'Trying to secure his future': Eels allow ex-Origin star to negotiate with rival clubs
Parramatta have given former NSW Origin forward Nathan Brown permission to negotiate with rival NRL clubs, even though he has 18 months left to run on his contract.
The Eels informed Brown this week they could not guarantee there would be space for him under the club’s tight salary cap beyond 2023.
Parramatta already have big money tied up in Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Mitch Moses, Clint Gutherson and Junior Paulo, all signed to long-term deals.
Brown was left competing with the likes of Dylan Brown, Maika Sivo and Will Penisini for salary cap space that remains from 2024, while the club is also battling to retain Ryan Matterson beyond this season.
Coach Brad Arthur said it was a shame the lock forward had to slip through the cracks.
“We’ve worked hard to put a squad together but we’re not the only club,” Arthur said.
“There’s no, he wants to go, we’re trying to push him out, or any of that. He’s just trying to secure his future past 2023. It’s just what it is.
“It’s not a sport anymore, it’s a business.”
Arthur confirmed Brown had been dropped for Saturday’s clash with the Sydney Roosters on the basis of form.
“That’s got nothing to do with this (contract) situation, there’s just a couple of things that I want him to be able to do,” Arthur said.
“He’s taken it well, he’s going to be professional and he’s going to go out there and help lead the NSW Cup boys around.”
Arthur did not rule out the possibility that more players who featured in Monday’s dismal 34-4 loss to the 15th-placed Bulldogs could join Brown in reserve grade.
“There may be a couple of changes come Saturday but we’ve got to get through training,” he said.
State of Origin players Paulo, Ryan Matterson and Campbell-Gillard all played on Monday and Arthur said the trio pulled up fine this week despite the short turnaround.
While there has been speculation Matterson and Campbell-Gillard could be dropped by NSW for the second game of the Origin series, Arthur threw his support behind the pair.
“I know what those players bring and how good they are for our team,” he said.
“The NSW team lost by a try. It wasn’t as if there were too many dramas there and I don’t think our boys did too much wrong either.”
Arthur said his side had undertaken a “pretty confronting” review of the Bulldogs loss but that alarm bells weren’t ringing just yet.
“It’s one loss,” he said.
“We can be honest about how embarrassing our performance was but then once we deal with it, we need to move on.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments