Parramatta may have a stack of off-contract players, but their focus has shifted on poaching the game’s most wanted free agent.
Parramatta plan to make Kotoni Staggs a formal offer in the coming weeks despite the star off-contract Brisbane centre indicating he doesn’t want to leave the Broncos.
In what’s shaping up as a big few months for the Eels who have a stack of players coming off contract, it can be revealed that Staggs remains a priority target.
It comes as Parra’s general manager of football Mark O’Neill also opened up about plans to make sure Mitchell Moses and Ryan Matterson remain with the club for the long term.
With Moses and Matterson both having contract options in their favour for next season, O’Neill was clear about the club’s intentions.
“We want them here,” O’Neill said.
But while he refused to speculate or comment in relation to the club’s position on Staggs, The Daily Telegraph understands that despite Staggs suggesting this week “I don’t want to be anywhere else bar” Brisbane, the Eels are far from giving up on the chase.
In fact, after already expressing preliminary interest the Eels are now preparing to put their money where their mouth is.
The talk is Staggs will demand as much as $800,000-a-season but even at that price he will have clubs lining up.
But while the 22-year-old is among the game’s most wanted free agents, on the back of Michael Jennings’ drug suspension he would be the perfect recruit to help take Parra that next step.
In respect to Moses and Matterson, while they have an option in their favour for 2022, O’Neill was open about the fact they are both in the club’s long term plans.
“Ryan has added a lot of value in terms of our leadership, performance and experience,” O’Neill said.
“And we are looking at an even better year from him this year and beyond.
“He is a local kid who has come back so there is a lot of synergy with that.
“And we have invested with Mitch, he is our man.
“We are talking with their managers but I would like to leave it at that.”
Staggs this week played down the chances of him leaving Brisbane but you can read into is comments that he has hardly slammed the door shut.
“I love the club,” Staggs said.
“Growing up as a young kid, it’s where I wanted to be.
“It was a dream to play for the Broncos and Darren Lockyer was my idol.
“I don’t want to be anywhere else bar here and it would be good to just stay here.
“I want to play good footy when I get back from my injury and see what happens from there.”
Staggs is currently sidelined with a knee injury and not expected back until round 12.
Replies
Might they dangle a big enough carrot so that he breaks his contract with the broncs and is in the blue and gold by round 13???
He'll be coming off an ACL, good time to open negotiations.
Apparently he likes to film himself, perhaps NIDA can come through with a bit of a third party top up!
thats gold.... Logie Nom or Not ?
Chuck, remember the jokes going around back then. They don't call him Staggs for nothing....
You are a genius parralurker, fresh of breath air, is what's needed atm to kick start our footy site, even if it's not true. Let's just hope.
I don't like it.
Hey monto have you ever heard of the 3 stooges, just saying.
I have, we have 5 Sir Col, Sluggy, Hector, Wongy and Poppa...... all young and innocent, looking for their first movie role. Pop's is bring his own squad of cheerleaders......no meme included in this story.
They had the chance to offer Crichton for $650k a year but didn't, I don't see this coming off. He will go to the new Brisbane team.
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