Parramatta’s rebuild has been given a massive boost with incoming coach Jason Ryles set to land his first big signing by securing Penrith young gun Isaiah Iongi.
It is understood that Iongi will agree to a three-year contract to be Ryles’ initial signature with the hope he can become the club’s long-term fullback option.
The Panthers gave Iongi permission to negotiate with rival clubs despite having 12 months left on his deal. He made his NRL debut during Penrith’s 22-14 win against Newcastle in round 22.
Iongi looms as a direct replacement for Blaize Talagi who rejected Parramatta’s rich offer to sign a three-year contract with Penrith.
That move has opened up the door for Iongi to go the other way and spark the latest big-name switch between the neighbouring arch rivals.
Parramatta have signed a host of ex-Panthers in recent years including Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Waqa Blake and J’maine Hopgood but the 21-year-old could be their most crucial signing yet.
It is also a massive shot in the arm for Parramatta and will give the Eels some much needed good news after a disastrous 2024.
St George Illawarra star Zac Lomax will add to Parramatta’s backline last season while they also re-signed injured back Bailey Simonsson for the next three seasons.
The signing of Talagi, plus the long-term deal to star fullback Dylan Edwards and back-up Daine Laurie remaining at the club blocked Iongi’s path at the Panthers.
The signing also adds to the belief that the Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson will be shifted from his regular fullback spot at the end of the season. Gutherson may start in the centres for the Eels next season.
The Eels are also in talks with South Sydney’s Dean Hawkins about joining the club in a back-up half role to Dylan Brown and Mitch Moses. Parramatta also sounded out Gold Coast’s Tom Weaver but are set to go with Hawkins. Hawkins has played 13 top grade games.
Daejarn Asi is expected to move a move to the Super League while contracted pair Campbell-Gillard and Maika Sivo have been given permission to leave the club at the end of the season if they find deals elsewhere.
Replies
Seems like we are also signing Dean Hawkins as a back up half.
He's no Jake Arthur but he's a decent backup.
🤣
Haha....If you didn't have low standards you'd have no standards at all Pou.....😉😉
I prefer Weaver
Hawkins is interesting. He won't nsw cup last year with bunnies and from memory he got player of the year or player of the match. But in the nrl haven't seen much transference. To be fair to him his only games were in a struggling south's side
I like Hawkins, i think either him or Weaver are fine. Both are back-ups, so cannot expect too much from them.
Agreed. I really think we can entice a good backup half here with Moses' injuries and Blues commitments now. It's why I think sanders would've had a decent deal here. Anyway...
Sanders was never going to stay when other teams want him as a future starter. There was nothing, besides offering massive money for a back-up, we could have given him to stay.
Hahaha, good one
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