Bulldogs on verge of blowing away Eels with 26m play for Mahoney
The Canterbury Bulldogs are on the verge of pulling off a huge coup by blowing Parramatta out of the water with a $2.6m offer to Reed Mahoney over four years.
The Bulldogs are willing to pay $650,000 a season to lure the Maroons No.9 prospect to Belmore. Sources with knowledge of the situation told the Herald that Parramatta’s offer is $450,000 a season over three years.
Reed Mahoney is considered by many at Parramatta as a future club captain.Credit:Brook Mitchell
The $1.25m difference in deals could be enough to tempt Mahoney to join the Eels’ bitter rivals. He was spotted dining with Bulldogs powerbrokers at Canterbury League Club on Tuesday night after touring the Belmore facility during the day.
The Bulldogs are desperate to add a quality hooker and halfback to a roster that has been significantly boosted by the additions of Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr, Paul Vaughan, Tevita Pangai jnr, Matt Dufty, Briadon Burns and Brent Naden.
It is understood the Eels' first offer of $450,000 a year also includes incentive-based clauses that will increase his salary if he plays representative football or leads the Eels to a premiership.
It comes as back-rower Marata Niukore weighs up a four-year $2.5m deal from the New Zealand Warriors. The Eels aren’t willing to get into a bidding war over Niukore, who also has interest from St George Illawarra.
Niukore's potential departure could free up the money for the Eels to increase their offers to both Mahoney and Isaiah Papali'i, who has been offered an upgrade and two-year extension worth $1m.
The Wests Tigers have requested to meet Papali’i and are willing to pay $600,000 a year to lure him from Parramatta after a breakout first season.
Making matters difficult for the Eels is the fact that three of their off-contract players are managed by Sam Ayoub. The veteran agent is representing Mahoney, skipper Clint Gutherson and prop Junior Paulo in their contract discussions.
Parramatta told Ayoub they weren’t willing to get close to the $700,000 asking price for Mahoney’s services. They’ve also put forward a two-year extension to Gutherson worth between $1.5m-$1.6m to keep him at the club until at least the end of 2024, however the Eels captain wants an extra year.
Mahoney, who was on the verge of Queensland Origin selection before getting injured this year, had also been shopped to the Broncos and Dolphins, but it now appears the Bulldogs are the Eels’ greatest threat to keeping him.
Mahoney, 23, was filmed by a patron at the club’s Chinese restaurant on Tuesday night sitting next to Canterbury coach Trent Barrett, general manager Phil Gould and chairman John Khoury.
The Eels, who last week extended the contract of prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, don’t want to lose Mahoney but also want to balance their salary cap to keep Gutherson, Papali’i and Paulo together.
The Bulldogs are believed to be out of the race for Brandon Smith, who is being chased by the four Queensland clubs and the Sydney Roosters. They have opted to chase Mahoney instead.
Mahoney is contracted to the Eels for 2022 but is free to negotiate with rival clubs for the 2023 season.
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