PARRAMATTA have launched a one-two punch combination to steal Matt Scott from North Queensland. After narrowly missing out on James Tamou last month, the cashed-up Eels have now turned their focus to his Cowboys and Kangaroos front-row partner. South Sydney are also in the market for Scott, who has become one of the competition's elite props since making his Origin debut in 2006. The Daily Telegraph can reveal Eels coach Ricky Stuart had a meeting with Scott and his manager, Wayne Beavis, on the Gold Coast over the Christmas break. The 27-year-old is on track to become a one-club player at the Cowboys, but Tamou's retention will make it tough for North Queensland to keep him from a host of suitors. Scott will command around $600,000 a season at least what the Cowboys paid to extend team mate Tamou on a three-year deal. Whether North Queensland are prepared to plough such a large chunk of their salary cap into front rowers remains to be seen, particularly after re-signing boom bookend James Taumalolo last year. The club also has a host of stars off contract, headed by co-captain Johnathan Thurston, who is certain attract offers of $1 million a year in the wake of interest from Penrith, Canterbury and Newcastle. Matt Bowen, Brent Tate, Dallas Johnson and Glenn Hall are the club's other high-profile free agents. Jarryd Hayne and Ricky Stuart Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart makes a point to Jarryd Hayne during a training session. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph Conversely, Parramatta's only off-contract superstar is fullback Jarryd Hayne. Negotiations to extend Hayne who is also managed by Beavis kicked-off in early December. Stuart last night said his Gold Coast talks with Beavis was primarily about Hayne, but confirmed an interest in Scott after meeting the Cowboys co-captain face-to-face. "We were up there for an ongoing discussion about Jarryd Hayne,'' Stuart said. "Matt Scott came along as well. I think any club would be interested in great players like him.'' Having eased their three-quarter dilemma with the signing of Beau Champion on a highly cost-effective deal this week, South Sydney view Scott as a potential replacement for veteran prop Roy Asotasi. Following a clean-out over the past two years, the Eels are in position to launch a rich bids for game's best talents. Stuart has identified prop and five eighth as two priority areas, with pivot Ben Roberts needing a huge season to earn a new contract after last year's disappointment. Cronulla No. 6 Todd Carney is understood to be on Parramatta's radar, along with St George Illawarra and New Zealand Warriors. Print
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Interesting... I'd love to see Matt Scott at Parramatta. Scott and Mannah starting with Moimoi and a younger player coming off the bench in 2014 would be awesome.
$600k per season for a Prop! Wow, & if I remember correctly Wayne Bennet thought that no prop was worth more than $300k when we signed Poore for a reported $360k.
I thought everyone here wanted Tim Grant ? He`s younger and a hell of alot cheaper.
How long will Scott last with all his rep commitments before sustaining serious on going injuries at age 27 ?
Is he turning 28 this year ? If so, that means he`ll be 29 in 2014. We gotta take that into consideration.
Yes you`re right MPicklum, 600k for a prop is ridiculous but all the players values are rising constantly, especially rep players.
I, myself believe you should be spending the big money on the forwards because they're the ones in the middle doing all the work.
Times They Ha
600k for a prop is too pricey for my tastes, as good as Scott is...that kind of coin could be used more effectively over a number of players.
I'd rather throw 250k at a young gun like David Klemmer who is 120kg and 200cm, NYC prop of the year and a very good bet to be a gun player.
Cowboys will be stretching their cap if they keep all their big guns
Thurston 1 Million at least
Scott 600k
Tamou 600k
that's 2.4 million for 3 players....ouch
Thurston could end up as 1.2 million or more, with Penrith desperate to buy him and even broncos chasing
Tim Grant is on a back ended deal at Panthers already costing about 500k....too expensive....
good point but i think the club wants instant results to try to win a premiership the club has already got a lot of young forwards that will be top shelf in years to come at least now we see that ricky has let us know that we were not wrong in saying we need forwards that go forward to make good meters ricky has his finger on the pulse where in good hands
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