3 New Signings

The Parramatta Eels are pleased to announce the signings of three new players who will commence training in the 2021 pre-season.

Centre Tom Opacic has agreed to a one year deal with the Eels.

Tom made his NRL debut in 2016 for the Brisbane Broncos and has spent the past two seasons playing for the North Queensland Cowboys in his 43 NRL game career.

Isaiah Papali’i has agreed to a two year deal, after playing 59 NRL games for the Warriors since 2017.

He has also represented New Zealand and Samoa.

Hooker Joey Lussick has also agreed to a one year deal after spending time in the Eels pathways in 2014 and 2015.

He went on to make his NRL debut for Manly in 2017 and has spent the last three seasons in the UK Super League playing for Salford.

Parramatta Eels General Manager of Football Mark O’Neill said, “We are excited to welcome Tom, Isaiah and Joey and I have no doubt that these three men will be a great cultural fit with our Club.”

“All players will add class, depth and balance to our overall squad and they will be relocating from their current destinations in readiness for the 2021 pre-season,” O’Neill said.

"Yep Coryn, I think development reliant clubs that invest heavily in development need more protection from the NRL.I don't know what that protection looks like other then expanding on the $5000 poaching fee or 10% of the top 30 contract. At the end…"

"Your last sentence is an interesting one Kenny, that when i think about it, could ring true to a degree. Although some must have that capability with 60 Panthers Pathway juniors contracted to other NRL clubs right now. Thats a massive contribution…"

In recent times, it is becoming obvious that the power brokers at the Eels see our junior pathways, as our path to future glory and probably rightly so. We see new full time coaching staff / Eels scouts across the country and scholarships for…

Replies

- - colin hussey October 22, 2020 at 6:25pm
    
    Who or what is Fafita? Mexican corn bread, Tortilla or similar? Do they have legs, maybe the chilli sauce might give some speed.
    
    Just to add to it Pops, there are a couple of NRL players named Fifita though unless its the Sharks version that cannot hold his wind in.
    - This reply was deleted.
      - colin hussey October 22, 2020 at 9:08pm
        
        https://www.zerotackle.com/rugby-league/players/david-fifita/ Note the spelling of his name Pops.
        
        Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" > colin hussey October 23, 2020 at 7:57am
        
        Poppa just scrolls through them all colin
        
        Fee, Fa, Fi, fumble.
        
        This reply was deleted.
        
        colin hussey October 23, 2020 at 10:38am
        
        That avatar comes straight out of old dementured pundits, love to see you with the hair do & moe, apologies though as I can now see the real you and age appropriated.
the Eggman October 22, 2020 at 1:35pm

May I ask tho,why we let Schneider go and I haven't seen him play but some had wraps on him, then sign lussick?
- Wild_Eels > the Eggman October 22, 2020 at 1:40pm
  
  Mostly injury concern. Don't worry though if he goes well somewhere else, we will buy him back
  - Parrapete > Wild_Eels October 23, 2020 at 1:50pm
    
    I heard he has gone to the dogs
    - Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" > Parrapete October 23, 2020 at 3:14pm
      
      Everybody is going to the dogs, just like us.
- SuperEel 22 > the Eggman October 22, 2020 at 1:56pm
  
  Probably wanted a replacement who has been playing footy regularly and didn't spend a good chunk of the last year injured.
Colin Good October 22, 2020 at 4:02pm

Papalil May have been DUI ,haven't we all been guilty of something silly that we did in our early twenties,I wouldn't hold that against him.