Eels, Sea Eagles set for player swap ahead of 2023 NRL season

Fairfax Media is reporting the Manly Sea Eagles and Parramatta Eels are set to trade Morgan Harper and Nathan Brown prior to the beginning of the 2023 NRL season.

Both players were reportedly given permission to negotiate with rival clubs in 2022.

Brown has been the centre of multiple trade and signing rumours following his mysterious dropping from the Eels’ first-grade side in 2022.

The experienced forward played from rounds two to 14, only then to be seen in round 17 and the NRL Grand Final, where it appears he played his last game for the club.

Brown is now being linked to the Sea Eagles, who have recently had new head coach Anthony Seibold come on board along with assistant coach Shane Flanagan, formerly in the top job at the Sharks.

Brown would join forward Jake Trbojevic at the Sea Eagles, bringing a type of aggression and power game the club lacks.

He also brings experience and leadership, having captained Italy in the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.

Harper, meanwhile, appears to have been on the outer at Manly since he was belted by Sharks centre Siosifa Talakai at PointsBet Stadium in round seven.

The former Bulldog missed three tackles and made three more ineffective attempts in that game as the Sharks stormed to a 32-0 lead at half-time.

Harper would be a welcome addition to the Eels as cover in their outside backs with Waqa Blake currently injured and Marata Niukore making the move to the New Zealand Warriors.

Harper was last seen on the field for the Maori All-Stars against the Indigenous All-Stars last Saturday in Rotorua, where he ran for over 120m on the wing and registered a tackle break, two offloads and just one missed tackle.

The one hurdle the two sides seem to face is a financial one, as reports suggest Brown is currently earning roughly double Harper’s annual salary.

However, despite the disparity in pay, interest remains between the two clubs to get the trade done.

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