Recruitment and retention is always fraught with different levels of risk and reward. Players are handed big money deals and don't perform, while the guys on lesser wages play above their pay grades.
For the last few years, the Eels have had the good fortune of rarely having to deal with teams poaching their players. Without being too mean spirited towards previous squads, we simply didn't have the players other clubs were interested in poaching.
No one was exactly lining up to steal Vai Toutai or Taulima Tautai.
The Eels often released players, rarely did another team actively come knocking to pick them off from under our noses. For a decade, Parramatta's development and recruitment was so poor, there was very little worth in stealing Parramatta players. We were simply used as a club to drive up bids from rival clubs.
But the reality has now hit, that as one of the more consistent sides in the last three seasons, we are now a club that has players others want, and they'll spend big money to nick them.
Their ultimately value will be determined by how they play at their new clubs. Both Marata Niukore and Isaiah Papali'i have been handed monster deals which pay more than what some of the best forwards including Christian Welch and Victor Radley earnt this season.
I don't think this is the emergency time where we have to break the glass and sound the alarm. Both Niukore and Papali'i came to the club as bargain buys, and the club turned them into $600,000 a year players. If you don't think the club knows how to develop players, then you're not paying attention.
There's also this train of thought that the best teams don't lose players they want to keep. That's not entirely true. They do their best to keep them, but they won't compromise their wage structure to do it.
Melbourne has lost the likes of Jeremy Smith, Tino Fa'asumaleaui, Ryan Hoffman, Kevin Proctor, Dale Finucane and Adam Blair over the years. All Origin or international players when they left the club. They then promoted players from their lower ranks to fill the gaps.
I actually look at Isaiah Papali'i in a similar way to Nicho Hynes. Both arrived at their respective clubs looking for a shot. They both accepted they'd be bench players to start with. When given a crack, they showed their worth, and their monetary value sky rocketed to the point neither Parramatta or Melbourne respectively would retain them.
That happens. It's actually indicative of a system that's working. That a club can bring the best out of a player when it gives them a chance.
This all being said though, it now becomes imperative the club re-signs both Reed Mahoney and Junior Paulo. To a lesser extent, Clint Gutherson. Regarding the current captain, I'd prefer to hang onto him until Hayze Perham shows he can do the job, or a more attractive fullback hits the market.
But Reed and Junior are vital to the side's chances. They have a very, very marked impact on the side's form and premiership aspirations.
The talk of premiership windows closing because we've lost two backrowers in 12 months time is, frankly, bullshit. The club hasn't even announced who it has signed for next season (nope, not even Mitch Rein has been announced) let alone for 2023.
I know why people would be anxious and I know why you'd be scared of losing two very good players. Parramatta's recruitment has been dogshit in the past. Once bitten, twice shy and all that.
But I don't think that's the case anymore.
The recruitment team led by Mark O'Neill has shown it can spot talent. That's how Papa got here in the first place. You compare our recruitment from the start of last decade to now and it's completely chalk and cheese.
Our development systems have been revamped completely (yes, Chief, for the millionth time, they have been greatly improved). The entire system was turned over at the end of 2018. It's why we now have a north and south catchment that takes in dozens of local players every summer at under 14 level. It's why we had four local juniors debut this season. It's why the Parramatta Eels also play in the NSW Cup once again.
Is it hard to take, seeing two very good players leave the club for 2023? Absolutely. But this is the business we're in and this is part and parcel of being a team that plays regular finals football.
Replies
Well written.
People seem to forget we still have these now " big buck marquee " recruits in our team next year. Same for any of those players that boneheads holding us to ransom over.
By the time these guys actually leave we will very likley not miss them. 12 months ago they were nothing and I'd bet my arse I can find a thread or two saying how shit a coach BA is for signing a washed up drunk like Ice Papali.
What sort of attitude are these players that are leaving going to have next season though Wiz.
Next season could very well be a fizz of a season.
Scott
Well mate , if they don't put in that'll mean they slog out the year in Reserve grade. They're not highly paid so we can afford to leave them there. And considering where they're going it could be both of their last chances to play for a premiership, even play finals footy. If they're the kind of humans that sit on their hands all year then we've made the right choice letting them leave is the way I see it.
cheers
Wiz
They might not Brissy! Remember when Gordon Tallis was signed by the Broncos but the Saints refused to release him early and he threw a hissy fit and sat out the season?
It comes down to these two players' attitudes because you absolutely know their managers are going to ask that they be released for 2022 to get the big pay rise immediately, and you know Parra are going to refuse.
Tim Sheens has confirmed that they aren't interested in Papali'i till 2023, they don't have the cap space to accomodate himin 2022.
Tallis is a different scenario. He's a complete fuckwit. And Brian Smith was too stern and smart for Tallis.
It's such a shame Brian's no longer in our game.
isnt he working for the warriors now
All very good observations and well written but that doesn't mean we aren't still getting things wrong and need to keep improving.
Losing both Nuikore and papalii, two players that are very similar, play edge and middle, carry the ball hard, very strong defenders, high work rate and play with controlled aggression, whilst keeping Cartwright, matterson (not locked In after 22) and lane seems odd.
Papalii was the definite keeper out of the lot yet the club wouldn't offer enough to keep him.
That's because the negotiations don't occur in a vacuum. It's not like we only deal with one player at a time. The recruitment staff aren't just looking at 2022 or 2023, they're looking further ahead. They're looking at the positions we'll need to fill down the track, whether opposing players will be off contract, their projected value, our development systems and the players coming through.
We offered Papa a pretty good deal in the end, even offered a significant upgrade for next season, but the Tigers paid through the nose.
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