why it isnt bad when Melbourne use them but it is when we use them).
cause melboune only have three players on options for the 2026 season, a star player in grant, a back up in Wishart and a aging prop in welch. so a total cap value of just over a million? which is huge for them cause after this offseason its just solomona with a option in 2028.
Parramatta on the other hand have Brown, Matterson, Penisini, Lane and Sivo all on options for 2026. representing around 2.5 million or so on the cap. then in 2027 and 2028 we have moses and then again in 2029 we have dylan again if he activates his first option. there is no other team in the comp that has so much money tied up in options than the eels.
its not the options, if we only had say Brown, Russell and makatoa on options it would be a big deal. but we have a few star players year on year with options which is going to make it hard to recruit. We already got stung offering Blaize a option and its left a sour taste.
a lot of team soffer options to players, a lot of teams dont but no one in the nrl has the sheer quantity of them like the parramatta eels atm.
and ill say its interesting Lomax and Simonsons deals seem to not have options. very keen to see the Iongi deal if it happens