LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
As the November 1 deadline approaches, a forward from the Parramatta Eels has turned down a contract extension from the club, choosing instead to explore his options in the market.
The Eels are focused on regaining their status as premiership contenders and aim to return to the NRL Grand Final for the first time since 2022. Over the last 18 months, the team has been undergoing a significant rebuild under head coach Jason Ryles.
While the club appears set to add Jonah Pezet on a one-year deal from the Melbourne Storm, they might be losing a key versatile forward in the process.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Matt Dorey has informed the Eels of his decision to seek opportunities elsewhere, even though the club offered him an extension that would have kept him until the end of the 2026 NRL season.
Dorey's choice to explore his worth comes on the heels of the Eels releasing Brandon Hands and Dean Hawkins from their contracts as part of the ongoing roster restructuring under Ryles.
A former player with the Canterbury Bulldogs, the 25-year-old has played 31 games for the Eels since joining in 2023, with 17 of those matches occurring in the current season.