NSW Origin and Test forward Beau Scott to sign three-year deal with Parramatta Eels next week
Date
April 10, 2015 - 6:18PM
Michael Chammas
Rugby league reporter
The Parramatta Eels are set to bolster an already imposing forward pack with NSW Origin and Test forward Beau Scott expected to sign a three-year deal with the club next week.
As revealed by Fairfax Media last month, the Newcastle back-rower has a get-out clause in his contract with the Knights and has been planning to trigger it for family reasons to return to Sydney next season.
While the Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra Dragons expressed interest, the Eels look set to lure the 30-year-old to Parramatta in another significant boost to the club's premiership aspirations for 2016. Scott has requested to leave the Knights on compassionate grounds because his son requires medical assistance he can receive at the Children's Hospital in Westmead.
While Fairfax Media understands the Tigers and Dragons were able to offer the no-nonsense forward more money, it is believed Scott has decided to link with Parramatta because of the proximity to the Children's Hospital and a view the club is entering a 'premiership window'.
Despite having yet to put pen to paper, it is understood Scott has told those close to him he will be wearing blue and gold next season.
Having already landed one of the biggest signatures in the game in Kieran Foran for 2016, the Eels have now added the grunt to much the class the Manly premiership-winning playmaker will bring next season.
The Eels aren't short of talent and aggression in the forwards having recently signed representative star Anthony Watmough, resurrected the career of Danny Wicks and helped develop the blossoming careers of Tepai Moeroa, Manu Ma'u and Junior Paulo.
However Scott, who recently re-signed with the Knights until the end of 2017, will add some mongrel to a pack that oozing with youthful exuberance.
Fairfax Media contacted Parramatta on Friday night but the club declined to comment.
The 2010 premiership-winning forward had a deadline of April 1 to make a call on his future, but it's understood Newcastle officials won't enforce the deadline given the personal circumstances, allowing Scott more time to decide on his future.
Knights chief executive Matt Gidley recently told Fairfax Media deadlines were not a factor for any player with legitimate grounds to seek compassionate leave.
Scott is renowned as a perennial niggler and found himself in the headlines after targeting North Queensland Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston in the opening game of the season in Townsville.
Scott has a "bodyguard" reputation in defence, protecting his halves while targeting opposition playmakers when the opposition have the ball.
The news of Scott's imminent signature comes in the same week Parramatta re-signed John Folau, the brother of superstar Wallaby Israel Folau, as well as fellow outside backs Brad Takairangi and Bureta Faraimo.
Folau and Takairangi's new agreements will see them at the blue and golds for two more years, to the end of 2017, while Faraimo signed for one more season.
Folau, 19, made his NRL debut in round three. He scored two tries in his first home game at Parramatta against the Rabbitohs.
