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Eels in the media

Gronk

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Michael Jennings is the first high profile victim of Parramatta's disaster season, with the Eels centre set to become the most expensive reserve grade player in the competition.

NRL.com has learned Jennings trained with Wentworthville at Ringrose Park on Wednesday night.

appears the Eels have lost patience with the out-of-sorts former NSW and Australian centre, dropping him back to play for Wentworthville against the Warriors in the Intrust Super Premiership match in Auckland on Saturday.

It comes on the same day Sydney Roosters winger Blake Ferguson agreed to a three-year deal with the Eels from next season.

Jennings, who is on a deal worth close to $800,000 a year, has taken up an option in his favour to remain at the club until the end of 2020.

His demotion has cast doubt over his future at the club.

The Eels have the bye this weekend, however, coach Brad Arthur appears to be holding his senior players accountable for their sub-par performances in 2018 and has drawn a line in the sand.

Jennings has been struggling for form over the past month, but Parramatta's injury woes haven't allowed for change.

He was easily stood up by Tim Lafai in the play that led to the Dragons' first try last week, and then gave up on the chase when it appeared he was still a chance of shutting down the play that finished with Matt Dufty crossing the try line.

It appears that hasn't been lost on the Eels coaching staff, who are in the process of making some significant roster changes at the club for 2019.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/07/04/michael-jennings-dropped-by-parramatta-eels/
 

Bazal

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Where did the end of 2020 come from btw? Seems to be widely reported now, but when he signed in 2016 it was a four year deal....not five.
 

El Diablo

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https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/je...dramatic-day-at-the-eels-20180704-p4zpip.html

33aa308e6946fa7510f8e0d2c9c6d2a3990302dc
 

Bazal

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"Out of form player to play reserve grade during bye week" isn't as catchy as the headlines they've come up with is it?
 

forward pass

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I don’t want to sound like a pedant, but how can you be dropped for a bye? Maybe it was decided he needs some more footy and he will play firsts next week, If he doesn’t miss next weeks game then he hasn’t actually been dropped has he.
 

strider

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Agree the spin on it is not quite right ... BUT it is clearly an odd occurance

other players are not playing reserve grade

Why would he "need more footy"? ... he has played every game - not like its a match fitness issue

I think its wrong to play it down as a non-event ... its not normal if he plays reserve grade in a bye week
 

TheParraboy

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68,275
The way he has been playing, id imagine MJ was looking forward to doing the same this weekend..
absolutely f..k all

hopefully this reserve grade stint can wake him up a bit
 
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