A DEVASTATED Kevin Kingston is being forced to walk out on Parramatta because the NRL has rejected a plea from six of his grand final team-mates to take a pay cut in order to keep him at the Eels next season.
Eels stars Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Eric Grothe, Luke Burt, Ben Smith and Nathan Cayless have all offered to drop up to $10,000 from their contracts so Kingston could be signed on the base salary of $55,000.
In an email to Eels chief executive Paul Osborne, Grothe revealed Kingston was in danger of losing his home if he lost his contract earnings at Parramatta.
"The boys are determined to do everything they can to keep Kevvy, but the NRL has ruled we can't put him in the cap for under $115,000, which he earned this year because of his match payments,'' Osborne said. "Kevin was happy to stay for only $55,000 - the minimum salary - but the NRL won't allow it. We think it's wrong.''
Kingston now looks set to accept a similar offer from Penrith. He said he felt uncomfortable about his mates taking a pay cut.
"It's such a nice thing of Eric and the boys to do that, but honestly I don't feel exactly comfortable with it,'' Kingston said. "I feel bad, actually. I'm blown away by their support but they have their own careers and future to look after.
"It's a difficult situation to be in, but either way hopefully something can be worked out by the end of the weekend.''
Grothe's offer, in particular, to hand over $10,000 from his own contract is a magnificent gesture because he is suffering his own financial problems.
In the email to Osborne, Grothe writes: "I spoke to a few of the fellas, there's a few of us keen to take a bit of a pay cut in order to keep kevvy k here next season.
"If you can help us out as to how to go about this that would be great.
"We need to get this sorted asap as kev has a family and a new home he may have to sell if things don't turn out for him.''
The NRL has defended its tough stance. Spokesman John Brady told us: "You've got to remember their CEO Paul Osborne has done a lot of buying this year. [Timana Taha, Justin Poore and Shane Shackleton.]
"This has happened before at other clubs.
"Why did they spend their money on everyone else but then not have enough money left over for Kevin Kingston? It was their choice to go out and buy the other players.''
