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April 4, 2013
Daniel LaneCanterbury prop Aiden Tolman is believed to have benefited from Parramatta’s inability to recruit big-name players, after the Eels splashed out with a $2 million, three-year offer.
Parramatta’s 50-0 capitulation to Sydney Roosters on Monday couldn’t have come at a worse time as the beleaguered club has already been forced to offer ‘‘overs’’ to try to secure big names. The offer said to have been put forward to Tolman, whose only representative experience is one match for Country Origin in 2011, illustrates just how deep the Eels need to dig into their coffers to attract players.
The $650,000-a-season offer comes after several high-profile targets had rejected the club’s overtures. However, those who took the bait had commanded figures that were described by a source as ‘‘Lotto-like’’.
Parramatta’s hopes to make some sort of impact on the market and encourage others to join them are pinned on the 24-year-old Tolman, who played for the Australian Schoolboys in 2006 before signing with Melbourne the following season. He played for the Storm in their 2009 grand-final victory over the Eels, although the title was stripped of the club because of salary-cap breaches.
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He made an immediate impression with the Bulldogs in 2011, winning the Dr George Peponis Medal after he averaged more than 100 metres a game and played for long periods.
While he has continued to develop strongly as a first-grader, Tolman started the season ranked behind James Graham and Sam Kasiano, while another Eels target, 19-year-old prop David Klemmer, is being hailed as Canterbury’s ‘‘next big thing’’.
Despite signing former NSW Origin coach Ricky Stuart, the Eels have struggled to recruit players to galvanise their roster.
They thought they had secured their first big name under Stuart when Canberra forward Josh Papalii signed a deal worth $1.3 million. However, the Raiders reclaimed him after they activated a rule that permitted them to submit a counter offer before round 13. AFL convert Israel Folau was said to have all but signed with Parramatta before he was recruited by rugby union’s NSW Waratahs.
Others who have rejected Parramatta are Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah, North Queenslanders James Tamou and Matt Scott and Klemmer, who was understood to have knocked back a deal worth more than $1 million to pack down for Parramatta.
Klemmer’s decision should have been the most frustrating because he was a Parramatta junior who played at All Saints Toongabbie and was signed by the Eels four years ago. As with Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardner (Cronulla), Krisnan Inu, Dene Halatau, Trent Hodkinson, Tony Williams, Kris Keating (Canterbury) and Feleti Mateo (Warriors), Klemmer was allowed to walk.
With up to 12 players believed to be off contract at season’s end, Parramatta are desperate to sign some quality stock. They are competing with St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers for Bulldogs forward Frank Pritchard. The Kiwi international is regarded as the NRL’s biggest-name forward off contract at season’s end.
Parramatta’s signings have benefited from the Eels’ situation - former NSW Origin and Manly back William Hopoate will bank $800,000 a season and other former Manly players, Darcy Lussick and Daniel Harrison, will get $450,000 and $300,000.
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We seem to be still chasing Frank Pritchard hard hopfully we can sign him and Greg Eastwood.
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We seem to be still chasing Frank Pritchard hard hopfully we can sign him and Greg Eastwood.
Not based on our current record for recruiting players. Keep hoping.
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April 4, 2013
Daniel LaneCanterbury prop Aiden Tolman is believed to have benefited from Parramatta’s inability to recruit big-name players, after the Eels splashed out with a $2 million, three-year offer.
Parramatta’s 50-0 capitulation to Sydney Roosters on Monday couldn’t have come at a worse time as the beleaguered club has already been forced to offer ‘‘overs’’ to try to secure big names. The offer said to have been put forward to Tolman, whose only representative experience is one match for Country Origin in 2011, illustrates just how deep the Eels need to dig into their coffers to attract players.
The $650,000-a-season offer comes after several high-profile targets had rejected the club’s overtures. However, those who took the bait had commanded figures that were described by a source as ‘‘Lotto-like’’.
Parramatta’s hopes to make some sort of impact on the market and encourage others to join them are pinned on the 24-year-old Tolman, who played for the Australian Schoolboys in 2006 before signing with Melbourne the following season. He played for the Storm in their 2009 grand-final victory over the Eels, although the title was stripped of the club because of salary-cap breaches.
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He made an immediate impression with the Bulldogs in 2011, winning the Dr George Peponis Medal after he averaged more than 100 metres a game and played for long periods.
While he has continued to develop strongly as a first-grader, Tolman started the season ranked behind James Graham and Sam Kasiano, while another Eels target, 19-year-old prop David Klemmer, is being hailed as Canterbury’s ‘‘next big thing’’.
Despite signing former NSW Origin coach Ricky Stuart, the Eels have struggled to recruit players to galvanise their roster.
They thought they had secured their first big name under Stuart when Canberra forward Josh Papalii signed a deal worth $1.3 million. However, the Raiders reclaimed him after they activated a rule that permitted them to submit a counter offer before round 13. AFL convert Israel Folau was said to have all but signed with Parramatta before he was recruited by rugby union’s NSW Waratahs.
Others who have rejected Parramatta are Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah, North Queenslanders James Tamou and Matt Scott and Klemmer, who was understood to have knocked back a deal worth more than $1 million to pack down for Parramatta.
Klemmer’s decision should have been the most frustrating because he was a Parramatta junior who played at All Saints Toongabbie and was signed by the Eels four years ago. As with Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardner (Cronulla), Krisnan Inu, Dene Halatau, Trent Hodkinson, Tony Williams, Kris Keating (Canterbury) and Feleti Mateo (Warriors), Klemmer was allowed to walk.
With up to 12 players believed to be off contract at season’s end, Parramatta are desperate to sign some quality stock. They are competing with St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers for Bulldogs forward Frank Pritchard. The Kiwi international is regarded as the NRL’s biggest-name forward off contract at season’s end.
Parramatta’s signings have benefited from the Eels’ situation - former NSW Origin and Manly back William Hopoate will bank $800,000 a season and other former Manly players, Darcy Lussick and Daniel Harrison, will get $450,000 and $300,000.
A week ago people here were saying Robbie Farrah was not worth $600,000 per year. If Tolman can get that sort of money you would have to think Robbie would be on $850,000 at least. The advantage is the Tigers can put him at a lower amount under the cap due to long term player and third party deals. I wonder what Aaron Woods would be worth?
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The only club that will pay $650 k for Tolman will be Parra
They are having to pay massive overs because of the state of the club
The maximum Tolman would be worth is about 400 -450 k
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We seem to be still chasing Frank Pritchard hard hopfully we can sign him and Greg Eastwood.
More back rowers why not?
Surely we’d be better off making an offer to Tolman
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I wouldn’t offer Tolman more than 500k. The Eels have the money for it and are really the only club in contention.
As for Folau, what is with this guy jumping codes. It’s becoming a riot
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The fact is when your not doing well you have to pay over’s to attract players FACT!!!and that is the situation Parra are in .
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The fact is when your not doing well you have to pay over’s to attract players FACT!!!and that is the situation Parra are in .
Agree but cronulla were in the same boat a few years ago and did a pretty good job at recruiting on a budget
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I remember Bennett once saying something about never paying front rowers more than 300k a year, something like that. It was to do with the fact they are often injured, suspended or only on the field for 50% of the game.
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Pritchards a big chance to be signed,have heard he will walk because of their current situation…won’t play with Barba
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I remember Bennett once saying something about never paying front rowers more than 300k a year, something like that. It was to do with the fact they are often injured, suspended or only on the field for 50% of the game.
Bennett never worried about what a player was on ,others were employed to work that out .brown paper bags are always handy at a football club
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@1/4 chicken:
Pritchards a big chance to be signed,have heard he will walk because of their current situation…won’t play with Barba
Far out, really? Not sold on Pritchard, tbh, he can be a lazy bugger at times. Even though he has improved since his days with the Panthers, this is no doubt Hasler’s influence (same as Inu). I’m not sure if he would continue the same way under Potter. Still, only one way to find out I guess.
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He looks really overweight this yr
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I’m not surprised Pritchard is not all that happy with him. I can’t forget the GF Qualifier when Barba had a spaz-attack cause Frank got in the way of a simple try, and the week after again lol.
