“Will Penisini - Cronulla Sharks
Will Penisini is yet to ink a new deal with Parramatta for the 2027 season and beyond, but a centre of his stature and potential will no doubtedly remain in the NRL if the Eels do not secure his services.
Still only 24-years-old, the Tongan international would fit right into the backline of Cronulla Sharks after the departure of long-tenured centre Jess Ramien.
With Michael Gabrael not yet experienced at first grade level with just one game under his belt, Penisini could potentially slot right into the vacant spot whilst Gabrael continues to develop.”
Excerpt From
“Pairing NINE players without a contract for 2027 with a new club”
Samuel Sartori
Zero Tackle
https://apple.news/AEvWjLc_NQYCQAUGMLe9YmA
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Replies
No big loss if he goes.
Will said this in 2025:
"I love this club, and I'm actually staying for another three years, until '28," Penisini revealed.
"[The re-signing] just shows how much I appreciate what this club has done for me, and what I want to do for them as well."
Yeah but then the Eels statement says till end of 2026: I think there was a hope vs a reality and it's got everyone confused.
https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2025/05/21/parramatta-eels-secure...
Centre Will Penisini, one of the Club’s most consistent performers, has also re-committed to the Blue & Gold until the end of 2026.
We extended him till the end of 2026, and there was media talk a little while ago about him being extended until end of 2028 but that never materialised into a club announcement.
So for all intents and purposes, he's unsigned at this point.
I think he's definitely a Top 30 player for an NRL side, but I don't think he's a starting player in many teams. Like so many Parramatta project players he was expected to kick on and be the next big thing, but he seemed to have hit his talent ceiling much earlier than anticipated and has by some measures probably even regressed a bit the last few years.
Given our lack of backs I'm surprised we haven't locked him up for at least another year, but maybe we only wanted to offer a year by year contract and he wants to test the market to see if he can get a longer deal elsewhere.
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