The off contract thread 2025

[jason taylor]

Why would you bother keeping a bloke at the back end of his career, that the coaching staff seem reluctant to even bother giving a game to after two years?

Oh I agree, my point is only keep him if Will Smith isn’t retained, because that’s a roster spot that needs to be filled (we do need to field a NSW cup team and have a 30 man squad after all) That being said, I don’t see Rankin getting an extension. Especially considering he wasn’t in the bubble.

 

[oldmancraigy]

Smith: must not retain. He is not up to it. If you have to have a player who is not first grade standard, but will play for peanuts, then you go with a defensive toiler.
Can't carry a guy who thinks he is good in attack, and who makes terrible decisions at crucial times.

Find another backup hooker.

Just teach Perham to pass from dummy half or something - he might just be dynamite as a 20 minute interchange hooker

 

[strider]

Smith: must not retain. He is not up to it. If you have to have a player who is not first grade standard, but will play for peanuts, then you go with a defensive toiler.
Can't carry a guy who thinks he is good in attack, and who makes terrible decisions at crucial times.

Find another backup hooker.

Just teach Perham to pass from dummy half or something - he might just be dynamite as a 20 minute interchange hooker

I think will smith has been very good ... versatile, strong defender ... just needs some boundaries to work within ... if he is near minimum contract then he is worth a year

 

[King-Gutho94]

I think will smith has been very good ... versatile, strong defender ... just needs some boundaries to work within ... if he is near minimum contract then he is worth a year

Your right about the boundaries for will smith. Leave all the fancy stuff to the others just run, pass and tackle

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Smith is a good depth player to have covers several positions.

 

[oldmancraigy]

I think will smith has been very good ... versatile, strong defender ... just needs some boundaries to work within ... if he is near minimum contract then he is worth a year

Do you think he can work within boundaries?

He thinks he is far better than he actually is, and so overplays his hand. He will do 9 good things, then an absolute clanger at acrucial moment.

If some players are described as clutch because they make the right decision in crucial moments, then Will Smith is un-clutch. He is a disaster who makes the wrong decisions and makes losing contributions, not winning.

All the small things... that's how I see him anyway. Not a first grader, and not worth even a minimum deal, might as well spend it on a young prospect instead

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Bea is also off contract, hope no merkin pinches him off us.

Not until November merkin, this list is for players without contracts for 2022.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

As much as I love Gutho at FB for the non-attacking stuff and he is excellent at it, especially kick diffusals, rucking out, cover defense, I agree with everyone else that he needs just that little bit of pace and footwork that could make him awesome like Latrell and Turbo.. These players know they can score... Gutho knows he needs to depend on others...

I reckon Russell can be moulded into a Turbo player like player but he probably won't be as good as Gutho in the other areas.... A roving Russell from the Wing ala Semi?

He's probably not in the same postcode as Brett Kenny for talent, but Russell certainly reminds me of him, the way he moves. Plus they both have two first names.

 

[hineyrulz]

Not until November merkin, this list is for players without contracts for 2022.

FFS!!

 

[yy_cheng]

He's probably not in the same postcode as Brett Kenny for talent, but Russell certainly reminds me of him, the way he moves. Plus they both have two first names.

he reminds me of Turbo more. Tall strong.

Kenny was silky and saw things happen in slow motion... it looked like he had heaps of time.

If Russell can get more weight/strength on to his frame... I could see him like turbo and just following the ball around and then doing stuff

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Anyone know what Russell’s play making skills are like? Can he pass ? Kick?

 

[The Predictor]

Maybe Smith for another season as a depth player (seems to be the go with him the last few season, and he is a handy utility when required) and Hughes who is still developing, but I can see the rest being let go.

Ferguson - pretty clear from the media that he’s gone. Personally wouldn’t oppose a giving him another season.

Oldfield - we have Opacic, Russell and Laizou as cover for the backline. I’d go for youth rather than a fringe first grader “veteran” in this case.

Rankin - doesn’t seem like he’s close to getting a look in first grade. Though worth keeping on a one year deal if Smith isn’t retained.

Roache - I’m 50/50 on this one. With Lussick gone, we need a backup hooker, which Roache is capable of filling. However, his track record with injuries is a worry.

I heard they are releasing Roache

 

[Gazzamatta]

I heard they are releasing Roache

Not surprised. A bruised knee for 4 months?

 

[Cumberland Eel]

“The Parramatta Eels have bid farewell to four players following the conclusion of the 2021 NRL season.

Blake Ferguson, Joey Lussick, Michael Oldfield and Sam Hughes will depart the Eels to pursue other opportunities.”

Eels farewell departing players

The Parramatta Eels have bid farewell to four players following the conclusion of the 2021 NRL season. Blake Ferguson, Joey Lussick, Michael Oldfield and Sam Hughes will depart the Eels to pursue other opportunities.

www.parraeels.com.au

 

[Cumberland Eel]

Fare thee well Fergo you beautiful bastard!

 

[strider]

Do you think he can work within boundaries?

He thinks he is far better than he actually is, and so overplays his hand. He will do 9 good things, then an absolute clanger at acrucial moment.

If some players are described as clutch because they make the right decision in crucial moments, then Will Smith is un-clutch. He is a disaster who makes the wrong decisions and makes losing contributions, not winning.

All the small things... that's how I see him anyway. Not a first grader, and not worth even a minimum deal, might as well spend it on a young prospect instead

I think he played well down the back end of this season.

What would you say are all his clangers in the last 4 games we've played? Worse than other merkins clangers?

 

[the phantom menace]

“The Parramatta Eels have bid farewell to four players following the conclusion of the 2021 NRL season.

Blake Ferguson, Joey Lussick, Michael Oldfield and Sam Hughes will depart the Eels to pursue other opportunities.”

Can't really argue with any of those decisions, sounds like they all had/have something else up their sleeves.

 

[jason taylor]

So that leaves Rankin, Roache and Smith on the unsigned list.

Negotiations must be ongoing since they weren’t announced in this lot

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I wonder if the announcement means Makatoa and Rodwell will be here next year.

 

[jason taylor]

I wonder if the announcement means Makatoa and Rodwell will be here next year.

How many spots in our 2022 top 30 do we have left? Or is there another thread for that?