Eels half Ethan Sanders agrees to terms with Raiders for three year deal from 2025

[Raiders666]

How long do Parra have to change his mind?

rd6 but I fully expect he'll wear lime green in 2024

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Hope you are on the money...He sounds too good to be true

[gangrenous]

I’ve watched the clip and I’m happy enough to get him up here so Nickman can boof him already

[Sid]

Shows great vision in the clip

[Neeeegz]

Will be playing firsts in the 2nd half of the year is my prediction

[Colk]

Those highlights look decent.

[FuiFui BradBrad]

Well he has just started following the Raiders insta page
Hopefully this signing happens very quickly now.
Fingers crossed

Yeah but has he started following TheGH yet?

[bayraider]

Why the would he want to do that

[Raider Azz]

Well he has just started following the Raiders insta page
Hopefully this signing happens very quickly now.
Fingers crossed

Yeah but has he started following TheGH yet?

Are you trying to have him stay at parra?

[bonehead]

Well he has just started following the Raiders insta page
Hopefully this signing happens very quickly now.
Fingers crossed

Yeah but has he started following TheGH yet?

Are you trying to have him stay at parra?

I'm sure Jack Mitchell is all up in his dm's

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[Rickmando]

Why the would he want to do that

Adam Elliott did!!

[Finchy]

Why the would he want to do that

Adam Elliott did!!

I miss joshjacksonshead...

[bayraider]

Adam Elliot, will never be half the player this guy will be come

[The Ang]

I miss Adam Elliott

[BJ]

I miss Adam Elliott

So do many wives.

[greeneyed]

I don’t get why.

[greeneyed]

Brad Arthur when asked about Sanders and reports linking him to Canberra:

“He is contracted to us for 2024 and he has accepted that he is staying, and he will be given every opportunity. He is part of the group we are doing working with our emerging leaders, so we are doing as much as we can to help him.

I am sure no one expects us to move either Mitchell, who is the current NSW halfback, Dylan Brown the current five-eighth, from our team to accommodate him.

Yeah, we would like to keep him but it is just what the salary cap does, it is what opportunity does. If Ethan is going well this year and one of those guys gets injured – touch wood hopefully they don’t. But if there is a game or two and he is ready for it, I will have no hesitation playing him. But Dylan is only 23, Mitchell is 27.”

Read more: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 456a6127b2

[Billy Walker]

So essentially we want to see Moses and Brown injury free and in good form while Parra loses middle after middle to injury and becomes desperate for a swap deal.

[LimeGreenMachine]

Reading that he knows he won't be able to keep him past 2024. Also we won't be getting him this year.

[bayraider]

Paul Crawley, interviewed Brad Arthur about the eels up coming season in the Daily Telegraph today. He is asked about Ethan Sanders and the Canberra links, basically admits he will be going and they will not move Brown or Mosses and that's how the salary cap works. Also says Ethan will be given a opportunity if either one of his halves get injured this year, which shows me they will not release him to us this year. But i am fairly confident this signing will be officially announced after round 6 by us.

[BadnMean]

Ok, Arthurs is trying to articulate the position that Eels aren't blocking the move out of anger and going to park him out of spite and do nothing with him- they'll give him a go and develop him... but they aren't in a position to let go a guy who might be their best backup half for this season. Fair enough honestly- they consider themselves contenders this year and if they are without a half for 2-6 games or whatever they may be able to scramble enough wins to still be top 4 if their backup can hold his own.

From what I understand their other backup halves have retired (Rankin) and gone to Manly (Arthurs). So it looks like Sanders will be stepping up to NSW Cup at the very least.

As a Raiders fan I hope we get him round 6 somehow but Arthurs has a solid enough football reason.

[NoMan]

Thats positive news, it seems to point to the deal been all but official.

It might be better for him to spend the year at the Eels anyway where he can learn off two rep quality halves.

[LimeGreenMachine]

I'm sure Levi can be a back up half , we could do a player swap.

[-PJ-]

Come on down Colonel..

[Chicka Chicka Chicka]

The interview sounded pretty positive for us. Time will tell.

[Northern Raider]

Ok, Arthurs is trying to articulate the position that Eels aren't blocking the move out of anger and going to park him out of spite and do nothing with him- they'll give him a go and develop him... but they aren't in a position to let go a guy who might be their best backup half for this season. Fair enough honestly- they consider themselves contenders this year and if they are without a half for 2-6 games or whatever they may be able to scramble enough wins to still be top 4 if their backup can hold his own.

From what I understand their other backup halves have retired (Rankin) and gone to Manly (Arthurs). So it looks like Sanders will be stepping up to NSW Cup at the very least.

As a Raiders fan I hope we get him round 6 somehow but Arthurs has a solid enough football reason.

That pretty much covers it. Eels are resigned to losing him from 2025 onwards but will use him as needed this year. Would benefit us if he could get some first grade experience this season.

[Matt]

Ok, Arthurs is trying to articulate the position that Eels aren't blocking the move out of anger and going to park him out of spite and do nothing with him- they'll give him a go and develop him... but they aren't in a position to let go a guy who might be their best backup half for this season. Fair enough honestly- they consider themselves contenders this year and if they are without a half for 2-6 games or whatever they may be able to scramble enough wins to still be top 4 if their backup can hold his own.

From what I understand their other backup halves have retired (Rankin) and gone to Manly (Arthurs). So it looks like Sanders will be stepping up to NSW Cup at the very least.

As a Raiders fan I hope we get him round 6 somehow but Arthurs has a solid enough football reason.

Deajain Asi is 100% their backup half. He played half of last yr for Brown. Sanders is behind him.

Obviously they could move Guth to 6 or 7 if things got despite, as they have a couple of backup FBs in Russell and Dunster (both look like avg wingers), or even Simmo.

Carty has played plenty of 6.

Matto has played 6.

Brendan Hands, 1 of their hookers, is also a parttime half.

They have some options, but it's schuffling deck chairs more than depth.

[greeneyed]

I can’t see why they’re expecting him to stay in 2024. Don’t see the point holding onto him if he signs with the Raiders the week after Round 6.

[Botman]

I can’t see why they’re expecting him to stay in 2024. Don’t see the point holding onto him if he signs with the Raiders the week after Round 6.

Agreed
im sure once the hay is in the barn officially, all parties will be suitably motivated to figure something out.

[Rickmando]

I can’t see why they’re expecting him to stay in 2024. Don’t see the point holding onto him if he signs with the Raiders the week after Round 6.

Agreed
im sure once the hay is in the barn officially, all parties will be suitably motivated to figure something out.

I’d suggest offering them a hooker who is a Kiwi international!

But with how things panned out after the last international hooker we sent their way, I’m not sure they’ll fall for that one again…

[Botman]

An early Paulo/RCG injury would do rather nicely, they're not particularly deep in the middle. Very top heavy, might be inspired to grab a Saulo in return for releasing Sanders early.

[LimeGreenMachine]

Saw an article where Parra will use 1 hooker this year.
It'll be interesting the make up of their bench.

[BadnMean]

Ok, Arthurs is trying to articulate the position that Eels aren't blocking the move out of anger and going to park him out of spite and do nothing with him- they'll give him a go and develop him... but they aren't in a position to let go a guy who might be their best backup half for this season. Fair enough honestly- they consider themselves contenders this year and if they are without a half for 2-6 games or whatever they may be able to scramble enough wins to still be top 4 if their backup can hold his own.

From what I understand their other backup halves have retired (Rankin) and gone to Manly (Arthurs). So it looks like Sanders will be stepping up to NSW Cup at the very least.

As a Raiders fan I hope we get him round 6 somehow but Arthurs has a solid enough football reason.

Deajain Asi is 100% their backup half. He played half of last yr for Brown. Sanders is behind him.

Obviously they could move Guth to 6 or 7 if things got despite, as they have a couple of backup FBs in Russell and Dunster (both look like avg wingers), or even Simmo.

Carty has played plenty of 6.

Matto has played 6.

Brendan Hands, 1 of their hookers, is also a parttime half.

They have some options, but it's schuffling deck chairs more than depth.

I had Asi pegged more as a Strange type centre- 5/8 but I may be wrong. I was thinking halfbacks- and yes I know some people don't like the half and 5/8 dichotomy these days but I do think controller and runner/instinctive half is still a thing. Hence Sanders maybe a long shot.

But as you say, more likely 2 injuries off the spot. Which isn't so far off the mark you trade a young talent away early for no benefit. Unless it's Schneider and Raiders

I don't think they would use those other options short of season ending injuries etc.

[Matt]

Ok, Arthurs is trying to articulate the position that Eels aren't blocking the move out of anger and going to park him out of spite and do nothing with him- they'll give him a go and develop him... but they aren't in a position to let go a guy who might be their best backup half for this season. Fair enough honestly- they consider themselves contenders this year and if they are without a half for 2-6 games or whatever they may be able to scramble enough wins to still be top 4 if their backup can hold his own.

From what I understand their other backup halves have retired (Rankin) and gone to Manly (Arthurs). So it looks like Sanders will be stepping up to NSW Cup at the very least.

As a Raiders fan I hope we get him round 6 somehow but Arthurs has a solid enough football reason.

Deajain Asi is 100% their backup half. He played half of last yr for Brown. Sanders is behind him.

Obviously they could move Guth to 6 or 7 if things got despite, as they have a couple of backup FBs in Russell and Dunster (both look like avg wingers), or even Simmo.

Carty has played plenty of 6.

Matto has played 6.

Brendan Hands, 1 of their hookers, is also a parttime half.

They have some options, but it's schuffling deck chairs more than depth.

I had Asi pegged more as a Strange type centre- 5/8 but I may be wrong. I was thinking halfbacks- and yes I know some people don't like the half and 5/8 dichotomy these days but I do think controller and runner/instinctive half is still a thing. Hence Sanders maybe a long shot.

But as you say, more likely 2 injuries off the spot. Which isn't so far off the mark you trade a young talent away early for no benefit. Unless it's Schneider and Raiders

I don't think they would use those other options short of season ending injuries etc.

Moses, Brown and Guth can all run a team. Brown wants to run, but has shown control ability in times when Moses was injured. So, you'd need to lose 2 halves to really require a Sanders, and even then, they might move Guth 1st.

Asi is more 5/8 than centre, and has an ok kicking game. Current comps are probably Te Marie Martin, Walters before moving to 9, a little Nikorima esq. Not as good as these guys, but 2nd string half at best, but probably 3rd string, with position versitility.

[Bluesbrother]

Positive news that he appears to be coming. Also positive news that Arthur thinks he is ready for the NRL.

[bayraider]

I think Parramatta are pissed he has signed with us (not official) and have basically said to him we are not releasing you this year, next year you can go. Don't understand the reason though.

They are just being knobs for the sake of it.