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And they may need to “fact-track” a decision on the future of coach Brad Arthur in order to set about nailing down a roster beyond the 2019 season.
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Foxsports.com.au can count 19 of the club’s top 30 squad members currently expire at season’s end. That list includes club captains Clint Gutherson and Tim Mannah, halfback Mitchell Moses, hulking centre Brad Takairangi, and cult hero prop Daniel Alvaro.
See the full list of off-contract players below
The list does include David Gower, who will retire at the end of the year.
Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper says Parramatta hierarchy have identified likeable fullback Gutherson as a priority signing, but the player wants to know who the coach will be before committing to 2020 and beyond.
New Eels management had originally placed a June deadline on their decision on Arthur, but must make a call now or risk losing their star players. The Eels have won three of their four games this season.
“Forget about the June deadline that the Eels management put in place ... if the Eels keep winning it’s simple, they have to re-sign the coach Brad Arthur,” Hooper told NRL 360.
“Coming off a wooden spoon last year you can understand why the new management at the club just wanted to take their time.
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“But if you look over the opening month of competition the only game they’ve lost is to the reigning premiers, the Roosters, they were in that game up until the final 20 minutes.
“Their results speak for themselves. The season prior to winning the wooden spoon they were in the top four, and they were one of the best sides in the competition.
“They need to fast-track talks. I think they’re aware of that as well.”
EELS OFF CONTRACT (according to foxsports.com.au’s latest Transfer Centre)
Brad Arthur (coach), Clint Gutherson, Mitchell Moses, Tim Mannah, Brad Takairangi, Michael Jennings, Matt McIlwrick, Kaysa Pritchard, Daniel Alvaro, Andrew Davey, Bevan French, David Gower (not re-signing), Josh Hoffman, Oregon Kaufusi, Greg Leleisiuao, Manu Ma’u, Tepai Moeroa, Marata Niukore, Ray Stone, Peni Terepo, Stefano Utoikamanu
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Gutherson’s agent Sam Ayoub has met with Parramatta boss Mark O’Neill in the past fortnight but no deal has been struck.
Ayoub has publicly warned the club against low-balling his client, who has become one of the Eels’ best and most respected players.
Moses has also found himself in good form but isn’t willing to speculate about his future.
“If I try to look into that stuff too much it does affect your game,” Moses told Fairfax Media.
“I have left it fully up to my management. I’ve said to them whenever a deal comes up or something comes up, you let me know.”