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
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Yep tend to agree. Give the young bloke an opportunity
Not sure, last year Ryles threw the likes of Tuivaiti and Smith in with very limited open age footy experience. Against Melbourne in Melbourne of all games. They turned out alright.
Now is it Ryles sees Talataina as not as good as thought? Doubt it but a possibility. Or sees Lorenzo as a big key to success in the future, wanting to be as cautious as possible to not effect his confidence later. Though at the same time I don't think there is ever a perfect time to debut a young 5/8.
I do agree the best way to learn in NRL is to play.
Sounds as though Volk will get snapped up if we don't lock him down soon, and Lorenzo will stay and develop while we hopefully land Metcalf or CHT.
If we replace Volkman with Nikorima then MON can get rooted.
Well Ryles would be making that call to MON. He would say who he wants as 6 next year. MON is not just going to sign Volkman to long extension and Ryles prefers Lorenzo. Ryles will say what he wants either go with Lorenzo and maybe keep Volkman as back up for 2027 at least? How to do, or if he wants Lorenzo but not quite there get another stop gap. Not ideal again. But this won't be all on MON, Ryles will be communicating to MON on who he wants.
Poor old MON, I reckon he must be sick of "getting rooted" you guys just don't understand that it's not going to be his decision to make!
This is pure speculation on your part Chief, you don't have a good track record. I think Lorenzo will get a run, more likely around or after round 20 when, hopefully, we have a few players back. Besides that, 5/8 is the least of our worries atm, centre, wing and a middle forward are our priority. I think Xerri is ripe for the picking, hearing he will be dropped this week.
Spot on
or Shibakowski (sp) Mick.
Chiefy always has this habit on talking in absolute terms, as if he going to influence someone to make it happen.
Its like the dunce in the class telling the teacher, that if he wants to take a piss, he is ready to take over. No problem in that but I suspect the teacher will reply with, don't worry son, I'll wait for little lunch....Lol....we are talking Kindergarten of course.
Joash trained in the 6 during pre-season, pretture heard TCT say that.
Talataina is 20 and is doing well in cup. He will debut this year and likely spend the pre-season as the 6.
We might need someone as break glass option in case Lorenzo next year doesn't make it, in which case Volkman is perfect for this. So I think he'll be resigned.
Metcalf also apparently wants to play 7 and 7 only.
I won't mind NIkorima instead of Volkman but both be a "just in case" options.
Nikorima is probably a better defender than Volkman but Nikorima at Dolphins has had a steady stream of tall, fast outside backs to take alot of pressure off of him in attack. Nikorima reminds me of Terry Lamb in some ways. Of course hated that dog but his ability to be everywhere in support is what I see sometimes when watching Nikorima in attack.
But would Nikorima be enough of an independent creator at the outside-back-challenged Eels? Volkman, by contrast, is making line breaks despite not that much help from his centre, who has either been new or an out-of-sorts Russell.
I think Volkman has been hitting home runs so far and probably surprised many?
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