Parramatta are facing a battle to keep boom rookie Apa Twidle.
Sport Confidential can reveal Twidle has attracted interest from three NRL rivals in the wake of his stunning two-try debut against the Wests Tigers on Easter Monday.
Twidle’s management has fielded an inquiry from Phil Gould’s Bulldogs and the Dolphins, while Mal Meninga’s Perth Bears are also watching the young gun closely.
Twidle is off-contract at season’s end and has been offered a development deal by the Eels for 2027.
But the Eels may have to up the ante following Twidle’s brilliant baptism against the Tigers, which has piqued the interest of NRL suitors.
The 21-year-old Kiwi is one of the most versatile players in the league, capable of playing wing, centre and in the halves.
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I am under the impression he (Bamblett) is a really good fullback but has failed to impress in other positions as well......I would love someone to tell me we have a backline player who is super fast, a real athlete and football skills you can't imagine.
Just as an aside and back to Twidle, he looks like he can handle wing at FG and we have space and weaknesses there. We will have a much better chance of judging his improvement if he is naturally gifted if he comes into the side on the wing or if circumstances prevail as a fullback, not a 5/8 or centre. That's where we stuffed up with Talagi, square pegs don't fit in round holes.
The gift of signing him now needs to be based on the talent identification that is available within the club, the recruitment process is another matter. That's where people like an O'Sullivan comes to the fore, I think this is one of the real weaknesses historically I see in Parramatta's set up of R&R. If Rogers is the main talent ID man, then great, but we have seen no real evidence yet of how good he is. It is not unimaginable to accept that maybe MON is not such a person, and that administration is more his forte, it would also be equally apparent that negotiation skils given the tools (no pun) he has to work are also not one of his strengths. The coach has to be the guide back to the CEO if all these matters are not satisfactory in his eyes.
I am sorry but these are basic management skils that Jim Saratinos needs to be all over.
Pops, hypothetical. I'm Twiddle's manager. You're administration. Everyone else is sacked. What do you do or say to keep my client? The kid would love to stay, but he wants more first grade opportunities.
I think signing him for two years on a top 30 deal would be enough to keep him. He could be a Centre option or a 6 option or replace Joash if he goes in 2028. But at the same time if he feels he can start elsewhere then so be it.
But at the moment i doubt any club are looking at Twidle to be their starting Fullback just yet.
He will get them Mr Manager, I have spoken to the coach about him and he is very enthuisastic starting on the wing and if he performs to the level we think he can, then he will be a threat to every incumbent player.
We see a great future here full of development and care of his position, career and young family. First Grade opportunities are coming we just had a winger go down for the season last week. If Twidle wasn't injured after that performance he would be in first grade this weekend.It will be a perfect development opportunity in First Grade!!
Hoey that's what I say to his Manager! along with, By the way, we are currently looking at his contract and we will be addressing this with a view to a full contract as soon as practical.
In addition we are looking at your current accomodation needs and knowing you have a young family, we think we can come up with something on a rental buy situation that could work well with your resultant salary increase. We also know that your wife being a young mother has a lot of things on her plate and we will arrange a housekeeper to come in twice a week to help out where needed, she will also be a qualified baby sitter, that can be available if you have any social requirements to keep the family happy.
Hoey, are you feeling "warm and fuzzy" yet.....I can come up with more benefits if you want LOL
PS How is mum and dad handling those trips back and forwards from NZ, if you like we can fly them over for games every month or so and they can see the grandkids/at the same time. If they want to move from NZ we can also make arrangements for setting them up.
What are your personal study requirements, are you looking to do a course that will fit in with your training schedule. We can interimly get you into a public speaking course and media management, anything that can make you more confident of your career at Parramatta and a post football vocation!
I agree that Twidle would be able to handle Wing full-time.
Riley Davis is no slouch either. He reminds me so much of Wlash when he runs the ball.
Yep, I knew we would lose either Apa or Iongi. Can't have 2 fullbacks.
Or Iongi? What made you think we would lose Iongi since he signed til 2030?
This is a classic case of manager doing what's best for his client. It is their job and they also get incentive too. Since he has now played FG, scoring a double too, his price has gone up. It wouldn't surprise me if the Dogs talk happened ages ago but now he has debuted they are twisting the knife to Parra for a better deal, preferably a top 30 deal for 2027-28. Dogs and Dolphins links do not make Twidle be in a better position considering both clubs already have Fullbacks, Hammer and Tracey (About to re-sign).
Is Twidle worth a top 30 spot? Yeah i think so, based on versitility alone. He would be handy on a top 30 deal for a few seasons and see if he wins a spot somewhere in the 17. He is a perfect player for that 19 spot as that emergency utility type.
But before losing our minds and finger pointing, the manager is doing what all managers should be doing. Parra offered dev deal, which is very common from us offering a dev deal then top 30 next year after; Funa-Iuta, Latu, Talataina all have those deals and Tago had that with top 30 this year. Does that happen with Twidle now? I doubt it, might have to be top 30 for two years.
Let it play out a little more, i believe with Ryles playing him (Yes there were injuries) shows he likes him somewhat, sometimes it takes opportunities for players to show how good they actually are.
× The Matterson debacle
× The Dylan Brown f up
× The failure to sign high tier players repeatedly great cap space
× Blaze Talagi
× Not securing Russell before the Nov 1 deadline
× Sam Tuivaiti ( our number 1 long term prop) able to speak to opposition teams this season
× Twidle- obvious great talent not tied up. And now chased by many clubs
Can Mark O’Neill be trusted with overseeing recruitment and retention yes or no ?
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