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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Ritchie can't stay fit for long enough to get a run.
I like what ive seen un attack from Apa id say wing would be a option to begin but if he chooses to go for a better opportunity and cash especially as a young father you can't blame
2024 was Richie's chance for FG. If he didn't do his ACL he would have gotten hefty game time, instead of the likes of Tago and Mulitalo.
Injuries are getting the better of him and it is a shame.
Well done Parra see if you can loose this young star, as Parra's track record is not the best when it comes to signing & keeping talent.
Grow a set & show the other NRL clubs you mean buisness when it come to players recruitment
This time last week no one was talking about Apa and what his contract situation is.
He debuts and scores 2 tries and he's immediately apparently talking to other clubs.
His agent wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't having some unofficial chats and leaking this to the media - the kid just debuted and scored 2 tries in no time at all and put himself on all the highlight reels.
It's just a bit disappointing that the headline wasn't a puff piece about a proud Parra boy who shared his awesome story of resiliance living away from home to pursue a dream and how much he loves the Eels for helping him realise that dream. And instead it leads with him effectively being a gun for hire and entertaining offers.
I don't blame Apa or his manager. Would have been nice if we'd been on the front foot with the narrative though.
Cappy, you don't blame Apa or his Manager but you blame MON.......Please explain what you would like for him to have done and now do?
Anyone wetting their pants over Twidle hasn't seen Cameron Bamblett play.
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.
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