by.It now just needs to be made official by the NRL's doctor Paul Bloomfield, a man who saw a large part of Watmough's care when he was with the Sea Eagles. Watmough has been at Parramatta training doing his best but failed every time at running. He is yet to officially retire but he is ready for it when it happens.He has been wise with his money: Watmough has one of the best restaurants in town; he is a partner in Tokonoma on Bridge Street. He is also working on developing an app which will help with people looking for tradesmen. Watmough is a new dad. His wife Elle gave birth to their first child – and Anthony's third – recently and he will use his time at home to be a hands-on dad. If Watmough wasn't calling time the Eels were facing the prospect of losing four top-line players.Class in crisisDavid Gallop has copped heaps since Todd Greenberg's impressive media conference on Tuesday. Greenberg made the point that he felt sick seeing the Storm play for no points and didn't want the Eels to do so. He also did an admirable thing by going to the Eels training session and eyeballing the players when delivering the news. In fairness to Gallop the Storm breach was $1 million out of a $4 million salary cap. There was no option for players to play at other clubs. The NRL has been praised for giving Parramatta due process to deal with the matter. "We got five hours to deal with our issue," said the man labelled the chief rat: former CEO Brian Waldron.Impressive: NRL CEO Todd Greenberg.Impressive: NRL CEO Todd Greenberg. Photo: Ben RushtonThe truth is that when the Storm were given the breach notice they wanted to deal with it straight away. They flew up to Sydney and fronted the NRL. Waldron had left the post two months earlier and handed over to Matt Hanson. On his way out he handed Hanson a manila folder containing the real contracts of some of the club's superstars – and his message was simple: "Keep these at home." Gallop learnt of the second set of books at that meeting, and acted in the right manner. As for not visiting the Storm, Gallop offered several times and each time was told it was too raw. Greenberg has handled every step of this crisis with class, and it's no surprise – he has been prepared for this day by his chief media adviser Peter Grimshaw. Greenberg was ready for every question and his opening address to the media nailed it. What Greenberg needs to know is that there are plenty in clubland less sold on him. The sniping is about to start.Sky Sport coupWhile its focus may have been on the dramas at Parramatta this week, the NRL quietly secured another financial windfall. As Greenberg was taking on the Parramatta five, NRL head of strategy Andrew Fraser was in New Zealand negotiating a new television deal. Fraser was the key negotiator in securing the $1.8 billion Australian television rights deal with the Nine network and Fox Sports last year. He returned to Australia late last week with another fat contract, awarding Sky Sport in New Zealand the rights to cover NRL matches, Tests, Origin and domestic matches for an additional five years. All women's Tests featuring the Kiwi Ferns will also be shown live. The clincher for the NRL is that Sky Sports has agreed to a replay of all Warriors games each Sunday night on a free-to-air channel and one other NRL game each Sunday during the day, giving the NRL a chance to move into prime time in the union-mad country. It means the NRL has now raised $1.9 billion from its broadcasting deals — and it still has international and radio rights to sell.Foran of interestNo one from the Roosters will admit to it but they had more than a passing interest in a potential Eels fire sale – with Kieran Foran the main target. The Roosters have $600,000 sitting in their cap after losing some of their biggest stars in the off-season. That is seen by many as "Hayne money", but if things got bad for the Eels Foran could become a person of interest. You'll remember Foran and Mitchell Pearce went to school together and have long talked about playing in the NRL together.Family supportSemi Radradra's dad was too ill to make it to his son's Test debut, but his brother Rusi made the trip to Newcastle. "It's the first time that I have been to Australia," he said. "And I am proud to [be] here for my family. I am here for my family, I am here for my father, who is sick. The whole family is excited by what Semi has done and we are happy for him to play for Australia. He is playing for Australia, playing for his family and he is playing for the people of Fiji who are very proud of him." Semi had to endure weeks of speculation that he was going to quit the Eels because he could play for Australia but not for the Blues. "I don't want the rules changed for me," he said. "I am not going anywhere. I love rugby league and Parramatta has done so much for me.""I don't want the rules change for me": Parramatta's Semi Radradra. Photo: Getty ImagesSlow to actThe NRL shouldn't be counting on the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing for quick action against Parramatta Leagues Club directors. Manly Leagues Club self-reported issues involving former chairman Bob Reilly and had to wait three years for an investigation and subsequent result that he was unfit to hold office in the club industry. Incredibly Reilly is still on the board of the Manly Warringah Rugby League Club, once a powerhouse behind the Sea Eagles but now little more than a lip-service group.Uneasy EelsThe paranoia is real about Corey Norman leaving the Eels – so much so that there were phone calls from Eels figures to Panthers officials claiming that an agent from SFX, the company representing Norman was seen at Panthers this week. We are told the under pressure Eels are jumping at shadows when it comes to Penrith – and the Roosters. We are consistently told that coach Trent Robinson can't see Norman adding to the way his team operates.Hasler hassleAmong many an odd sight this week was Des Hasler climbing through the shrubs at the Allianz Stadium car park to avoid media keen to chat about the Eels being deemed cap cheats. After all, his team has lost twice to them this year. It was classic Des. He hopped his car, drove to another part of the car park and walked into the stadium for a coffee. When he emerged an hour later he declined to discuss the Eels.Head to headRicky Stuart and Wayne Bennett chatting like besties – that would have been a back page photo a couple of years ago when they were off each other. Now firm mates, they were hanging about waiting for Paul McGregor to finish with the media. We can only assume they were in some kind of car pool given McGregor's recent driving situation. Asked for comment on the coaches, meeting, Bennett said speak to Mary because "he was singing like a bird".http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/the-words-that-could-free-the-parramatta-eels-20160507-goowbw.html

"If you are going to do that better off just keeping him in Cup as a break glass option. Unless he is that much of a cancer and that negative to the squad that he needs to go."

Replies

slip May 7, 2016 at 7:34pm

Under the cap, because Watmough hasn't played.
Wayne May 7, 2016 at 7:43pm

How does a medical report find its way to the media? Surely this would breach many if not all privacy laws?
Yobz May 7, 2016 at 8:04pm

Seems to be something that was widely known. Watmough can't play again because he hurt his knee in training and the Eels were trying to go through his insurance. Of course you can't put in an insurance claim of the club doctors thought it wasn't career ending.
N1cK May 8, 2016 at 6:55am

The roosters have 600,000 under the cap for hayne. When he left he would have been able to sign a million dollar contract easy. There is that fairness in the salary cap poking through, luckily the NRL 'integrity unit' would follow the precedent of folau not being able to sign with us for under market value.
MINA kouroutis May 8, 2016 at 8:12pm

Hi N1ck as the roosters are really
dreaming if they believe that J.Hayne would even consider going their as
he has alot of loyalty for his team
if Haynes can not play for the Eels
cause all the dirtiest tricks have been
thrown at us. I do believe that Haynes will hang around for a while, just for revenge on the rival clubs, as you know he loves Brad Arthur as he really cares about his players. So there for he will hang around for some decent type of decision for our loving Eels players and club. I don't care what money other clubs have. I am not trying to have a go at you N1ck as I
really enjoy your comments and Blogs.
As I am a fan of yours also! lol
Parramum... Cheers!
parra supporter May 8, 2016 at 8:39pm

My maths may be wrong but: 75% of 750 is approx 565ish that minus the 120K or so that takes his places would put us at 445-450k shedded, with morgans approx 50K that would bring it to around 500K, meaning we'd more than likely have to shed one more player worth about 180K.

Or alternatively we get it all off the cap and are cheering.