A player exchange for Addo-Carr has been proposed as a potential quick action
Rumours regarding the future of Josh Addo-Carr refuse to go away, with multiple reports suggesting he may land at the Parramatta Eels for the start of the 2024 season.
On the same day the Bulldogs extended the contract of young winger Blake Wilson, new rumours surfaced surrounding Addo-Carr.
He has been well below his best at the Bulldogs in a struggling outfit since making a switch from the Melbourne Storm as one of the best wingers in the competition.
Despite playing for New South Wales last year and Australia before that from the Bulldogs NRL side, Addo-Carr has been linked with a switch previously prior to the end of his contract, and those rumours only picked up following a recent incident at the Koori Knockout.
It’s now reported by The Sydney Morning Herald that the Parramatta Eels could take Addo-Carr off the Bulldogs’ hands, while News Corp are also reporting the same, but it will come at the expense of a player swap.
The player in question?
Ryan Matterson.
The initial report from the Herald also suggested the Eels would have to release a player to make the move happen for Addo-Carr.
It’s unclear at this stage how likely the move is given the Bulldogs have reportedly set their sights on a front rower, and the Eels are not likely to want to release Matterson, but they want Addo-Carr on an immediate deal ahead of pre-season getting underway.
It’s a switch which could work for both clubs given the Bulldogs’ dire need of forwards and Parramatta’s desire for added talent out wide.
While Canterbury have signed Stephen Crichton, Bronson Xerri and Blake Taaffe among others for their backline, they are yet to add talent to their forward pack officially for 2024.
Siosiua Taukeiaho and Josh Curran have both been linked to the club and would add plenty, but Matterson is a fringe representative player who can play in either the middle or on the edge and has been one of the Eels’ best in both starting and bench roles over the last 24 months.
He hasn’t been linked with a departure from Parramatta prior to this, and only re-signed with the club last year after a strong chase by the Dolphins, but last year’s bottom-half finish won’t have helped his mood.
The Eels, on the other hand, would love nothing more than to gain an experienced winger to form a combination with Maika Sivo on either side of the park.
While Parramatta have plenty of young talent in the side, including the likes of Sean Russell, they have yet to kick on and cement a spot.
It could be argued the only players with their spots set in concrete in the Parramatta back five for 2024 are Clint Gutherson, Sivo and Will Penisini.
That leaves spots open, and a player like Addo-Carr could provide coach Brad Arthur plenty.
