- 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! Hope Nanva is not next. He showed enough and he is unsigned I believe.
Though to some here EA, no such thing as blocked path.
EA, is this the case of Sanders and Talagi happening again? If we are that good in developing players, why are we not in the top 8 at least. We spend money, time and effort in developing them but in the end, other teams are getting the benefit from it. There is something wrong in the way to sell our plans to these junior players. Hopefully, it can be remedied and retain them. Panthers are able to do it someway.
Throwing big 3 year deals at 3rd string fullbacks or 5/8s is how you ruin your cap.
Great attacking player with big defensive flaws and still a lot of erratic play. Sad to see him go but Lorenzo and Bamblet are higher potential and seen as worth investing in more.
Bears apparently have Toby Sexton @ 7. But at FB they have Meaney and @6 they have Tyran Wishart. If Twidle wants 1 or 6 his path is competing with utility players, and maybe he thinks he has a better shot at FG at Bears vs Iongi in his path to FB and Papalii or Lorenzo in the mix for 6?
He will be the 6
Wishart was rumoured to have signed to play Hooker.
This will come back to bite us.
So basically we invested/wasted in a rookie Pezet for a year. We don't give Lorenzo a run and now we let go one of the more versatile youngster, who we could have trialed at no.6 or in the centres.
Zip, your comment rings bells. I was unsure about Pez dispenser tbh, and his injruy unfortunate as it is has not made things better. I would have preferred we keep the kid too and looked at Pap as starting 5/8 firstly. Injuries etc have hurt.
I come back to the Brown deal being a joke and then it cost us a couple of backs (Talagi and Co) and then we lose this kid while Pez is here.
Lorenzo is the long-term halves option and Twidle sees himself as a half. Would you rather lose Lorenzo? You're going to see more of this as new clubs enter the competition. Any young guy that performs is instantly going to have their value inflated. If clubs are offering contracts based off a 20 minute NRL cameo then you're operating blind as a recruiter. The coaches and development staff who have overseen Twidle's development would have a better idea of his ceiling in relation to that of Talataina.
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