Parramatta have emerged as the leaders in the race for promising 20 year old rake Tallyn Da Silva. There is a chance for Da Silva to leave Concord by Monday for the June 30 cut-off period with the Manly Sea Eagles, Newcastle Knights and North Queensland Cowboys all interested in the Western Suburbs junior. Da Silva met with Jason Ryles earlier in the week. There was talk of a swap deal being presented by the Wests Tigers that would have seen Da Silva go to Newcastle with KPP, Tigers bound in 2026, heading to Wests early. That deal has reportedly fallen through.
All the clubs bar Parramatta that have expressed interest in Da Silva have a coach that is under pressure. Da Silva is considered one of the most promising Hookers to come into the game in a long time, just turning 20 and playing 21 games for the Wests Tigers.
Parramatta being favourites should be no surprise considering our cap space and chance for him to start right away. Manly are the next best option, with manager Mario Tartak having numerous Manly players on the books already including Haumole Olakau'atu, Jason Saab and Nathan Brown. However, Tartak also has Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Doorey and Toni Mataele at Parramatta so the manager connection is just as strong at Parra than Manly.
Manly also have a need for a Hooker immediately with Lachlan Croker, Jake Simpkin and Gordon Chan Kum Tong not meeting the standards to be consistent Hookers for the club. NQ have a hole with Robson leaving but not til 2026 and Newcastle have a hole with Brailey moving to Canberra and Crossland now being seen as a Lock forward.
If Da Silva signs with Parramatta and is granted the chance to join immediately, he will start in Round 19 v Penrith.
Replies
Great pickup LB. Skillful player but his defence needs work.
It is one thing Smith has well over Da Silva, defence. That can be fixed, well would need to be if he is considered fair dinkum.
Depends what we get him for.
We don't need to pay overs for a backup to Riley Smith.
I am not saying this as i agree or anything, just stating that if we sign Da Silva it is to start. If he signs with Parramatta it is to start. Da Silva ain't signing to back-up Smith or else he wouldn't agree.
Then we shouldn't sign him
No way he starts over Smith.
Well we are getting a Hooker someway as Ryles has wanted one from day 1.
Yes but at that time we were running Lussick and hands.
The only thing I can see that Silva has over Smith is speed.
Then why is he going for Da Silva now then? If he went for Brailey and Starling at the start of the year then Smith gets better and drops off those players fair but he is now going for Da Silva when Smith has started for the past two months? Saying we had Lussick and Hands when going for Hookers since day 1 is irrelevant when he is going for Da Silva now when Smith has been starting for a while.
So yes he wanted a Hooker from day 1 when Lussick and Hands were pencilled in. Now Smith has started for some time and still wants one.
And not like Da Silva has been on market all year either, only very recently.
He's better at everything besides line speed and fitness
Building a culture means no guaranteed starts for freshies
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