Parramatta cult hero Maika Sivo is the subject of big-money interest from French rugby club Racing 92.
The Eels kick-start their campaign against the Broncos on Friday night but there is uncertainty over the future of several players, including Sivo and fellow winger Blake Ferguson.
Turning 28 this year, fan favourite Sivo knows he needs to cash in on his next deal. Sources close to negotiations revealed Racing 92, the Paris-based Top 14 club where former Wallabies star Kurtley Beale now plies his trade, were prepared to table a two-year deal worth north of $600,000 a season.
Sivo played rugby most of his career and was a Fijian junior representative capable of playing anywhere in the back line.
He has made it clear his heart lies with Parramatta, but he would need to settle for far less money to remain in the NRL. Sivo has scored 37 tries in just 46 NRL games and often been compared to his fellow Fijian countryman Semi Radradra, who won over the Eels faithful before chasing the dollars overseas in the rival code.
Sivo is also mindful that if he can stay in Australia one more year, he can apply for permanent residency.
“I have to weigh up where I’ll be happy and the people I have around me,” Sivo said. “The plan is to stay here, I love this club, the coaching staff and all these guys. We’ll see how it goes.”
Ferguson, who is in the final year of his three-year $1.5m deal, was not as certain about his future and, given he was awaiting the arrival of a third child next month, he had to weigh up “loyalty and being a provider”.
He even fronted Eels coach Brad Arthur when reports surfaced he was unwanted beyond this year.
“I just need to work hard and show them I’m capable of being the best winger,” Ferguson said. “I asked him [Arthur] about [whether I was still wanted]. I went to him and he said, ‘No, that’s not true’, so we’ll just go with that. I’m not worried.
“It’s a results-driven business, at the end of the day they want to see results and if you’re not doing it on the field, players have to move on. That’s how rugby league has been built.
“I have a young family I need to look after as well. I want to be loyal, but I want to be a provider. Those are two different things I need to weigh-up.
“We’ll see what happens. I’m really looking forward to starting this year with a bang, it’s been a really good off-season for me, I fixed a few things on the field that I needed to fix.”
Another Eel without a deal beyond 2021, Nathan Brown, said there had been no progress with his own new deal, while Mitch Moses is yet to activate an option in his favour for 2022, but has since received an offer from Parramatta to keep him until the end of 2023.
Replies
Makes you wonder why these cashed up European Rugby clubs have never chased the likes of Ado Carr, Vinavalu, and Koribete but yet they chase Eels wingers.
Certainly a mystery, but just reading Sivos comments I don't think he'll go anywhere though. We will see however, time will tell
If I was him I'd sign a 1 year deal and sign with rugby the year after
All these uncertainties around players wanting to know their futures certainly doesn't add any positivity to the start of the Eels 2021 campaign does it. As professionals they should be focused on their games and team and let that produce their future results and contracts. They've put the cart before the horse in my opinion which can only prove they don't really have their heart and mind on the Eels and the task at hand.
Anyone, especially those with commitments like mortgages to pay and families to raise or support, knows that career stability is a vitally important part of feeling secure. I don't think we should begrudge people wanting career stability.
Moving is attractive when you're young and care-free. It becomes less attractive when your kid cries about leaving their best friend, or the tax man wants their pound of flesh for the new place. Again, let's not begrudge people a basic desire for career stability.
Players playing for contracts rarely play well. Some do, but most just get distracted. Even if they're leaving the club they play better knowing their futures are sorted.
How is it these guys like Fergo at 30 yrs old have been earning 300_500k per year for at least 5 or 6 years are still rapping about needing to provide, they should be well set up by nowwith no mortgage etc. Was surprised tk hear Jennings working on a building site?what have they been doing with all that Parra money not to mention rep dollars?
It didn't say he was working on a building site, it said he was working for a building company, which could mean anything. In any event, they still need an income for basic living requirements. Even if they've invested their money well, it won't sustain them for the rest of their lives.
I guess if you knew your earnings were going to drop precipitously post-retirement, "providing for" is the same as cashing in when the market is high.
Different with Jennings he has been completing university in Building management he's a player who has set himself up for now and the future.
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