The minimum wage recruits leading Parramatta's charge to the Grand Final

Parramatta will take the field on Saturday night with three players on the NRL's minimum wage and another three players earning less than $180,000 a year.In what only adds to the enormity of what the Eels have been able to achieve just 12 months after being decimated by the club's salary cap saga, Parramatta have managed to get the best out of a roster packed with players unwanted by any other clubs.Here's some perspective. Cowboys lock Jason Taumalolo, who will square off against the Eels pack on Saturday night, will next year earn almost double what Nathan Brown, Cameron King, Will Smith, Kirisome Auva'a, Suaia Matagi and Siosaia Vave earned combined in 2017.While big-money players like Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses have lived up to their lucrative price tags to help the Eels nab a top-four finish, it's been the bargain buys who have been invaluable in Parramatta's charge to the grand final in 2017.Smith, King and Auva'a are on contracts between $80,000 to $90,000, the minimum any player is allowed to sign for in the NRL.Brown joined the club this year on a deal worth close to $160,000 a season - hardly the sort of money you would expect for a player who a couple of weeks ago was crowned the club's player of the year.The former Wests Tigers and South Sydney forward still has another year to run on his contract, but given he's managed to at least double his market value in his first season at the Eels, and Parramatta will look to upgrade and extend his contract beyond 2018 at the completion of the season.While roster management has cruelled the Eels for the best part of a decade, it appears the blue and golds have finally got it right by abandoning a policy that once saw them pay overs for players whose main reason for joining Parramatta was to thicken their wallets.However, coach Brad Arthur has turned to players not only in need of a new home, but in cases like Auva'a, Smith and King, an NRL lifeline.The Eels will take the field against the Cowboys in Saturday night's do-or-die game at ANZ Stadium with their fullback and hooker - two of the four most pivotal positions on the field - earning the least money of the players in the 25-man squad.Smith joined the Eels from Penrith knowing Clint Gutherson and Bevan French, not to mention recruit Josh Hoffman, would spend most of the season occupying the No.1 jersey.But injuries have paved the way for Smith to make the fullback position his own. Even with French on the verge of returning from a hamstring injury, it's understood Arthur is considering keeping Smith at fullback should the Eels knock over the Cowboys for the right to play the Sydney Roosters in the preliminary final.King was on the verge of throwing in the towel when he joined the Eels from the Cowboys last year. But the retirement of Isaac De Gois and injury to Kaysa Pritchard has seen him move up the ranks and will likely finish the season as the club's first-choice hooker despite Pritchard now being available for selection.Gutherson, arguably one of the top five players in the NRL in 2017 before succumbing to a knee injury, started the year on a contract worth around $270,000 - half of what he would likely demand if he was to hit the open market.The bulk of Parramatta's salary cap is tied up in Corey Norman ($800,000), Moses ($650,000), Beau Scott ($600,000) and Michael Jennings ($750,000). They also have the luxury of having all players, bar Frank Pritchard, tied to the club for next year with an estimated $1 million available to spend in the increased $9.4 million salary cap.The club is currently in talks with Frankie Fong as a consultant motivation expert.

"But how long is he willing to give himself? If Smith is still starting by the end of 2027 and he is extended with intent to start in 2028, what will Da Silva do then?I would love to know if Ryles intent is for Da Silva to eventually be the starting…"

"I saw TDS try to pressure the kicker at times last night but not as consistent or forceful as Smith.
I love your analogy of how TDS read his own hype and thinks he can just play and be amazing. Where Smith is the opposite where he has had to grind…"

Replies

Wizardssleeves official receipts September 15, 2017 at 6:19pm

Makes you wonder how other clubs manage to have internationals and origin players right across the field doesn't it . Imagine what BA could do with a Rooster , Sharks , Melbourne or Brisbane team if he's outcoaching Bennett and Bellamy with the squad he's got .

Norman is massively overpaid . Makes me wonder if these stories are designed to unsettle the playing group .

P.s - I reckon chief deserves a 24 hour ban for being too lazy to delete the fucking ads .
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > Wizardssleeves official receipts September 15, 2017 at 6:39pm
  
  Normans not giving us 800k of value this year, thats for sure, but if he went on the open market he'd get more than 800k easy, its rumoured the saints offered him 1m.
  
  As the cap goes up, 800k will be looking ok i reckon, but hes definitely underperforming.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Wizardssleeves official receipts September 15, 2017 at 6:44pm
  
  Well said wizard !
- John Eel > Wizardssleeves official receipts September 15, 2017 at 7:34pm
  
  I thought they all went to the Broncos for unders. That is how they could keep so many rep players
- Dave > Wizardssleeves official receipts September 15, 2017 at 11:12pm
  
  BA may struggle with a Rooster type roster, just because he is a great coach of your hardworking type players doesn't mean that success will translate when he needs to do with a locker room full of big paycheques and bigger egos.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown September 15, 2017 at 6:27pm

It speaks volumes for Brad and the way hes been able to bring this team together, especially in the latter half of the season.

Ive heard many times Browns on 175k, not sure if thats correct or the 160k is correct but regardless hes going to need to be upgraded very soon, id be upgrading him tomorrow and putting him on at least double or more like 400k, no doubt we will.
- John Eel > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown September 15, 2017 at 7:10pm
  
  The other frustration for me is hearing how hard done by they are injury wise. They have lost their first choice half and first choice Front Rower
  
  The Eels have lost their first choice Hooker and first choice Fullback. Both teams have lost backup players
2agd8rk0gah1u September 15, 2017 at 6:27pm

Fong a motivation expert!!!LOLL Fongy Fudgepecker couldn't motivate a chook raffle unless with the Roosters of course.
El patrón MDV September 15, 2017 at 7:39pm

Pure gold Chiefy.

The Fongy quip gave me a smile and chuckle
Wizardssleeves official receipts September 15, 2017 at 7:39pm

Oh yeah , how silly of me .

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