Eels Blogs

So if Junior Paulo rumours are true and if Lane and Matto move on, Parramatta could have as much as $4mil to spend in 2026. NRL rules state they need to spend 90% of their cap so most of that $4mil will need to be spent. One issue being there is hardly anything on the market to spend the money on. We could look to our juniors, though issue being is either 1) They are not ready or 2) they are not good enough. We would also need to overpay our rookies to spend the cap, do we really want to do that? Ryles is not getting rid of these players just to use rookies in their place in 2026, he would be playing them by now in either NRL or Cup. He would want to go to market. 

Thing is, our only option to get value is to go and try to convince those off-contract in 2026 to break their deal for more money. It happens and don't tell me clubs refrain from talking to players before November 1, it happens all the time. You cannot tell me Parra have not already talked to Lachlan Galvin for example. So i will go through some players that i feel we could spend the money on. Now this is a bit of hypothetical, but just out there thing to get conversation going.

Lachlan Galvin: This is most obvious and quite frankly confident it gets done. He wont be at Parramatta this year, but in 2026? More likely. A lot of teams have dropped out leaving us as strong favourites. Either way he is not staying at Wests. A big chunk of our cash will be used to get Galvin and that is ok, he can be the face once Moses moves on, he is young enough to the point where he will be 26 when Moses' deal ends. Galvin is a no brainer Five-Eighth option and one we will try and get. 

Nelson Asofa-Solomona: Here me out, as he is not off-contract til 2027 with an option for 2028. But there has been murmurs around him leaving Melbourne for some time. He has also had his issues of staying healthy of late. He is on a deal worth reportedly $900k a season with Melbourne, the club are trying to keep Papenhuyzen, Munster, Hughes, Grant and many others, getting NAS' salary off the books would help them keep who they want to. Plus they are doing well without him with middles like King, Utoikamanu, Loiero and MacDonald doing the job for them this year, NAS could be expendable for his price. How would NAS help Parra? Well experience firstly having to date played 204 NRL games. He is a big body and adds mongrel, which is what he have been lacking of late. Even having him on the bench playing the part of disrupter can go a long way in this team. You need with packs like Melbourne, Canberra and Penrith pre 2025. Connections to Ryles is a big part of me mentioning NAS too, it is a bit of a long shot but simply offering to take a three quarters of his $900 off the books for Melbourne could be a start.

Lindsay Smith: Bit left field, he is off-contract in 2026, played for Australia and of course would be looking for a big upgrade. He is talking to Penrith on an extension in January and nothing since. He has been moved to the bench the past few weeks also with Leota and Henry being seen as preferred starting options, which would not help Smith's pledge for a Blues jumper. Smith would want what we could throw at him. Being 25 next year, having won 2 comps and played for Australia, he is a nice Prop to have for us moving forward. He is great, not flashy but he has a strong build and technique along with an offload. Leniu rumours circulated but were put to bed for some time but where this was smoke there is fire, considering how Sydney City out of nowhere dropped May for salary cap reasons, Leniu could be the same back to Penrith allowing Smith to want to look elsewhere. Again, these are a case of us going to his agent simply saying we have money and can offer a bit more than Penrith and a starting spot. 

Kai Pearce-Paul: First back-rower listed, probably our biggest need yet the market all together is bare with the apparant value of edge back-rowers over middles. He is a good back-rower, being 25 next year he is heading his peak years. I want to see if it is simply he is not good enough for NRL or simply how O'Brien has been coaching KPP. Putting him next Moses could be a god send for his career, a Shaun Lane type of player with a lean frame, defensive work-ethic and offload. Kid has talent, can he fulfill it and are we willing to take a punt. Canberra and Wests have expressed interest, with our name popping up from Riccio last week. If he is still available he is one we should target.

Griffin Neame: More high upside player than the first two middle options. He is 25 next year also, with some experience and Test footy for NZ under his belt. He is inconsistent in NQ, coming off the bench a change to a full-time starter could help his development. Neame is not a pick and leave for 10 years Prop yet like Smith would be but he has potential to be class. He would be slightly cheaper and more gettable.

Ethan Bullemor: Off-contract this year, bit of an enigma for a while and this year has turned into mr. consistent on the Northern Beaches. He can play middle and edge, primarily as a middle for Manly this year but i feel at 25 he has time to really become a good edge back-rower. He has a high motor, can move well and has a bit of mad as a cut snake about him. He can be a Liam Martin type, give him a full-time starting role and he could be a Queensland bolter. 

Naufahu Whyte: Offer him something he cannot refuse. The more he starts for Easts the less likely he will be available but he would be a really nice Prop to bring into the club. Runs with brute force and impact. He is a sign and leave for 10 years player.

Now i am going to list some from Gold Coast as Hasler said he will be putting a broom through the place, but at the same time i reckon there is a chance a new coach will be there in 2026, so good chance a few players move on.

Beau Fermor: Obvious choice as a pick-up, makes your forward pack instantly better, would have been an Origin player if not for injury.

Josaiah Pahulu: He is off-contract this year anyway and will be leaving but is one i think would be nice to invest in. 19 NRL games, 21 and has a bit to offer. Rubbed GC the wrong way after they rubbed him the wrong way. Was going to Canterbury until Leo Thompson fell in their lap. 

Now some would say Spencer Leniu, i did not put him as i believe if he is to go somewhere it is back to Penrith. Added to that is i do not think he is that great of a player. He is great off the bench, but we need starters.

Now we have a few juniors who could look at getting spots in 2026. Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, Ryda Talagi, Max Popo, Teancum Brown and Saxon Pryke are examples of forwards who could be looked at as future forwards for the club. Some are not ready for another year at least, some could push for 17 spot. Ryles i believe will want to lean on a few juniors for the future, so i do not see us going bizurk with signings. Perhaps 2 starters and a 1-2 depth forward signings. Then kids like Funa-Iuta, Popo and Talagi come 2027 will push to either start or be on the bench.