Transfer news: Penrith Panthers sign Jaeman Salmon from Parramatta Eels
After weeks of fending off rivals targeting their own talent, the Penrith Panthers have bolstered their backline stocks.
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Penrith have bolstered their backline stocks by signing former Parramatta utility Jaeman Salmon on a one-year deal.
Salmon, 21, was left clubless after the Eels did not offer him a new contract when his three-year deal expired at the end of last season.
After debuting for the Eels in 2018, the talented centre/five-eighth only managed 17 NRL games over three seasons, and didn’t play a minute in 2020.
“Jaeman is a young and talented footballer whose career was effectively put on hold last season,” Panthers General Manager Rugby League Matt Cameron said.
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“He comes to our club seeking a fresh start and the opportunity to work towards realising his full potential.”
The writing was on the wall this season when halfback Mitchell Moses went down with a calf injury, and Eels coach Brad Arthur opted to replace him in the halves with Jai Field.
But the Cronulla junior has been given a second chance with last season’s grand finalists.
“I’m excited to be part of such a strong squad and can’t wait to rip in,” Salmon said.
“From Ivan (Cleary) to the players, there are a lot of people here I can learn from and continue to develop my game.
“I’m focused on training as hard as I can so I’ll be ready to go in whatever role they need me to play.”
The Panthers already have Tyrone May on their books, who plays similar positions to Salmon. Canterbury-bound Matt Burton is still contracted for the 2021 season, to offer back-up to halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai.
“Jaeman’s ability to play a number of positions provides our squad with valuable depth heading into 2021,” Cameron said.
A former NSW U16s and U18s representative, Salmon joined the Eels from Cronulla while still wearing a neck brace after playing at the Australian Schoolboys trials, unaware he had suffered a broken neck after he copped an accidental knee.
After being initially told the damage was muscular, Salmon backed up the next day before severe headaches led to further X-rays that revealed he had two complete fractures in his C1 vertebra.
In 2019, Salmon was convicted of low-range drink driving, fined $1500 and disqualified him from driving for six months after hitting three cars and flipping his own vehicle with a blood alcohol reading of 0.068 in October, 2018.
The Eels suspended Salmon and ordered him to deliver a presentation to his Eels teammates on why he had been benched from the first round of the 2019 season.
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