Anthony Watmough is unlikely to be the only Parramatta player to exit the Eels as the NRL club attempts to fit under the salary cap, with at least one other set to leave alongside him.
The Eels need to shave $570,000 off their cap if they are to play for premiership points on Friday night against South Sydney.
The inevitable retirement of injury-struck forward Watmough will help that process, but the Eels are likely to have to jettison at least one more player as part of the deal.
Ryan Morgan has left for Melbourne, but the Eels will need to move two more players into their top 25 at the base rate of $42,500, given half a year of this season’s contract, which begins on November 1, has gone.
However, whether that gives the club sufficient salary cap relief is doubtful, which could mean a relatively high-profile player might have to be moved on.
Regardless, Parramatta consultant Ian Schubert is confident the NRL club will be under the salary cap by Friday and playing for competition points.
Schubert met with NRL salary cap auditor Jamie L’Oste Brown and integrity unit boss Nick Weeks on Monday at Rugby League Central and came away satisfied the Eels will squeeze their way under the cap within four days.
Parramatta meet South Sydney at Pirtek Stadium on Friday in round 10 of the NRL in their first match since the game’s governing body handed down provisional sanctions regarding allegations of salary cap irregularities.
If the Eels are under the cap when they take the field against the Rabbitohs they will be competing for premiership points.
“The club’s very confident we can get to where we need to be for this weekend,” former NRL salary cap auditor Schubert told reporters.
“We have a bit of homework to do, throw some numbers up in the air and see what happens.
“Most certainly the club will be cap compliant. We’ll have a full capacity on Friday night and we’ll be playing for points.”
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The problem is that with most clubs reasonably right with their caps, the player would probably have to take unders with Parramatta paying any balance.
Casper
Guest
Sign a fifth hooker as back up to Friend, Moseley, Mortimer and their utility? Peats is on big money and would want to go to a successful club after leaving the Rabbitohs. Going back with Luke gone is more appealing.
Vortex
Guest
Titans should get on Peats straight away if the rumour I hear is true.
Richard Maybury
Guest
Getting rid of another senior player in 4 days is going to take some doing. 1) Find a player of sufficient value 2) Persuade that player to leave without financial inducements (any inducement would be counted in the cap ?) 3) Find another club willing to take him on the same money (Any club is likely to drive a hard bargain but Eels cannot afford any make up pay) 4) Find a club with sufficient funds left under their cap (Chooks seem favourites here) 5 Wrap it all up and have it approved by the NRL by friday night. (midnight oil and a few prayers needed here) Despite protestations, Paulo to Canberra might be their only option.