- From: The Daily Telegraph
- April 05, 2010
VETERAN front-rower Nathan Cayless is fighting to save his captain's job at Parramatta.
Sources have told The Daily Telegraph that the out-of-form forward could be benched in the coming weeks in favour of props Justin Poore and Fuifui Moimoi.
That move would mean Cayless giving up the captaincy he has held since 2000.
The decision could come as early as next Monday when the Eels play Canberra, although Parramatta will have to see if Moimoi is charged by the match review committee for a high tackle in Saturday night's 11-0loss to Cronulla at Toyota Stadium.
The other problem Parramatta have is that Moimoi seems to have lost some impact this year and Poore has been struggling at his new club.
The Sharks game was Cayless's 200th as captain of Parramatta - the first time a player has achieved that milestone with the same club.
"I think it's a decision Parramatta have to make," one well-placed source said yesterday.
Eels coach Daniel Anderson said it was "unfair" to single out Cayless.
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Asked if Cayless's job as captain was safe, Anderson said: "I still have to look at the game [on video]. There's nothing really to say.
"Both Nathans [Cayless and Hindmarsh] have to be major contributors and get some traction for the team.
"There are a lot of players - young and old - not in great form and they need to find something. It is unfair to single out one or two players.
"Some of the younger players have not faced this kind of adversity. They have to dig in. That is part of a player's career."
Cayless, 32, took over as Parramatta skipper from co-captains Dean Pay and Jarrod McCracken in 2000.
He is off contract at the end of the season and is contemplating retiring from rugby league and moving into the real estate business.
Should he be dumped as captain, longtime teammate and friend Nathan Hindmarsh would be Parramatta's new leader.
Forward Ben Smith is another candidate for the captaincy.
Parramatta's early-season woes have not been helped by speculation the club could lose star backs Eric Grothe and Feleti Mateo next season.
The Daily Telegraph understands Grothe is on a contract worth about $180,000 a season.
His new offer will be closer to $100,000 because the Eels have upgraded the contracts of Jarryd Hayne and Daniel Mortimer as well as signing Poore, Shane Shackleton and Timana Tahu.
Grothe wants to remain an Eel but may baulk at such a hefty pay cut.
The New Zealand Warriors want Mateo and have offered him close to $400,000 a year. Parramatta's best offer for Mateo will be about $230,000 a season.
Newcastle have also expressed interest in Mateo but would be unlikely to match or better the Warriors' offer.
Cayless probably won't be dumped. It's too radical IMO.
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