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
We made offers which we deemed appropriate for the two players you mentioned. Neither offer was accepted. Pretty sure the offer to Galvin was in the $600k range. I would say that was entirely appropriate. There's a fair bit of speculation as to what went on with koloamatagi. The dragons went over the top of us and he took it. Logical choice.
You understand this is social media, it's just a bunch of punters talking amongst ourselves about the footy. No one is writing a thesis on the eels recruitment plan. Things are said in the space of a few lines. When I say a core group of young players I'm not excluding external recruitment entirely for ever. If a good opportunity presents itself we would be mad not to take it. There is always a need for experience and there will always be gaps we need filled. But that isn't our primary focus.
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