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Eels in the media

eels_fan

eels_fan

First Grade
Messages
7,581
Angry at being used as contract bait by NRL player managers, St George Illawarra has contacted Parramatta to deny any interest in Eelsand NSW forward Nathan Brown.

And the reason Brown’s management tried to hoodwink Parramatta is a $1 million contract offer discrepancy.

In a bid to scare Parramatta into an increased offer, Brown’s agents told the Eels that the Dragons were interested in their star player.

The Dragons found out and took the unusual step of immediately contacting Parramatta management to repudiate any interest with Brown, who comes off contract at the Eels after this season.

Privately, St George Illawarra is tired of NRL agents falsely claiming the Dragons are interested in off-contact players to drive up the asking price at their existing club.

The Dragons have now made a stand.

Brown is managed by accredited NRL agent Jonathan Wehbe, the nephew of Joe Wehbe, known throughout rugby league as the ‘football whisperer’.

Another layer of intrigue comes with former Parramatta recruitment officer, Anthony Field, now working for Wehbe.


Parramatta has also been told there are three rivals NRL clubs also chasing Brown.

Yet multiple phone calls and emails from The Daily Telegraph failed to identify those supposed suitors.

Well-positioned sources revealed Brown is currently earning around $620,000-a-season with his management seeking to have that figure inflated to $700,000 annually in a new contract.

Wehbe is understood to be asking for a lengthy four-year deal which would total $2.8 million.

Insiders close to Parramatta suggest the club believes Brown is worth around $600,000-a-year and prefer a three-season contract.

That means Parramatta is willing shell out around $1.8 million – a gap of $1 million.

The Daily Telegraph has been told Parramatta has yet to lodge a formal offer with Wehbe.

While he is a current NSW State of Origin player, Brown has endured issues in recent seasons with discipline and injury.

Although the money difference is considerable, both parties continue working towards a financial solution.

Raw and aggressive, Brown, 27, wants to remain at Parramatta after this season. If rival clubs are chasing Brown, each is keeping their interest quiet and secret.

In a remarkable 2020 season, Brown averaged 158 running metres each game and completed 37 tackles a match.

He told NRL.com this week: “I‘d like to stay at Parra. Everything happens for a reason. I’ll just play good footy. Hopefully I stay, but we’ll see what happens.”


https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/5077d9decb89cb4d9ebb760ef6663a4c
 
eels_fan

eels_fan

First Grade
Messages
7,581
The issue I believe is he's been on an inflated deal for the past 3 years, so now by making origin he believes he is due an increase. Whilst i'd usually agree with that, he's been on overs prior.

$600k sounds about right to me for a rep second rower, he's not an established rep player, he's only played 2 games.

Issue is he should have only been on $500k at most to begin with.

Now the problem is some nupty club with money to burn will probably throw $700k at him to pickup an enforcer, so we either match it or hope Brown prefers loyalty to extra cash.
 
I

Incorrect

Coach
Messages
12,649
All of these greedy player manager merkins have to realise that the salary cap is not going up season upon season like it has been but rather going the other way. Origin rep money has been cut... The days of increases for increase sake when renewing contracts are over for the short term.
 
strider

strider

Post Whore
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78,987
what if st george are bullshitting as a ploy to sneak in and get him .... "oh no we aren't interested" - liar liar pants on fire ..... we offer unders, they sneak in with a reasonable offer
 
Joshuatheeel

Joshuatheeel

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
20,176
eels_fan said:
The issue I believe is he's been on an inflated deal for the past 3 years, so now by making origin he believes he is due an increase. Whilst i'd usually agree with that, he's been on overs prior.

$600k sounds about right to me for a rep second rower, he's not an established rep player, he's only played 2 games.

Issue is he should have only been on $500k at most to begin with.

Now the problem is some nupty club with money to burn will probably throw $700k at him to pickup an enforcer, so we either match it or hope Brown prefers loyalty to extra cash.
Click to expand...

I reckon established rep second rowers are all on a bit more then $600k....

anyhow brown isnt a second rower he is a lock.....and he can think what ever he wants...the market will determine his value
 
Poupou Escobar

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
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91,302
strider said:
what if st george are bullshitting as a ploy to sneak in and get him .... "oh no we aren't interested" - liar liar pants on fire ..... we offer unders, they sneak in with a reasonable offer
Click to expand...
We need to offer what we think he's worth. If another club decides he's worth more (or they need him and are willing to pay overs) we can't let that affect our valuation of the player.
 
Poupou Escobar

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
91,302
Joshuatheeel said:
I reckon established rep second rowers are all on a bit more then $600k....

anyhow brown isnt a second rower he is a lock.....and he can think what ever he wants...the market will determine his value
Click to expand...
The thing is he can play 80 minutes but with our pack we don't need him to play 80 minutes. There are surely clubs that need him more than we do. I wouldn't be surprised if he left.
 
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