CONFUSION reigns in the Kieran Foran contract imbroglio, with the Parramatta Eels submitting two different contracts for the Kiwi Test five-eighth to NRL headquarters.
The first contract the Eels submitted was valued at $4.2 million but had not been signed by Foran and was merely a draft version of what they intended to offer the marquee signing.
The second contract, the one which has set off alarm bells all over rugby league, was valued at the correct term of $4.8 million and contained the bizarre get-out clause including a $1 million damages pay out.
The Eels are now investigating why two different versions of the contract existed at the clubs headquarters at Parramatta, claiming this is the reason why Foran was submitted a reduced offer of $4.2 million last week.
The NRL salary cap auditor Jamie LOste-Brown was handed both versions, with the $4.8 million version submitted the only one containing Forans signature.
Foran is understandably miffed at how a contract he signed and agreed to in March was then brought back to him valued at $600,000 less three months later.
Eels coach Brad Arthur fronted a board meeting at club headquarters at Parramatta Leagues club on Monday night, where the Eels directors agreed to honour the original $4.8 million figure.
The get-out clause with the $1 million damages payout has been removed, but Parramatta and Forans management company SFX Sports are still thrashing out whether the situation can be resolved.
The damage this has done to the Eels could still cost them their marquee signing, with the Manly five-eighth confused at how his integrity is now suddenly making headlines and being called into question.
Eels chairman Steve Sharp is expected to release a statement on Parramattas position later today.
Forans existing club Manly, along with Canterbury-Bankstown and the Sydney Roosters are all monitoring the situation closely.
If the Eels deal is called off, expect one of those clubs to sign Foran.
