Parramatta great Brett Kenny has urged the Eels to part ways with troubled star Semi Radradra.
Not for the first time this year, Radradra’s future is up in the air and he is being linked with a move to European rugby union.
French club Toulon said on their website on Monday night that the former Australian winger had inked a deal to join them next year, a move denied by his manager George Christodoulou.
Kenny said after an annus horribilis 2016, the Eels deserved fresh air and were better off without the try-scoring machine.
“I’m getting tired of Semi now,” Kenny told Fox Sports.
“It’s something the club doesn’t need. They were in turmoil last football season and they want to start fresh and get on with what they’ve got to do.
“I think it’s time for Semi to say goodbye to Parramatta or more so for Parramatta to say goodbye to Semi.”
Kenny argued Radradra was becoming too much of a distraction for the club.
“They’ve got some good young players down there and you can’t afford to have someone going on the way Semi’s going on,” Kenny said.
Earlier in the year Radradra was linked with an immediate move to rugby union while on a club-sanctioned hiatus in his native Fiji.
Toulon announced on its website the Parramatta winger will join the Top 14 club next year for their new season starting in August.
However Christodoulou was quick to deny a deal with the 24-year-old, who is contracted to the Eels for the 2017 NRL season, had been done.
Toulon’s multi-million euro squad includes Wallabies Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, James O’Connor and Liam Gill.
Radrada also faces possibility of being issued an arrest warrant over his non-appearance in a Sydney court on domestic violence charges on Monday.
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal is on record as saying Radradra’s move was on after he signed signed a one-year contract with an optional extra year.
Radradra left for his native Fiji late last week with the Eels’ permission to visit his father, who has pulmonary tuberculosis.
He was due in Parramatta Local Court on Monday to answer three charges of domestic violence brought by his former partner Perina Ting.
But the magistrate was not satisfied with Radradra’s absence, citing the nature of his father’s illness as ongoing.
Radradra’s arrest warrant will be held over until Thursday, offering the Kangaroos winger the opportunity to explain his non-appearance.