- 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
Agree, I've already said my piece in a earlier blog, this kid showed his class already, we are all hoping these other 'super talents' that haven't played first grade as yet do similar.
I think Apa will be a very good first grader.
How would you have pitched it to him to stay Mutt? Genuinely, how would you sell Apa on staying if you were Football Manager?
"Stay at the Eels on less money to be our 3rd back up fullback. Why would you join a club offering you more money where your path to FG is more open?"
Pretty convincing sell?
Who says he had to be our 3rd place FB? We've waited years for him to debut and punted him straight after. What was literally the point?
They obviously don't want him hence the offer. Is that a good call? Who knows. But it's not as if we're brimming with rep quality outside backs at our club.
So you would have paid Russell $650k?
Should we go for Josh Curran as a centre instead? We might get him for 350k. He's very good and we save money.
We have two NRL centre spots we need to fill with high quality NRL level players. If not Russell, who?
He's not a centre and what he dished up the other night should be enough to give any coach a moment of pause.
That was negligence on Ciraldo's part more so.
I was being sarcastic mate. Curran was shit at centre which wasn't really his fault. I was just highlighting that we had a very decent centre in Russell and let him walk. So who's next, Kelly?
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