So I’m sitting at the game with my mate Dan on Friday night, and we’re talking salary cap (obviously). He says to me “I hear Jarryd Hayne wanted to play Rugby in the Olympics this year.”
“Probably too late for that this season, you’d think.” I swiftly replied.
Turns out one of us was incredibly right, and the other just plain wrong.
When I originally saw the announcement this morning that Jarryd Hayne was quitting the NFL to join the Fijian Rugby 7s, I admit I thought it was a hoax.
But as you would all know by now – it’s legit. Jarryd Hayne is a 49er no longer. To clarify my estimations on the other rumours, I don’t think Jarryd was about to be cut, I hope he will play in the Olympics, and I also feel admiration that he was able to start in a sport that no-one (including me) ever thought he’d even make a team – an amazing accomplishment.
I thought it’d be fun to play with some numbers, especially in response to numerous media outlets writing Parra’s chances of signing him off already this morning.
Now, I feel I need to start by acknowledging that I think the punishment handed to us by the NRL was relatively fair. If what they say about the Eels’ breaches are true, the punishment dealt to us is appropriate and I understand the purposes and necessity of the punishment.
However, what I found frustrating is that the NRL did not take the opportunity to clarify that our being 570k over the cap is a direct result of their adding all of the TPAs that were deemed illegal from previous seasons onto this season’s (2016) cap. As such, it would have been particularly helpful for the NRL to note this at the initial press conference. Let me be clear, if those TPAs are illegal, I completely understand why the NRL did what it did – I just wished they communicated it. Fortunately several media outlets have been reporting this fact in recent weeks.
Money coming off the cap in 2017
I understand how ridiculous this next statement might sound to you, but here it is: Prior to the addition of these TPAs onto our 2016 cap, the Eels looked like they were in good salary cap shape. It has been suggested that we were somewhere between 100k and 300k under the cap limit (thanks mostly to the Roosters paying half of Michael Jennings 2016 contract). This was obviously including Watmough’s contract, Peatsy’s, Junior’s and Ryan Morgan’s contracts.
Next season, along with a number of our current starting team, Corey Norman will also be off contract (450k), but we’ll no doubt be re-signing the heck out of him.
Here’s some loose numbers:
100k under cap to begin with
700k Watmough
400k Peats
300k Junior
200k Ryan Morgan
_________
1.7 million
Now, that’s a lot of coin and gives you a lot of options.
Admittedly said numbers are before we re-sign players like IDG, Cameron King, Cody Nelson, Rory O’Brien, Vai Toutai, Tyrell Fuimaono and Danny Wicks so that could chew a lot of that up too.*
“Mate, I’m playing for Fiji in the Olympics.”
“Well, that doesn’t seem right.”
Money needing to be added to the cap in 2017
It’s actually not that bad. I can’t see us not locking Norman up for at least 3 seasons, nor can I see us not needing to sign someone to replace Junior Paulo.
300k – Corey Norman’s upgrade (from 450k to 750k) – 300k
300k – The other half of Jennings’ contract (Roosters no longer picking up the tab) – 300k
300k – A prop to replace Junior
* – Re-sign IDG, Cameron King, Cody Nelson, Rory O’Brien, Vai Toutai, Tyrell Fuimaono and Danny Wicks, among others.
_________
900k + *
So 1.7 million – 900k = 800k.
Again, that doesn’t include re-signing all the players listed above.
So could we sign Jarryd next season? Well he better bring with him a whole lot of (legal!) TPAs. It’s theoretically possible, but at this stage there’s some creative work to be done. And I don’t mean the sort of creative work we’ve been known for in recent weeks.
With that said, a relatively clean slate, with a range of good contracts always gives a team a lot of options.
Right now, our focus needs to be on locking up Corey Norman. He, Kieran and BA are a formidable start to any NRL team. And at the end of the day, whatever happens with Jarryd, I still trust that BA knows best.
What do you think?
Photo credit to Sportsbet, League Central and Titus O’Reily.
there’s a lot to take in with the article and what has been doing the rounds, not only on social media, but also the online and print publications today (Richard Ings, the former ASADA boss pointed out this morning that the NFL is “performance enhancing badlands” and isn’t a WADA compliant sport …. more twists and turns to come there I am sure)
From a pure emotional point of view, I would love to have him back in the blue and gold (I especially would hate to see “Uncle Nick” get his way to have Jarryd in the tri-colours). I think what he has learnt with regards to running styles and attack from his time at the NFL will be only beneficial to his game.
But, could we or should we spend so much money on him?
Will the NRL open it’s much vaunted “war chest” to have Hayne return (as former CEO Gallop spoke of), let alone to Parramatta?
I could discuss this one all day.
Great food for thought article mate, much thinking and debating to be had over this one!
To answer your question – “Should we spend so much money on him?”
Yes. Yes we should.
I’d love to see him back in our colours!
I would like to know at the cost of what player(s) tho.
But at the moment, it’s all “fantasy footy” …… I have to admit tho, I’d still love to see him back in blue and gold!!!
Miatch, Finally someone who has put realism into things.
Only area I would doubt is only needing $300k for a prop. Hindsight might come in that we should have kept jnr but thats gone. Alvaro needs one more year to find top grade feet & some strengthening.
Would not mind keeping Morgan as the primary back replacement, better than Touts & Folou for mine. Hayne will get as much as we can afford, should he come back, but majority of coin will come from TPA’s he will get knocked over with offers. Also should he come he will also attract more sponsors to the club.
But, #1 priority is BA’s signature for 4 year extension.
Thing is though, the office has to be fixed,
Sheesh, computers are a pain, especially with password, I am not anonymous at all.
Agree with everything you’ve said, I was deliberately trying to be conservative.
I still think we’ll buy some sort of prop, and let’s be honest 300 is a cheap prop these days.
I am not an overly great fan of Klemmer but he is looking stiffled this year, with pressure being mounted on Des, he could be an option. In previous years he was not just a bash & barge player as he was mostly getting the ball away each run, a bigger & uglier Cartright, this year while most others are still looking to offload Klemmer is not.
Being still young & with the experience in the top side now he could be an ideal buy at the right price. Comming here BA would be able to settle him better than the Dogs, controlled aggression & use all your skills for the team. without killing himself.
I know I made up the 300k prop figure, so it’s comparison is relatively moot outside of this website, but I think Klemmer would be a 450-500k prop next contract. And he’s a lifelong Dogs fan too.
Side note – did people know DCE followed the Eels when he was a kid? Some unrelated trivia for your Monday afternoon.
I had already done the maths as well
May not need to sign prop either – is twal ready to be the 4th-5th prop????
I think it is very doable and tpa won’t be an issue – he has those locked down already
Well said, reply same as above re prop.
Youre forgetting that if we sign Hayne we wont need to renew Flash’s contract. I dont know what he is on but it adds to the pot.
Its all sus to me. Peates was always on the outer with his injury issues. Degois wont be here nor will gordon either. Yes we save big on a few players and have to upgrade a few. But if im wanting a premiership team 4 2017 id replace plenty now and keep a couple of kids and add segeyaro and hayne and you will have the best spine in the comp for 2-3 years and win possibly 2 comps in that time. Sponsors will line up and the crowds will grow. The eels should forget about this season and cut plenty of olayers wages at the same time or offer less to stay. Foran needs to take 100k less but if he wants 2 win another premiership same should apply for norman. Take 650k and tpas. Bring in hayne for 850k and segs for 550k. The nrl should be putting in 400k to get hayne back. Lets see how a team with hayne segs foran and norman and jennings and semi do to other teams.
We also need a top class hooker, i have heard we are close to signing Segeyaro from Penrith.
So where would that leave us?
I’d love to have him back but i’d say it would kill our depth.
Also what would Bevan French think? would he want to move on seeing as thou we don’t need a fullback for a few years?
First and for most, we need to know A) is he interested in coming back and B) what would he want $$ wise?
If we sign a top class hooker, that means we’re not getting Jarryd.
I’m relatively certain that BA always intended to go into next season with Kaysa and some combination of IDG, King and even Nelson.
And for what it’s worth, I havent heard a legitimate source once say we are going after Segyaro, but I’ve been surprised before.
I am very happy with Kaysa progress but have i heard some inside info that we are after Segeyaro and will get him.
As you say IDG and Kaysa would be great if we get Hayne back, I also think King has heaps of potential but like Kaysa is a bit injury prone.
If we get Hayne we won’t need attack from dummy half, if we don’t we need the option of a Segeyaro at dummy half as he is a great runner and can create something where as I haven’t seen much of that from IDG or Kaysa yet.
I think if we nab Hayne it puts us on par with the Broncos and the Cowboys, not into our own tier.
I’m still betting against Segyaro ever donning the Blue and Gold, the Cardinal and Myrtle much more likely.
BA is a fan of Kaysa and I think he likes the look of King – that’s just what I’ve heard.
Likewise I have heard nothing other than on-line rumours about Segyaro. Not sure why this is regarded as strong mail.
beven french to hooker maybe?
You’ve got a bigger chance of playing hooker than Bevan French does, Matt.
well i am 6ft and around 105kg haha
The irony is that without the cap drama we probably wouldn’t even been able to entertain such an idea.
Ha! This is terrific.
The talk of Segeyara is weird to me, while I have not seen much of him in recent times, I would not like him to take up any more money than IDG, & would suggest he would be wanting similar if not more. What has happened to King? Worst case is to probably keep Nelson on minimum money as back up, Kaysa is still the future & his to grab, his performance against the mixies was ok, just needs to have more game time, & do it progressively as the season goes on, then switch him to run on & IDG as interchange.
We have quite a few promising young players coming through,& the big thing that needs to be looked at is how to carefully manage them, bringing them into the top grade especially in to the top tier is something that needs more care. Alvaro with this year & some hard muscling up will help, he especially needs leg thrust. As for others I think Twal is a top grader, maybe 2018 though, but certainly 2nd tier next year.
The players identified by Miatch in the main post is where to go. O’Brien needs to lift & play to his weight for the rest of the year he’s young but he needs to show his value. There are others that I am not fussed about such as Terepo, I also would want to see Gower as lower end NRL tier. he adds to the play late in each half.
The biggy though is that if Hayne comes, we do not need Gordon, French needs to be there somewhere in the mix for next year, but where, & what of kicking? Gutherson is not a winger & weak link, Taka needs to stay, but who kicks?
Top of signings will be Hayne/ Norman, if a prop, would seriously look at Klemmer depending on coin, sadly this year he is not getting the ball away like he used to, that is an area where we really need to look at. Ball playing prop so far we only have Ma’u & Gower who can get them away, while Timmy can at times, maybe he needs to work on it as a surprise package.
Cross Klemmer off – not happening, and same with Segyaro.
With that said, all I’ve said also assumes Jarryd will return to the NRL and the Eels will want him.
See above, just thoughts.
Of course it does. Its fun though after the last week and half. At first I wasn’t keen on the idea as I thought that having Jarryd back might disrupt the hard work the team have put into changing the mental culture. The more I think about it though the more I think the likes of Foran would be the perfect leader of a team containing Jarryd Hayne. Never A Dull Moment as a Parra fan.
Been great fun.
Foran back, team playing well, some of the issues hopefully being sorted or at least highlighted in club land – there’s a lot of good in all the bad.
lets just wait and see before your count your chickens.
I will get an idea about what you know and who you know if what you say is true.
Put some bacon on the chopping block ?? to verify your sources otherwise you sound like any other wise guy from 1EE with plenty of ego and opinion but nothing but chopped liver to back your comments up.
My revealing anything would assume I care what someone thinks I sound like.
Nothing personal. If you believe what I say, believe it. If not, I don’t mind.
Colin, don’t know what games you’ve been looking at but Mannah holds onto the ball tighter than a kid with an ice cream.
SACK JARRYD!!
On a serious note, does anybody know if Jarryds long service at the club is now void with him spending time away or does it kick in if he came back when the time comes?
I’m afraid it is now void – to quality it needs to be six continuous years with the same club (the years need to be continuous, as well as the club).
6 years continuous which he has done the time for. So I do not get your comment. Just because he has left for 2 years you will lose your long service leave.
Either way we have Tim Mannah on 6 years so the money will be spent.
To maintain your long service allowance, the year in which you receive it must be continuous to the years that you earnted it.
Ie, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 does not qualify as Jarryd missed 2014 and 2015.
“We have…” Welcome aboard Top Dawg! Glad you are finally showing your colours.
The club is very concerned about what the salary cap stuff does with memberships and revenues considering our move to Homebush next year. We were also in the final stages of negotiation for several million dollars of commercial partner sponsorships before the penalties were announced.
A Hayne comeback to Parramatta would solve those problems and provide millions to our bottom line. I expect the club to do absolutely everything to try to sign him.
I’ve always liked you Chris.
And another thing…if he plays for Fiji in the 7’s, he is ruled ineligible to play for the Walabies which reduces his value to basically zero in Australian Rigby Union.
If (when) he kills it at the Olympics, Japanese & European rugby clubs will come calling with their millions of $$$$$$.
The NRL wont be able to match this
Money makes the world go around but Jarryd’s already shown his dreams and desires come first. No dollar figure seems to sway him. See what the NRL lets us offer him if it ever comes to it.
Just out of curiosity are the off contract players you named players you think will be re-signed or have you heard that BA is a fan of those players. I did see IDG say in last week’s interview he wants to play here next year.
I also hope king plays out this season injury free and continues his good form and gets rewarded with a top 25 contract. Also one player that you didn’t mention that I hope gets another contract extension is Tanginoa, he started the season real well.
Basically they’re a list of who I think should be re-signed, almost at a minimum, based on need.
I hope Kelepi can get back on the field soonish because apparently he was looking pretty good. Are we closer to working out his best position yet? Lock? (be better if he had an offload). Strikes me as a shorter Peni Terepo, with better handling.
And yes, BA loves Kaysa, is looking forward to King and always thought IDG was a very suitable replacement for Peatsy.
And as you say Miatch….at the end of the day….BA knows the way!
Re-sign the King Of Coaches.
Can we afford him cap wise? I’d suggest a big yes.
Will we ensure that he can be afforded? Definitely.
Two things that I would suggest. If Hayne tells his manager that a deal needs to be done with Parra, do we have the slightest doubt that his manager could organise a collection of TPAs?
From a footy perspective, the addition of Hayne to the team would be s much better than it was before.
In the past, Hayne was central to Parra’s play. On return, he would be joining a team that’s been developed without him. He would add to the team rather than being the central component.
And with Foran as captain too.
Sorry about this, but forget all the hype about “The Hayne Plane” we need to sign Corey Norman this week as priority #1. If Jaryd wants to play with Parra and remain loyal he will but I get the impression that his manager is dollar driven! I don’t want to see Corey squeezed out due to Parra paying a fortune for Jaryd…….my two cents!
Don’t worry. Corey is a priority and it will be locked in very soon.
Completely agree. Norman, BA first. Then see where we’re at.
Almost like having hiccup. BA first, Norman second, Hayne 3, BA first. Ah you get the quist.
Erbs Would that only apply to Jarryd’s manager being money driven? I would like to know which agent isn’t money driven, after all the more their clients get, the more they gat as well with their measely 15 – 25% commissions. Forget where I read it now but there are that many agents around now especially for sports stars, there is a constant flow of applicants to train & get accreditation as well. Most are also in management agencies, not sure how many, if any are independent these days.
Col, player managers average 7% of players earning
JJ, There was a report recently that put the managers much higher than that, & in the range of what I have mentioned.
Seems that the old term or their title has changed from Player agent to manager over the past few years, possibly as a result of all the various in contracts & possibly a bit more work for them in the negotiating area to crack the best deal, then the supposed TPA’s.
Norman interviewed on 7 & 9 said he was penning contract this week. Said to be around $2m for 3 years, I would suggest that its around $670 a year.
If this is true, it tells me all things are pretty sweet on the player front. & think its likely all that’s keeping BA from not signing an extension is the final decision from the NRL. Once that’s sorted out, & new CEO & board is up & running. even an interim board with a new CEO, hopefully Gurr, will see things change & move along then.
I suspect BA’s contract negotiations aren’t as progressed as we’d like.
Not saying he’ll go anywhere, but I’m sure he’s keen to extend for the coin he’s worth.
Hard to tell really, I have no doubt that there has been talk, & basically BA has laid out what he wants.
That would include players, the staff & facilities, available as well as what he gets in the pocket. No doubt in my mind that he will stay at the club & he wont want overs but certainly will not accept unders. On top of that those on the board would know that as well. A new board, be that interim or not will know the urgency & essential need to sign him to a longer term contract.
The other thing that I think is also certain is that any of the primary players he wants to keep, will only sign a contract with a clause inserted that says BA remains as coach, its in Foran’s contract & it will also be in Normans. The extension for BA needs to be at least for 3 years, + options, as it takes him past the 1 year, plus 2 option for Foran, & a new 3 yr for Norman.
V interesting read Miatch and good insight. Thanks mate.
I am not sold on Segyaro defence to be honest and have been impressed with Pritchard and am happy to say that he’s surprised me.
Hayne- yes; but the rumours of easts have been around for a while….anyway. It will be what it is. I trust BA is locked up and Norman too as people have said. But the board needs to be sorted out, and that will hopefully bring some faith back.
BA is the must next step after Norman’s contract is done and dusted.
I’m very confident in saying Jarryd will never play for the Roosters, if for no other reason than to stick it to the journos he keeps calling out for saying he’ll do so.
& doesn’t Hayne love the circus for hire people? Pretty well all of whom would never get a job as enticers for people to go intro a strip club.
I would be concentrating on bringing a few of the juniors thru to NRL, Twal and Fuimaono being two to come to mind and definitely not re-signing IDG, Nelson and Toutai with O’Brien and Wicks also possibly not being retained. Of the $800k mentioned we need a new prop, maybe a good young promising one so maybe $300k. That will leave about, say, $400k left plus the cap will increase next year. Whether enough for Hayne, who would have to be valued at about same as Sam Burgess level, only time will tell. However will some of the TPAs be added to 2017 cap? Again only time will tell.
What was Burgess valued at when he returned? A real question not trying to be smart.
Between $500k and $600k plus TPA and marquee player $$$. He was very cheap. Definition of irony if Schubert can land us Hayne after robbing us of Izzy.
If that’s accurate, it would be pretty ridiculous if the NRL knocked Hayne back for a similar amount.
Lilkely more than Norman & no higher than Foz.
Thanks for the insight mate.
no worries mate. thanks for reading.
just saying if we had a spine of Hayne, Norman, Foran and IDG/Pritchard. Would there be a better one in the NRL.
who holds the mantle currently?
thurston/morgan/granville/coote?
which one would you prefer?
I am thinking the Eels. Thurston is probably the standout although the Storm got to him last week. Having said that he probably only has a couple of years to play.
Maybe I am just wearing my Blue and Gold glasses but to me the Rugby 7’s thing is a good sign for us. If he was going to come back to the Rorters they would be going all out to get him this year and apparently they have 6ook left in their cap to fit him in which we obviously don’t. The whole Rugby thing to me gives him something to do til the end of the year by which time we will have made space for next year.
With Jarryds profile what would happen if he went to the NRL and said “I have 1million $$$ a year in third party deals lined up and Parra are going to give me $200,000 a year on top of that”? What can the NRL really do? He is getting paid his market value and he is using their pathetic third party rule by the book so how could they knock it back? It’s exactly the same as how the Rorters,Dogs, Bronco’s etc do it.
I think it absolutely stinks that not only did the NRL dump TPA’s onto this years cap without explaining a dam thing, but they also get to do it to us next season. Punish us once, what is this crap about tacking $500k worth of TPA’s into next season. I’ve heard & read all the stories about how the Eels cheated the salary cap ( capped part of the salary – not TPA’s ) which we didn’t until the TPA’s were added to the cap but have not seen anything that warrants the destruction bought on the Eels this season. Please Eels fans, don’t just believe everything that is coming out of the NRL & media, Don’t just believe we are in the wrong. I understand if we are defiantly proven to have done the things said, then yes ok, we must be punished, but get it done completely this year. Here it is folks What I Think is Going on – The NRL tack enough TPA’s to our salary cap this season that moving on only Whatmough isn’t enough, we also have to move on another top player, who is picked up by the NRL owned Titans. Lets see now if we tack another lot of TPA’s onto next seasons salary cap then either the Titans or the Knight’s will be able to get ?????????????????. Who are you trying to get for one of your teams next NRL commission?????????P.S. I know it sounds like sour grapes but it ain’t rocket science, We are getting shafted big time.
I dont think its as fiendish as you make out.
I believe that it is coming down to the point where BA has to decide how important it is to get Hayne. I would love to see JH in the team again he is one of my all time favorite players. Having said that I trust in BA to make the best decision. If he signs him and needs to let others go to achieve it I will support that. If he decides that JH is out of our reach and does not make a play for him I will support that also.
To be straight up – I can’t imagine Jarryd will ever play for another team in the NRL.
Whether he plays in the NRL again, and whether or not we can fit him into our team – that is the question.
I see it that way as well. The Eels or Rugby to me would be the option