Eels coach Brad Arthur faces a team selection issue after the NRL ruled that his son Jakob will not be able to play this weekend unless he is upgraded to a top 30 contract in the next 48 hours.
The Daily Telegraph understands that the Eels are trying to quickly sort a new contract for the 18-year-old so he can make his Parramatta debut against New Zealand on Sunday.
Arthur came into the squad as a result of an injury to first choice five-eighth Dylan Brown and SEN host Andrew Voss explained why the Eels are in a rush to upgrade the coach’s son.
“Developing at Parramatta is around Jakob Arthur,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“We’ve been talking about him in the positive sense but the Telegraph are now reporting that the NRL will now ban him from playing in the Magic Round unless he is upgraded to a top 30 contract.
“This must happen in the next 48 hours, and this is entirely different to the bubble component of it.
“He’s currently on a development contract, and that means you can’t be used ahead of a top 30 player before Round 11.
“They are the NRL’s qualification rules, this is Round 10.
“This is the current state of play and the Eels are aware of it.
“The Telegraph is reporting that the Eels are desperately trying to sort out a new contract today.”
Arthur has been named to start at the number six position alongside Mitchell Moses as the Eels look to solidify their position in the top two on the NRL ladder.
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