7th Tackle: Question marks over Jennings contract

Jennings contract queried

Serious questions are being asked as to how and why the NRL registered Michael Jennings' contract with Parramatta in January, given it had already been receiving tip-offs that the club was involved in funny third party deal business.

And those questions are being asked from within Parramatta, too. It's understood Jennings' deal is worth around $3 million over four years, although the Roosters contributed more than half of his $750,000 salary for this season.

That left the Eels to carry about $350,000 – a decent chunk of their alleged $570,000 breach for 2016. Understandably, Nathan Peats and his wife are furious about being asked to leave Parramatta to remedy the mess.

DONE D-EEL: Peats agrees to terms with Gold Coast

Those close to Peats feel that the fairest way to solve the problem is to de-register the last player Parramatta signed – Jennings. That's also harsh on Jennings; but there was always going to be someone who gets seriously burned.

Peats' wife – who just returned to work in Sydney's west after giving birth to the couple's first child last year – is absorbing much of the stress.

The situation is not made easier by the fact Peats is one of the players who was owed third party deals and last year robbed of a sponsor car the club had promised him. He's since been given a lease car that's counted toward Parramatta's salary cap.

The mess is a massive test for new NRL boss Todd Greenberg – not least of all because Jennings' manager, Isaac Moses, is a close personal friend.

Then there's the issue of the Titans – where Peats has been pushed - being controlled by the NRL. League Central has a commercial imperative to have Parramatta competing for points in the interests of its broadcasters and sponsors.

Is that not a conflict as well? Rival clubs are watching the situation closely.

Madge mentor revealed

As South Sydney's fall from grace accelerates, there's been more and more debate about the methods of coach Michael Maguire.

We know Maguire is intense, uncompromising and relentless in his expectations of Rabbitohs players – and that approach has obviously worn thin with some sections of the team. But who does Maguire take his cues from?

According to our sources at Redfern the surprise man behind Maguire is a self-styled personal success guru by the name of Bradley Charles Stubbs.

Locals tell us Stubbs has a colourful past in the South Sydney district. On his personal website Stubbs claims to have received psychiatric treatment when he was younger, following a life threatening car accident.

The site also tells tales of "goods" sold from his car boot "for many times the original price". He also worked as an Amway salesman. From there, Stubbs claims he developed spiritually and emotionally.

Fast forward to May 2014 when Stubbs – a lifelong Rabbitohs fan – fronted Maguire unannounced at training. According to Stubbs, he and Maguire texted and spoke over the phone on a daily basis for the rest of that season, up until Souths broke their 43-year premiership drought.

Indeed, the website carries a tribute from Maguire that reads: "Bradley has come across something that not many people truly understand or comprehend. The people that open their minds to it and listen will get something incredible and so very special out of it. Truly inspiring!"

Not everyone at the club who has dealt with Stubbs shares those sentiments. Now based on the Gold Coast, Stubbs has little contact with the players. But they've nonetheless struggled with the sheer intensity levels; particularly in response to losses.

Maguire pulled the right rein during last week's bye, letting his team get out of town and recharge. Nonetheless, it wasn’t enough to convince Penrith-bound back rower Chris Grevsmhul to return. He and Maguire have shared the odd verbal clash over the past few seasons; and the head coach had every right to assert himself.

Expect fellow forwards Dave Tyrell and Jason Clark to follow Grevsmhul out the door by season’s end. Both have felt the bite of Maguire's selection axe in recent weeks.

Richo razor cuts deeper

The body count off the field at Redfern is growing; as Shane Richardson continues to re-assert his authority on the club.

Former star Rhys Wesser is the latest to depart. Wesser had been working as an Indigenous mentor with the club's community arm, Souths Cares.

The Rabbitohs stood by Wesser and allowed him to continue when he was charged with a domestic violence last October.

Police dropped the case in January. We've now been told Wesser left around two months ago; making it at least half a dozen departures since Richardson’s return to Souths from the NRL in February.

Also gone are former CEO John Lee, High Performance manager Troy Thompson, recruitment boss Grant Jones, membership manager Margot Harley and another admin staffer, James Peterson, who executed player contracts.

Insiders say it's a clear sign of cost-cutting. Football manager Mark Ellison is now expected to take charge of recruitment. We've been told Jones has secured a new gig in the same department with Cronulla, starting next week.