Eels young gun Will Penisini has revealed it will be hard to turn a bumper offer from Rugby Australia when his current contract with Parramatta expires at the end of 2025.
The 20-year-old signed an extension to remain in the blue and gold in January after he was earmarked as one of Eddie Jones’ priority targets.
Rugby Australia handed Jones a five-year deal and the 63-year-old made no secret of his desires to poach NRL talent with backgrounds in the 15-man code.
Joseph Suaalii, a close friend of Penisini, signed a bumper $1.6 million per-season deal for three years, making him available for the British and Irish Lions tour in 2025.
Speaking to the SMH, Penisini conceded that “it would be hard to say no” to a mammoth Rugby Australia contract, but for now his focus is on the Eels.
“I’m not looking at rugby at the moment. Obviously, I have just signed a contract at the start of this year, so it leaves me here for another two or three years, and I love what this club is building,” Penisini said.
Obviously, I enjoyed my time playing it (rugby) back in school, and yeah, it’s a great game.”
Penisini and Suaalii played the 15-man code together at Sydney’s prestigious King’s School.
The gun centre also believes the NRL shouldn’t fear rugby union’s poaching raids with new talent coming through the ranks every year.
You see young kids coming out each year. Rugby league has got unlimited talent,” Penisini said.
“Everyone’s growing up, and all the younger boys are coming through anyway, so if they do take players, good on them. If you’re talented (enough) to play both, why not?”
If Penisini was to make a cross-code switch after his current contract, he would be available for the 2027 World Cup held in Australia.
He would also join up with Suaalii after the Roosters gun had spent one season in a Wallabies jumper, likely slotting into fullback, the centres or on the wing.
Jones also reportedly named Manly young gun Tolu Koula and Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona as key targets.
Since reports emerged, both clubs have reportedly begun discussions to re-sign their potential rugby converts
Meanwhile, Parramatta centre Waqa Blake has reportedly offered his services to Rugby Australia.
The Eels are searching for an X-factor signing and according to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler, Blake could be the man to make way.
“I don’t know if Waqa Blake is necessarily on that hit-list, but he has been offered to Eddie Jones and rugby union,” Weidler told100% Footy.
“There’s been a lot of talk about his future at Parramatta, and Parramatta is looking for X-factor players with Clint Gutherson being moved to the centres because its centres aren’t strong.
“Well, it appears that maybe Waqa Blake is reading that information, and there has been a reach-out by his management to Eddie Jones.
“I don’t know whether he would be a player Eddie Jones would go for.”
Replies
Hi Brett they have improved since Fitz came on board and I take your point abt this yr. Time will tell like all teams but Hynes has done well when he's changed clubs and positions and also Cronulla have done ok. As I said time will tell.
Please, he was completely outplayed by Shaun Johnson on the weekend. He signed immediately because they offered him a 7 year extension.
Do you think Mitch Moses wouldn't have signed immediately if we had offered him a 7 year extension, and Mitch has more career achievement worthy of such a deal.
But if we had of course you'd be bitching about that. The Sharks didn't gaggle and try get him lower, but no every other club in the face of the planet does it better than the Eels according to you.
Agree. Hynes is one of the most overated players in the comp. Nothing even close to an elite half.
In the semis last year him and the rest of his Sharks looked hopelessly out of their depth. I almost felt sorry for them.
And what's with that ridiculous stringy hair? He looks like an Everest death zone corpse.
Fair go Krames , they were virtually a brand new side with a brand new coach with a bloke playing his first season as a halfback. What is our excuse for all these years with the same spine and a "ellite" half that's been playing for alomst decade in that position at NRL level 😂 ? Not too sure we were in our correct end of the pool either , We did get pulverised in the GF after all. We shoud've been in the kiddies pool.
In the GF we got beat by easily the best team in the comp. Whether we would have got beaten by any other side is debateable but for mine we were worthy grand finalists. I reckon at semi final time last year we were the second best performing team in the comp. Sharks were about tenth, maybe twelfth. They gave Hynes the dally M - no one was saying he did well for his first year - they were saying he was the fucking best!! (please).
The media love tossing a salad all over his back yet it seems absolutely no other club showed any interest whatsoever in signing Hynes on 7 figures despite there being plenty that are gagging for a decent 7.He's the Braith Anasta of the 2020's - massive myth.
If Cronulla can match our effort last year and make the GF I'll retract. It's not gonna happen though - million to one :)
By the way, have a great Easter mate, all the best to you and the family :)
Had a good Easter thanks legend ,ate heaps of prawns and heaps of bugs . hope you had a belter too brother.
just eaten
wiz
Very nice , Im just on the throne passing mine out now , would you like a pic of mine ?
Does seafood give you the squirts ???
LOL. And what's with this Nicho shit? His names fucken Nicholas isn't it? How about Nick?
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