Eels Blogs

Eels boss Jim Sarantinos accelerates push for salary cap relief from NRL over foul play injuries​

Three high-profile Eels players will combine for 49 games spent out injured as a result of foul play, while the culprits will miss just six. It’s set to spark talks with NRL over salary cap dispensation.

Parramatta chief executive Jim Sarantinos is set to accelerate talks with the NRL over salary cap dispensation for players sidelined by foul play after the devastating loss of Bailey Simonsson on Easter Monday.
Sarantinos confirmed he planned to open formal discussions with head office over the concept given winger’s absence comes hot on the heels of injuries to J’maine Hopgood and Isaiah Iongi.

The Eels now have three high-profile players sidelined for extended periods as a direct result of foul play.

“We haven’t had that direct conversation with the NRL yet but I will be,” Sarantinos said.

“We have had a stack of injuries and some of them have been accidents. But the reality is we have lost J’maine Hopgood, Bailey Simonsson and Isaiah Iongi – we have players who are going to miss 49 games through acts of foul play.

“The opposition are going to lose players for six games suspension in total. It’s one thing to lose a player where there’s no foul play involved.

“It’s another thing for J’maine Hopgood to do his ACL when he cops a hip drop. We can’t replace those players unless we promote development players or train-and-trial players.

“If we had salary cap and roster spot dispensation it would give us the scope to explore other opportunities. It’s something I think the NRL needs to look at and we will be talking to them about it.”

Simonsson is expected to be sidelined for an extended period after dislocating his ankle when he was tackled in mid-air by Tigers winger Luke Laulilii at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.

Hopgood and Iongi were already on the sidelines amid a frustrating injury list for coach Jason Ryles.

Immediately after his side’s golden point loss to the Tigers, Ryles said the idea of cap dispensation was worth discussing.

“Surely I think it’d be something worth considering,” Ryles said.

“Foul play, season-ending injury, there should possibly be something. I think common sense would prevail.

“I’m not sure exactly how that works. I asked our GM last week and he’s going to follow that up. That’s above my pay grade.

“The players don’t actually mean to do it. We understand that, but there’s a reason those actions are outlawed, because of what we’re going through now.”