Bryce Cartwright has openly declared his desire to stay at Parramatta despite being given no assurances from incoming Eels coach Jason Ryles that he remains in the club’s plans.
Ryles has already begun work with the Eels in the background after being granted a release from Melbourne earlier this month.
One of the big tasks facing the in-bound Parramatta coach is righting the club’s salary cap and offloading some of the club’s best-paid stars.
Ryan Matterson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Maika Sivo have been linked with moves away from the Eels despite all being contracted for the next 12 months at least.
Back-rower Cartwright, who revived his NRL career under ousted Eels coach Brad Arthur, is in a similar boat and said he had yet to be told by Ryles if he had a place at Parramatta beyond the end of this season.
“I love it here and love the group,” Cartwright said on Monday.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next year, I haven’t had any contact (with Ryles).
“But we’re just trying to improve ourselves through these last six games.
It’s obviously frustrating … but we need to focus on this year. We can’t worry about next year. You’ve got to focus on each day as it comes. We just want to see some results and end the year with a smile.”
Asked if he was surprised that Ryles hadn’t reached out to him, Cartwright said: “It’s not surprising, he’ll call me if he needs me.”
The uncertainty over the future of Cartwright and several of his teammates comes as the Eels face scrutiny over signing five-eighth Dylan Brown on a long-term deal.
Brown has a contract with the Eels until the end of 2025.
But his deal also has an option inserted which allows him to consider offers from rivals or take up a extension which would keep him at Parramatta until the end of 2031.
The New Zealand international has struggled to cover for the injury-enforced absences of Mitchell Moses and has close ties with Arthur, who has been linked with taking charge of a prospective Perth franchise.
“He (Arthur) might go there (to Perth) with his wife, she’s from there,” Brown said.
“If he does that then it’d actually be really cool…After my 20-year contract ends, I might go over there.
“We signed a long contract for security reasons.
“There are clauses in there in my favour which is a positive, but I don’t think anyone needs to worry about what happens.
“I guess they were put in for injury security, so touch wood (nothing happens).
“It was a good deal on my behalf. I know there have been some bad talks about it for the management of Parramatta, but (people shouldn’t worry).”