Eels outside back Bailey Simonsson has reported been granted a leave of absence after he requested yet another release from his contract following a shock decision by coach Jason Ryles.
That is according toSMH, who reports Ryles told Simonsson that star five-eighth Dylan Brown is ahead of him in the centre pecking order.
With Sean Russell out of Sunday’s clash with the Cowboys due to a hand injury, Ryles has been forced to make a change to his backline.
He has named the versatile Jordan Samrani at centre, but according to the Herald, there will be a late switch and Brown will be a shock recall to play there.
That decision has reportedly angered Simonsson, who has played 21 of his 101 NRL games at centre and is a specialist outside back as opposed to Brown, who is a five-eighth.
The talented flyer reportedly sat down with Eels officials on Thursday night, where he was granted leave with his future in Parramatta looking uncertain.
Simonsson is contracted to the Eels until the end of 2027 but the Herald reports the 27-year-old requested an early release this week — his third request in the last month.
While the Eels rejected his first two requested, the club is reportedly considering granting Simonsson’s wishes.
The report also revealed that Simonsson had told Ryles of his preference to be a winger, which is why the coach did not consider him as an option to replace Russell.
However, the fact Brown is ahead of him in the pecking order has reportedly left him furious.
Simonsson, who signed a two-year extension in August last year, has had rotten luck with injuries this season.
He returned from an ACL injury in Round 6 only to injure his foot four games later.
He returned in Round 19 and played two games in the centres before being dropped following the Eels’ 40-16 loss to the Raiders.
