Quite a measured article actually.
It will no doubt be derided by some on here, but all in all it's a fair summation of how this has hamstrung us.
The interesting thing to take from it is the assertion that "Parramatta have close to half the players in the competition with options in their favour - or partially in their favour - on their books for 2026."
Are we that smarter and more innovative than the rest of the competition? Or has this course been undertaken in error?
Here’s an alternate take that doesn’t require us to sneer at the decisions of people we don’t know, under conditions we also don’t understand:
We had just completed a period of relative success that has been rare for our club for decades. 2019-2022 was only the second time since 1986 that we had made the finals four consecutive years. Technically it was the fourth, since 1997 to 2002 counts as three separate four year periods, but you get the idea. We have struggled to keep a team together since Price and Cronin retired.
Against this backdrop, we were trying to fit as much talent under the cap as we could, and unlike some other clubs, we had no magical ways of getting merkins to stay for unders. This is where player options come in. How about, instead of giving you that extra $50k-$100k, we give you some insurance at the back end of your contract instead? Most players would prefer the extra cash (I would) but a couple were willing to make the trade off.
All hypothetical but so is your claim that the club bent over for player managers who somehow only wanted player options for a couple of their players instead of for all of them.
And if player options are the sign of a weak, stupid and unsuccessful club, why don’t the Tigers have any? Why aren’t managers trying to rort them for POs? Your theory makes no sense, which Is understandable given you got it from rugby league gutter journos.
The results are there for all to see
Where? The seasons where these POs come due haven’t even happened yet ffs
and for mine the article highlights the poor course undertaken by the club - but I suppose it's a matter of perspective because for some on here the 2022 Grand Final and the current roster state are proof that this course was exactly right.
What was wrong with the 2022 grand final squad? It was a solid team, and it’s no wonder the salary cap pulled it apart. Our problem was we had no cheap talent ready to bring into the team to replace the ones who left. Fortunately we have much stronger juniors in 2025. Most of those SG Ball merkins from 2023 are 21 next season.