Peter Gentle is poised to make a return to Parramatta to take charge of the club’s academy as the Eels plot a homecoming for former junior star Blaize Talagi.
Gentle, who was Manly’s head of football before quitting last month, was formerly an assistant coach to Brad Arthur at the Eels more than a decade ago.
He is now set for a return to the Eels, replacing James Shepherd at the helm of the Eels academy. Shepherd has joined the Bears as an assistant coach.
Gentle has a long history in the game and has had a multitude of different roles at clubs including being a one-time interim head coach at the Broncos.
His return comes as the club plots a potentially bigger arrival in Talagi.
Talagi still has another year on his contract at Penrith but is set to become a free agent on November 1 as Penrith devote their energy to retaining some of their biggest stars, chief among them Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.
There has been a school of thought that Penrith could look to allow Talagi to move for next season, which would free up salary cap room to help them keep the bulk of their team.
An Achilles injury in Penrith’s final game has clouded that move, but the Eels are believed to be keen on adding Talagi back to the club as early as next season. The plan is to initially play him in the centres with Parramatta have a lack of depth in their outside backs next year.
He would then move to five-eighth in 2028 when Jarome Luai leaves for PNG. Talagi’s younger brother Ryda made his NRL debut for Parramatta this year.
The Eels will also make a million dollar play for Newcastle centre Bradman Best next month.
Replies
Cause it was bigger than MON's? Rumor has it he asked Analyst to return the cocktail frankfurts back to the delicatessen.
Hellloooo LB, I'm waiting for your response, you're usually quick in replying.
This story doesn't make sense?
Initially going after him as a centre for next year but he will likely miss most of it due to his injury and then him going to 5/8 in 2029 when Luis leaves. What about Talatina?
Not sure about this. He hasn't set the world on fire at 5/8 and is up against a long term injury. Could the Eels sign him, yes but for anything specific, doubtful.
Hasn't set the world on fire? He is 21 and already played 60+ NRL games. At the same age, Luai had played 4 games. Even Nathan Cleary hadn't played many more games than Talagi at the same age.
Blaize Talagi's trajectory is fine.
You probably should tell the panfers then....
They'd know already. They're the ones who picked him 40+ times at such a young age. Unfortunately they overpaid for him and need to clear cap space to re-sign their leaders:
"Talagi’s departure would alleviate salary cap concerns and allow Penrith to focus on keeping the trio of Cleary, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo.
Fellow Code Sports expert Brent Read added: “The other factor is this is Penrith’s salary cap situation. They’re trying to keep a lot of guys and you can free up money next year if Blaize goes.
“It helps you keep the rest of that roster. It’s a big decision to make in the off-season.”
Cleary is being widely linked with a $1.5 million-per-year move to the PNG Chiefs.
Offloading the likes of Talagi could enable the Panthers to match the Chiefs’ offer as they desperately attempt to keep their star man."
NRL star ‘may not play again’ as Panthers’ Nathan Cleary plan emerg...
Offloading him is fine for Penrith, coming back after an Achillies (it was ruptured, that's a full break, not a tear) but we should pay nothing in his first year. Even if he got back after mid year, he would take time to be match fit and confidence, throw in as a centre and this whole article looks like it has beem written by someone on here. I reckon we are the source of this story re Blaize as even we are not that stupid......are we?
I will be interested to see what the Wiz's of this world think of Peter Gentle, but I am surprised we are not trying to sell it as a coup, stealing him back from Manly. The only positive I see in that is he may bring some of the juniors back he stole off us.
I didn't say he wasn't any good, just I that he hasn't been without any issues (Defence). That and his injury is enough that the Eels shouldn't do anything crazy to get him back. For the right price and because he want's to, not because the Eels are the only ones willing and they offer overs.
I am all for him coming back but it has to be for the right reasons and the right price. That's footy. At least thats how the good teams do it. Are the Eels ready to do what the good teams do?
Burton over this guy any day of the week
Volkman won't let blaize nor Burton near the halves
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