Parramatta officials would be prepared to consider allowing Test winger Semi Radradra to play rugby union in France until the start of next season if he commits to a long-term deal with the embattled club.
Advertisement
The Parramatta flyer, who is contracted until the end of the 2017 season, boarded a plane to Fiji on Saturday morning and told Eels’ bosses he didn’t want to play for the club anymore, according to Nine News.
He still has a year left on his contract and the Eels have said he needs to see that out before they let him move on to any other club or code.
Radradra’s departure, if it eventuates, would be another blow to the Eels in what has been a torrid, hard year.
Reports of a Radradra walk-out are not new.
“Apparently Semi is heavily in talks and he has a big chance at going over at the end of next year”, NRL pundit James Hooper told Triple M”, as reported in the Daily Mail.
The stunning walk out bears a striking resemblance to the Sonny Bill Williams fiasco in 2008.
However, the club is understood to have paid for and organised the flights to Fiji and said in a statement on Saturday night they expected him to be back in Sydney in time for the Eels’ next match on July 2 against Cronulla.
Bevan French scored a try in each half as Parramatta Eels beat South Sydney Rabbitohs 30-12 at ANZ Stadium on Friday to go third in the NRL ladder.
The NRL has fined the club $1 million and is set to officially strip the Eels of 12 competition points due to salary-cap breaches that have already forced a number of players out the door.
Advertisement
The Eels say the difference is that they were aware Radradra was flying to Fiji and had given him permission to return home during the club’s bye week.
