He has been given permission to speak to rival clubs.
Parramatta Eels outside back Bailey Simonsson has been granted permission to speak to rival clubs.
Simonsson has seemingly played his last game for the Eels per multiple reports after his relationship with head coach Jason Ryles was damaged beyond repair as a result of the coach selecting Dylan Brown as Sean Russell’s replacement ahead of Simonsson.
This prompted the disgruntled outside back to request his fourth release from the club in the space of just one month.
Despite being contracted till the end of 2027, it is widely believed that if Simonsson can find a new home for the start of next season, the Eels will not stand in his way.
Hence, here are the five potential landing spots that Simonsson could find himself in next season.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
The most obvious one.
The Dragons are in desperate need of two things next season: wingers and metres from their wingers.
With Tyrell Sloan and Mikaele Ravalawa free to go, Sione Finau off to the nation’s capital and Christian Tuipolotu seemingly always on the sideline, the Dragons need to sign a genuine winger and Simonsson would seamlessly slot into the starting side.
In his six features for the Eels this season, Simonsson has averaged 161 metres per game.
That trumps Sloan, who has averaged 116 metres per game, Finau with 151 metres, Corey Allan with 124 metres and Nathan Lawson with 126 metres.
It seems the club has realised it too, with The Mole reporting that Simonsson’s manager will have a chat with the club in the coming days.
If Shane Flanagan and incoming Head of Recruitment Daniel Anderson like what they see, the club should get a deal done swiftly.
Gold Coast Titans
Maybe a less favourable destination for the 27-year-old, considering their position on the ladder and the uncertainty regarding Des Hasler’s future, but a destination nonetheless.
There is the potential for a free wing spot next season at the Titans, with Zero Tackle reporting that the New Zealand Warriors have shown interest in current try-scoring freak, Alofiana Khan-Pereira and the Titans would be happy to let him leave the club at the end of this season.
However, Simonsson’s arrival would put him in a two-way battle with Jaylan De Groot, who has been starting on the wing in Khan-Pereira’s absences so far this season.
Even if unsuccessful, Phillip Sami, who starts on the other wing, can start negotiating with rival clubs from November 1 and has publicly expressed interest in joining the Perth Bears.
Hence, a second wing spot would be free, which the Titans would have no issue giving to Simonsson if he were already at the club.
Sydney Roosters
On the surface, this doesn’t seem super likely.
Daniel Tupou and Mark Nawaqanitawase have the two wing spots locked down, yet the Roosters lack depth in the wing, with Junior Tupou and Tom Rodwell acting as backups.
So, how likely is it that Simonsson will sign somewhere knowing he is only there for squad depth?
Unlikely.
However, Nawaqanitawase sparked discussion in late June when he put contract extension talks with the Roosters on hold, weighing up a return to Rugby Union ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The Roosters are an attractive club to most, and the prospect of slipping into a potentially vacant wing spot in 2027 might be enough for Simonsson to consider playing backup next season.
Where do the Roosters find the cap space from though?
Who knows, but if they want to pursue Simonsson, there won’t be much stopping them.
New Zealand Warriors
Maybe what Simonsson needs is a fresh start in a new country, New Zealand.
As previously mentioned, the Warriors have shown interest in Khan-Pereira, however, that was before Simonsson went on the market.
This move would be somewhat reliant on the fact that reports from the Sydney Morning Herald are correct and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck truly is ‘on the verge’ of joining the new Rugby 360 competition.
However, even if Tuivasa-Sheck stays, the Warriors still need depth.
They have lost both Edward Kosi and Moala Graham-Taufa to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, so they will need to bring in at least one new winger for the upcoming season.
Simonsson, with his ability to play centre, would be much more attractive for any NRL side when compared to Khan-Pereira, who can only play on the wing.
Perth Bears via Penrith Panthers
This is an intriguing one.
Let’s say the Perth Bears sign him from 2027 onwards, for their inaugural season.
Simonsson will still be contracted to the Eels for the 2026 season, and he won’t be getting any game time there, which the Bears won’t want for an incoming player.
Hence, this opens up the door to a potential loan move.
None of the aforementioned teams will take Simonsson on a one-year deal, it would be stupid.
However, for a club like Penrith, it could be a favourable move.
Currently, the Panthers have Casey McLean on one side and the best winger in the game, Brian To’o, on the other, with Thomas Jenkins frequently deputising this year.
To’o has missed eight games for the club this year, six due to injury and the other two for State of Origin duty.
Of those eight, the Panthers have lost six games, giving them only a 25 per cent win rate without To’o.
Having Simonsson in the team won’t miraculously fix those numbers, but it will add extra cover for the season in case something similar happens again.
As for Simonsson, he would be joining a team that is currently striving for its fifth premiership in a row, and by the time he joins, could be striving for a sixth.
