By Chris Wilson
September 16, 2007 12:00am
FORMER New Zealand international Joe Galuvao is finally set to leave Souths - not for the ministry but for Parramatta.
Galuvao is poised to sign with the Eels as early as this week.
The second-tier contract with the Eels would be topped up by Souths, but it's understood Galuvao must still take a hefty pay cut from his $350,000-a-year deal with the Rabbitohs.
The Bunnies have tried all season to force Galuvao to seve his contract, which extends to the end of next season.
In June, Souths co-owner Russell Crowe suggested Galuvao retire and join the ministry.
In July, Galuvao was dumped to the Queensland Cup and finished the season with the Easts Tigers.
Souths chief executive Shane Richardson confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph a deal was imminent.
"I'd like to think it will happen sometime next week,'' Richardson said. "I'm happy for Joe and I'm happy for us. I think Joe needs to move on.
"I think he's still got a lot of high-quality football left in him, he just didn't quite fit in with our plans.
"But he's a great guy and I'd be happy for him if the opportunity came along.''
Galuvao has previously turned down offers from overseas and also rejected a mid-season approach from the Gold Coast Titans.
Manager Allan Gainey said Galuvao, 29, wanted to remain close to his family home at St Marys in western Sydney.
He said details of the deal were yet to be finalised, but there could be "positive news'' next week for the 2003 premiership player.
"I think there's no problem him getting back to a bit of form, he's just got to be settled and in the right place,'' Gainey said.
"He went to Souths and got the big money, but it didn't work out right.''
