Despite Reagan Campbell-Gillard winning the club’s player of the year award, Phil Gould has expressed doubts over Parramatta’s decision to let the front-rower go.
Although the 31-year-old was given the honor earlier this week, the Eels would shortly announce that Campbell-Gillard had been given an early contract release.
Many people in the game are baffled by it; Gould, who was taken aback by the blue and gold’s choice, may be the most so.
He declared, “[He was] easily the best player of the year,” on Six Tackles With Gus on Wide World of Sports.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me how they are letting him go, and I cannot fathom it.
“I really have to watch a different game. He’s reportedly in talks with two or three clubs at the moment, although he turned down a Dragons offer.”
Although Campbell-Gillard has not yet signed a formal contract with a new NRL team, there are circulating rumors that the seasoned prop might be playing for the Broncos in the north.
Given the date of this week’s awards ceremony, the club’s and new coach Jason Ryles’ contract call seems odd at first.
Throughout the middle of the park, Campbell-Gillard was a steady presence in a year when most of his colleagues had difficulties.
Over the course of the season, Campbell-Gillard broke 45 tackles and averaged 124 run metres and 28 tackles per game over his 24 games.
Another intriguing aspect is that, while Campbell-Gillard was coming off contract at the conclusion of the next year, the bulk of the Eels’ forward pack was not performing at the same caliber as the moustached monster.
While representative enforcer Junior Paulo has two years remaining on his contract, Shaun Lane, Joe Ofahengaue, Ryan Matterson, and Wiremu Greig are all unsigned beyond 2025 and may become available to rival teams in November.
Campbell-Gillard’s departure was most likely motivated by money, and since their superstar halves combination accounted for a large portion of the team’s pay cap, something had to go.
But it’s a strange decision to let Campbell-Gillard leave without a fight at a time when the Eels are in dire need of direction and stability.
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