Former Knights and Sydney Roosters playmaker Brock Lamb has been linked to a possible return to junior club Maitland amid suggestions he has been considering quitting the NRL.
Lamb has spoken to the Maitland Pickers club about the possibility of playing in the Newcastle RL competition this year if he was to walk away from a new deal he signed with the Parramatta Eels early last month.
Pickers officials aren't commenting about a potential deal for Lamb and coach Matt Lantry could not be contacted by the Newcastle Herald yesterday. But it's understood the club has already been exploring a couple of job opportunities for the 22-year-old should he opt to quit the Eels.
"It all hinges on him deciding if he wants to stick it out and continue to chase his NRL dream," one source said. "That's a decision only Brock can make."
Lamb signed a two year deal with the Eels in early December. It followed three seasons in the Knights senior ranks, where he played 32 NRL games, and a stint with the Sydney Roosters in 2019.
After just one appearance off the bench for the Roosters, Lamb was released mid-year to join English Super League club London Broncos, who were relegated at the end of last season.
He signed a modest development contract with the Eels for 2020 but has a guaranteed top 30 spot for 2021. However, he faces stiff competition for a top grade berth with Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown an established halves pairing. Eels player list manager Peter Sharp said he is not aware of any issues surrounding Lamb and his contract with the club.
"I've been away but I've heard nothing," Sharp said. "No-one has contacted me about Brock."
Lamb is managed by Gavin Orr, who late last month had his accreditation cancelled by the NRL for alleged breaches relating to the salary cap.
Maitland has been one of the big movers in the local player market during the off-season after enticing premiership-winning coach Lantry to the club at the end of last season .
They signed Wests grandfinal trio Alex Langbridge, Pat Mata'utia and Chad O'Donnell as well as Langbridge's brother Daniel and Kurri's Jarom Haines prior to Christmas. Lamb would be a huge roster inclusion if his signing was to eventuate.
Ironically, only two seasons ago, former Knights hooker Adam Clydsdale walked away from a contract with the Canberra Raiders and played with Maitland in the local comp, winning the player of the year award in 2018.
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