Semi Radradra will have to apply for pemission to leave the country for NRL Auckland Nines

JANUARY 14 2017 - 3:15PMSAVESemi Radradra will have to apply for permission to leave the country for NRL Auckland NinesMichael ChammasMichael ChammasCONTACT VIA EMAILFOLLOW ON TWITTER31 reading nowShow commentsSHARESHARE ON FACEBOOKSHARE ON TWITTERPIN TO PINTERESTLINKCourt appearance: Semi Radradra leaves Parramatta Local Court in November.Court appearance: Semi Radradra leaves Parramatta Local Court in November. Photo: Nick MoirSemi Radradra will have to apply to the courts for permission to play in the Auckland Nines, given the recent travel restrictions placed on the controversial Eels winger.Radradra, who had his passport confiscated and later returned after failing to appear in court on domestic violence charges for family reasons, won't be able to play in the tournament in the first weekend of February unless he is granted permission.AdvertisementWhile the Eels are yet to decide on the make-up of their squad, the rugby-bound Radradra has been a sensation in the shortened format of the game in recent campaigns.Coach Brad Arthur will be left with the final decision on whether to take Radradra to Auckland as the Eels look to win back the trophy they had stripped off them as part of their salary cap punishment last season.RELATED CONTENTRadradra to quit NRL after accepting offer to play French rugbyIf Radradra – who will join French rugby club Toulon at the end of this season – plays in the Nines, it may be his last appearance in the blue and gold for a lengthy period if he is found guilty of domestic violence charges when he fronts court on February 13.Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr was unsure if Radradra would feature at Eden Park, admitting it was a matter for Arthur to decide."Semi's got other issues at the moment, and it probably will be an issue for Brad to work out," Gurr told Fairfax Media."Firstly, it will depend on whether he wants him to go and, secondly, whether he can go for legal reasons."The Eels dominated last year's two-day tournament. Corey Norman took out the Nines MVP award, while rookie sensation Bevan French set a try-scoring record with eight in his debut campaign. It surpassed the previous best effort at a tournament of five set by Radradra in 2015 and North Queensland's Kyle Feldt the previous year.The Eels upset home-town favourites the Warriors in the final, but they were later ordered to return the $1.1 million in prizemoney for extensive breaches of the code's salary cap.While the Eels won't be using their title loss as motivation, their new chief executive says the club is serious about building a winning culture and the squad will reflect that attitude."My view is, if you're going to participate in any competition, you have to put your best foot forward," Gurr said."We'll be taking it very seriously. Brad is closer to what the playing roster and staff will look like. I wasn't around last year, but I don't think they'll be giving what happened too much thought. Football clubs are all about looking forward and not dwelling on what they can't control. The next thing on our agenda is the Nines. They're going to be there to do the best they can to win it."The Eels' Auckland Nines triumph kick-started what was a strong early season run, only for their efforts to be engulfed by one of the biggest salary cap scandals in the code's history.But Gurr is well aware of the confidence that can be gained from achieving success at the Nines and the flow-on affect it has on the playing group."When you are in any sporting contest, whenever you win it gives you confidence," he said."You don't want to have a culture where you're not giving 100 per cent, regardless of what you're doing. You can't turn culture on and off like a tap. We have to build a strong culture here and you do that by giving 100 per cent all the time."The exit of Kieran Foran, the retirement of Anthony Watmough and the forthcoming departure of Radradra will have the Eels opening up the chequebook to lure players to the club next season.But Gurr insists they haven't begun their shopping spree."We haven't looked extensively at what's available for 2018," he said. "Semi not with us changes things because we allowed money for him. We haven't given it a lot of thought yet. The impact on the cap of Semi, as well as not knowing what the cap will be, will have a monumental impact."

"HFK, Fair point. Sure, we could. But balancing incoming youth with experience is almost a perennial issue. A constant cycle. It never really goes away. At least not for too long. "

Replies

Earl Grey January 14, 2017 at 7:13pm

You've focused on the headline and ignored the rest of the positives from the article.. we will be going into the 9s with a view to win, and build momentum for the season, and we have cash to spend for next year.. none of this makes me yawn..
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown January 14, 2017 at 7:22pm

Theres no way he should be rewarded by being sent to the 9s, give a young bloke the experience who is committed to the club.
- Cranky Brad is here!!! > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown January 14, 2017 at 8:00pm
  
  Agree mate, ludacris!
- Optimistic eel > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown January 14, 2017 at 8:32pm
  
  Would love to see what tuha could do in the nines
- Mitchy > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown January 14, 2017 at 9:44pm
  
  Agreed. G Jennings etc.
- Prof. Daz > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown January 15, 2017 at 9:05am
  
  Why is it a reward? Isn't it just a matter of putting together a 9's team to win? Sure, providing pathways is important. But there is a time and a place.
slip January 14, 2017 at 7:25pm

LOL Semi is now a criminal. Needs permission to enter another country.
Muttman January 14, 2017 at 7:35pm

No way a Judge would allow this. He's already shown his disdain for the judicial process. The Judge deliberately took his passport because of it.
And besides given all this turmoil there's no way Semi should be given the honour of attending the Nines tournament.
Clear your name first Semi. Then we can talk.
- michael picklum > Muttman January 14, 2017 at 9:09pm
  
  Hi Muttman, another perspective on selecting Semi for the 9s is that it could help to cultivate a positive future opportunity to re-sign him IF he is disappointed with his first season with Toulon as the subsequent year appears to be an option in his favour.
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > Muttman January 14, 2017 at 9:19pm
  
  Agree Mutt.