PARRAMATTA is adamant Semi Radradra will remain an Eel next season — and there will be no chance of him being granted an early release to take up a $1.2 million deal with French rugby powerhouse Toulon.
As Radradra flew back from Fiji to Sydney on Tuesday night, Eels boss Bernie Gurr assured the blue and gold faithful the powerhouse winger would be part of the club’s NRL campaign in 2017.
In fact, Gurr had not given up hope of extending Radradra’s contract beyond next year.
On another drama-filled day, The Daily Telegraph learned the winger was likely to be rubbed out for the entire 2017 NRL season if convicted of domestic violence allegations.
Radradra has denied the allegations, and is defending the charges.
Most fans were of the belief Radradra had played his last game for the club after Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal trumpeted the signing of Radradra for the 2017-18 season, which starts next August.
Radradra’s manager George Christodoulou has said no contract has been signed, and relayed the same message to Gurr on Tuesday.
Gurr said Radradra was contracted with Parramatta until October 31.
LEGAL ACTION: another dark day for rugby league looms
Semi Radradra arrives back in Sydney on Tuesday after a short trip to Fiji. Picture: Mark EvansIf Radradra does accept the Toulon deal he would be forced to miss up to the first 10 rounds of the Top 14 competition.
The more immediate concern for Radradra will be dealing with the domestic violence allegations in court, which will be held at Parramatta Local Court on February 13.
If Radradra is found guilty of charges involving his former partner Perina Ting, he is expected to be suspended for the entire season.
A precedent was set at the end of 2014 when Kirisome Auva’a, then with South Sydney and now with Parramatta, was suspended for nine months after he pleaded guilty to charges of recklessly causing injury and criminal damage.
Semi Radradra is arguably the game’s best winger.If Radradra walks out on Parramatta early to take up a deal with Toulon, the NRL would also give serious thought to barring the 24-year-old from ever returning.
Gurr said the court proceedings deserved to be the top priority, but also had no reason to believe Radradra would not feature in the 2017 season.
“I had a conversation with Semi’s manager and he’s assured us he hasn’t signed a contract with Toulon, and I believe that,’’ Gurr told The Daily Telegraph.
“The club is very open to having Semi here, and we’d be definitely interested in talking with Semi and his manager — some discussions have already started with his manager.
“He has a contract with the Parramatta Eels that runs through to October 31.’’
Parramatta Eels at pre-season training on the Central Coast. Picture: Mark ScottWhile former Parramatta great Brett Kenny called on the club to axe Radradra immediately in light of the code switch, premiership-winning captain Ray Price wanted him to honour his contract.
Price had no reason to believe Radradra would not give his all next season, even if Toulon and their cash awaited him at the end of the year.
Radradra will appear before Magistrate Tim Keady this morning to try and prove how ill his father was back home in Fiji, which is the reason he provided for missing Monday’s original hearing.
Keady will need to be satisfied with the explanation, otherwise he could find Radradra in breach of his bail.
Replies
Just maybe a lot of fans have jumped the proverbial gun & got caught up emotionally in the rumour mongering & media speculation. Bernie Gurr seems to indicate that its business as usual from the Club's perspective subject to the legal outcome concerning Semi's DV allegation.
Hey Mick. Long time no see.
Court case aside, even if Semi honors his 2017 contract, I can't help but wonder whether he will be focused season proper. 1.2 mil is cause for a lot of distractions.
I hope u r right Baz. I'm still hoping that we will see Semi fulfil his commitment to Parra in 2017 & as Bernie Gurr has indicated, even negotiate a successful contract extension. Mind u, I can also well understand the viewpoint that if Semi has committed elsewhere then from the team's perspective, we may as well let him go so that BA & the boys can get on with embedding Semi's successor for the future.
Worst case scenario it will be kept under wraps and we don't have to deal with all the speculation.
Hi B&G, I can't disagree with your comments concerning the rumoured dollars. If correct, Bernie Gurr will be shovelling water uphill with a toothpick in trying to negotiate a sensible extension.
The problem that I see in all of this is the simple fact that the saga in regards to the will he, or wont he keeps coming up, his constant being allowed to travel back to Fiji is one thing, and while ever the reason is valid then its fair enough, the thing is though he has to also do the right thing and return at the time of his intention, in this case he should have been back 2 days ago, and all this would have not happened.
I doubt that any real eels supporter, the coach, players and all associated with the eels wants to see him in the 2 shirt all through 2017 and beyond if its possible, something that i also hope for, but I also am jack of the constant crap regarding him, and only he can stop it continuing.
Thing is I get the feeling the rest of the eels team are also jack of it, you only have to look at the last photo of the players at the CC to see their looks, and would not be hard to imagine their thoughts as the media would be ready to swoop on them as well.
Compare that photo, to the ones on the eels web site, when they are together on the field a different aspect to their whole demeanor, but a rest is no rest with cameras around.
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