Losing Semi fine by Eels
SEMI Radradra is staying in rugby union – but don’t panic.
That’s the message from Parramatta CEO Bernie Gurr following Radradra’s decision to extend his rugby union stay in France.
The former Kangaroos representative, who was the Eels’ leading try scorer in 2017, announced a two- year deal with first- division club Bordeaux on Friday.
Radradra moves from French rivals Toulon, who signed the Fijian flyer to a deal worth an estimated $ 1 million at the end of last year’s NRL season.
It leaves the Eels and rugby league without a genuine superstar, but Gurr has called for calm.
Of course he’d love to have Radradra in Parramatta colours. He also hopes Warriors sensation Roger Tuivasa- Sheck knocks back rugby’s advances to stay in league.
But Gurr also knows the NRL competition is one of the closest in world sport due to the salary cap system and he wants league to be comfortable in its own skin.
“We here in rugby league can’t blink and react every time the odd player moves away to rugby or whatever,” Gurr said.
“The reality is the money on offer in European rugby is substantial and that is fine.
“As a rule, the parity within our game in respect to roster management is reasonably good.
“The salary cap is necessary. It probably needs a few more tweaks with things like third party agreements, but we can’t start adjusting rules just because one exceptional player leaves – as much as we’d love to have Semi here.”
Due to the significant pay gap between the NRL and French rugby, Gurr said Parramatta never expected Radradra to return.
But the Eels boss isn’t too concerned, especially given the quality of the club’s roster this season.
Gurr, though, refused to rule out Radradra returning to Parramatta in the future.
“I’m sure if Semi decided to come back and play rugby league, he’d want to play here.”
Parramatta have two roster spots remaining for this season and Gurr said the club will adopt a “wait and see” approach to filling them.
He expects a number of clubs to follow suit due to squad changes from top 25 to a top 30.
“I’m hearing a number of clubs are not signing their 2018 and 2019 players yet because they are looking to get value for money in that space,” he said.
“It may be a first year symptom with the roster changing.
“It’s just a different model this year and I think one of the unknown elements of that transition has been the fact clubs are being patient in how they fill those last couple of spots.”