Eels put out welcome Matt for Orford

[Binga]

PARRAMATTA are on the verge of solving their playmaking crisis.
Sport Confidential can reveal the Eels are confident of signing Matt Orford in the next few weeks if they can work out a deal with his English Super League club Bradford Bulls.

"We are certainly keen on Matt and we are working hard to work out something with his club," Eels CEO Paul Osborne said. "He has a year left on his deal over there and they want some sort of transfer fee and we are working on it."

The Eels have made Orford their top recruitment target after playmaking duo Daniel Mortimer and Jeff Robson couldn't help the club to the finals this year. Coach Daniel Anderson was keen to lure Brett Kimmorley and then Trent Barrett to the club for a year but both players chose to retire.


Orford is desperate to link with the Eels next year and we are told it is very likely to happen.

***
WHILE Matt Orford looks certain to come back to the NRL, another unhappy Super League player might have to hang up his boots. Former Eel and Dragon Mark Riddell was hopeful of retiring to Parramatta after a stint in Wigan but the club has shut the door on any potential deal. We're told the Sharks are the last possible option for "Piggy". http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/eels-put-out-welcome-matt-for-orford/story-e6frep5x-1225928590534

Looks very promosing

 

[EelDredd]

Poor piggy

 

[andrew057]

I have no doubt the club will pay massive overs here.

Retention/recruitment at the club is pathetic.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Sounds like a done deal..

 

[Twizzle]

next

 

[Snoochies]

You mean we might actually have someone who can guide our team around the park and be able to get good quality ball to our strike weapons!!!

He may not be the best 7 going around but with the talent we have, we just need a cool head who can get the ball to the right people at the right time. Might even see some decoy runners next season. :shock:

 

[Craig Johnston]

this little piggy nursery rhymes pretty much summarises the news article.

 

[bartman]

More than happy for us to sign Orford into our halves. Sure, we'll pay overs if you include the transfer fee Bradford are demanding, but we've got little choice after there have been no other 7s on the market and Mortimer failed to adapt to the position.

Trouble is, the article still comes across with a lot of "ifs"... keen, working hard etc. Still if we had $750K available for Quade, we should be able to meet Bradford's transfer fee...

As for Piggy, you don't always get what you want, and he has the chance to reunite with Tim Smith at the Sharks...

 

[Gronk]

Does the Transfer fee come under the cap ? I seem to remember reading that Rusty paid the transfer fee for Sam Burgess.

EDIT: Yes he did. HERE it says that Crowe paid up to $500k

 

[eel01s]

I don't believe the transfer fee is included under the cap, as it is not paid to the player. Other clubs, such as South with Burgess, and possibly the Dogs with Eastwood, have benefitted from this rule.

 

[NorthShoreEel]

I would have preferred Gower.

 

[hineyrulz]

Never been an Orford fan, but will he improve our club???? Absolutley, i dare say we'd have made the finals and still in with a shot at this stage of the season.

 

[strider]

he's obviously way better than anything else we have at halfback, but i worry about getting players back from ESL .... they generally take a while to get back to NRL standard - maybe even up to a year

 

[Gronk]

he's obviously way better than anything else we have at halfback, but i worry about getting players back from ESL .... they generally take a while to get back to NRL standard - maybe even up to a year

Agree, but would a struggling Orford be better than Robbo ? Sadly yes.

 

[parra-matters]

c'mon who wouldn't be happy with a Dally M and premiership winning halfback at their club? most of our fans it seems......
Anyway give the bloke a chance he might just be what we need.

 

[eel4life]

If it is true, now we have a premiership winning half back running the team ... means all the decisions and rest of it are off the shoulders of morts and he can go back to being like he was in 09.

should be a good move as seeing there are no real options out there he is the best option at this time ...

 

[Jodeci]

If it is true, now we have a premiership winning half back running the team ... means all the decisions and rest of it are off the shoulders of morts and he can go back to being like he was in 09.

should be a good move as seeing there are no real options out there he is the best option at this time ...

He is not coming mate

 

[Agent Mulder]

He is not coming mate

Ive noticed you say that alot when it comes to Orford.

How do you know for sure?

Also you said it about Barret and Kimmorley.

 

[dazeely]

He is not coming mate

cheers jodeci

does this mean someone else then?

 

[PB]

Webb, Maitua, Orford - Why doesn't Osborne have a shot at Beaver Menzies as well?! No one will stop us in our quest for the 2004 Premiership...