- Rising Apa Twidle will leave the Parramatta Eels at the end of 2026 after agreeing to a three-year deal with the new Perth Bears (joining in 2027).
- The deal is in a cooling-off period, but he’s expected to go ahead with it because the offer is significantly better.
- Twidle burst onto the scene with a standout debut (2 tries in 3 minutes), which attracted strong interest from multiple clubs.
- Parramatta reportedly only offered a low-value development contract (~$80k), while Perth provided better financial security and opportunity.
- A key factor: the Bears are offering him a chance to play in the halves, rather than being used as a utility/backline option.
- He becomes one of the early signings helping build the Bears’ inaugural squad under coach Mal Meninga.
Bottom line:
Parramatta unearthed a serious talent, but underpaid and under-positioned him—Perth stepped in with money, role clarity, and long-term security, and likely pinched him.
Replies
Exactly Super people have got to realise it's the nature of the beast
Lorenzo is tiny. Chris Sandow 2.0. Sack mark O'Neil. This is terrible management.
Also Iongi has to be one of the most overrated players in the entire nrl. Why does he have a mortgage on the fullback role?
Calling it now. Twidle will be a better player than Lorenzo or Iongi in 5 years time, and parra will be spewing they let the next Tedesco go for free. Lorenzo will be in the superleague or gone to park footy in 5 years time. Iongi will be nothing special either.
I think he maybe called Nostradamus
What if Ryles is the one that said to MON he wants Lorenzo?
The main job of MON is to provide players for Ryles, if Ryles said he wants Lorenzo, MON will put attention into Lorenzo.
I agree that keeping Twiddle wasn't a priority. It is optically poor to lose him right after a highlight reel debut but it is what it is.
A clarification LB, the main job of MON is to make the Eels football successful, not to appease the Head Coach. MON and Ryles should have healthy disagreements. Two brains should be better than one.
I swear MONs role seems to get more and more diminished by the week. Soon he'll be doing his job if he just gets out of bed. Joking but also kinda not joking.
It's a joke that's funny 'cause it's true
Spot on Super. From what i've seen and heard, The Bears don't have a capable football department running the show (apparently he's an ex cop) so making decisions like this is on the cards as they're looking to build depth through swinging and hoping for the best.
I wouldn't be too confident in Mal Meninga as the coach at all.
He is a fair way down the pecking order and you can't keep them all. Players come and go
Fair enough bit more opportunity got depth in halves and got 2 fullbacks. From what we are seeing more talent is coming in terms of centres
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