Canterbury are expected to unveil NSW State of Origin back Will Hopoate in coming days.
Hopoate is believed to be on his way to Belmore for the 2016 NRL season, a move which would reunite him with Dogs coach Des Hasler.
Hopoate is locked in a legal dispute with Parramatta which is delaying his formal signing with Canterbury.
The 23-year-old has taken the Eels to the Supreme Court because they refused to honour a NRL playing contract which was signed by Hopoate but not lodged with the league.
The club’s defence has claimed that because it was not registered with the NRL, it did not constitute a binding legal agreement.
Until the Eels and Hopoate can resolve their legal dispute, Hopoate is in limbo and cannot sign with a new club.
The six-time Blues representative has been training on his own in the off-season and his management has said he is confident of being fit for 2016.
Hopoate’s arrival at Belmore is also expected to result in the departure of centre Tim Lafai, who has been linked with a move to Gold Coast.
Hopoate made his debut for Manly under Hasler in 2010, winning the premiership with the Sea Eagles the year after.
He then departed the NRL on a two-year Mormon mission before returning to rugby league in 2014 with the Eels.
Tom G
Guest
Not at all.. Gutherson was released and Hiku told to find another club. Don't forget all the other rejects. Over the hill Watmough and reserve graders Hasson, Gower and the biggest reserve grader of all..your coach! Foran is the only real loss and I'd be surprised if he sees out his two years. Remember he's got a bail out clause that can be triggered by something the Eels are champions at.. Firing coaches and board dysfunction
Parrafan
Guest
Lol tom still mad about eels signing gutherson, foran and soon hiku. Check floppa highlights from 2011. Catch pass from Lyon place ball over try line. Check floppas origin performances. They were a disaster. He was a flash in the pan and will soon be playing nsw cup.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
Never once showed any of the aggression his old man had. Complete opposite, almost pacifist like.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Parramatta are glad to get rid of him. Apparently was dead weight on the salary cap, was lazy and had a bad attitude (isn't very "competitive")
Tom G
Guest
Two years of having doors slammed in your face was bad enough but to follow that with two years in footy purgatory was just cruel. He will flourish under a decent coach and Des is more than a decent coach
The Barry
Roar Guru
I thought Hoppa was a gun before his mission but he's been underwhelming since he got back. Two years is a long time out of the game and clearly Hopoate wasn't doing a lot of training in that time. He's come back half the size, half the pace and half as strong. I also thought Lafai was in the top couple of young centres in the game at the end of the 2014 season. He had a pretty bad run of injuries in 2015. It seems short sighted to brush him off the back of a albeit disappointing but injury interrupted season. Holding my breath on this one.
Parrafan
Guest
lol Hoppa dudded himself. Two years off ruined Hoppa. The bloke is a slow as a snail. He didn't have a contract with eels for 2016. He had a letter of offer, which was later taken off the table once the board got wind of it. Hoppa was then offered $200k a seaon which is fair game for a player of his caliber. Not Parra's fault that Hoppa snr still takes all Hoppas money and pays him an allowance, and thought his son was worth ridiculous overs.
GD66
Guest
Must admit, I've never seen what all the fuss is about Hopoate, particularly in defence or under a high ball. Been quite a merry-go-round in this off-season, so I'm looking forward to seeing what transpires when the dust settles.
Tom G
Guest
Super coach Arthur and Parramatta managed to convert him from a world class player to ordinary in less than two years and dudded him on his contract in the process. Kieran Foran take note
Samtwocan
Guest
Overpaid, overrated dud .
Rodney Olsen
Guest
Thank god for that, Parra might get somewhere now. Yet we all know as soon as he signs for someone else he'll become a world beater again, you just watch.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Des "Nepotism" Hasler. Between this and the T-Rex signing it's almost like he's a Manly plant to cripple the Bulldogs roster from within...
The eye
Guest
At the end of the 2014 season Lafai,Dylan Walker and BJ Leilua were the 3 best 'form' and most exciting to watch centers in the NRL world..last year they were the 3 worst and all have been moved on.. If Hoppa's being groomed for fullback surely punting Perret,whose contract couldnt be that different to Lafai's is the option..this is another curious Dessie recruitment..