Eel’s coach Brad Arthur gives a devastating news…
PLAYER recruitment has in recent years been a sore point for the Parramatta Eels faithful.
They’ve pinned their hopes on a number of high profile players, praying they will live up to their eye-watering pay packets and deliver the club’s first premiership since 1986.
Unfortunately, in the last 10 years they’ve made the finals just twice — the Jarryd Hayne-inspired run of 2009, and last year’s semi-final exit.
During that time there have been some head-scratching buys, some unexpected flops and even one or two nuggets of gold.
The newest addition will be Blake Ferguson, who inked a three-year deal worth $1.5 million.
He’s played for NSW and Australia, but will most likely be stationed on a wing and expected to have a Semi Radradra like impact.
It’s another intriguing decision by the club, and inspired us to grade some of their biggest signings over the past few seasons.
Foran had achieved plenty in the game being a Four Nations champion with the Kiwis and a premiership winner.
On face value it was a coup for the club, his professionalism and quality would have been expected to rub off on his teammates.
Unfortunately he was not in a good place mentally or physically when he arrived at the club on big-money in 2016.
A hamstring tear hampered his pre-season, then he went to rehab to treat mental health issues, and finally succumbed to a season-ending shoulder injury.
He played just nine games for the club before requesting a release on compassionate grounds.
His career was on an upward trajectory and he was an excitement machine with his off-the-cuff attack, but his inconsistency and suspect defence made him a controversial choice as the main supporting act to Jarryd Hayne for $550,000 a year.
After the Eels swooped on the Rabbitohs’ No. 7, he was almost immediately accused of putting on too much weight and not knuckling down.
