- 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
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?
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.
It's a blog about the guy that is leaving but why not a blog about the guy that is staying? Good luck to Apa T, he looks promising and his first grade debut was fantastic warm fuzzies and all. But while Lorenzo T is not Olsen Filipaina in size, one thing stands out in his highlights. And it is NOT just the speed and evasiveness of his running game. It is how late into the line he digs in his passing game. Which I believe is #1 in the list of what you want from your 5/8 in attack?
Lorenzo 2025 highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJAiFPGlLUY
What happens with Lorenzo T is of course yet to be determined, but it makes sense why many of those who watch the lower grades have big wraps on him?
Right, so Perth sign Russell and Twidle and we are seen as idiots. But Perth not only have money but are offering more years too. Russell got 4 years and Twidle got 3. Now how can anyone in their right mind match that. Why aren't the top teams nabbing them?
I mentioned this before but in terms of Russell, does it come to mind for anyone that maybe he did what a few other players did and want to test the market? Melbourne let Wishart go for $900k, what a bunch of idiots for not matching a $400k max value player at nearly a mil.
But when players leave, and they will as is the nature of the competition, they will all be used as tomoatoes to be thrown at MON. Who in his time has made some bad choices. His handling of the 2022 off-contract players was poor particularly. But also at the same time Ryles also has say. If Ryles really wants a player to stay the offer to Twidle would be better than what we offered.
Not saying MON is perfect but we have to be real here too. Same with BA bashing, i wanted him gone when he left but i could also admit good things about him. Nobody wants to admit how good of a squad MON built from 2019-2022.
Agreed, LB.
The Eels made the GF in 2001, 2009 and 2022. Basically a great roster every decade! It's fair to want to shorten that, say every half decade. But this whole outbreak of monday morning quarterbacking club officials as if it's a linear, deterministic relation club officials (whomever they are) to on-field success is just scapegoating IMO.
Don't forget that 2005 squad! We had a minor premiership squad in 2001 and 2005 and a grand final team in 2009 and 2022. We just need to ensure we get the right juniors at the right prices through to our NRL side.
If I was to look into a crystal ball and predict our 2028 squad, it might look something like:
1. Iongi
2. Simonsson
3. Penisini
4. Nanva
5. JAC
6. Talataina
7. Moses
8. Moretti
9. Smith
10. Tuivaiti
11. Su'a
12. Williams
13. Hopgood
14. TDS
15. Teancum Brown
16. Guymer
17. Pryke
18. Latu
19. Papalii
20. Fletcher
21. Mataele
22. Talagi
23. Funa-Iuta
24. Bamblett
25. Coinakis
26. Petrus
27. Penisini
28. Koina
29. Dev
30. Dev
Now that's very, very rudimentary and plenty of things could move there. But the vast majority of those players are Eels juniors. And I guarantee you lose some of those guys. With the backrowers coming through we may lose 1 or 2 of those guys.
But the most important thing about your development pathway is that you are getting through more NRL-level players than you can keep. Because it gives you the pick of the crop without getting into a bidding war to keep them.
We have the bones of this at the moment. Talataina, Tuivaiti, Mataele, Pryke, Nanva, Funa-Iuta all either in NRL or around NRL. Now we have to sign/extend these guys. And as I write this Nanva has been extended for a year.
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