Eels juggernaut hits open NRL market after poor Parramatta offer

Isaiah Papali’i will be a big mover and shaker in rugby league’s free agency heading into the 2022 NRL season, after a lowball offer from the Eels offended the season’s breakout wrecking ball.

Parramatta have likely let a gem forward slip through their fingers after Isaiah Papali’i was left offended by a short-ends $850k offer across 2023 and 2024.

The Sporting Base can reveal that Papali’i was happy to take a small pay hike on his 2022 deal, up to $275k from $200k, and will play for the blue-and-golds next year whether or not the club and player can come to an accord.

Nine’s Michael Chammas has reported that the sticking point between Paramatta’s breakout star and the western Sydney organisation was ’23-24.

The Eels only tabled $425,000 a year for two years.

The second rower, just 23, is chasing closer to half a million per season and would prefer to lock in a long-term deal. The club and player’s agent couldn’t come together between their two unmovable preferences, however, and Papali’i will now hit the open market to find a new club.

Papali’i joined the Eels on a $200,000 deal at the end of 2020 from the Warriors, and scored seven tries and averaged 150 meters in 25 games.

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Suitors are already lining up for the breakout NRL juggernaut.

The headlining hunters are the Wests Tigers, who Nine is reporting have already put together a $600k proposition for Papali’i that has been sent to the Samoan international ahead of the star’s November 1 free agency date.

The Sporting Base has also heard two other NRL clubs are sniffing around the 23-year-old, and it’s certainly no surprise; Papali’i was the form second rower of the competition from start to finish, threatening tries early in the season and bending the line at will as the Eels looked to go deep into the finals.

The Tigers are believed to be the frontrunners already, but much hinges on their recent $600k offer to Luciano Leilua, who has been looking for an upgrade at the joint-venture club since mid-year.

Parramatta, meanwhile, are looking to tap up Clint Gutherson and Reed Mahoney with the cash they’re keeping away from Papali’i in 2023 and beyond.

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