What’s the Buzz: Eels could dump Michael Jennings to park football

After failing to off-load the former Test centre to Newcastle, the Eels are considering punting Michael Jennings to park football in a bid to force him to quit the final year of his contract.

Michael Jennings could become rugby league’s most expensive reserve grade player as the former State of Origin star faces the prospect of being dumped by the Eels for the NRL season start.

Following an unsuccessful attempt to offload the former Kangaroo to the Knights last year, the Eels are considering punting Jennings to park football in a bid to get the $800,000-a-year centre to quit the final season of his deal.

In what would be a shock fall from grace, Jennings could start the season at Parramatta feeder club Wentworthville in the Intrust Super Premiership.

Michael Jennings is on the outer at Parramatta. Picture: Patrina Malone

Signed by the Eels in 2016 from the Roosters, Eels officials had no choice but to keep Jennings this year after he took up an option in his favour to stay at the club in 2019.

After failing to recapture the type of form that helped the Roosters win the premiership in 2013, Jennings paid the price for his poor form last year when he was sent to Ringrose Park to train with Wentworthville in July.

Newcastle tried to offload Michael Jennings to the Knights. Picture: Getty Images

And it appears the 30-year-old could find himself in the company of part-timers again as the Eels look to generation next.

Desperate to rebound after collecting their 14th wooden spoon, Parramatta have already moved on senior players Corey Norman, Jarryd Hayne and Tony Williams.

The Eels do not have much depth in the backline, although recruit Blake Ferguson will add some experience and class.