There has been plenty of discussion this year about our approach to recruitment and retention.
Both Jim and Matt Beech have been forthright in the focus being on bringing through juniors. Despite that we've seen external signings during the season such as Dylan Walker, Tallyn Da Silva and Jack de Belin (for 2026).
What remains though is a focus on who will partner Mitchell Moses in the halves in round 1 2026.
Joash Papalii and Dean Hawkins have both featured at 5/8 this season alongside Moses. The club has also recruited Ronald Volkman who partnered Matt Hunter in the halves in NSW Cup, while Lorenzo Talataina has made the jump to NSW Cup with aplomb.
So, you're now the GM.
What's your recruitment/retention look like when it comes to our 5/8 for 2026 and into the future. You can't just be selecting for 2026, you need to map out your 5/8 until the end of 2029, when Moses' contract finishes.
Right now you have on the books:
- Dean Hawkins
- Joash Papalii
- Ronald Volkman
- Lorenzo Talataina
- Josh Lynn
- Apa Twidle
Talataina has been highly touted in recent years, most notably taking out the SG Ball Player of the Year award in 2025, before jumping from Ball to Flegg and into NSW Cup.
Hawkins has filled in at halfback and 5/8 this year, with the Eels playing some of their most consistent footy with Footy Dean in the halves.
Volkman was tossed into the deep end, having to begin the year in the halves in NRL after more than 12 months off due to a shoulder injury. Closer watches of NSW Cup have said Volkman is working his way back to consistent form as the Eels have moved into second.
Papalii has gone from exciting development prospect to playing fullback, five-eighth and off the bench in first grade. Jason Ryles has said Papalii remains part of the club's plans.
Josh Lynn spent 9 games in NSW Cup in 2024 but has dropped back to Flegg this year, managing just 3 games in reserve grade. It appears as though he has dropped down the pecking order.
Apa Twidle is a known name around Eels lower grades. Having joined the club in 2023, he was the fullback in that side's SG Ball premiership win. Since then he has shifted from Flegg to NSW Cup in both the halves and at fullback. This season though he has played at fullback all season in NSW Cup.
Over to you. Who is your 2026 5/8 and which halves are you retaining or recruiting to the end of 2029?
Replies
Ryles need a top 8, even top 4 next year. Hawkins is ok, wont get you into finals i feel. Joash neither, he is work in progress.
For me, no brainer, grab Sandon Smith for 2026 five eight, then after that he moves to lock when Talataina ready. Walker will be gone probably 2027-2028 so a perfect fit.
Still need a damaging center. I hear we are chasing someone, but he aint damaging like we need
I am hoping it is Marwene Hiroti from the Sharks. He is the centre we should be chasing.
As for 5/8, if we could land Jayden Campbell we are a top 8 or top 4 side. Papalii should be back up only. Talataina is still an unknown and may take time.
We also need a Naufahu Whyte type player, but there isn't much out there. We really lack an enforcer in the middle.
While we are at it, Beau Fermor or Talakai wouldn't be too bad either.
We do have some good juniors coming through, but with a decent war chest we should be chasing some quality to at least compete for a Premiership. If the juniors want to be part of it they will have to bide there time. Injuries always offer an opportunity so our juniors can step up when needed.
I think we need a top quality Prop. Haas would be the game changer but that is not happening. Tino is very good but I think he is spiralling down with the titans at the moment. We need a centre that has speed and can defend . PENISINI is not doing it for me any more as he approaches 100 games or whatever. He misses too many tackles and doesnt work well with his wingers whoever they may be. JAC has had little quality ball all year to be honest. Continued harbour bridge balls giving him a metre of space not going well for his longevity either.
The game RYLES is looking at playing relies heavily on completion rates over 80% and almost 95% tackle effeciency. When we play well, we transition from attack to defence and back very well. MOSES kicking game remains the key. Arm wrestle games rely on doing the 1% right EVERY GAME. At the moment we have too many players who can not maintain the concentration, discipline or desire to do that like the top 4 side side do every week.
WE are certainly moving in the right direction. This next pre season and with carefully targeted recruits could be the most significant thing to happen to our club for many years. The Pathways is going well IMO. Very good crop emerging. You need 1-4 to come through together to balance out the salary cap, allowing the purchase of a top tier player and to plan for the next few years to avoid the vacuam that will come with the two new sides.
I have been a big fan of Lorenzo. He is a special. However, he is kid who needs to be given a full pre season and have his body get used to being targeted EVERY GAME. What I like about him is that he is a kid that plays what is in front of him and risk/rewards of short short blind side runs has paid off for him at each level he has progressed to.
Jack D is a good signing. He is a high energy footballer. He will be very good for the team. I also think our rookie KAUTOGA improved in leaps and bounds in his first year. Another one that can go from being a hole filler to a game breaker due to his ability to hit holes, pass before and after line.
I've been a proponent for years that Parra need to open there eyes and widen there gaze around recruitment.Super and Provincial Rugby in NZ the islands Fiji in particular World 7s circuit first 15 rugby in NZ add these as viewing spots to add and recruit more talent.
I hate seeing other clubs do it and we seemingly are sitting on our hands.
I mean 10 years ago we had a bloke from Fiji named Semi Radradra who became the best winger since Grothe Snr to play on the wing for Parra and became the most damaging ball runner in the nrl.We got alot of good years out of Maika Sivo both guys won games scored tries and became cult figures for fans.The mentioned screaming the house down for these guys yet here we are yet to go back to that talent well.
If I'm the GM this is what I'm doing I'm sending my scouts to the mentioned stages and going hunting for talent instead of hoping we find this in a saturated player market that every nrl club is looking at.
The player I would have kept was Matt Hunter who will likely be Newcastle 1/2 next year in a position we needed rather than a hooker when that position was covered. Talataina is who we go with but I have not seen much of a kicking game. While we persist with a side so small across the park no half 5/8 is going to shine. We need 3 boppers 2 in the forwards and 1 at least in the backs but they also need to be fast. I would love to know the speed over 40 metres for each player in club. What the Souths game showed to me was a lack of size and speed in both the forwards and the backs. I am not convinced yet about either Iongi or Papalii both fullbacks. With Iongi he should have scored at least twice but lacked the speed and or power to do so and at 22 he should have that by now. Staggering to see how much speed and power that Talagi has gained in his time at Penrith (hmmmm).
I'd chase Jayden Campbell or Sandon Smith
Id be doing everything thing I can to get Katoa to us to play 6/7. Once our spine is settled we can focus on other areas with what money is left.
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