Watmough paid out

In breaking news, former Parramatta player Anthony Watmough has reportedly "settled" on his playing contract that left the club $1.2 million in the hole."After a long negotiation hearing @TheParraEels have finally settled the @AnthonyWatmough contract re payments he was owed 2017/18," tweeted Channel Nine rugby league reporter Danny Weidler. See the tweet below.Earlier, the former representative was denied any insurance payout for a career-ending knee injury, which left Parramatta to foot the $1.2 million remaining on his contract.In August 2016 The Daily Telegraph reportedly obtained a letter from QBE insurance, which defined the knee injury as "pre-existing".The letter apparently said: “your inability to play in the NRL or any other professional league is the result of symptomatic, pre-existing degenerative changes to your left knee”.“In the circumstances, we have determined that you are not eligible for the benefits claimed under the policy.”It appeared that Parramatta would therefore be required to foot Watmough's 2017 and 2018 contract bill.QBE became the insurer of the top 25 players at each club in 2014 following Alex McKinnon's serious injury.If the Eels were forced to payout Watmough, it will leave the club in the red for a record $11 million for 2016.The NRL has apparently maintained that the payout figure won't be docked from the 2017 and 2018 salary cap.

Replies

Hamish March 15, 2017 at 3:24pm

It's not included in the cap that's already been confirmed by the NRL.

The only thing they were arguing over was whether to pay him for 2018 as that was an option year in Watmough's favour.

The clubs position was they didn't have to pay him because he couldn't take up the option as he was medically retired.

Would be interesting to see what the outcome was, i.e. pay him some money for 2018 but not all of it.
tele1 March 15, 2017 at 3:27pm

2nd worst signing in club history - only Foran was worse
- slip > tele1 March 15, 2017 at 4:40pm
  
  LOL
Michael Ericson March 15, 2017 at 4:38pm

Absolutely ridiculous signing along with Foran. I'm an Arthur fan but he screwed up with those 2 and had blind faith on the basis of them being manly premiership players. Watmough in particular should never had happened if proper due diligence was done.
- Wild_Eels > Michael Ericson March 15, 2017 at 5:05pm
  
  We all make mistakes, seriously how could you know Foran was that fucked up
- Michael Ericson > Michael Ericson March 15, 2017 at 5:50pm
  
  Injury wise he is busted as well in my opinion. Watmough was way worse though, it was apparent to anyone that signing watmough, who had been injury riddled for years and who played well above his weight, to a long term deal at his age was madness. A lot of people were saying that before he played a game for us.
- Mr Salmon > Michael Ericson March 15, 2017 at 6:17pm
  
  Hind site makes everyone a pro !!!
- Michael Ericson > Michael Ericson March 15, 2017 at 6:22pm
  
  That's why you pay people to have foresight. Anyway its done now and the teams going well so all good.
Muttman March 15, 2017 at 5:12pm

It's easy to be critical of the Watmough deal. Firstly because it was awful but I think we need to remember where this club was when we signed Watmough.
We were absolutely nowhere. Regular spooners, awful defence, consistently lose games in the dying stages. Just horrible. Something needed to change.
Hence Watmough. And it's hard to argue about the positive impact he had on this club. Our line speed and aggressiveness in defence improved remarkably. Watmough needled up before every game just to play through each week. This kind of toughness rubbed off on our young forward pack.
So yes we paid overs. Yes we had to agree to a long term deal. But remember Watmough was a rep player and we were spooners.
I'm not suggesting it was a good deal because it wasn't but it showed how bad we were going as a club that the only way we could lure someone of Watmough's status was to give him the deal of a lifetime.
Today we no longer need to do that. It served its purpose.
- Cranky Brad is here!!! > Muttman March 15, 2017 at 6:04pm
  
  Totally agree muttman.