TLDR: Penisini gives the club high raps, embraces the change and is excited for the future. Title is just the usual negative media spin IMO.
Strike centre Will Penisini says he will wait until after changes kick in at Parramatta before deciding whether to take up an option to stay at the NRL club.
Penisini and five-eighth Dylan Brown headline a list of players with decisions to make at the under-fire Eels in the next year, as new coach Jason Ryles prepares to take charge.
As things stand, only Mitch Moses, Zac Lomax and Junior Paulo are officially locked in for 2026.
Five other players - including Penisini - have options built into their contract to stay at the club, which can be activated next season.
It's likely several off-contract Eels may not be retained, as Ryles considers a shake up of the aging squad.
But Penisini is one player they would be desperate to retain.
The 22-year-old been the shining light of Parramatta's junior programs in recent years, and is seen as a long-term star at the club.
In recent months other talent of that junior program has been picked apart, with Blaize Talagi last week opting to sign with Penrith for 2025.
Young half Ethan Sanders has also been lured away by Canberra, while hooker Matt Arthur has permission to talk to other clubs after his father's axing as coach.
Penisini shares a manager with Talagi in Isaac Moses, and there are already questions on whether he will activate the option to stay on for 2026.
But the centre said no decision would be made on his future until 2025, with Ryles to officially take over and the club's new centre of excellence to open between now and then.
"You base your decision on change," Penisini told AAP.
"They're all good changes. This facility that is going up is going to be amazing. And Rylesy bringing a fresh crew as well. I can't wait for it. I am excited.
"My footy will take care of that decision (too) ... Once that starts to happen and unfold, that decision, I have a while to make it."
Potentially working in Parramatta's favour is that Penisini's younger brother Richard remains contracted until the end of 2026.
Despite the exits, Penisini insists the 16th-placed Eels is not an unhappy club for juniors to be at.
"Obviously there is a lot of change happening at the club and a lot of uncertainty," Penisini said.
"People are making decisions they think are right for themselves. It is what it is. We have a new coach coming and new facility coming.
"There are a lot of other things to look forward to, and a lot of other juniors as well that want to stay here.
"This is a great club. We have a good culture and a lot of older boys with experience teaching the younger boys."
Management changes at Parramatta are guaranteed with chairman Sean McElduff and director Vicki Leaver's maximum stays on the board to expire next year.
The duo will be replaced by independent directors, with appointments made by the nominations committee that itself has an independent chair.
Replies
A club set for a journey of wooden spoons. Moses and Brown to leave
Is that you Hooper?
So much negativity on this site.
You can leave with them.
Yep things do look grim but where is the resilience ? B Arthur in same Tetris at Leeds, blind Freddy can see the damage he has caused
Ryles should stem the flow R Penisini AMS to stay, couple additions and Paulo off the bench, snag J Ford & M Barnett for grit , I'd go for young Zion at Warriors for aggression , wishful but we should be ok
Anasta said it last night when talking about Moses and addressing those types of rumours saying this sort of talk often comes from managers stirring things up not the players themselves. Common factor in all this is Isaac Moses. What a twat he is.
I like Penisini, I want to see him succeed. He played in GF for us afterall. But I do wonder if he was at Melbourne and had played the way he has the last two years, whether they would keep him? And if they did whether they would have to pay as much as we would to keep him.
I think it's going to be a tough pre season. If Ryles brings some of those torture sessions from the Storm, some may break and leave. They try to break you mentally down there to see if you will cut it in their system. Ryles will be his own man but will bring some of that mentality in weeding out who stays or goes. Should be an interesting pre season.
Though from what I have heard, could be different now, he does do rigorous training but the players respect him as he is great with expectations. Those I know who have been coached by him in Wollongong comp said he would not get you to do something you cannot do, if you cannot do it he will try to give you certain confidence. If he knows you can but just aren't doing it that is where gets firmer. Unlike say Kimmorley who same person had who was just a hard arse all the time.
Seems Ryles has that balance, let's hope he has it at top level.
What is more beneficial for both parties is declining the option and getting an extension done, but do not decline until a deal is done.
Better for the club so they do not have to go through the whole "Will he/wont he" talk again of him staying, but Penisini gets security too.
Arguement can be made that he might want the option to see how year 2 under Ryles goes but if he gets an injury he is screwed. He knows that. Plus I think how Richard is featured too is a big part of him staying.
This is the right attitude and this is how you speak to the media. Need more kids like this coming through parramatta, regardless of ability
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