Holy Moses: Why Eels fear powerful agent
Danny Weidler
ByDanny Weidler
August 4, 2024
After the departure of Blaize Talagi there are growing fears in the Parramatta football department of another Isaac Moses takeover of the Eels.
Talagi is a client of the powerful manager, and the exit of a junior who was the next big hope for the club has hurt the Eels more than they will admit. Parramatta threw an impressive offer at Talagi, but he told the club on Wednesday he was leaving. He is poised to join Penrith.
The Eels were prepared to look after his rising star brother, Ryda, as part of a deal to keep them both.
The Eels provided Blaize with a significant pathway, and incoming coach Jason Ryles gave his best pitch to the family about his future. Whether the Eels had a real chance is something only Talagi, his family and Moses will know.
What is also concerning the Eels is that Moses not only manages Talagi but has signed a significant number of the next crop of young guns in Parramatta’s juniors.
No one from the Eels will say exactly what percentage of their players Moses has on his books, but sources with knowledge of the situation have told me it is well more than 50 per cent of the best young talent. Moses’ son plays in the Eels junior system, which gives the manager even more access to that playing group.
About a decade ago, Moses had significant power at the Eels because he managed so many of their players. With Talagi leaving the club at the end of the year, the Eels would probably rather give Moses the cold shoulder, but he has so much power when it comes to Parramatta’s future, and the club can’t afford to ignore him.
I have been told Moses wants all these rising stars to stay in the Eels system through to NRL level to develop because in the past 10 years the Eels are second only to Penrith in terms of premierships and results in the junior ranks.
The problem for the Eels is that traditionally Moses has operated in the south-west section of their juniors, but he is slowly creeping into the north-west as well, giving him greater dominance. It is worth noting that the Eels will open the largest centre of excellence and academy in the NRL in April, a $75 million facility in Kellyville.
The issue is agents are happy for their young players to stay in Parramatta’s development system because it is so good – then they shop them around to other clubs.
With more teams set to be added to the NRL, holding onto rising stars could become more difficult for a club that is trying to re-establish itself in the competition – and end its 38-year premiership drought.
Return of the King
Parramatta are going to have to lean on the heart and soul of the club, captain Clint Gutherson, once again.
Before Blaize Talagi’s decision to leave the club, the Eels were thinking about moving Gutherson from fullback to play lock, or even potentially hooker, next season to allow the talented young gun to take his No.1 jersey. Gutherson’s jumper was being offered to Talagi as a carrot to keep him at the Eels.
When Gutherson felt Talagi was up to speed and ready to play fullback in first grade, he was happy to move aside. Now the Eels will have to look at “King Gutho” as a fullback again, unless they can pluck a player out of a rival club such as Melbourne, who have Ryan Papenhuyzen in the No.1 jersey but rising star Sualauvi Fa’alogo waiting in the wings.
Credit:Getty
Gutherson seems to be more loved outside of Parramatta than inside the club. Jason Ryles was prepared to move him to another position but, incredibly, there has been speculation about Gutherson losing the captaincy as well.
While on Talagi, it’s another big miss for the Dragons, as he will join Penrith. The Dragons even have a coach who is managed by Isaac Moses in Shane Flanagan and he could not cash in on that link. It makes their pursuit of Valentine Holmes more important.
Isaac Moses manages exciting rookie Blaize Talagi, whose exit has hurt Parramatta more than they will admit.
www.smh.com.au