Eels confirm 'a few issues' holding up contract talks with Jarryd Hayne

Parramatta could start their NRL pre-season without star Jarryd Hayne as contract negotiations look set to continue into the summer. Barely a month has passed since the grand final, but the Eels will be one of the first clubs to begin preparations for the 2019 campaign next Thursday. Whether Hayne will join them is under a cloud, with Parramatta CEO Bernie Gurr suggesting the parties are unlikely to strike a deal by next week.

"I don't think it's imminent in the next few days. It wouldn't be in the next few days," Burr said on Thursday. "We're still talking to Jarryd. We've obviously expressed our desire, and let that be known publicly that we'd like Jarryd to stay at our club. "But there's a few issues to work through before we cross that bridge." Gurr's comments come just days after the former NFL convert was linked with a possible move to St George Illawarra. Pressed on whether the club would like Hayne's future to be sorted out before day one of pre-season, Gurr said: "Obviously we would.