Eels reward Lane with new deal on eve of NRL grand final

It’s been a season to remember for Shaun Lane and the Parramatta Eels have certainly been paying attention: The on-the-rise second rower is set to sign a new three-year extension with the club as a reward for his monster lift in form.

Just 12 months ago, the Eels were considering offloading Lane.

The 27-year-old well and truly flipped the switch in the 2022 NRL season though, lifting his game to another level as Parramatta made a historic run to the NRL big dance—a grand final where they’ll face western arch-rivals the Panthers.

Lane has played a big role in the Eels’ changing fortunes, and for that the club powerbrokers are looking to reward him. Sources within the club are suggesting the new deal will keep the 146-gamer in blue and gold until at least the end of rugby league’s 2026 campaign.

He is expected to make around $2 million between 2024 and his contract’s final year.

Lane has yet to give the deal the green light, but The Sporting Base understands that’s simply due to grand final preparations rather than any eleventh-hour doubts.

The deal comes at the same as talks Lane could be included in the Kangaroos squad for the World Cup have heated up. With the Eels second rower off contract at the end of next season—and available to talk to rivals from November 1–the club wanted to lock him up as quickly as possible.

With Lane tied up, the club now turn their attention to their still-huge off-contract list that can talk to rival clubs from November.

The list includes Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown, as well as Maika Sivo, Will Penisini, Waqa Blake, Jake Arthur, Bailey Simonsson, and Bryce Cartwright. Many are expected to leave the club heading into 2024.

The Eels look to break a 36-year men’s premiership drought on Sunday.

The club’s women’s team are also in the NRL Women’s premiership decider against the Newcastle Knights that same day—a rare chance to do the top-grade double.

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