Semi Radradra could have to pay $700,000 to leave Eels for rugby

PARRAMATTA are expected to put a $700,000 roadblock in front of Semi Radradra and his French rugby dream.

PARRAMATTA are expected to put a $700,000 roadblock in front of Semi Radradra and his French rugby dream.

As Radradra spent another day in Fiji — and will now miss Wednesday’s main training session ahead of Saturday’s clash against Cronulla — Eels’ officials are expected to play hardball with the winger should he seek an immediate release.

It’s understood the fed-up Eels will farewell Radradra, but only if he is prepared to pay $500,000, which is what he stood to earn the final four months of this season and next season’s contract, plus a further $200,000 for damages to the club’s brand.

RICHES ON OFFER FOR RADRADRA

LEGENDS DIVIDED ON SEMI

Trying to escape the Eels could become hugely expensive for Radradra.

Radradra is one of the Eels’ biggest drawcards when it comes to marketing. The cult hero has already been used heavily in a planned 2017 membership drive, while a giant photo of him was only recently added to one of the outside walls of the Leagues Club.

A source close to the Eels and the Semi soap opera said the winger would need to pay top dollar if he wanted to ditch the club.

The Daily Telegraph revealed Radradra stood to earn $35,000 a week tax free with Bordeaux, who had tabled him a one-year deal.

But even with the generous French tax breaks, any Bordeaux move could leave Radradra out of pocket if Parramatta stand by their exit demands.

The NRL confirmed if Radradra walked out on the Eels, the $500,000 owed to him would be exempt from their salary cap. If Bordeaux paid an unlikely transfer fee, that money would also be excluded from the cap.

Parramatta would have the option to pursue damages through the courts if things became ugly.

A breach notice is likely to be served on Radradra once he returns from Fiji.

Fellow Fijian and Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne was not required to pay out the remainder of his final season at the Eels, but that was because he was always open with the club about his plans to make it in the NFL, and the club at the time needed to free up some space in their cap.

Radradra has some big decisions to make about his future.

Parramatta remain in the dark about Radradra’s actual return from Fiji. Their frustrations are with his management rather than him.

Eels players did not looked bothered by Radradra’s AWOL as they attended a gold day at Riverside Oaks.

Coach Brad Arthur still named Radradra on the left wing for Saturday’s clash against Cronulla.

Eels greats’ remained divided about punting Radradra to reserve grade if he did not return by Wednesday.

But the club are also aware they need to win eight of their remaining 10 matches to be any chance to reach the finals, and Radradra remains their most potent attacking weapon.