The Parramatta Eels have locked in on Rabbitohs star wingman Dane Gagai.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Parramatta have met with the Test star in a bid to sign him, who could serve as a potential replacement for out-of-contract winger Blake Ferguson.

Ferguson's future at the Eels is still uncertain after playing 46 games for the club.

Gagai has played all seven matches in 2021, scoring three tries, making 113 tackles and averaging 141 running metres.

SEE ALSO: Panthers centre Brent Naden signs with Bulldogs

Gagai, who has also been linked to the Broncos, is one of the highest profile players to be out of contract at season's end, having played seven tests and 16 matches for Queensland, as well as 210 NRL matches.

It was reported last month month that Gagai had been shopped to the Eels as the Rabbitohs try to manage their salary cap.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Dane Gagai of the Rabbitohs looks on during the round nine NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on May 12, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Channel 9โ€™sย Danny Weidler said on theย Big Sports Breakfast in late March that the Rabbitohs need to relieve cap pressure in some way.

โ€œI think that if Reynolds is there, the way Souths have explained it to me, there is noย Dane Gagai,โ€ he said.

โ€œIf he stays, Dane will be elsewhere and there will be a stack of clubs looking at him. Heโ€™s been put to Parramatta. Early indications Iโ€™ve been getting,ย Brad Arthurย wasnโ€™t that keen on getting him. He wonโ€™t come cheap. He is a quality footballer.

โ€œHe may struggle to stay at Souths unless they get some relief in their cap. I did speak to Steve Gillis [Reynoldsโ€™ agent] about that and still word is no-one is budging. Sooner rather than later clubs will come knocking and try to signย Adam Reynoldsย up. I think there is a real stalemateโ€ฆ but Souths are very much against singing olderย playersย on longer deals.

Parramatta have won six of their seven matches in 2021 and the recruitment of Gagai would add power to their back-line.

2 COMMENTS

  1. So much opportunity at Parramatta, for the lower grade players.
    Trying to buy Naden , Staggs, now Gagai.
    Parramatta supporters must be so proud of junior development at the club. Plus the faith put in them & opportunities given them in first grade. ๐Ÿฅด
    No wonder the Wentworthville club & players hate Parramatta.
    All juniors in the area should look to Penrith for opportunity. Letโ€™s face it. Now days once theyโ€™ve come through at Penrith, other clubs want to buy many of them first grade.

Comments are closed.