Parramatta won’t stand in the way of Josh Addo-Carr leaving immediately after informing the premiership-winning winger he won’t be re-signed beyond next year.
Addo-Carr met with Eels officials including coach Jason Ryles on Wednesday to discuss his future after he produced a false-positive result for cocaine at a random police roadside test in September. Both the NRL and the club cleared him to return next season.
However, Addo-Carr’s management was told he won’t be offered a new contract 2027, prompting his agent to request permission to scout alternate options. The parties agreed that Parramatta would not stand in Addo-Carr’s way of an immediate exit if he could secure a long-term deal with a rival. Addo-Carr has the option of seeing out the final year of his Eels deal next season.
The Eels are planning for the future; they are close to securing Knights winger James Schiller for 2027, while Jack Bostock and Bradman Best are targets for 2028.
Addo-Carr’s future had been clouded after the false-positive roadside drug test. However, the 31-year-old will resume his career after a second oral fluid sample came back negative. He had previously been sacked by Canterbury over a positive roadside drugs test, but the NRL integrity unit cleared him to play after the most recent incident.
Regardless, the former Storm star has paid a high price – it has cost him a chance to be considered for Kangaroos World Cup selection, while almost $400,000 worth of personal sponsors have abandoned him.
It remains to be seen what appetite there is on the open market for Addo-Carr.
He has scored 167 tries from 224 NRL games and could add to that tally when the Eels play their 2027 season-opening game against the Titans in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
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