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EELS co-captain Reni Maitua has withdrawn from tonight's clash against the Roosters after being told he's one of 12 players free to leave at the end of this season.
A devastated Maitua was split over whether to play upon receiving the news and has decided to sit out the match after coach Ricky Stuart gave him the option to have this weekend off.
Sources close to Maitua said it was still likely he will return to Eels training on Monday, although the coming 72 hours will be a crucial indicator to how the entire team will react after the biggest player clean-out in the club's 66-year history.
Fellow co-captain Jarryd Hayne yesterday launched an extraordinarily candid attack on the humiliating manner in which the club informed the dozen players they were no longer wanted.
While he understood the axe was inevitable after such a sustained run of poor results, Hayne could not comprehend why the victims needed to be informed of their fate in front of their peers at Wednesday morning's team meeting.
"What happened (on Wednesday) and how it happened was very disappointing," Hayne said.
"I was taken aback by the way it went down.
"It was disappointing to have mates and teammates put on show like that."
Eels CEO Ken Edwards and new chairman Steve Sharp stood alongside Stuart, who delivered the grim news.
The Daily Telegraph understands the club's new board appointed the trio to a "retention committee" shortly after being elected on May 11.
They gathered the entire first-grade squad on Wednesday morning, before splitting the team into three groups - Yes, No and Maybe.
Maitua, hooker Matt Keating, Matt Ryan and Willie Tonga were all classified as maybes - players who could still be retained should their form improve.
Cheyse Blair, Daniel Harrison, Luke Kelly, Ben Roberts, Ben Smith, Pat O'Hanlon and Nathan Smith were all told there was no future at the Eels beyond this year.
Asked how the team would respond, Hayne deadpanned: "I don't know."
He repeated the same answer when asked if they could beat the high-flying Roosters.
"It will be tough on them to play (tonight), knowing your club doesn't want you," Hayne said.
"Being told that in front of staff and your peers - it would be extremely hard."
Despite the embarrassment of Hayne's remarks, Edwards last night denied any problem with the NSW Origin fullback's decision to lash out in defence of his teammates.
"He's being honest and he's close to many of the players who received the tough news," Edwards said.
"The whole joint is hurting. It's not an easy time."
Let's smash these farkers while they are down!
EELS co-captain Reni Maitua has withdrawn from tonight's clash against the Roosters after being told he's one of 12 players free to leave at the end of this season.
A devastated Maitua was split over whether to play upon receiving the news and has decided to sit out the match after coach Ricky Stuart gave him the option to have this weekend off.
Sources close to Maitua said it was still likely he will return to Eels training on Monday, although the coming 72 hours will be a crucial indicator to how the entire team will react after the biggest player clean-out in the club's 66-year history.
Fellow co-captain Jarryd Hayne yesterday launched an extraordinarily candid attack on the humiliating manner in which the club informed the dozen players they were no longer wanted.
While he understood the axe was inevitable after such a sustained run of poor results, Hayne could not comprehend why the victims needed to be informed of their fate in front of their peers at Wednesday morning's team meeting.
"What happened (on Wednesday) and how it happened was very disappointing," Hayne said.
"I was taken aback by the way it went down.
"It was disappointing to have mates and teammates put on show like that."
Eels CEO Ken Edwards and new chairman Steve Sharp stood alongside Stuart, who delivered the grim news.
The Daily Telegraph understands the club's new board appointed the trio to a "retention committee" shortly after being elected on May 11.
They gathered the entire first-grade squad on Wednesday morning, before splitting the team into three groups - Yes, No and Maybe.
Maitua, hooker Matt Keating, Matt Ryan and Willie Tonga were all classified as maybes - players who could still be retained should their form improve.
Cheyse Blair, Daniel Harrison, Luke Kelly, Ben Roberts, Ben Smith, Pat O'Hanlon and Nathan Smith were all told there was no future at the Eels beyond this year.
Asked how the team would respond, Hayne deadpanned: "I don't know."
He repeated the same answer when asked if they could beat the high-flying Roosters.
"It will be tough on them to play (tonight), knowing your club doesn't want you," Hayne said.
"Being told that in front of staff and your peers - it would be extremely hard."
Despite the embarrassment of Hayne's remarks, Edwards last night denied any problem with the NSW Origin fullback's decision to lash out in defence of his teammates.
"He's being honest and he's close to many of the players who received the tough news," Edwards said.
"The whole joint is hurting. It's not an easy time."
Let's smash these farkers while they are down!
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