Parramatta say they still want Jarryd Hayne — but are yet to offer a contract
DESPITE CEO Bernie Gurr expressing a “fundamental desire for Jarryd to be at the Eels next year”, the star Parramatta centre still hasn’t seen a contract offer.
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PARRAMATTA have reaffirmed their commitment to Jarryd Hayne despite the superstar revealing the club has not made him an offer.
Hayne is currently off contract and says he is still waiting for a new deal five weeks after the Eels’ season ended.
Eels CEO Bernie Gurr told The Daily Telegraph there was a “fundamental desire for Jarryd to be at the Eels next year”.
On Friday, the Fijian international revealed on social media that western Sydney club was yet to offer a new deal, making reference to joining the Gold Coast on his return to the NRL in 2016 after a stint in the NFL. Back then, Hayne maintained he wasn’t offered a contract by the blue and gold.
5 weeks still waiting for a contract?? https://t.co/fVAxNGg1yN
— jarryd hayne (@JarrydHayne) October 12, 2018
Exactly the same! No offer then no offer now!!! https://t.co/p8X4ryylfO
— jarryd hayne (@JarrydHayne) October 13, 2018
While Gurr was reluctant to disclose whether or not a new contract had been tabled this time around, he did say: “Both Brad Arthur and I have spoken directly with Jarryd Hayne recently and advised him we want to keep him at the club. We want Jarryd with the Eels next year.”
It’s understood those talks took place as recently as last Friday.
The Daily Telegraph also understands the two parties are currently working through a list of conditions the club is looking to place on Hayne.
Hooker Kaysa Pritchard, who was off contract at the end of this season, is about to be thrown a lifeline by the club.
Pritchard only played a handful of matches in 2018 due to another year punctuated with injury. But his eight games were enough to impress Arthur who believes his form warranted an extension.
“We are just working through that at the moment, we hope he is going to be with us next year,” Gurr said.
The luckless rake suffered a dislocated shoulder in round 20 against South Sydney which ended his season.
Pritchard required surgery to fix the dislocation but will be available for round one.
The Eels can expect a flurry in contract talks and speculation as soon as November 1 ticks over with 13 players on Arthur’s roster allowed to negotiate with rival clubs.
Players like Clinton Gutherson, Manu Ma’u, Mitchell Moses, Corey Norman and rising stars Greg Leleisiuao and Reed Mahoney will be free to test the open market in two weeks’ time.
Parramatta will kickstart their 2019 campaign in the first week of November when the majority of the squad beings preseason training.
Premiership winning winger Blake Ferguson and Tongan internationals Peni Terepo and Michael Jennings will not have to return until later in the year.
Ferguson played 30 minutes of the grand final with a broken fibula. The injury doesn’t require any surgery and his rehab is on track for him to return as initially scheduled in mid November.
Eager to make amends for this year’s wooden spoon finish, forwards Nathan Brown and Junior Paulo have wasted no time in the off-season and both have already hit the training paddock.
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