Five Eels re-sign as Matterson weighs up contract offer

Parramatta have started their week with five key re-signings and hope to add Ryan Matterson by the end of it as the ex-Wests Tigers back-rower weighs up a three-year offer.

Veteran centre Brad Takairangi has taken up a one-year deal with the club, while a two-year extension for Michael Jennings is expected to be rubber-stamped soon now he is back from international duties with Tonga.

Rising back-rower Marata Niukore has also been extended for a further two years until the end of 2022.

Interchange forwards David Gower and Ray Stone have also been confirmed as starters with one-year contracts for 2020, while uncapped back-rower Andrew Davey has also been retained in their top squad.

As for Matterson, a return to his junior club could be finalised by the end of this week after Parramatta tabled a three-year deal believed to be worth around $1.5 million.

While a slew of clubs including the Dragons, Titans and Rabbitohs have registered their interest in the 25-year-old, negotiations have advanced with Parramatta far further than any other outfit.

Matterson and Eels coach Brad Arthur broke bread two weeks ago and have resolved the issues that surfaced briefly when the Parramatta junior first left the club in 2016 when he was unhappy with Arthur's plans to push him from the halves into the forwards.

"We’re really happy to be in a position to retain our players," Arthur said of the Takairangi, Gower, Davey, Stone and Niukore extensions.

"There’s a lot of NRL experience amongst them which is valuable to our young group of players, and for the juniors coming through."