Parramatta are hopeful absent star Semi Radradra will return to training this week, despite the NRL winger failing to return to Sydney on Sunday.
Radradra was due to return to Australia after being given sanctioned leave by the Eels to return to his native Fiji over the club’s bye weekend.
The Kangaroos winger is due to next play for the club in their round 17 clash with Cronulla at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Saturday.
The Eels hold their main training session ahead of that fixture on Wednesday and the club is hopeful Radradra will turn up before then.
Rumours persist Radradra is set to walk out on the NRL to join French rugby union and there were conflicting messages from his family in Fiji as to what his plans were.
Last week his manager George Christodoulou said Radradra would definitely return.
“Like other Eels players during the bye round, Semi was granted leave by the club to return home and visit family,” Christodoulou said.
“This has led to some unnecessary speculation regarding his future.
“I have spoken to Semi directly and he would like to assure Eels fans and the wider rugby league community that he will be returning as scheduled in time to prepare for the Eels’ next NRL game against Cronulla.
“He remains fully committed to his teammates and will be remaining with the Eels until at least the end of the 2017 season, as per his current contract.”
Radradra would likely be hit with a ban from the NRL if he does not return to fulfil his contract.
However NRL boss Todd Greenberg said it is his understanding that Radradra will come back to the Eels.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
They can do what they want with Origin as long as it doesn't prevent players from playing Test matches.
Basil
Guest
every player eligible for Oz should be allowed to play origin. All that needs to be done is bring in a residency rule. In this day and age we should be promoting inclusion, not exclusion. The funny thing is that both lefties and righties seem to be promoting this ideology,to be fair with different motivations, but both equally in the wrong.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Origin is like medieval science to empirical science, vaguely relevant, but only as a point to move from. If rugby league had their eyes on the future and remained committed to Test football, it is quite possible we wouldn't even be having this discussion about Semi. Unless the NSWRL and the QRL have feeder relationships with other Australian states and territories, then being eligible for Australia shouldn't mean you are eligible for an Origin match between NSW and QLD players. Regarding that journo you mention, I think you may have misinterpreted the motivation behind the 'boycott'. Semi playing for Australia wouldn't help Fijian rugby league as much as Fiji playing more and more Test matches each year would.
Baracuda
Guest
Yes it is, June 30 deadline is 3 days away. We could scale it back to a mid season window if that does your biscuit. If it's good enough for international soccer it's more than good enough for league
catcat
Guest
Don't mind players moving codes but do it at the end of the season when the comp is done. In this case Parra will come dead last for other reasons, but it is not fair to a club and team mates to have one of your players leave in the middle of a tournament...
Basil
Guest
you can extend that village mentality to why Semi is excluded from origin eligibility, despite the fact he is eligible for Oz. It really is disgraceful in this day and age. I wouldn't blame him for leaving, as it is becoming obvious that he will never be truly accepted, and so be able to feel he belongs in his adopted country. One prominent journo went so far as to announce to everyone how he was going to be boycotting the recent anzac test because Semi was playing for Oz. I kid you not!!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The problem is the village mentality of being either completely one of us or go away that permeates how many think about these things. If league didn't spend so much time staring at its navel, it would recognise the value of an international presence, it would understand the global economy a bit better and it would set up the code in such a way that a simple transfer system/fee be introduced. But with the village mob mind in force, everything not league (certainly when it comes to union) is seen as a threat or an insult or something like that. League needs to have more confidence in its sport.
Red Dog
Guest
Greenburg will ban him from returning to any club other than the Dogs.
Baracuda
Guest
The silly part about it (from a neutral perspective) is that parramatta would be payed a transfer fee from bordeaux if he decides to leave before the end of 2017 which means his contract would be settled and the international law of freedom of movement would be adhered to. Though it would have seemed farcical the premier league banning ronaldo from returning after switching from manchester to madrid I have no problem with radradra spending a few months in union if he is to sign a long term contract with the eels afterwards. Depending on his code choice he will be a phenomen for many years but could probably achieve a lot more in rugby given the dollars and widespread exposure of the game.
Rugger
Guest
NRL can ban him for life he would not care. Semi is rugby man who can play in number of countries. With bit of luck and planning he could have played in France and Olympics for Fiji. Wasted in NRL.