Watmough signs a 4 year deal - immediate release. - Eels Blogs

OFFICIAL BREAKING NEWS - @SeaEagles confirm forward Anthony Watmough has been released from the club and is set to join @TheParraEels #NRL11:16am - 28 Oct 14Just NowBreaking #NRL News@AnthonyWatmough officially released from @SeaEagles 4 take up deal with @TheParraEelsimmediately @LiamCox_10 #tennews11:35am - 28 Oct 14And Earlier on Tripple M ;Contract-wise, Watmough's contracted with Manly for next season but he's been salary sacrificing for the last three years [much like] a back-ended contract. So essentially he's already earned that money.So for next season Manly has to pay him $300,000 whether he's at the club or not."He's happy to go to Parramatta and not necessarily have to be paid an absolute lottery because he's already got $300,000 for next year as it is," The Daily Telegraph's James Hooper told Triple M NRL earlier this year.Anthony Watmough has played 278 NRL games for Manly, having made his debut in 2002 with the Northern Eagles. He's played 14 Origins for NSW and reperesented Australia in 16 tests.Earlier, Eels CEO Scott Seward confirmed their interest in getting the Manly and representative second-rower to switch sides as soon as possible."We've obviously expressed that if the opportunity is there and Anthony [Watmough] does secure a release from Manly we would certainly want to have that discussion with him, having him at the Eels," he said, on Triple M's Rush Hour.

"He got wider in attack, particularly towards Mam side of the field that helped him poke the nose through and make metres. Brisbane were back peddling the whole second half bar one set on our own line where Samrani stayed down and Reynolds went off."

"De Belin looked way better in his 2nd stint. But his sole purpose is defence, in that portion of the game where Brisbane middles tried to wrestle back momentum in the middle he was solid in defence. "

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- Hamish October 28, 2014 at 11:50am
  
  no official club announcement yet but it looks pretty certain. The sticking point was how much manly were going to fork out next year and it looks like they have come to terms this morning. Also Manly signing mateo and mason wouldnt have left much room to fit choc even if they wanted to salary cap wise.
SuperEel 22 October 28, 2014 at 11:55am

Manly's released an announcement stating that Watmough has been released and that they've signed Feleti Mateo. I guess we're just waiting on the club for their press release.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER October 28, 2014 at 11:59am

Yes this what we been wait for all right thanks chief
Ham Sammich October 28, 2014 at 12:02pm

Top 8 here we come. Yiew.
Ricky October 28, 2014 at 12:13pm

Whether I'm in a minority or not, I have my doubts about Watmough can do for us.

He is a quality player for club, state and country and is a great clubman - I just honestly hope that these niggling injuries he has had don't come back to bite us when it matters most.

He's been playing with them for the last few years and does somehow find a way to play but my concern is that it'll all catch up with him and that the club will be the ones paying for it in a bad way.

If he does succeed, though - and I can honestly say, I want him to given his quality - and can stay on the field without niggling injuries, his quality will certainly be known.
- EelLectric > Ricky October 28, 2014 at 12:45pm
  
  I agree with a lot of that Ricky... Almost hoping Watmough decides to retire from Rep footy before 2015 begins.. I just get that feeling that if he goes around in Origin again, he'll not only miss 1-2 games for the Eels as part of Origin camp, he'll probably find it harder and harder to back up in the games after Origin and miss a couple more too....
BE STONE COLD October 28, 2014 at 12:18pm

So when do we replace Hayne with Watmough on the Site Banner???
hindy October 28, 2014 at 12:19pm

great signing that our club needed, with hayne gone i was concerned with our ability to attract quality players. Will bring experience to our exciting young forwards. All we need now is to sign foran for 2016.
Michael Picklum October 28, 2014 at 12:19pm

Thanks Chief for the good news. Honestly I was getting a little skeptical that Watmough would be in the B&G for 2015 but it now looks for real.

I really think that he will make a big difference to our pack & for no rational reason considering the overall quality of our recruitment decisions thus far, I'm starting to feel confident about 2015. Maybe its the Unicorn virus festering a little more early than normal. I'm also starting to feel positive regarding the recruitment of Danny Wicks.
- Choco > Michael Picklum October 28, 2014 at 1:22pm
  
  I agree with your points Mick. I reckon Watmough will be a great addittion to the B&G, leading the young guns. He plays with injury and loves the rough stuff. On Danny Wicks, I seen him at Newcastle when he played his last game. He was overweight and unfit. I seen a picture of him a while ago and he would have no fat on his body and he's coming back to the NRL with something to prove. Watmough + Wicks + Mau + Edwards + Pauli = good times ahead.