Parramatta duo Junior Paulo and Reed Mahoney are in the sights of rivals as they remain off-contract for the 2023 season and beyond.
While the Eels were hoping to lock the pair into long-term deals, the Dolphins and Bulldogs respectively are offering deals that are set to blow them out of the water.
With that in mind, The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis told Andrew Voss what he thinks the pair are worth on the open market.
“I think Junior is probably worth between the sevens and the eights (hundred thousand dollars) and I think that’s what the offer is,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Particularly from the Dolphins towards the middle of the eight (hundred thousands), which is huge money.
“Christian Welch re-signed with the Storm on about $650,000 and you could mount the argument that he is the premier prop in the competition – he would’ve played for Australia if there’d been some Test matches in the last couple of years.”
While Carayannis believes Mahoney is worth approximately half a million dollars a season, he believes he’ll end up moving to a Canterbury side that are willing to pay overs.
“Reed Mahoney, for a club like Canterbury I think he’s worth $600-650,000,” Caryannis said.
“For a club like Parramatta he’s worth about $500,000. That’s the difference. Canterbury are desperate for a hooker.
“There’s not a lot out there and they’ve identified Reed as their marquee man.”
Ultimately, Caryannis believes it’s likely that the pair departs due to the added length of the deals being offered by rivals compared to the Eels’ offers.
“It’s not just the money it’s the length of deal as well,” Carayannis explained.
“When you think about the extra year the Dolphins are offering Junior, that’s huge because when he comes off contract in that last year he probably won’t be worth $850,000.”
Both Mahoney and Paulo will remain at the Eels for at least one more season in 2022 before any new contract kicks in.