- 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
Muttman, spot on with effort wins. Its not sustainable and you get found out. Talent and effort wins comps neither one on its own can win a comp. We need both and then so much more to go right.
100% agree on all, Coryn.
Sorry boyz and Daz I don't mean to have a go here but it infuriates me that we lose the best player we developed in a decade infuriates me it's just not a winning move.
Especially when we lose him and don't have a plan after losing him fail in the Galvin chase use the rent a player in Pezet and now it's pray Talataina is the second coming when in all essence the time frame with DB and Moses was there to be exploited but we manage to fark ourselves.It does my head in.They don't want fans to throw stones but don't give them stones they give them god damn rocks to throw in there glass house it's unbelieveable how inept that move was.
With Moses & DB and a team round them we went to a god damn GF has everyone forgot that bit now look at us trying to stay out of the bottom 6 and still don't have an answer at 6 for yet another year.God knows what's in store next year god knows.
All while Mitchell gets a year older and more mileage on his tires tick tock.
Absolutely fair, Coryn.
This was the issue facing us 14 months ago, and this is where we are.
https://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/the-dylan-brown-conundrum
NOS, I just burned through that Feb 2025 blog and did not find a single comment saying Brown is a bad 5/8. Some criticisms were his inconsistency and off-field behaviour. Also that he is not a 7 but no biggie he is a 6.
My favourite comment in the blog though was Muttman's vociferous attack on Brown for how Brown handled the saga. Now of course Muttman is saying it was the contract and thus the club. I just dig it when the hypocrisy is laid bare
Daz, again, I never said 'everyone said he was a crap/bad 5/8th', I said the criticisms far exceeded his 'value as a potential halfback' - will try find a blog ASAP Daz, just can't currently.
NOS, what would we be establishing if you went hunting for blog comments? That might be unnecessary work for you in the end.
I think the blog of yours that Coryn re-upped was great. Lots of data on Brown. Fair points that critique was unfounded.
My point is that I think the blog so good that IF there was a strong current of 1EE opinion that Brown was a poor 5/8, we agree we can reasonably expect that view to emerge in such a dedicated and thorough blog? But it doesn't. Just some minor critiques about consistency or leading the team in the absence of Moses.
Yes there would have been some "Brown is an awful 5/8". I reckon your excellent blog shows those views were rare.
I suspect you know I didn't scapegoat him, so that's out as a division point as well? That just leaves us debating the extent to which Brown sold himself as a #7. And on that front neither of us has access to his mind or to the behind the scenes chats. As I said we are making inference and all inferences involve some assumptions.
I am happy to make my assumptions transparent. I assume - inference to the best explanation - his huge pay (A1) and wearing 7 all year (A2) indicate he sold himself as a #7. Also Sharpe started at 6 (A3). Also Smith started at 14 and has filled in at half or hooker or utility as one might expect when the coach thinks he has his 7 sorted (A4). So four assumptions, all out in the open.
Note why does any of it matter? Because NOT scapegoating Brown was relevant to "don't critique me for criticizing the scapegoaters on grounds that I too scapegoated"! But also, crucially, if Brown was selling himself to Knights as either #7 (specifically) or as marquee top dog (generally), might that have impacted the ability of the Eels to get him to stay with his contract out to 2031 and delete the player options? Might the Eels been confronted with a version of Brown wanting to be top dog but the Eels saying they could not afford to elevate him over Moses?
Hey Daz,
For sure, that blog wasn't about our discussion (just for reference), it was for Coryn & around the fears we had about what happens if DB leaves.
Let’s agree to disagree though - I know for a fact the DB criticism wasn't limited to his game as a ‘halfback’, and wasn’t rare - how? Because myself, along with Pops & Coryn, argued with a lot of posters on ridiculous criticisms - Wiz and I especially. Just a few snippets where you can already see the criticism goes beyond being a 7.
https://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/dyl-brown-is-not-a-no-6-there...
https://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/ba-s-axing-unfair-dbrown
https://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/d-brown-looks-lost
One of your best here haha did get a laugh out of this one… Did you just mean he's a 'juvenile moron' as a halfback, not a 6?
NOS, I agree DB leaving was a failure to adequately secure a position (5/8). The player options were bad ideas but it's also true DB did not reciprocate the faith and trust placed in him.
Good find above. I stand by it. We know I didn't say he was a bad 5/8. Nor did I blame him for the team performance (I blamed BA failing to adjust). But that was a shocking interview and Brown was being a juvenile moron per se, regardless of position on the field!
I still suspect, based on Brown leaving for a gazillion dollars, that he pushed for too much cash from the Eels and got a "you're not Moses" reply. And if we were able to take him hostage and beat it out of him - hypothetically of course - I reckon he sold Knights a vision of him as chief cook and bottle washer.
PS: did not go through threads but you mention Wiz in connection to absurd claims Brown wasn't a good 5/8 and I certainly buy that IF there were a group making that claim, f***wits like Wiz would have been there for it. So in that sense I stand corrected. Because Wiz is a total f***wit I can imagine him leading a circle jerk saying Brown could not play 5/8. My error here is having tried to block from memory some of the f***wits booted from the site. Sue me LOL
Wonder if Apa didn't come off injured after his debut, if Ryles would've given him a bash at 6 last week?? Very unfortunate timing with his injury perhaps? Or would we have never given him a chance there?
from what we've seen of gutsy Joash he ain't the one in that posi yet, Volkman did well in his opportunity. Hope he continues. Lorenzo will need to get on there very soon but understand at same time, can't just throw him into a mess either (as it was v titans).
Clearly, this year ain't gonna be our gf contest ... my hopes for this year are our young keepers get a good shot and hold them in good stead for future with some experience under their belts. The ones that are worthy are then immediately locked up.
So when back, that would Pezet hangs out in reserves until Moses is out for origin or injury and we prioritise our perceived keepers only.APA no more air time either sadly.
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