Although to be fair, the Panthers name dropped Parra in their statement: https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2019/06/26/blake-granted-release-to-join-parramatta/
That's a pretty lonely 2023 squad. FFS Bernie get Waqa some help! * = player option 2019 Utility: Gutherson, Salmon, Smith, Takairangi (30) Fullback: French (23) W/C: Blake, Dunster (20), Ferguson, Hoffman (31), G.Jennings, M.Jennings (31), Leleisiuao (22), Parry (20), Sivo Half: D.Brown, Moses Hooker: Mahoney, McIlwrick (28) Edge forward: Davey (28), Fainga'a (21), Gower (34), Lane, Ma'u (31), Moeroa (24), Niukore Tight forward: Alvaro, N.Brown, Evans, Kaufusi, Mannah (31), Paulo, Stone (22), Terepo, Utoikamanu (19) 2020 Utility: Gutherson, Salmon (21), Smith (28) Fullback: - W/C: Blake, Ferguson, G. Jennings (27), Sivo (27) Half: D.Brown (20), Moses Hooker: Mahoney (22) Edge forward: Lane (26), Niukore (24) Tight forward: Alvaro (27)*, N.Brown, Evans (28), Kaufusi (21), Paulo, Terepo (29) 2021 Utility: Gutherson Fullback: - W/C: Blake, Ferguson (31) Half: Moses Hooker: - Edge forward: - Tight forward: Brown (28)*, Paulo 2022 Utility: Gutherson (28) Fullback: - W/C: Blake Half: Moses (28) Hooker: - Edge forward: - Tight forward: Paulo (29) 2023 Utility: - Fullback: - W/C: Blake (29) Half: - Hooker: - Edge forward: - Tight forward: - So we (officially) have 17 merkins in next year's squad, 18 if Alvaro takes up his option. And that's 30 roster slots filled this year.
Was wondering where the twitter merkon got his Top 30 info from. It's here --> https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/01/23/2019-nrl-signings-player-transfers-and-contracts/#eels Development players: Rhys Davies, Haze Dunster, Salesi Junior Faingaa, Ethan Parry, Stefano Utoikamanu
I believe 6 development players could be named. Any reason, with our stated wealth of juniors coming through, we would only nominate 5?
100% certain that Utoikamanu signed a 2y deal 19/20 at the end of 2018. He told me that personally. There was an article but i cannot find it atm.
Eels uncover much-needed big man Parramatta have been searching desperately for big men - and may have uncovered one right on their doorstep. NSW under-18 prop Stefano Utoikamanu has signed a new two-year deal with the Eels and been elevated to the NRL squad for next season. Still only 18, Utoikamanu was man of the match for the Blues against Queensland earlier this year and has been playing in the NSW Cup for Wentworthville against grown men - a fair effort for a teenager. Big and strong, he’s capable of playing NRL football at some point during 2019. St George Illawarra Dragons to extend contract of coach Paul McGregor The Mole https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/st-geo...the-mole/f7e28ccb-5484-42f1-aa35-1d8c13d15f51
I thought so too but since development players are all available now I figured it didn't matter. I assume one of them (Parry) has been brung into the top 30.
Honestly I don’t reckon the NRL covered that. We had 30 at June 30 and now I reckon we just have 29 on 29 July
