NRL Market Watch: North Queensland Cowboys emerge as favourites to sign Reagan Campbell-Gillard from Eels
A Queensland club emerging as favourites for the signature of Eels forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard, while the Parramatta side has sealed an extension for one of their electric backs.
NRL
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North Queensland is emerging as a hot favourite to sign Parramatta representative prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
New Eels coach Jason Ryles has told Campbell-Gillard he can start searching for opportunities at rival clubs despite having a contract at Parramatta for 2025.
Campbell-Gillard has also been linked with St George Illawarra and Canterbury.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan first expressed an interest in Campbell-Gillard during August.
The Bulldogs’ interest is, at this stage, preliminary.
Those close to Campbell-Gillard say he would be prepared to uproot and shift to Townsville.
Parramatta still has up to six vacant spots on their 2025 roster but very little room to move in their salary cap.
Campbell-Gillard plays on an annual contract worth around $750,000.
North Queensland has money to spend after representative star Val Holmes signed a three-deal with the Dragons this week worth around $2.5m.
And the Cowboys’ have also lost gun forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to the Dolphins on a three-year deal.
Campbell-Gillard has been a wonderful performer at Parramatta but Ryles wants to shake-up his salary cap and roster.
Parramatta has also attempted to move winger Maika Sivo and forward Ryan Matterson.
Campbell-Gillard has played five years at Parramatta and was a cornerstone of the side that surged into the 2022 grand final.
At 31 years old, Campbell-Gillard has at least another three years remaining in the NRL.
His form this season has however dipped marginally in a struggling Eels side.
Campbell-Gillard’s Eels play the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Friday evening where he will go head-to-head against State of Origin props Spencer Leniu and Lindsay Collins.
Seeking to beef-up their middle, St George Illawarra has also targeted Newcastle’s Daniel Saifiti and Canberra’s Corey Horsburgh.
Ryles will start his four-year NRL coaching tenure at Parramatta from next season.
Parramatta’s salary cap is incredibly tight with the club desperately requiring to free-up some space for further retention and recruitment.
The Eels have won just five from 20 games this season and sit second last on the NRL competition table.
-Dean Ritchie
SIMONSSON SIGNS ON
Bailey Simonsson has signed a three-year extension with Parramatta, keeping him at the Eels until at least the end of 2027.
The electric outside back suffered a season-ending knee injury in Round 13 and his re-signing is a boost for new coach Jason Ryles.
“I love this club and everybody involved in it,” Simonsson said.
“I feel at home here, so it was an easy decision for me to stay and work towards where I want to be and where the club deserves to be.”
Eels general manager of football, Mark O’Neill was thrilled to keep Simonsson at the club.
“Bailey is a big part of our future and we are delighted he has extended his time with the Eels,” O’Neill said.
“He is approaching 100 NRL games and we look forward to seeing him back on the field when he recovers from his injury next season.”
-Tyson Jackson
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