Parramatta Eels club boss’ vow to fans amid Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses contract saga
Parramatta Eels powerbrokers have declared they’ll no longer allow for player options to be inserted in contracts as they sweat over the futures of Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses.
Brown has until round 10 to decide whether he wants to go elsewhere or stay at the Eels until the end of 2031, all because of a player option in his contract. He has a similar option in two years.
Moses also has a player option for 2027, with his contract lasting until the end of 2028. The halfback has until October 31 to decide if he’ll stay on past 2026.
Parramatta officials have come under fire as a result of the contract ordeals but in an Eels members forum a pledge was made.
Chief executive officer, Jim Sarantinos, explained via The Sydney Morning Herald, his club are “working through with their managers” with the hope of having them “resolved as quickly as possible”.
New chairman Matthew Beach, who replaced Sean McElduff, described it as “a really important topic”.
“There are three additional points I’d like to make more broadly in relation to player options,” he said.
“The first point is we haven’t entered into a player contract that has an option for about two years; May 2023 was the last time we entered into a contract with a player option.
“Point two, since that time we’ve signed or retained 22 to 24 players since [then] without issuing player options.
“Thirdly, we will not be issuing player options going forward.”
Star Tiger racing clock to be fit for round one as Moses suffers fresh injury scare
Wests Tigers recruit Jarome Luai will definitely return from injury in time for round one, but one of his star teammates is no certainty to play.
While Luai revealed on Friday night he was “ready to rock” for the Tigers in a fortnight’s time when they start their latest campaign against Newcastle, fullback Jahream Bula was not as bullish about his return from a summer setback.
Bula underwent shoulder surgery in August and missed the final month of the 2024 regular season. He said on Friday he had only resumed full contact work at training last week.
Then he suffered a fresh knock from back-rower Samuela Fainu at training, and will need to undergo extra testing on his shoulder before being given the green light to pull on the No.1 jersey against the Knights on March 7.
“We’ll see about round one,” Bula said. “Everything went well with the surgery. I’ve been doing my rehab the past six months. I’m getting closer. I started full contact last week.
“‘Moose’ [Tigers head of performance Peter Moussa] has been good, he’s really strengthened it, and he doesn’t like to bring players back too early.
“I copped a knock last week; Samuela came flying in with his shoulders. He’s too strong.
“It was nothing serious – I didn’t need scans – but I’ll need to do another test next week before round one.”
Because of the lack of contact at training, Bula was never expected to feature in the Tigers’ two trials.
