Bernie Gurr talks of contracted players and coach
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...bfe5aba3815ffe&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium
These are the 18 faces that would prove competitive against any team in the NRL.
From fullback to the front row, to the interchange bench to the coach’s box, this is Parramatta’s 2019 off-contract list which management are refusing to be bullied into re-signing.
On the eve of their Easter Monday homecoming to Bankwest Stadium against the Wests Tigers, the Eels off-contract saga is the story bubbling behind the streamers and fireworks.
There is a fear among some players that the uncertainty across the roster is about to explode.
Others, including the agents of the players off contract, are increasingly disillusioned with management’s cautious recruitment strategy.
Already, captain Clint Gutherson has taken himself to the open market, having rejected the Eels’ original offer of $450,000 a season.
Negotiations between Gutherson and the club began before Christmas and despite widespread confidence the star fullback will remain an Eel, no deal has been done.
Sharing a close relationship with Arthur, Gutherson has told his coach that he wants to know if he’ll be leading the Eels in 2020 before he commits to the club.
Arthur is unable to give Gutherson — or any other player — the answer he wants.
The head coach has been told by management that no contract will be offered to him before June – which is close to Round 13.
Handling the delicate situation with class, Arthur has encouraged Gutherson to secure his future — with or without him.
While Gutherson is an obvious priority for the Eels, they also have stars Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses, Daniel Alvaro, and Tepai Moeroa in limbo.
The Sunday Telegraph understands David Gower and Kaysa Pritchard will retire at season’s end while Michael Jennings will be offered a dramatically reduced one-year deal.
But still, none of the 17 off-contract players have put pen to paper despite the Eels’ promising start to the season.
The daring and deliberate recruitment strategy, led by new general manager of football Mark O’Neill, club chairman Sean McElduff and chief executive Bernie Gurr was determined in the wake of previous salary cap mismanagement and a wooden-spoon 2018 season.
And it’s a strategy Gurr says the club are unwilling to sway from despite increasing calls from fans and commentators for the club to secure their roster and head coach immediately.
“They’re the same people at the back end of last year who were heavily critical of the club’s players and the coaches and the entire management of the club,’’ Gurr told The Sunday Telegraph.
“So we’ve got to stick to our disciplines and our process.
“What we need to do is make sure we have a very disciplined process around how we manage our salary cap and how we manage all those negotiations.
“The reality is, Mark O’Neill has come on as our general manager of football and he’s in constant dialogue with the managers of players all the time.
“People think, you’re not signing these players, therefore nothing is going on and we’re asleep at the wheel.
“Nothing could be further from the truth.
“There’s a lot of discussions going on internally with our club and assessing certain players and there’s always discussion going on between Mark and the player agents.’’
Gurr confirmed there had been no change to the club’s position on whether they would be offering Arthur a new deal before June.
He also indicated five weeks was not enough for the club to start handing out contacts.
“We’ve been absolutely committed behind the scenes in supporting Brad and the players and giving them every assistance they need to be successful,’’ Gurr said.
“When you finish 16th after you finish fourth the year before (2017), there’s going to be scrutiny, we get that.
“But we embarked on a journey, which included a review and the sole goal was to give our coach and his players, every assistance they need to be successful.
“We’d like to think we’re on the right trajectory. We’re nowhere near where we want to be, or need to be, but the start has been positive.
“We need to give the coaches and players a fair sample of time and number of games to just show us where we’re really at.
“That’s only fair to the coaches and the players and it’s also fair to the club.
“Because as I said, a lot of the people criticising us now for not acting now are the same ones that were bagging us at the back-end of last year that we were in disarray and we needed to make mass-changed to the club.
“It’s about blocking out the emotion and staying disciplined.’’
“Our absolute only focus at the moment is opening Bankwest Stadium. It’s a monumental amount of work for everybody in our club to get to this point.
“But at the same time, he’s been working with the players and the managers.’’
PARRAMATTA’S OFF-CONTRACT STARS
1. Clint Gutherson
High priority. Offer of $600,000 per season has been rejected. Will test the market.
2. Bevan French
Wants to play fullback but has shown utility factor by excelling at five-eighth in the last two weeks for Wentworthville. Yet to receive offer. Manly and St George Illawarra are possible homes for 2020.
3. Michael Jennings
Has returned to form scoring four tries in four games this year. Will be offered dramatically reduced one-year contract for 2020.
4. Josh Hoffman
Has played one NRL match this year. On standby for Blake Ferguson this week. Unlikely to receive 2020 contract offer.
5. George Jennings
Yet to play NRL this year. Considered a depth signing. Will be offered incentive-based contract for 2020.
6 . Dylan Brown
Technically not a free agent until November but the Eels will ramp up discussions with the injured five-eighth about a long-term deal in the coming weeks. Already rejected big money from Warriors.
7. Mitchell Moses
High priority. Tabled three-year deal worth $750,000 a season. Yet to accept, but Eels confident he’ll commit through until 2022.
8. Daniel Alvaro
Workaholic forward. At 25 has his best football in front of him. Keen to keep.
9. Kaysa Pritchard
Granted indefinite leave in February. Fears he may never play NRL again.
10. Tim Mannah
Club legend in strong form. Has admitted he may be forced to continue career elsewhere. Eels are expected to offer one-year deal. The club want him involved with a post-career role.
11. Manu Ma’u
A knee injury has kept him sidelined this season. Likely to attract interest from rival clubs but Eels keen to retain..
12. Brad Takairangi
Similar to Michael Jennings with the likelihood of being offered only a one-year deal. Likely to test market for longer-term deal.
13. Tepai Moeroa
Similar priority to Ma’u. Has transitioned from edge player to middle forward.
14. Greg Leleisiuao
Elevated into NRL squad last year from under-20s grand final team. Has been given no guarantee of playing NRL. Unlikely to receive contract offer.
15. Matt McIlwrick
Journeyman signed in this pre-season on 12-month contract. No decision until later this year.
16. Ray Stone
Junior Kangaroos and NSW under-20s backrower. Named on the bench to face Tigers tomorrow. Needs to show his worth over the next month before being offered contract extension.
17. David Gower
Popular veteran who has indicated 2019 will be his final season.
Coach: Brad Arthur
Told he won’t be offered a new contract until June.
He prolly would be if he was prepared to hit it up small man style like Slater and Dufty.
