Parramatta have ear marked Penrith Five-Eighth Blaize Talagi for a return to his junior club. The Cabramatta junior debuted for the Eels in 2024 at Centre, then signing with at the time reigning champion Penrith Panthers to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves. Talagi had a PO in his favour to stay at Parramatta for the 2025 season and declined. Come to 2026, Talagi is coming off an up and down season that led to him being seen as a rare weakness in the Panthers system. Showing ability in attack, in defence he was targeted massively. Leading to him being dropped just before finals, to him eventually finding his spot in the Centres. He then tore his achilles in the preliminary final loss to Newcastle. Leaving his future, what was expected, to being a forgone conclusion he will be leaving Penrith.
Talagi is free to talk on November 1st. Why would Parramatta be interested in Blaize? Well his versatility. Had he not been hurt in the prelim i reckon we would have had more news about his return to Parramatta. He can play Five-Eighth, Centre and Fullback. That to Parramatta and Ryles is attractive to them. Some here do not rate Blaize at all, though Ryles and those at Parramatta do, as to why Ryles tried hard to keep him for 2025.
Do they see Talagi as an option to play Five-Eighth in 2028? Possibly. A Centre option? Again, possibly. A 14 option? Less likely for 2028 but still an option. Would Blaize want to come back? I think he would for a few reasons.
Firstly, coming back to surroundings familiar to him when he took a chance and didn't work out. He will know players in the squad from both his time through the lower grades and first grade at Parramatta and also the Samoan squad with Luai, Leniu and Su'A now signed. Secondly, Ryda has signed until the end of 2029. Being able to possibly play with his brother in the future will be a draw card for him. Lastly, we have spots where he can fit in and make the spot his own. He has a chance to rebuild his career with a path to a spot in the starting 13.
Do fans want him? I think it is split. One side say yes as he is talented and is still young enough, 22 next year, to develop further. I am in that camp. Then there is other side that critique his defence and some that say stuff him as he chose to leave so therefore we shouldn't take him back. I can understand that sediment, though also kids can make mistakes. He was 19 when making the decision, saw a chance to go to the greatest team of the modern era on the brink of their 4th straight title, chance to play next to Cleary and win more comps and possibly play Origin? I think most kids that age is taking it. Plus he probably thought Ryda would follow, which he didn't.
Then is the issue with his injury. A torn achilles, to those who are athletes and done the injury before, mention it is one of the worst injuries you can do. From who i have spoken to about the injuries, in my time with local clubs, though it has a lower re-injure rate, it takes longer for a player to actually get back to their best, if ever, than an ACL injury. For Talagi, who plays in positions that require sudden movement changes and bursts of speed, it could be a while before he is back to his best.
Talagi wont be back the earliest end of March and even then, by some miracle he returns, he will come back slowly through Cup and may take some time before even being considered to play NRL. Worst case is around end of June, early July. Then he will still come back slowly and might not be fully ready to go before the season finishes. So is he worth bringing in for 2027 and taking up a top 30 spot? It is a hard one as if you feel he is back after 6-7 months, he can be worth it as by Round 10 he could be ready to go for NRL and can be used somewhere in the 19. But if not, maybe just sign him for 2028 and Penrith can deal with his recovery as they see fit.
Either way i think getting him for 2028 is ok, he will be recovered, though may have not played in over a year so that needs to be considered. What does everyone else think?
Replies
Let him be at Penrith.
Also just read Skelton will sign with Dogs. Sam Verrills has signed a 80k development contract with the Roosters 😂 😂 😂.The more things change the more things stay the same.
Verrills is a damn good player. The Roosters never fail to pull this shit off. You can't tell me there's not more going on behind the scenes here. I know two other clubs chased him that couldn't pry him out of QLD Cup as he was on decent money, and then what he just accepts an McDonald's managers wage to play for easts ? Phhhuleeease
Wonder why NRL didn't put a minimum value on Verills. Surely he's worth more than $80K and surely plenty of clubs would have wanted to throw their hat in the ring. Very suss how Chooks manages to get away with it, yet again.
As for Blaze, don't mind him coming back in Eels colours. I get his defence isnt the best but his attack doesn't have a ceiling. You don't have to look too far in Luai, who has managed to be an elite player and not known for his defence. He's also still young, and a real eyes up footballer.
I see the Knights have low-balled Bradman Best. If the Eels hierarchy don't throw the kitchen sink at this guy, I think it will be a very long time until we play finals footy again. We haven't had a decent centre since Jamie Lyon, and before that... yours truely :)
I know , it's crazy , 80k for a guy that's still a very good spine player that will most likely play a very large amount of games at some stage .
Correct I thought the NRL sets a price of what a player is worth?
He can't defend and is coming off an Achilles injury which can hinder lateral movement which is needed in the position he's playing in (5/8 or centre). Can thanks for me unless he wants to come back on peanuts and prove himself ( after what he's shown here and at Penrith I still consider him unproven as a week In first grade quality player).
I'd rather us have a play at Tyrell Sloan to replace JAC. Handy back up fullback and adds competition to wing and centre.
Look if the best defensive team could not get him to improve to regular NRL standard ....how can our two bit organisation .....
if at bargain basement rates then yeah or meh ......either way he aint the messiah....just an average NRL player with a moderate ceiling still to be achieved.
For Centre, and backup fullback, 100% for it. Injury impact pending. We need one of our 2-to-5 have some of that handling and x-factor ability, and Blaize fits that.
Kenty just stated that Parra will look to replace Fox with Sloan and to watch this space. Makes all the sense in the world now as to why there is a meeting brought forward before the B Sample result has been provided. I assume Fox will take the Sloan contract and move to the super league, it's a like for like replacement for both parties, something St George couldn't offer. Interesting, wonder if Mr Rush had anything to do with it.
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