Squad succession

[Chipmunk]

so it looks like we have 2 more top 30 contracts and 2 more dev deals for next season, given the news de belin is joining the club

This assumes Lane is gone, which is highly likely. I suspect negotiations since Lane went on gardening leave have centered around this mutual option, which is the reason he is still on our books.

 

[Chipmunk]

2026
Utility: Hands (27), Papalii (22), Samrani, Walker (32)
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Addo-Carr (31), Lomax, Renisini (21), Wenisini (24), Russell (24), Simonsson
Half: Hawkins (27), Moses, Volkman (24)
Hooker: Da Silva, Smith
Edge forward: Doorey (26), Funa-Iuta^, Guymer (22), Kautoga, Lane (32)", Latu^, Matterson (32)*, Tuilagi (27), Williams
Middle: Hopgood, Mataele (24), Moretti, Paulo (33), Pryke (22)^, Tuivaiti

28 in the 2026 squad.

From this list, De Belin still needs to be added and Lane highly likely won't be here. I'm also not convinced Volkman is Top 30 next year. He is still Train and Trial now, maybe we've just offered a Development Contract?

Of the rest, you'd expect Matterson is someone the club would rather use his money on someone else. The rest are either wanted or on such small deals it's neither here nor there.

Matterson is a tricky one, you'd think he will likely retire after next season and has set himself up for what he wants to do post-NRL career, so he's unlikely to bother looking for somewhere else to play. Personally, when fit and motivated, I think he still can offer a lot to a very inexperienced squad.

 

[emjaycee]

From this list, De Belin still needs to be added and Lane highly likely won't be here. I'm also not convinced Volkman is Top 30 next year. He is still Train and Trial now, maybe we've just offered a Development Contract?

Of the rest, you'd expect Matterson is someone the club would rather use his money on someone else. The rest are either wanted or on such small deals it's neither here nor there.

Matterson is a tricky one, you'd think he will likely retire after next season and has set himself up for what he wants to do post-NRL career, so he's unlikely to bother looking for somewhere else to play. Personally, when fit and motivated, I think he still can offer a lot to a very experienced squad.

*inexperienced

 

[Pazza]

So with debelin signing your saying we have 2 top 30 spots available even without releasing players?

Yes, If I can count and Lane isn't here next year

 

[Pazza]

I reckon we’ll again leave the spots open until necessary to fill them. There’s no one readily available that plays our most glaring gaps (2nd row, 5/8th) and if no one does become available, we most probably fill the spots with current development players (probably Latu & Funa-Iuta) so potentially it’s just 4 available development spots

Think our biggest need is a experienced, powerful north south running starting prop...

5/8 depends what they wanna do with Joash and back row I think Williams can shift there given we get that prop was talking about.

 

[Grigor]

Yes, If I can count and Lane isn't here next year

If ryles wanted a player off the books I'm guessing there paid out like the dogs do regularly freeing up a spot

 

[Poupou Escobar]

From this list, De Belin still needs to be added and Lane highly likely won't be here. I'm also not convinced Volkman is Top 30 next year. He is still Train and Trial now, maybe we've just offered a Development Contract?

Of the rest, you'd expect Matterson is someone the club would rather use his money on someone else. The rest are either wanted or on such small deals it's neither here nor there.

Matterson is a tricky one, you'd think he will likely retire after next season and has set himself up for what he wants to do post-NRL career, so he's unlikely to bother looking for somewhere else to play. Personally, when fit and motivated, I think he still can offer a lot to a very experienced squad.

Volkman’s re-signing came with an official announcement, which I don’t think they’ve previously done with second tier (or whatever they’re called now, train-and-trial?) players.

 

[Chipmunk]

Volkman’s re-signing came with an official announcement, which I don’t think they’ve previously done with second tier (or whatever they’re called now, train-and-trial?) players.

We announced Samrani last year. Apparently he was only Train and Trial at the time.

Eels announce three signings

The Parramatta Eels are excited to announce the signing of Joash Papalii and Jordan Samrani, as well as the extension of Matt Doorey.

www.parraeels.com.au

We also announced Kautoga as a Development Contract for 2025 and Top 30

Fijian representative Kautoga signs with the Eels

The Parramatta Eels are excited to announce the signing of emerging young forward and Fijian representative Kitione Kautoga.

www.parraeels.com.au

 

[Chipmunk]

*inexperienced

Thanks

 

[emjaycee]

Thanks

I knew what you meant.

 

[85 Baby]

Think our biggest need is a experienced, powerful north south running starting prop...

5/8 depends what they wanna do with Joash and back row I think Williams can shift there given we get that prop was talking about.

We’ll have Paulo & Tuivati next season in those roles. That prop you want probably isn’t feasible until 2027 when Paulo comes off books. If @Avenger is to be believed though, that replacement may have already been earmarked.
Whereas our current backrow is Williams (not an ideal edge), Kautoga (improving but we don’t know if this is his peak or not), Samrani (similar to Kautoga) and then Tuilagi (rocks or diamonds, with too many rocks).

 

[Avenger]

We’ll have Paulo & Tuivati next season in those roles. That prop you want probably isn’t feasible until 2027 when Paulo comes off books. If @Avenger is to be believed though, that replacement may have already been earmarked.
Whereas our current backrow is Williams (not an ideal edge), Kautoga (improving but we don’t know if this is his peak or not), Samrani (similar to Kautoga) and then Tuilagi (rocks or diamonds, with too many rocks).

I suggested we will have a crack if he wants to explore his options (Tino).

 

[chiefy1]

Surely the next assignment is to lock in Iongi until 2030.

Lock it in eddie

 

[Grigor]

I suggested we will have a crack if he wants to explore his options (Tino).

Every club will have a crack at tino , our slight advantage is he knows ryles well

 

[Stevie]

I’m interested to know what the plan is with Walker/Smith/TDS.

TDS says clearly in his media release he wants to be a starting 80min hooker. We’ve signed him for 4.5 years so we clearly believe he will be.

But Smith is importabt I think for our style of play. He is fast, fit, and never stops he is a machine. So let’s just assume we try him with an off the bench role, what does that look like as we have Walker who has proved to be quite effective off the bench.

I don’t think you can carry both on the bench so where does Walker play? He was a very good centre a long time ago but assume that’s not his position week in week out anymore.

Is he a 13? Could he be an 11 or 12, probably not.

Any thoughts of how this potentially plays out? It’s super interesting to me.

 

[Avenger]

Every club will have a crack at tino , our slight advantage is he knows ryles well

I wouldn’t call it $light.

 

[Pazza]

Any thoughts of how this potentially plays out? It’s super interesting to me.

Tds won't play 80, prob more like 50.

Walker starts at lock plays 60, Smith plays 30 mins at hooker and moves to lock for 20.

Hopgood moves to prop.

An option I guess

 

[eel01s]

I don't see Walker starting. If TDS is a running dummy half then he probably won't start either, unless Ryles thinks he can go for 80 minutes.

That leaves Paulo, Tuivati, Moretti and Hopgood as middles, with Williams, Kautoga and Tuilagi as edges. Hopgood starts at lock as usual, then moves to middle rotation after Walker comes on.

Unless this is a plan to get rid of Hopgood, where Smith starts at hooker and then is used to spell either TDS or Walker.

 

[Stevie]

Yeah that’s why I thought I’d throw it to the brains trust as the press release and interview since seems to indicate TDS is coming here “to start and play 80”.

Now, perhaps he finishes the year rotating but next year I’d bet on him being built for the 80.

Just unsure how it all works.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Yeah that’s why I thought I’d throw it to the brains trust as the press release and interview since seems to indicate TDS is coming here “to start and play 80”.

Now, perhaps he finishes the year rotating but next year I’d bet on him being built for the 80.

Just unsure how it all works.

I just think TDS couldn't believe his luck the Tigers have let him go so easily and quickly.

I don't think he is expecting to play 80 mins every game yet.