NRL: Parramatta Eels to seek $700,000 from Semi Radradra to allow him to play French rugby
Date
June 28, 2016 - 8:00PM
Michael Chammas
Sports reporter
Parramatta will seek $700,000 in compensation from Semi Radradra if he requests a release that will negate what he stands to earn playing rugby union in France.
While Parramatta don't want to release the Fijian winger, a contingency plan is being drawn up in the event Radradra opts to walk out on the final 16 months of his Eels contract.
One of those options would leave Radradra $200,000 out of pocket even if he signs a lucrative $500,000 deal to play with Bordeaux in France.
Fairfax Media understands the Eels will seek the remaining $125,000 of his contract for this year and the $375,000 for his final year, as well as $200,000 in damages to the brand, if Radradra walks out on the under-siege club.
It's a similar figure to the one Canterbury negotiated when Sonny Bill Williams walked out on the Bulldogs in 2008.
Canterbury eventually agreed to release Williams, who was on around $400,000 a season at the time, from the final four years of his contract for $750,000, which was later paid by his close friend Anthony Mundine.
The payout, worth slightly less than 50 per cent of the total contract value, allowed Williams to sign a $2 million deal with French rugby club Toulon.
Parramatta also have the option of forcing Radradra to withdraw from all competitive sports until his contract expires on October 31 next year if they fail to reach a compensation agreement.
The Eels are hopeful no action will need to be taken and the winger will return in time for this Saturday night's clash against the table-topping Sharks, with teammate Tim Mannah saying Radradra had indicated he would be at training on Wednesday morning.
Parramatta would be willing to increase his $375,000 contract to $450,000 for next year. In return they would seek at least a two-year extension that would see him become one of the highest paid wingers in the NRL.
If the Eels agree to release Radradra, it wouldn't impact the club's salary cap situation as the NRL would waive his contract.
"If a player abandons their contract then the club can seek salary cap relief from the time they leave the club," an NRL spokesperson said.
Radradra, who has his own poster on the Leagues Club building, is one of the Eels' most marketable players and is a huge part of their membership campaign for next season.
The Eels believe his release would be worth $200,000 in damages to the brand and could see the matter go to court if there is a dispute over potential conditions of release.
If Radradra fails to show for training it won't be the first time this season he has returned after the agreed date and will leave the club in a position to hand down a breach notice.
But sacking the 24-year-old would stop the Eels from seeking the compensation they would be entitled to if he decided to walk out.
Mannah was the last Eels player to see Radradra before he flew to Fiji following the club's victory against South Sydney almost a fortnight ago.
The Eels club captain was concerned when the winger was a no-show for a post-match get-together, visiting Radradra at his home the night before his scheduled departure to Fiji.
Mannah has been in contact with Radradra during his trip home and insists there was no indication he wasn't coming back to the NRL.
"I had a chat with him when he went over there. But as far as we're concerned we're expecting him tomorrow at training," Mannah said on Tuesday.
"I'd be surprised if that's not the case. Every time he goes back to Fiji he takes his time getting back. He goes on Fiji time when he's over there so I'm not stressing too much that he's not back yet. There's no point us speculating until it actually happens.
"Until he does something wrong, there's no point throwing stones at him. Up until this point he hasn't done much wrong. He's been over to Fiji and had a break which he was given time off for."
. He got down to a bit over $150K.
