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- EXCLUSIVE by Phil Rothfield
- From: The Daily Telegraph
- May 03, 2011 12:00AM
Joel Reddy, Chris Sandow, Adam Blair, Quade Cooper, Tom Symonds, Cooper Cronk. Source: The Daily Telegraph
PARRAMATTA'S recruitment strategy is in tatters with the revelation centre Joel Reddy is on the verge of quitting and with Souths' boom halfback Chris Sandow poised to reject a $2million deal to move west.
And in a further blow to the former NRL powerhouse, Roosters forward Tom Symonds yesterday knocked back a big-money approach from the desperate Eels to remain at Bondi for a further three seasons.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal three rival NRL clubs and one English Super League team have swooped on Joel Reddy, one of the club's more consistent players.
The Eels have now missed out on Symonds, Storm forward Adam Blair and gun halves Cooper Cronk and Quade Cooper.
Sandow is expected to announce soon he is staying loyal to the Rabbitohs.
At the same time, Parramatta have yet to even put an offer in writing to Reddy because they have been waiting to check his recovery from a shoulder reconstruction.
All this just a week after coach Stephen Kearney declared: "I aim to provide the necessary stability and direction as head coach that will ensure our retention program will hopefully put an end to our current players leaving the club."
Reddy is tipped to sign with one of the three rival clubs within the next fortnight, with the Bulldogs and Cronulla believed to be among the clubs chasing him.Reddy's manager Steve Gillis confirmed last night it was unlikely the City Origin centre from last season would be staying with the Eels.
"Joel's loyal to Parramatta and he loves the players out there. He would like to stay but at this stage we haven't got an offer in writing," Gillis said. "At the same time there is plenty of interest in his talents and other clubs are keen to recruit him.
"He's only recently married and his wife is expecting their first child so you can understand he has to think about his family and his future."After being heavily criticised for losing quality players Feleti Mateo and Kristan Inu to the Warriors and signing only old stagers like Chris Walker, Paul Whatuira and Carl Webb as replacements, Kearney spoke just last week about his plans to overhaul the Eels' recruitment which included appointing ex-Broncos football manager Peter Nolan as chief recruitment officer.
"The first part of our plan is already under way and it involves a more structured and specific approach to recruitment and retention of players and staff," Kearney said. "It has been very frustrating for me as a newcomer to watch former Parramatta players running around playing for other clubs against the Eels."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-to-reject-offer/story-e6frexnr-1226048689046
