Semi Radradra agrees to four-year deal with Parramatta Eels
Phil Rothfield
The Daily Telegraph
June 03, 2014 8:00PM
THREE years ago he signed at the Parramatta Eels for $10,000 a year plus match payments.
On Tuesday barnstorming winger and budding superstar Semi Radradra cemented his NRL future by signing a four-year, $1 million deal.
Not bad for a 21-year-old who was earning just $300 a month in gold mines in Fiji before the phone call came from the Parramatta Eels in 2011.
The NRL cult hero and the premiership’s leading try-scorer has locked himself in at Parramatta until 2018. He will use the contract money to buy his family, who live in an impoverished village, a new home in Fiji.
The shy and quietly spoken winger, nicknamed Semi Trailer, knocked back offers from several rival clubs and a Super 15 rugby franchise to stick by the Eels.
He has averaged 120m a game this year and made an incredible 50 tackle busts, using his scorching pace and thunder thighs to destroy rival defenders.
“I’m so happy (with the new deal),” he told The Daily Telegraph.
”There were three offers but I told my manager I want to stay.
“This is the club that brought me from where I’m from to where I’m at today.
“I like the players, I like the culture and I like the bonding.”
And in a chilling warning to rival clubs and wing opponents, Radradra said he had nowhere near reached his potential.
“I didn’t know anything about rugby league when I first came here,” he said.
“I’m still young and learning and looking to improve my game all the time. That’s the goal.”
The signing is one of Parramatta’s most important in recent years, certainly as significant as Will Hopoate’s and Jarryd Hayne’s last deals.
In recent years the club has lost many of its talented youngsters to rival clubs, including wingers Daniel Tupou to the Roosters and Jorge Taufua to Manly.
Before that it was big T Rex, Tony Williams, to the Sea Eagles.
“It’s a very significant signing for the club,” Eels CEO Scott Seward said. ”Semi brings people to the football and puts bums on seats. And that roar when he touches the football. It’s special.
“We were determined to keep him at Parramatta.
“Gone are the days when we develop young players for other clubs to come and take from us.
“Our members and supporters are going to be really happy with the news that he’s staying.”
Coach Brad Arthur too was delighted that his left-wing destroyer had committed long term to the club.
“Semi’s an exciting player who is a definite crowd-pleaser and has great finishing abilities,” Arthur said.
“He’s been working hard to adjust to rugby league since signing with us and he’s a valuable part of the side.”
