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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Re-sign Apa, its simple. The kid has alot of raw talent. He plays whats in front of him and has a footy brain. He can play anywhere in the back line and is even big enough to play lock. Yes he has some errors in his game, but there is more up side to him.
If he is patient enough to wait 1 more season, there'll be plenty of opportunities around the corner for him.
On another note tom duffy killed it tonight for brisbane. I bet madge must be thinking why did i sign pezet
Like Ethan Sanders, who after one game people were annointing breakout star of the year. Ever since Round 1 he had a good Round 2 and has been average since.
1 game does not make a player.
We are only now seeing some of the halves who were highly touted years ago start to come good after refining their game in reserve grade or struggling for years such as Tannah Boyd and Jake Clifford. They still aren't great halves but are much more confident and consistent now.
Ethan should have stayed and he could be learning from Moses, but he went looking for an easy path to a debut and it backfired. He now has another young and inexperienced half in Strange which will slow both their develop down.
Was Twidle debut as good as Fa'alogo for Melbourne. Is he better prospect than Iongi who waited behind Edwards. Players who wait and develop without rushing their debut, starting roles or big money early are seeing the benefit of it over young players rushed through.
If he wants to leave and chase a starting spot or first choice back up for fullback behind an injury prone or older fullback we won't be able to stop him as we have a young fullback on long contract and it doesn't matter who we have in the front office unless we offer stupid money he will probably leave. Hopefully he wants to stay and turns into a gun winger or centre by playing in NSW cup with opportunities in NRL at centre or wing. Getting Matto off the cap should help us retain some players like Twidle but is money better spent on strengthening our middle with experience?
Players like Fa'alogo and Iongi were happy to develop at a successful club waiting for their chance. We are not a successful club so will lose some players like Twidle over the next year or 2, but the players willing to wait and develop for a Parra jersey will be much better for the club long term.
Realistically Ryles knows with our recruitment problems he isn't going to win a premiership in first 2-3 years although I'm sure he would love to and is trying to. He is setting the eels up for long term success through pathways and player connection to the club that has been missing for decades.
I much prefer to see what Ryles is doing at Parra over Flanagan at Saints. Flanagan who many here wanted over Ryles chased older players to try and secure his future with top 8 finishes hoping the older players would then help the clubs young guns develop. Rye results will mean saints are and will continue to lose promising juniors. Ryles is playing the long game and even if there is short term pain many can see what he is setting up. It would be awesome if Parra could sneak under Saints radar and grab the Couchman twins while Saints are in downward spiral but not sure their contract status and we don't have an uncle Nick.
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