Eels Blogs

While Mannah's deal, which could be signed off as early as Wednesday, is through to the end of the year, some Tigers officials are keen to see how he performs the back half of the season.

Parramatta were linked to Penrith's Waqa Blake over the weekend, and while they have the money and extra space in their top-30 roster, a sticking point could be the length of the centre's current deal, which does not expire until the end of 2023.

Mannah dumped his manager earlier this year and was happy to negotiate his own future.

Some Tigers players awoke to the headlines Mannah was headed to Concord, and welcomed another experienced player.

Fellow front-rower Ben Matulino, one of several players reportedly being shopped around by the Tigers, spoke about the assurances he had been given by the club while he also praised Mannah.

''I've been reassured by 'Madge' [Michael Maguire] I'm here for two more years," Matulino said. "When it first came out [I was being shopped] I rang my manager and said, 'what's happening?' and he said,' I haven't heard anything from anyone'. I talked to Madge and he reassured me."

As for Mannah, Matulino said: "He's a really nice guy. It can only boost our team. He has a lot of experience and we can use in him this team. I met him before I came [to Sydney] at a hotel, I'd just moved to Australia, he was in the Lebanon camp, and he said, 'if you ever need anything let me know'. This is from someone who only knew from playing against."

Back-rower Ryan Matterson spent two years in Parramatta's full-time squad when Mannah was captain and said: "He'll definitely bring experience, and you can never fault his effort."