Parramatta Eels have until next Friday to sort Hopoate contract dilemma.

Parramatta has until next Friday to either sort out the ongoing contractual problems with William Hopoate or face a battle in the Supreme Court.Hopoate's situation at the Eels has escalated since Fairfax Media revealed last Sunday that his barrister Julieanne Levick was instructed to serve legal papers on the club the following day (Monday) as a result of Parramatta's attempts to change the terms – and the fee – of the deal their former chief executive Scott Seward put to the 22-year-old.The Eels had not attempted to register the contract with the NRL after the club's officials realised the amount of money that was offered to Hopoate would tip the club well over the salary cap limit.AdvertisementThey believe the contract isn't valid because it has not been presented to the NRL.Levick is arguing the contract is enforceable because Hopoate agreed to the terms and conditions after what had been months of intense negotiations between Parramatta and his manager Tyran Smith.Hopoate is said to be devastated by what is happening but despite the NSW State of Origin player's disappointment it is understood he is prepared to remain at the Eels.If the matter goes before the Supreme Court, Levick would challenge the Parramatta board's assertion that Seward, who resigned from his role almost two months ago, was acting beyond the scope of his powers as the club's chief executive by signing Hopoate.The Eels are being scrutinised by the NRL for their salary cap breaches which resulted in a $465,000 fine. They are also operating under the threat they will be docked four premiership points unless the Eels board and management agree to undertake an independent governance review and implement the recommendations.The league is understood to be citing the dramas involving the Hopoate and Foran deals, as well as the recent departure of halfback Chris Sandow to England's Super League, as justification for keeping on top of Parramatta.It is understood the club has three courses of action to sort out the mess:· They could cut players to ensure Hopoate's contract would not breach the salary cap and risk the further wrath of the league;· They could pay Hopoate compensation and sever their ties with him. If that happened Parramatta would be forced to pay the difference between any deal he signed with a rival club and it would be included in the Eels' salary cap;· They could involve the NRL and request for the code's administration to make a ruling on the validity of the contract. Hopoate's biggest problem, should Parramatta opt to pay him out, is he will struggle to be signed by a rival NRL team because either most of their salary caps are full or they have no vacancies on their rosters.Fairfax Media understands there was interest from rival teams who wanted to recruit Hopoate as Smith and Seward negotiated his future but he wanted to remain in the blue and gold.If Hopoate was lucky he might pick up a one-year deal and be able to negotiate with cashed-up clubs for the 2017 season.Should he stay it could have serious ramifications on Parramatta's roster and the Eels could need to make considerable changes to their 2016 line-up – including getting rid of players.The stand-off with Hopoate follows a similar issue with Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran, whose $4.8 million contract was initially rejected by the NRL after it was discovered he had a get out clause that would trigger a $1 million payout to him if he decided to leave at any time during the four year deal.Foran agreed to an abridged deal that replaced the get out clause with another that enables him to leave if coach Brad Arthur is sacked. It has been a tough year for the Eels with their boardroom dramas reading like a soap opera and Arthur made it clear before the game against Penrith in Darwin on Saturday that he had enjoyed the time away from the public glare. "Every week there's been something with us, so it's good to get up here and be away from the spotlight," he said.

"I think if we end up with Barnett we won't re-up JDB.

i love the idea of having Barnett and Morettti, Paulo and Tuivaiti, and Williams with Hopgood as our options. By all reports and trial form Brown, and Doorey look set for first grade roles too…"

"https://www.facebook.com/reel/1583515319610274/?fs=e&fs=e
Maguire went and personally met with Barnett and they are desperate to land him hopefully we have the same sought of pull to land him."

"We can't send Lomax anywhere he has to want to go on his own volition.
Hes free to negotiate with any team in the nrl that has the cap space to have him on there roster then once that's established then we step in with our release conditions with…"

Replies

Wayne August 8, 2015 at 3:08pm

Shouldn't the NRL already made a ruling on the contract before any legal action takes place?
- Dorki wizard > Wayne August 8, 2015 at 3:18pm
  
  Wayne, the NRL already have made a ruling which is why we're in the predicament we're currently in.. I'm not sure if appealing the decision will do us any good with NRL already having 1 foot on our jugular with the other shit going on
- Wayne > Wayne August 8, 2015 at 3:57pm
  
  Thanks for the info Henry. I only asked at it is listed in the report as an option for us to request the NRL investigate the contract and it's validity.
- Dorki wizard > Wayne August 8, 2015 at 4:06pm
  
  Wayne, I understand that the report doesn't indicate that the NRL have already made a ruling but rest assured they have already sided with hop and smith or we wouldn't have made the bold attemp to ship him to manly before we were knocked back...
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 August 8, 2015 at 3:10pm

I say pay him the compensation and sever ties asap.
Our administration did wrong by Hopoate and must ultimately pay the price.

The longer this drama drags on, the more damage is done to the image of the club.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 August 8, 2015 at 3:31pm
  
  No. To drag this disgraceful situation through the courts, would defame the clubs image beyond repair.
- The Schueb is back > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 August 8, 2015 at 9:13pm
  
  Exactly pay him out and move on - he is the worse player - will be thrilled if 2015 is the year we stop playing seffa and hoppa - Phil would be reeling,his two favourites gone!
- Glenn Lifetime Eel > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 August 9, 2015 at 10:49am
  
  What image is that Chief? We already stink with all the players no doubt.
Blue and gold 4ever August 8, 2015 at 3:19pm

Does anyone know how much parra wanna reduce his contract by. This management team should realise that he isn't worth any where near wat he had been paid in the last 2 years
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > Blue and gold 4ever August 8, 2015 at 3:31pm
  
  Rookie we offered him 350k with incentives apparently.

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