Parramatta eels next five-eighth is looking more and more likely to be an external signing as we really don't have the answer internally. The main candidates the club will be looking at are Chanel Harris - Tavita 27, Kodi Nikorema 32, Jack Cole 22 and Luke Metcalf 27
The main two Eels candidates are currently Ronald Volkman and Lorenzo Talititiana.
Volkman is still relatively young at 23, has performed well in the past few games, but I don’t think he's the club’s long term solution. If he was in the club's plans, he wouldn't be off contract this year. Also if he was in Rylsey's plans, why did he have Pezet along side Moses all pre season and during the early rounds - forget Volkman he's out of the running.
Lorenzo Talititiana. He's only 18 or 19. He's played a few games in cup around 15. Lorenzo hasn't yet debut in first grade and Volkman, who isn’t even signed for 27 has the jump on him. Its nearly mid season so if Ryles was considering Lorenzo for 2027, you'd think he would have at least gotten a taste of fg and would need half a season as Joash did last season. Lorenzo is also very slight in stature and he will most likely stay in cup for another year or two unti lhis body fills out - it won’t be Lorenzo
Joash- if it was Joash he wouldn't have been training at fb in the preseason with Pezet and Moses calling the shots. It seems like Joash has been scrapped from the idea of 5/8.
For mine its between Chanel and Metcalf. Tannah Boyd has just committed to a three-year deal. So three into 2 doesn't fit, and both are NRL standard
So Its a dead set toss up between Metcalf and Metcalf
Replies
Volkmann should be given the opportunity. He's still young and has been extremely good so far. Sure he's got some defensive issues but no worse than any other learning his trade. The more games he plays the better will be his improvement. He has a good read of the game for a young player and for the amount of games he's played. Joash Papali should also be given the opportunity as well and these two players should get preference over looking outside the club. It's called Loyalty
I very much doubt that Volkman will be our 6 going into 27. He just doesn't have the speed over long distances. Over 10 or 20m, sure he has good footwork, but there's no way Ryles is going to offer anything but a 1 year deal going forward. I think he'll take the $$ available in the super league. He'll probably command anything up to 400k a season over there, where here he'll be lucky to get 180k
So for mine, Lorenzo needs half a season in first grade. From at least round 16 onwards
I think Volkmann will be 6 next year at Parra unless something unforeseen eventuates which is unlikely the way recruitment happens at Parra. It will be either Volkmann or Papali at 6 for next year.
This is all assumption and even if Lorenzo doesn't debut this season, who is to say he wouldn't start next season? That's what happened with Dylan. Didn't play at all in 2018 even with our terrible form and lack of depth, then debuted round 1 of 2019. He'd played 5 games of NSW Cup.
Renzo will be our future 5/8 going forward, Ryles just isn't going to rush him into NRL out of desperation. Even when we debuted Brown at 18, he sat out half his debut year due to stress fractures in his back.
If they get anyone from outside my guess will be burton
When you consider how our halves played in games when we were going well over the past couple of years, you had Moses leading the team around and Brown supporting him. They came together to put on attacking raids, and that put doubt into the defenders. they expected only Moses to produce the killer plays, but with Brown chiming in, it could have come from him also. It also gave us options either side of the ruck.
We need to get back to that. With Moses we don't need a topline 5/8, but someone who is willing to support Moses and has the skills to put on plays as needed. At the moment we have Volkman, Papalii and Talitaina all in contention for that 5/8 spot. I wonder if Ryles intends to trial them all out in that spot in the back half of this season to see where they are at? Do either of these players have the skills we need? Probably not at the moment, but they have all grown over the past 12 months, and no doubt will continue to grow.
If I were R&R, I would be looking to fill a massive gap in our outside backs. Other teams have shown that skills there is worth putting money into.
Longfin, good post.
Agree with you & MW, who said similar, outside backs & another middle feel more pressing.
EA & Sonic have mentioned the great middles we have coming through, but there seems to be very little in outside backs?
Volkman offers some attack as he's quite elusive. He seems serviceable for the time being, with the opportunity to keep improving?
Joash didn't train there because we have Pezet. It will be either Joash or Lorenzo next year. Ryles should be bloody either or these now, not helping rondos blood Pezet.
I doubt this club will be able to get CHT or Metcalf anyway.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next