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CharlieF said:
Bigfella said:
Come home, Jamie
By Adrian Proszenko
May 11, 2006
PARRAMATTA officials are set to table Jamie Lyon a formal offer to return to the NRL club when they meet his manager, George Mimis, next week.
Target ... Lyon keen to return to the Eels. Pic: Getty Images
Lyon is playing for English Super League club St Helens, but he has expressed a desire to return to the club he walked out on at the beginning of the 2004 season.
Lyon, 24, who could make a shock return to the New South Wales side for the State of Origin series, left the Eels saying he was fed up with city life.
Mimis met Parramatta football manager Tony Zappia last week to kick-start negotiations about a possible homecoming for Lyon.
The former Test centre is still contracted to the Eels, with rival NRL clubs forbidden from approaching him until the June 30 anti-tampering deadline has passed.
"I think Parramatta are keen to move forward quickly," Mimis said today.
"We're in discussions with Parramatta exclusively so we'll see how that unfolds.
"Realistically, from what Jamie has expressed to me so far, although half the NRL clubs are interested, given his personal criteria, I'm not necessarily sure he'd fit with a significant number of those.
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"He's looking to narrow it down in his own mind. "Jamie is looking for a particular type of lifestyle, and I don't think geographically all of those clubs can provide that for him.
"He's seriously considering what's been discussed with Parramatta, and that's all he's focused on at the moment."
Mimis, who said it was unclear if Lyon would test his value on the open market, said his client was equally happy to play next year in the centres or at five-eighth, in which position he is playing for the Saints.
"He's pretty open-minded," Mimis said.
"He's had a stint in the UK doing both, and he's enjoyed both.
"At the end of the day, he wants to play at a team that he can help contribute to winning a comp, whether that be at centre or five-eighth, he's happy with either."
Newcastle coach Michael Hagan, who takes over as head coach of the Eels next season, last spoke to Lyon about three weeks ago, and is keen to have him at the club.
Mimis confirmed Lyon had been in contact with senior Eels players to ensure there were no hard feelings about his controversial exit from the club.
"He's had some detailed conversations with the senior guys, and everyone involved for that matter, not just the players," he said.
"I think everyone is quite amenable and happy."
Zappia, who has been managing the New South Wales City Origin side in Dubbo this week, confirmed talks would progress in earnest next week.
"I'm pretty sure that (Eels chief executive) Denis (Fitzgerald) will be keen to do something soon," Zappia said.
Mimis, who also manages Mark Gasnier, said there were no new developments today following the Australian Rugby Union's decision to withdraw its offer to the St George-Illawarra centre.
AAP
Maroubra Eel said:
