SuperEel 22 > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill's 🪓April 30, 2026 at 2:43pm
Chief, you keep mis-representing the Utoikamanu-Alvaro situation. Alvaro was re-signed by Parra before he won the KT medal in 2018. He was our most consistent player in a terrible season. That extension was until the end of 2019 with a single further season player option in 2020, which he activated.
Stefano signed with the Tigers at the end of 2019 for 2021. That was after we have purchased both RCG and Ryan Matterson.
Alvaro's single season extension would not have impacted Stefano's development or first grade aspirations given he was upgraded to Parra's NRL squad during 2020 and Alvaro was shipped off.
More likely, it was the retention of Marata, Kaufusi and Brown along with the recruitment of RCG and Matterson that contributed to his departure. And funnily enough they all formed part of the pack that went to the 2022 grand final.
Jack Williams has been fantastic, such a great purchase & has surprised - I had doubts at first due to his handling.
He is clearly a leader-type & likeable player at the club.
I wonder if he might fit into the 'Shaun Lane' category though, where we’ve utilised his peak & he's returned great value, but 2028/2029, we’d likely be looking to move on anyway.
It’s nothing against Jack, again he’s been great, but he might be the perfect example of a ‘type' of player you turn over when the juice is squeezed.
There seems to be a really strange issue with R&R criticism on the site lately, a defence that interestingly wasn’t afforded to far worse criticism of players & coaches in the past.
But for most of us with R&R concerns, it's about roster-balance, it’s about foresight & replacement, the Eels got Jack Williams right & likely have his replacement in-house (especially with Su’a on the way).
I wouldn’t question them if they let Jack walk for 2028, he’s earned his pay-increase if it comes.
The Captain > Nightmare Off-SeasonApril 30, 2026 at 11:40am
Agreed NOS - Jack going to PNG in '28 for a payday would work well for us. Forwards decline quickly, let him play out his career elsewhere.
See this is why I've beat the drum of stop looking for talent in your own backyard spread your wings don't leave any stone unturned.We should have been on this years ago others in the comp have a head start there but seemingly we aren't interested it's madness.
The Warriors are openly poaching rugby kids and there isn't a thing NZR can do about it.
PNGs competitive so called advantage is no different to what Brisbane Melbourne Easts have enjoyed for decades.Parra and every other fanbase and club moaning need to adapt and play the game moaning is going to get you no where.
"I'm thinking that at least some of their squad will be locals and as such have to pay PNG tax.
Will this lead to resentment in the ranks? Rhetorical question as nobody really knows. "
"100% this was actually a really smart deal using sport as a diplomatic binder between Aus and PNG. Keeping neighbourly ties is the smartest thing we can do as a nation, especially as new superpowers and a new world order tries to emerge on several…"
"The government of the day (regardless of the side) won't rip this up - it'll run the course for the 10 years now. Unless you're Trump diplomatic agreements run to term, regardless of governments changing. This is 100% locked in."
"Chief, you keep mis-representing the Utoikamanu-Alvaro situation. Alvaro was re-signed by Parra before he won the KT medal in 2018. He was our most consistent player in a terrible season. That extension was until the end of 2019 with a single…"
Replies
Chief, you keep mis-representing the Utoikamanu-Alvaro situation. Alvaro was re-signed by Parra before he won the KT medal in 2018. He was our most consistent player in a terrible season. That extension was until the end of 2019 with a single further season player option in 2020, which he activated.
Stefano signed with the Tigers at the end of 2019 for 2021. That was after we have purchased both RCG and Ryan Matterson.
Alvaro's single season extension would not have impacted Stefano's development or first grade aspirations given he was upgraded to Parra's NRL squad during 2020 and Alvaro was shipped off.
More likely, it was the retention of Marata, Kaufusi and Brown along with the recruitment of RCG and Matterson that contributed to his departure. And funnily enough they all formed part of the pack that went to the 2022 grand final.
Jack Williams has been fantastic, such a great purchase & has surprised - I had doubts at first due to his handling.
He is clearly a leader-type & likeable player at the club.
I wonder if he might fit into the 'Shaun Lane' category though, where we’ve utilised his peak & he's returned great value, but 2028/2029, we’d likely be looking to move on anyway.
It’s nothing against Jack, again he’s been great, but he might be the perfect example of a ‘type' of player you turn over when the juice is squeezed.
There seems to be a really strange issue with R&R criticism on the site lately, a defence that interestingly wasn’t afforded to far worse criticism of players & coaches in the past.
But for most of us with R&R concerns, it's about roster-balance, it’s about foresight & replacement, the Eels got Jack Williams right & likely have his replacement in-house (especially with Su’a on the way).
I wouldn’t question them if they let Jack walk for 2028, he’s earned his pay-increase if it comes.
Agreed NOS - Jack going to PNG in '28 for a payday would work well for us. Forwards decline quickly, let him play out his career elsewhere.
See this is why I've beat the drum of stop looking for talent in your own backyard spread your wings don't leave any stone unturned.We should have been on this years ago others in the comp have a head start there but seemingly we aren't interested it's madness.
The Warriors are openly poaching rugby kids and there isn't a thing NZR can do about it.
PNGs competitive so called advantage is no different to what Brisbane Melbourne Easts have enjoyed for decades.Parra and every other fanbase and club moaning need to adapt and play the game moaning is going to get you no where.
they have a squad of 30 to fill right, less J-rome & Johnston , what play not contracted isnt possibly being looked at , by PNG and Perth.
was Jack on our run on team against manly last rnd or on the bench ? .... just asking
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