PARRAMATTA five-eighth Daniel Mortimer has informed the club he plans to see out the remaining two years of his contract after being unable to generate a rival offer from other clubs -- a move which may have an impact on the shape of the Eels' offer to North Queensland centre Willie Tonga. Mortimer, one of the game's most coveted players only last year, was given permission to negotiate with rival clubs but came away empty-handed, prompting his manager Steve Gillis to inform the Eels his client now planned to stay and fight for his place in the team.
It had been speculated that Mortimer's exit would pave the way for Parramatta to make room under its salary cap for Tonga. However, The Australian understands the deal will go through regardless, with the only impact being to the way the club structures its deal with Tonga.
Given the tightness of the salary cap for next season, the Eels may be forced to back-end Tonga's contract meaning they pay him less in the first year and steadily increase the amount in the ensuing years.
Mortimer, out of favour since being dropped earlier this year, faces an almost insurmountable task to force his way back into first grade next season given Chris Sandow has been signed from South Sydney to play halfback alongside five-eighth Jarryd Hayne.
His attempt to find an offer elsewhere was hamstrung to an extent by other factors -- most clubs have already spent their salary cap for next season and Mortimer's existing contract is worth
in excess of $200,000 a season.
"He will be there for two years," Gillis said. "I have notified the club of that. We're not looking anymore." ..8<..
