If I'm honest, I've been waiting to say it for months, but was giving him the benefit of the doubt until now. To me, Connor reporting it is good enough for a definite "he wants out". And if he wants out, I seriously hope we get some compo for him, rather than him being forced to come back. Because if this is what he's like, I really don't want him back, regardless of how good a player he is.

I'll certainly be wishing Parramatta (or whoever he joins) all the best of luck in winning the wooden spoon next year.

The situation is, on the face of it, not much different to the situation last year. It was later than this in the year before Deacon was announced to be going to Wigan, with a year of his contract left. Bulls then had to go out & find a SH, so it's hardly unique.

I wonder if he's unhappy that Macca isnt the coach anymore?

Nice one Mick!

Youre making assmption that any scrum half we look at has to be a free agent. We could be looking at a nrl player with a sl get out clause or we could be prepared to pay a transfer fee.

If we're getting cash for Orford then I reckon the board will let Potter use it to bring in another HB.

rlhttp://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/nrl/news//blog/mg-matt-orford-not-answer-for-eels/20101012-a4xj.htmlrl

Mark Geyer thinks we should ask for Daniel Mortimer and another player. Yes please!!!

I'm not sure I would like to be 'jobbed' out to the other side of the world just so somebody could take my place tho'

To be fair, now it's come from Connor I think we can take it as gospel and it's finally confirmed to us that Orford is off. End of.

But, like Adey has excellently covered, the drama is just beginning. Bradford have a very, very viable case to claim mitigation on the grounds of how long this farcical scenario has been left to drag out, and the minimal time we have left to find a replacement.

Having said that, I'd be astounded if Potter wasn't going back home on his 'holiday' without the knowledge he might have to do a little bit of scouting or ringing a few contacts to engage in some sort of replacement activity.

Also, any cash we get from Orford enables us to look at half-backs that are currently in contract more seriously (and one's that play in a red V...)

And re: Orford, the class of the man has been destroyed. Dally M winner maybe, but dignity, and professionalism, the man has none. Comparing him to Menzies puts his actions truly into perspective, and I fully wish Paramatta the best of luck finishing bottom next year.

If Orford is leaving this quote from the above article sums it up for me.

Problem with that scenario is we will only have quota space for one player from nrl.

Mortimer isnt all that anyway.

Indeed. If Mortimer was that good why would they also want Orford. Clearly Kearney sees issues with the Eels halfbacks.

I was under impression Eels wanted Orford as a short term solution with aim being he would help to train Mortimer up so Mortimer could take over when Orford retired. I'd imagine that was our plan with Southernwood and Ox too. Obviously that plan would go out of window if Eels released Mortimer to us. Plus we've already got a decent prospective halfback in Southernwood, We need someone ready to play 1st team now.

I dont want another stupid Aussie coming over and then beefing off after a season to be with his mummy and daddy.