The re signings have begun

[tanka]

well at least we know that we won't lose these guys like we did hodgo last season. That was F'en awful, I didn't know whether he wanted to stay or go, didn't know whether to cheer for him or not! (I still cheered for the bloke)

but yes, excellent news especially with the news of our high turnover of player rate.

 

[Chipmunk]

In fairness to both the Club and Hodgson, I think it had got to a stage where Hodgson needed a change of clubs. He should go well for the Tigers, but I think circumstances had meant that he had run his race with Parra.

Burt and Graham are good resignings though.

Does anyone know who all the main players are who are off contract at the end of this year????

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

8)

 

[El Diablo]

I hope Burt got a increase after taking a cut and staying loyal last time. Good news to have these blokes signed and I hope they remain injury free.

 

[Redback71]

:music1: \\/ :music1: \\/

 

[Ron Jeremy]

What great news!!!....Burt is my favourite player and the loyalty he has shown towards Parra is terrific.

Graham will be a great player!!

Great news all round.

 

[Stagger eel]

I'm also very excited about our resignings today!

There were some reasons to suggest that maybe Luke would look elsewhere next year but has stuck by us through thick and thin, he is the ultimate clubman and is Parramatta from head to toe. He is at is peaking age as a rugby league player and will join an illustrious 100 club in the next season or 2. I could also see Luke as a future skipper when Nathen calls it a day or [to the shudder the thought] moves on.

Ash is a future represanative player could well make any position in the backline his own. Thanks for the loyalty Ash.

 

[wittyz chick]

and Ash could be back in 3-4 weeks time i rekon it was really good he was signed up especially after that injury :x i have it on tape and it still makes my stomach squirm
but from Big League:

While the Eels prepare to unleash their new-look 'monster' pack this season, one man who won't be there for the start of the year is 19-year-old fullback/centre Ashley Graham.
Graham suffered a horrific ankle dislocation and broken leg when he twisted awkwardly in a tackle against the Broncos late last year and coach Brian Smith says he is too valueable to rush back unnecessarily.
"The doctors are pleased with him but we certainly won't rush him even though he had such a terrific first season in first grade," says Smith. "He's still only young and we just signed him recently to an extended contract (to 2006) so we ain't going to rush him, that's for sure."
Graham is expected to be back on the field in 3-4 weeks

never knew Smith spoke so highly of him
and
i thought this was his 2nd season?

 

[Hurriflatch]

Hodgson was let go (eg not offered a big $$ contract only about 150k) due to Smith's thoughts on Graham.

Had Ash not been injured he would have be in the #1 jersey on Sat Night leaving Burt, Grothe, Petersen, Lyon, Vaealiki and Kativerata to fight over the centre and wing spots.

 

[Pazza]

I think Ash will get the number 1 jersey back shifting Luke Burt back onto the Wing. Ash is young but has a good solid body, great hands and a long pass matching top play makers.

 

[Phillips]

i'd like to see Ash Graham get a spot in the centres with Lyon

 

[Pazza]

We have all seen Graham in game and seen some very good things. Check this out, in 16 games Graham managed to score 9 trys, make 10 Line breaks and adverage 117 metres off 13 hitups per game. All pretty good from a player with just 21 games experiance in a team fighting for most of the year without its top line players. I think Graham is going to develop so much in a winning, confident team. He is rep material!

 

[redeel]

I rate graham as an up and commer, but man when he hits the line he seems very akward and the snapping back of the head worries me , he kinda reminds me of martin lang when he hits the line, i hope he changes his approach when he gets back

 

[Hurriflatch]

at least he runs at the line hard unlike the two previous fullbacks the Eels have had (I'm not including Burt in this 2 btw before you all attack me).

In his last year or so at the club Schifcofske jumped around more in the sapce of 10 metres then the entire cast of Riverdace do in 100 shows.

While Hodgson ended up 10 metres back from where his caught the ball and sometimes he had already run 30 metres.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Graham has good size which again is something Parra have lacked too many times if a team broke the line they'd just run over the top of the fullback.

 

[MystikEel]

Bloody good to see these two great young players staying at parra for a bit longer!!!!!!!

Go Burty!!!!! 8) :roll:

 

[di luvs parra]

I knew you'd be happy about this Mystik,especially Burty,in fact i thought of you when i read this thread

It really is fantastic news,for everyone 8)

 

[JessEel]

I hope Burt got a increase after taking a cut and staying loyal last time.

i whole heartidly agree.
and i know that Burty would love to be one of the "one club men" of this game, so he should be given incentives to play his whole career with us, (if only just to keep me happy ;-) )

 

[junior009]

yeah 2005 along with dykes. i'm sure of that

hopkins must be our next priority, and everyone else on that list can earn a contract with good performances throughout the year

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure in 2001 they signed 3 year deals that covered 2002, 2003 & 2004, thus making them off contract after this year. If you remember there was a big write up about it, they all signed at the same time roughly.

I'm pretty sure that's right.

 

[MystikEel]

in fact i thought of you when i read this thread

Hehe I'm always happy when good players re-sign