Kieran Foran's decision to join Parramatta on a revised deal has scuppered a bold proposal that could have delivered Josh Reynolds to Manly had the Kiwi international opted to join Canterbury instead.
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Foran and his management have agreed to remove Parramatta's controversial $1 million damages clause, but have drafted other safeguards into his contract due to the unstable footballing and political climate at the blue and golds.
Like the original deal, the revised version is still for $4.8 million over four years, but the option is in Foran's favour for the last two. The revised contract is yet to be signed, but both parties are hopeful of doing so in coming days after a copy was sent to Eels official Daniel Anderson on Thursday.
Foran is unlikely to be the only one with a new Parramatta contract. Coach Brad Arthur is likely to extend his tenure for a further two seasons, until the end of 2019, in a move that will provide the club with much-needed stability. Arthur's deal is yet to be ratified but it is expected the board will approve an extension for the former Storm assistant coach.
Manly were hopeful of tabling Foran a "lifetime" contract similar to the one used to tempt Daly Cherry-Evans back to the fold, but in recent days it became apparent Foran would be moving on.
Sea Eagles powerbrokers began hatching contingency plans and one of them was a play for Reynolds. However, the only way for the ploy – believed to be the brainchild of Manly supremo Bob Fulton – to come off was if Foran decided to link again with Des Hasler at Canterbury, forcing the "family club" to shed another of its halves.
However, the Bulldogs never made an official play for Foran knowing he was always likely to sort out his contractual dispute with the Eels, sending Manly back to the drawing board in their search for a halves partner for Cherry-Evans.
The Bulldogs are now poised to go into 2016 with Reynolds partnering Moses Mbye in the halves, with Trent Hodkinson close to finalising his future. The NSW halfback is resigned to leaving Belmore at the end of the season, with Newcastle tipped to pip the Gold Coast for his signature.
Hodkinson said earlier this week that he hoped to settle the matter before Origin III but said the saga would not hamper his preparation for the Suncorp Stadium decider.
Foran's intention to honour his commitment to Parramatta, despite the club shifting the goalposts on the agreement, is welcome news for long-suffering Eels fans.
The major appeal for Foran in the shift was the opportunity to play under Arthur and he will now get that opportunity after being given assurances the coach is safe. The Eels were reluctant to allow a coaching clause in the new contract and also have reservations about giving Foran the option of staying for just two of the four years to which he originally committed.
However, given the hamfisted way the club conducted negotiations, they had to make some concessions in return for deleting the seven-figure damages clause, which could have been triggered after a single training session. The new deal not only secures the future of Foran at the club but also that of Arthur, who has been under pressure after the side's poor season.
The Eels were not commenting on the latest developments but in an interview with Fairfax Media last weekend, new chief executive John Boulous said new protocols were in place to ensure the Foran debacle "will never happen again".
Manly had some positive news on the signing front after securing Panthers hooker Apisai Koroisau on a three-year deal.
"Api has been given an opportunity to secure his future and he leaves with our blessings," Panthers executive general manager, rugby league, Phil Gould said.
"He has been wonderful for our club in the short time he has been here, and I know he will continue to give us great service for the rest of the season."
