Not long after fielding a call from Isaac Moses, the manager of rising rookie Blaize Talagi, and processing the news that they didn’t want to hear, the Parramatta hierarchy was left in a position they never want to be in again.
Talagi had decided the chance to replace Jarome Luai at arch-rivals Penrith was a more appealing prospect than replacing Clint Gutherson as the long-time fullback at the Eels. It is a knockback the blue and golds didn’t see coming and is a significant setback for Jason Ryles.
The incoming coach has been working in the background since finishing up early at the Storm, adding dual-code player and coach Scott Wisemantel and premiership-winning prop Sam Moa to a new-look brains trust.
However, the signature Ryles most craved was that of Talagi, a rookie-of-the-year contender who has been a rare bright spot for a club in danger of finishing the season with the wooden spoon.
Parramatta’s pitch to Talagi was compelling: an average salary of $525,000 over the next three years for a teenager who has made 13 first-grade appearances.
The counter-offer from the Panthers, a clandestine bid hatched several weeks ago, also held appeal. This was a chance to play alongside Nathan Cleary at a club in a premiership window rather than one embarking on a rebuild.
However, the Eels felt they could do no more. They had fast-tracked Talagi’s debut, the skipper was prepared to step aside from his preferred position and officials spent time at his hospital bedside after the local junior suffered a collapsed lung in a City-Country under-age match.
So when Moses informed Parramatta of his client’s decision on Tuesday morning, it wasn’t the call they were expecting. While there is a 10-day cooling-off period, it will take longer still for Parramatta powerbrokers to cool down after the lengthy negotiations. During that time, they have missed out on the opportunity to move on contingency plans, such as back-up Dolphins custodian Trai Fuller.
Unfortunately for the Eels, the news could get worse. Much worse.
Moses also manages his namesake and relative, Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses, as well as fellow star Will Penisini. Like Talagi, both have “options” in their contracts that allow them to become free agents long before their contracts expire. The agent also has some of the best young talent in the Parramatta catchment area on his books.
While the club may wish to see the back of Isaac Moses, they may instead see the back of the Moses they wish to retain. After steering NSW to State of Origin glory, the only box left to tick for Mitchell Moses is a premiership. If his manager is prepared to steer the promising Talagi away from Parramatta, why would he keep his gun client there if there isn’t a rapid recovery under Ryles?
Parramatta have indicated they will steer away from the “option” contract clauses that are there for agents to exploit. However, there could yet be more damage done. The players the club is trying to rid itself of, Ryan Matterson and Maika Sivo, have activated clauses to stay.
The players the club wants to keep, however, now hold all the power.
There is every chance Talagi’s brother Ryda – a promising prop who captained Parramatta’s under-16s last year and is an Australian Schoolboys representative – is likely to follow Blaize to the foot of the mountains.
There is also speculation that Dylan Brown could be gone at the end of next year if he opts out of a contract that could end in 2031. It would be a disastrous outcome for a side that will farewell promising youngsters Matt Arthur and Ethan Sanders at the end of the season.
So where to now for the Eels?
With Talagi going to Penrith, enquiries will be made about the prospect of Brian To’o coming the other way. While the NSW winger may be looking for a change, it’s more likely to come at the Tigers or Bulldogs.
Marquee recruit Zac Lomax left the Dragons to play centre rather than wing but could be considered to solve the Eels’ custodian conundrum. Otherwise, the answer will have to come externally at a time when there is precious little talent on the open market.
Ryles opted not to accept the Dragons head coaching role – one that eventually went to Shane Flanagan – due to the enormity of the task. Now he must find a way between closing the gap between Parramatta and a pace-setting Penrith side that has just poached his most promising prospect.
Replies
The media do know he has 2 years left before his options right? A lot can happen in 2 years time.
I think they're saying that unless Ryles improves things next year , Moses ( manager ) can start talking with other clubs in about 12 months time in regards to finding Mitch another destination. If he tells Blaize he's better off elsewhere why other than money would he advise Mitch to stay at Parramatta . It makes perfect sense what they're saying . If he has his players interests at heart , how could he possibly tell him to stay unless it's simply coin that's the goal.
He's not a captain, our coach is currently a nuffie , the playing group aren't exactly world beaters , and our location ain't much to write home about . Why on earth would he stay ? We have nothing to offer . From what I see the only thing that's exciting to Moses about our club would be his new bummie Lomax arriving.
He is signed until 2026 at the minimum, we as a club have to agree to it. Talagi is different as he was on open market. Someone like a Moses will have to do what Hunt did if he wants to leave and wait it out, as he can decline his options but we have 2 years minimum left with Moses.
He can sign elsewhere end of next season for 27 can't he ? So ultimately Ryles has about half a season to show there's going to be a vast improvement otherwise Moses will be able to put pen to paper November next year even though he'll have another season owing to us ( unless Ive misunderstood his contract )? Once that's done we will have a Lomax situation wheras he can ask to be released early . We could spend the whole of 2026 knowing he's gone the following year. It's just shit and a huge disruption. He and Brown will be every second article and rumour for the next few seasons whichever way it goes unless they commit and sign up to take up their options early.
He will have same as Brown I imagine to take up an option some time into 2026 for 2027. It would be more likely like last year going each week hearing something that season.
Wiz, you are one of the great optimists in the world....any chance you could go to Iran and get a job on how to bring down ..........someone else for a change.
Look, I don't care anymore. Take all our players. At least we won't have to watch them fall in a heap anymore.
So Ryles , Wisemantel and Moa are the new brains trust at Parramatta ? What is really the difference from what we had ? It's not much of a upgrade .
It's not really an upgrade at all , is it. Other than saving the boards arses nothings really given the club much to gloat about , we've gone backwards on paper from a coaching qualifications perspective . No new signatures , no big assistant appointments , no nothing other than a new bunch of blokes with training wheels and a Yawnion guy with a little bit going for him it seems.
Sam Moa lol, wtf . An assistant to an assistant in England 😂😂. Isn't there enough bums looking for a gig here without being some homesick nobodies meal ticket home.
How the league's club board have not removed and made changes to football club board is a disgrace , what a shit show the club really is.
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