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PARRAMATTA will target Sydney Roosters forwards Nate Myles and Shane Shackleton if they miss out on the signature of St George Illawarra prop Justin Poore.
The news is a further blow for the Roosters, who have endured a horror week amid speculation over the future of embattled coach Brad Fittler.
While the Roosters are trying to offload several players, including out-of-favour prop Mark O'Meley, The Sun-Herald can reveal they could be in danger of losing two of the representative stars they wish to keep in Myles and Shackleton.
Parramatta remain hopeful of snaring NSW debutant Poore after tabling an offer of about $1 million over three years. However, if he continues to vacillate over his future - or instead agrees to terms with the Dragons or Sharks - then the Eels will turn their attention to the Roosters forwards.
"We've made a very competitive offer to Justin and we're keen to learn his plans for the future," confirmed the Eels' acting chief executive officer, Andrew Hill.
"Pending that outcome, we're certainly interested in the likes of Nate Myles and Shane Shackleton," he said.
The Roosters will struggle to make any inroads in their retention and recruitment plans until the players know who will be their long-term coach.
They are unlikely to get a definitive answer any time soon as Roosters supremo Nick Politis is overseas. There have been suggestions a coaching director could be brought in to work with Fittler, while Melbourne assistants Stephen Kearney and Michael Maguire have been touted as potential replacements.
Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall gave Kearney a glowing endorsement, declaring him ready to take over as soon as an NRL job became available.
"Tactically he's got what it takes to be a great coach because he's been there and done it," Marshall said.
"He knows what it takes to be a mentor as well.
"In [Kiwi] camp I learned a lot from him, different things to what I learn at the Tigers.
"If there's one thing he's good at, it's bringing teams together."
Marshall stressed he wasn't death-riding Fittler, saying: "I like Freddie and you can't blame a coach entirely when a team isn't going so well."
The news is a further blow for the Roosters, who have endured a horror week amid speculation over the future of embattled coach Brad Fittler.
While the Roosters are trying to offload several players, including out-of-favour prop Mark O'Meley, The Sun-Herald can reveal they could be in danger of losing two of the representative stars they wish to keep in Myles and Shackleton.
Parramatta remain hopeful of snaring NSW debutant Poore after tabling an offer of about $1 million over three years. However, if he continues to vacillate over his future - or instead agrees to terms with the Dragons or Sharks - then the Eels will turn their attention to the Roosters forwards.
"We've made a very competitive offer to Justin and we're keen to learn his plans for the future," confirmed the Eels' acting chief executive officer, Andrew Hill.
"Pending that outcome, we're certainly interested in the likes of Nate Myles and Shane Shackleton," he said.
The Roosters will struggle to make any inroads in their retention and recruitment plans until the players know who will be their long-term coach.
They are unlikely to get a definitive answer any time soon as Roosters supremo Nick Politis is overseas. There have been suggestions a coaching director could be brought in to work with Fittler, while Melbourne assistants Stephen Kearney and Michael Maguire have been touted as potential replacements.
Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall gave Kearney a glowing endorsement, declaring him ready to take over as soon as an NRL job became available.
"Tactically he's got what it takes to be a great coach because he's been there and done it," Marshall said.
"He knows what it takes to be a mentor as well.
"In [Kiwi] camp I learned a lot from him, different things to what I learn at the Tigers.
"If there's one thing he's good at, it's bringing teams together."
Marshall stressed he wasn't death-riding Fittler, saying: "I like Freddie and you can't blame a coach entirely when a team isn't going so well."
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