The Eels are feeling pressure from influential figures at the club over the future of coach Brad Arthur and off-contract stars Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.
It is understood that there is some indiscretion within Parramatta over the fact that all three could leave at the end of the season.
Eels GM Mark O'Neill recently met with Gutherson's manager Sam Ayoub but were unable to strike a deal.
“We are just waiting on them. The ball is in Parramatta’s court. I’d be lying if I said anything more,” Ayoub told the Daily Telegraph.
Arthur and the club have reportedly not began talks, who was given until June to prove he deserves a new contract, which is delaying negotiations with Moses and Gutherson.
It is believed that Arthur and the Eels' recruiting manger Peter Sharp are keen to pen new deals for the duo immediately.
One source close to the club told the Daily Telegraph: “It’s important the club gets some direction to know who will be in charge? It should be Brad but if not, then let the players know where the club is going.
“Brad has been there six years now. Last year wasn’t good enough but the club has learnt from it. At some stage they will have to back him. Mitchell and ‘Gutho’ want to stay but they just want some clarity about what’s going on.
“If a top-level coach is coming in then the players would probably stay but they just want to know what they’re signing up for. Mitchell and Gutho could get a game at any club. Their managers won’t lock them in until they know the players are in the right hands moving forward.”
While I want all of them to stay I think we shouldn’t be rushing them to sign new contracts. It’s only round 5 it’s a long season & why do you think they’re playing really good atm? I think we should be stalling for as long as we can however we can’t over pay both of them they don’t deserve to be having contracts worth more than 800k a season
Why on earth would they re-sign Arthur??? Five years & only one finals appearance where they lost both matches then dropped to wooden spooners. They have improved this year but your dreaming if you think they are a chance to beat any of the top teams. Arthur’s had his chance & time to move on.
I see your point, but disagree.
It would be fair to assume every player would give 100% in a contract year, given it’s in their interest to do so, but if you think there would be a drop in performance post signing the next contract, then you shouldn’t have signed them.
I think we need to re-sign our core group ASAP, who ever that may be, based not only on current performance but also attitude.
I’d re-sign him, and hope we do.
I know it’s a performance based role/business etc, but everything in context.
By way of a simple example, if a man had his feet in a freezer and his head in the oven you could argue he’d feel warm on “average”.
The “stats” say NO, but I’d be signing him for 2 years now (2020/21), but if it was up to me (and I’m on the ZT record for this), I would have signed him for 2020 mid last year, and we’d be slightly derisked now.
Gutho will end up at Souths. Moses will stay at Eels.
I also see where you are coming from, but we can’t sit on our hands with these guys. Especially with Gutho. We have Manly allegedly interested, the Cowboys look like they are in the market now for a fullback, potentially Souths with the uncertainty around Inglis. Gutho needs to be signed now, and Moses is next. Before long other clubs will be sniffing around him to, particularly those that are struggling. Give Gutho another 4 years and build around him, and give Moses 2. In those 2 years he either shows he is the future for the club, or he warms the seat for Brown and Salmon to take over.
all the talk is paper talk, they need a story, the eels aren’t leaking like a sieve like they used to – kent and co need to write stories to justify themselves as journos.
There is no doubt that discussions have been opened with Moses, Gutho and Jennings, M in recent times.
It has been reported that Mennings has been told he has to take a fairly sizeable hair cut and it seems he is open to it – his form this season is not far off his best over season prior to 2018.
Moses seems to have developed a lot of maturity this season and Gutho, well he is just the King.
Everything hinges on BA being signed and only a dope would suggest that there has been no consideration given to it by the hierarchy, it has said all along that June is D-day for decision, and that was prior to round 1. If results continue as they have been, it will be done a lot earlier than June.
Once that time comes and BA is deemed to be da man, there will be a raft of re-signings, among them Moses, Gutho, Jennings, D Brown (upgrade & extension), Salmon (upgrade & extension).
Don’t despair it will happen.