Parramatta Eels front-rower Junior Paulo continues a contract standoff with the Parramatta Eels after losing the Perth Bears deal.Contract talks collapsed between Paulo and the Bears in August after his management asked for a two-year deal at $900,000 per season.
This led the Western Australian-based club to pursue Corey Horsburgh from the Canberra Raiders after he had a falling out with Ricky Stuart.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a deal has been offered to extend with the Parramatta Eels.
Parramatta have offered Junior Paulo $650,000 per season, which still doesn't meet his expectations.
Paulo missed most of the season after having minor knee surgery.
There had been whispers that Super League clubs believed Paulo was available for the 2027 season, according to The Daily Telegraph.
"Junior is super important for us in terms of experience in the middle third of the field; we are quite young there," Jason Ryles said at the end of the season about closing Paulo on a new deal.
If Paulo stays at Parramatta, he will join his co-captain at international level, Jarome Luai, who is heading to the Eels in a 12-month stopgap deal for 2027.
Another Samoan star, Jaydn Su'A, will also arrive at the club on a three-year deal from the St George Illawarra Dragons.
It is likely that at this stage, Paulo will remain at Parramatta; however, money is a major factor for the 32-year-old in his next year.
Replies
What have you been watching? Ryda was blowing after five. He is so far off the pace that it is ridiculous. I expected him to rip in. He did nothing like it!
He is also 19, let's see him after 2027 then pass judgement.
600 to play 800 if deep in finals both years minimum 18 games
This prick is so greedy. 650 is more than enough
he aint worth 650, fuck him off all together don't want or need him any where near the club in any compasity
$650k is more than fair offer for junior at the stage of his career, actually I think it's probably overs. Also anything longer than one year needs to be on a club option. He's welcome to leave if he can get a better deal elsewhere. We need to no longer engage in long winded contract negotiations with players, it doesn't end well. If a player is willing to play for us, the situation of their playing contract should be resolved quickly with minimum fuss.
It's the off season and his manager is amping it up no doubt as he knows from past contracts that we will buckle!
And that there is little else on market unless you look at Reggie's / Massey etc.
Gutho Dejavu
This is what happens when you can't recruit you have these struggles.
We can't afford to let him go because we lack experience if we had have landed Barnett or Kolomatangi the club holds the cards in this negotiation.If we don't sign him and we go to the season with our youngsters we get eaten.
This is the penalty we pay for not being able to recruit the necessary talent needed.We are in the same boat with regards to our back 5 needing a centre and the JAC situation.
We want to be a team that improves but we struggle to give the coach the pieces and herein lies the Parra curse always something not quite there.
Though Coryn, we aren't giving Ryles what he needs, but where are the players dying to play for him? His message is not strong enough to pry them over. I mean BA at least was able to get some decent signings. He got Lomax basically on his own.
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