Are we officially in the silly season or is there another name for this time of the year?
The footy has wrapped up, players are on holidays, but clubs and player agents are looking for partners in their annual courtship dance. With no games to report on, a hungry media and curious fan bases hang on the slightest of rumours about player movement.
And as we move closer to November 1, any whispers become more of a roar.
So in today’s column there’s a mix of speculation and confirmation about our Eels.
Some hellos, some goodbyes.
Bumpers Up!
Reining Mitches?
My first tick of approval on the recruitment front goes to Mitch Rein.
The Eels are rumoured to be seriously pursuing the off-contract Titan’s hooker, and if they are successful it will be a crucial signing.
Mitch Rein
Joey Lussick was a fine deputy to Reed Mahoney this season, and his departure leaves a massive hole in the Eels roster.
The continued injury woes of Nathaniel Roache meant that the Eels hit the 2021 finals series without all three dummy halves. Though Ray Stone was a defensive colossus when called upon, there is no substitute for an experienced number nine.
Mahoney has now suffered significant injuries in consecutive seasons, so it’s imperative that the Eels add another hooker to the squad. As things stand, the Eels would be looking at utility forward Jayden Yates stepping up to take on the role in NSW Cup.
Hopefully we receive news of Rein’s signature soon.
One To Watch
The Maitland Pickers recently announced on their social media that their talented dummy half and utility Jacob Davis had joined the Eels.
Davis was a member of Newcastle’s 2021 SG Ball team and this bloke possesses terrific energy in both attack and defence. He doesn’t mind darting out of dummy half when the markers are out of position, and he’s got the pace to make the opposition pay.
I’m expecting the teenage recruit to start in Parra’s Flegg team next year. You can catch highlights of his play here.
Nick Cotric
This rumour just won’t go away.
Phil Gould was quite emphatic in his recent denial about making Cotric available to suitors, but the embers behind the smoke are continuing to smoulder.
Respected journo Brent Read has again linked the former Origin winger to the Eels, and I can’t deny that it looks like a good fit for both parties.
Nick Cotric
With Blake Ferguson moving on to other opportunities and Maika Sivo likely to miss close to half of the 2022 season, Haze Dunster is the only “experienced” winger in the Eels squad – and that’s with a grand total of 14 appearances on his resume.
Should the Eels decide to fill Sivo’s wing position from within, the options will come from either a positional switch of Waqa Blake or by elevating Sean Russell or Samuel Loizou. It would be a massive call to add another NRL newcomer to play alongside Penisini and Dunster.
Much like Mitch Rein, I’m adding my tick of approval to Cotric as a signing target.
Rankin The Halves
It appears as if Jordan Rankin will not be a part of the Eels top 30 going into 2022 but I’m hoping that the club offers him a second tier deal.
The versatile veteran played an important role in the Eels NSW Cup team this year, providing on-field leadership to a youthful and inexperienced group of players. He set strong standards at training and was well respected within the squad.
Jordan Rankin
Looking ahead, there will still be plenty of young players needing to be mentored as they move along the pathways into NSW Cup.
This year has shown the value of having quality second tier players. Makahesi Makatoa and Ky Rodwell both made their NRL debuts from outside of the top 30. As such, the NSW Cup is moving closer to the classic reserve grade role.
I believe that Rankin could still fill a mentoring role in 2022, and if the need arises, he’ll be a handy back up for the NRL.
Going?
Reports are now surfacing that Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s manager has informed the Eels that his client won’t be activating his 2023 player option. Though RCG was contracted to 2024, the last two years were options, with the final year in the club’s favour. Declining the player option effectively makes the club option null and void.
RCG
The motivating factor in RCG’s decision appears to be the opportunity to relocate to Queensland on a lucrative contract with the new Dolphin’s franchise.
Whilst Reg’s manager was quick to emphasise that there were no issues with the Eels and that they remain in the mix to retain his services, there’s little doubt that the language is that of “thank you and farewell.”
This news that he’ll be testing the Dolphin’s waters seems to have come out of left field, especially considering the length of what is a lucrative deal.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard has enjoyed a genuine career resurgence at the Eels and it will be a big loss should he decide to leave.
Gone
Will Smith
News that Will Smith has moved on from the Eels has come as a bit of a surprise.
The Eels had been in talks with the popular utility and he remained part of their plans for 2022. I also saw him as having a future with the club post-football.
Smith is a quality person and a talented player and I’m sure he’ll be missed by everyone within the Eels.
We wish him success in his footy with the Titans.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Such a shock to see Will Smith leaving. He’s been so good for us. Hopefully him going to the Titans he gets a full time role there. He deserves it.
I think he will have a role in footy after his playing days – perhaps working with Indigenous players in pathways. I had hoped to see him in such a role at Parra. I wish him well.
Good read Sixties, and Will Smith while a loss, i am happy for him. He has been a great stalwart, and hopefully he works out well at the Tits.
RCG, interesting one….but for me, its all systems now for an upgrade to Marata.
Good to see some young guys coming through.
I was disappointed to see Myles Martin head to the Knights, and i know he is young, but he showed some promise.
Cheers Milo. Sometimes you lose players in pathways and it can be out of your control.
As for RCG, perhaps it does open up the opportunity to offer Marata a bit more.
All the chatter I’m hearing is that Marata is as good as gone, I really hope not, but ….
If the Warriors offer is huge then I don’t think we’ll get in a bidding war.
I was having a good weekend until I read this. The Bear to Easts and Ray Higgs to Manly still trouble me.
Higgs was never comfortable at Manly. As for the Bear, he went to the Riff then Easts. I guess if you look at the full journey of Bob, it worked out in the long run.
Seams the warrior’s are always splashing the cash to catch that big fish. Sixties.
i reckon it’s the agents that catch them hook, line and sinker.
Have you heard anything about Curtis Scott and Adam Elliott joining
No I haven’t Pete.
Sixties when do you think signings will be announced? Other clubs seem to be announcing their signings and we seem to be a bit behind. Supporters want a bit of transparency and it’s frustrating seeing all these signings and the only news that comes out of the eels is who we have lost or who will be leaving. We need hope.
I’d rather no one know what’s going on at Parra than having rumours and potential signings being leaked all the time.
Spot on!
Very little leaks from the club these days. I can assure you that talks – retention and recruitment – have taken place. The club makes it their business to not announce who they are speaking with, which I’m fine with.
Hi again Sixties. I have also heard that Bevan French may be on the radar for a return to the eels
Losing RCG is very disappointing. He has been very good for the Eels in the short time that he has been here
He was missed while out with the groin injury and he will be missed if he leaves for the Dolphins.
The Cotric story has been around for a while. Would be a good addition if it materialises.
The young hooker from the Maitland Pumpkin Pickers, he looks alright in the age competition. By the way, isn’t that Joey’s junior club, Maitland?
He does look good John. Could be!
Joey’s junior club was the Cessnock Goannas
Cheers Ham.
Thank you
Will Smith – surprised. Perhaps on the plus side, it cements Ray Stones role?
RCG – real shame if we lose him. I think he’s great as a player. Does all the tough work, and doesn’t run arse first into the line. I wonder if he’s thinking the premiership “window” is next year. If not, he’s going to chase the cash to see out his career? Just speculating of course. I don’t see anyone in the squad as a clear replacement at this point though. We have fill in options, but we clearly missed RCG when he was out this year.
Mick, we did miss RCG when he was out, but a year is a long time in footy and who knows who will emerge from within or become available in the market.
I wonder how RCG contract works and if Penrith were only paying some payment for a few years and not the entire contract.
No, he’ll be 29 at the end of next season and he’s looking to get one last big contract to finish his career. The Dolphins have entered the picture at just the right time for Reg.
I reckon you’re spot on Brett.
I wondered the same Rocket.
Sixties I have a post awaiting approval again. Are you able to fix it?
I’ll check it.
RCG is taking a massive gamble that the market will bid itself to more than his already gigantic “Gus deal” from Penrith, but saying the Eels are still in with a shot suggests he values himself higher than the 750-800k that deal would be worth. Not sure there are many 30 year old props who will command that cash, new team coming in or not.
When was the last time a Wayne Bennett team paid a prop that much (or the equivalent)? Shane Webcke? Reg is certainly not playing it safe.
Wayne is definitely on the record as not wanting to pay big coin for props. Interesting how it will play out Gol.
I think it will back fire n he will be with out a club.
I don’t think he’s after more money than he’s on now, just trying to secure a longer term deal. I’d say he’s trying to land a 4 year deal with the Dolphins that’ll take him to 2026.
I’m not sure how the money aspect of the two option years is organised. The other aspect is that players enjoyed their lifestyle up there during the relocation. There were plenty of photos of beach life etc on social media accounts. I wasn’t surprised to see interest in moving there.
The stumbling block with Čotić is how much the Dogs are willing to chip in for his massive $600K salary.
That is a lot of money for a winger. I guess he sees himself as a Centre.
We already have 2 top shelf centres and a handy back up in Opačić. Nikola will be a better option and more value to us as a winger. I’d be giving him $500K a year all day long. He is worth it.
With Maika on the long term injury list we are certainly short. I’d back Cotric to find his form with Parra.
The Dogs went a bit crazy with that contract.
That’s what happens when bad teams have cap space and are looking for quick fixes, they overpay for non essential positions. If we pay him more than 300k I’d be disappointed.
That might be what’s happening behind the scenes – a negotiation.
All four of those player movements are positive in my eyes, Smith has been handy but not a massive loss on the playing front. RCG has been very good but to stay a strong team you need to be able to let players go with a little juice left in the tank and bring through players on cheaper contracts. The Roosters and Storm have done this superbly for many years, it is critical in a Salary Cap based competition. Cotric would be a very good pick up, an Origin player not that long ago and the very best of outside backs would have struggled in that Dogs team. We have made a habit of picking up good players who are mid contract over the Summer break, this hopefully will be another one.
As for Rein, another Hooker is critical and with what is available, he would be an excellent pick up. It would be a shame to lose Marata but you cant get into bidding wars because it has ramifications throughout the roster. I would be looking to sacrifice Matto to another side to keep Marata.
Jimmy, I think you’ve read the situation extremely well. The interesting decision might revolve around Marata or Matto and whether the potential loss of Reg changes the situation, and further to that, if Marata moved on, whether that changed the Matto situation.
No doubt that the call by Reg, an early one at that, eases salary Cap pressure and gives room for future planning. In my eyes, Matto has generally been good with out being very good, I believe his salary demands that he be ‘very good’. I understand he has had his injury issues in particular the head knocks but I’m going all in for Marata.
I’m not keen on too many bidding wars. One big contract that’s over market price has a flow on effect beyond just the cap impact. It stirs up other players in their contract demands. A balanced cap doesn’t
Let me clarify, I’m willing to sacrifice Matto to keep Marata without paying overs for him. Agree completely regarding Bidding wars, only leads to unbalanced sides that don’t perform and can take years to rectify.
👍 👍 👍
The loss of Smith means we need to recruit a reliable back up half we can’t be relying on young Jake I think its proven he’s not up to it yet (or ever)
So Anonymous, to get this straight, Jake debuts at 18 due to injuries. He ends up playing 7 games. He scores 2 tries, provides 3 try assists, forces 2 line drop outs and has a tackle efficiency of 87% even though he was targeted which places him near the top end of halves defensively despite the fact that Parra had defensive issues in some of those games and you say he will never be up to it? Seriously?
Gee anon based on 60,s stats you look either foolish or jealous !!! Luckily you have no say or idea either it seems .
With smith n lussick already gone n Mahoney more then likely moving to ( flippers ) dolphins i hate to think we are going down the same path as the Dragons n pulling 30+ player’s out of semi retirement. Would hate to be loosing 3 Dummy half player’s In 2 yrs. If only reedy told parra that his looking else where we could have kept lussick.
Cotric would be great big young n strong. Sivo is 29 maybe 30 this yr. His on his last contract.
Can’t believe we signed all these player’s to have their contracts finish at the same time.
Happy to have Marata stay if we move on lane or Matterson or both.
We might lose one or two of those off contract players, but the thing is that none have actually left as yet. Let’s firstly see what happens as there’s some positioning from agents going on right now.
SEN radio, Jimmy Smith, just announced that Joey is considering going to the Knights as assistant coach.