Parramatta have reportedly signed former Canberra centre Curtis Scott to a one-year deal.
The former Raider was sacked by the club last year after he was charged with assaulting a man in a Canberra nightclub and hasn’t played since last May.
While it was reported that the Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Tigers were initially interested, the Eels have landed the signature of the former premiership winner where he’ll begin pre-season training next week.
Although Curtis will come in as “depth”, The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio feels the move is “desperate” due to his off-field concerns.
“Curtis Scott has agreed to terms with the Parramatta Eels,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I don’t know how I feel about it to be honest if I was a Parramatta fan.
“It feels desperate to me, not too many people know that the Eels were keen to prize Bailey Simonsson out of the Raiders.
“This is a depth problem for Brad Arthur that he’s tried to rectify in the backline, no Blake Ferguson next year, no Michael Jennings obviously.
“Will Penisini and Waqa Blake are in the centres, and up pops Curtis Scott on their radar, granted he will be cheap, he’s a bargain buy.
“But any player that’s been let go by the Melbourne Storm and then plays just 13 and 10 games in two years for the Canberra Raiders with trouble off the field, that’s a concern for me.
“It feels a little desperate for me, I would’ve banked on some of the younger talent coming through the squad instead of going with Scott if I were the Eels.”
Scott has enlisted the help of a psychiatrist and has attended Alcoholics Anonymous in his bid to return to rugby league.
He has worked for his brother’s landscaping business since his time in Canberra was cut short.