Squad succession

[Obscene Assassin]

Nrl site has him as 2 year top 30 deal

2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Dragons sign Rugby 7s star, extend Flanagan

The Dragons have signed Australian Olympic sevens star Nathan Lawson and extended Kyle Flanagan, while luring Dan Atkinson from Cronulla for 2026.

www.nrl.com

While our announcement had him as a 2 year deal too

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

I say that telecrap code side is wrong.

Nrl.com has updated their website as new information has become available. They've had contracts down as full length but then updated to show PO, CO, MO in the past.

There's also no reason why 1st year couldn't be TnT and 2nd year T30

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Nrl.com has updated their website as new information has become available. They've had contracts down as full length but then updated to show PO, CO, MO in the past.

There's also no reason why 1st year couldn't be TnT and 2nd year T30

I don't think it wouId make sense to have Tnt followed by a T30. If we are unsure if he is good enough for 2025 (thus the Tnt), why offer him top 30 for the year after.

Also I doubt we wouId officially announce a 2 year deal if it was Tnt first year.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I don't think it wouId make sense to have Tnt followed by a T30. If we are unsure if he is good enough for 2025 (thus the Tnt), why offer him top 30 for the year after.

Also I doubt we wouId officially announce a 2 year deal if it was Tnt first year.

I initially heard that it was "development" for the 1st year then T30 for the year after. Given his injury history we may believe that he needs time on the field before he's in line for a first grade opportunity?

We announced 3 re-signings that aren't even TnT for next year not long ago. The press release was likely seen as an easy win for a club a bit under the pump for releasing first grade players.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

There's also no reason why 1st year couldn't be TnT and 2nd year T30

I think this is most likely.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don't think it wouId make sense to have Tnt followed by a T30. If we are unsure if he is good enough for 2025 (thus the Tnt), why offer him top 30 for the year after.

Also I doubt we wouId officially announce a 2 year deal if it was Tnt first year.

I think it would relate to his position/role within the squad, and cap space being freed up in 2026. For example, Samrani might be expected to fill Dunster’s roster slot. As we know, that merkin is still on the books for next season.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hands and Russell sign one year extensions:

* = player option
¢ = club option
" = mutual option
^ = development contract

2025
Utility: Brown, Hands, Papali'i
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Add-Carr, Dunster (26)", Lomax, Renisini^, Wenisini, Russell, Samrani, Simonsson
Half: Hawkins, Moses
Hooker: Lussick (30)
Edge forward: Cartwright (31), Doorey, Guymer^, Lane, Mataele (23), Matterson, Tuilagi (26), Williams
Middle: Greig (26), Hopgood, Moretti (25), Ofahengaue (30), Paulo, Pryke^, Tuivati (20)

2026
Utility: Brown*, Hands (27), Papali'i (22)
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Add-Carr (31)¢, Lomax, Renisini (21), Wenisini (24)*, Russell (24), Samrani (24), Simonsson
Half: Hawkins (27), Moses
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Doorey (26), Guymer (22), Lane (32)", Matterson (32)*, Williams
Middle: Hopgood, Paulo (33), Pryke (22)^

2027
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: Iongi (24)
W/C: Lomax, Simonsson (29)
Half: Moses*
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Williams (31)
Middle: Hopgood (28)

2028
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: Lomax (29)
Half: Moses (34)*
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2029
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2030
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2031
Utility: Brown (31)*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

So we (officially) have 27 merkins in next year's top 30, and 20 in the 2026 squad.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Parramatta Eels extend two players

Brendan Hands and Sean Russell have re-signed with the Eels.

www.parraeels.com.au

“Brendan is the ultimate professional; he always puts the club first and is an important part of our squad moving forward.”

In addition, winger Sean Russell has extended his contract until the end of the 2026 season.

 

[TheCrowe]

Parramatta Eels extend two players

Brendan Hands and Sean Russell have re-signed with the Eels.

www.parraeels.com.au

“Brendan is the ultimate professional; he always puts the club first and is an important part of our squad moving forward.”

In addition, winger Sean Russell has extended his contract until the end of the 2026 season.

Happy bout Hands, Russell not as big a fan as I used to be.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Happy bout Hands, Russell not as big a fan as I used to be.

Was tracking well as a winger b4 Campbell punctured his lung. I still reckon he will be our best ever Rhino. Ryles will sort him.

 

[TheCrowe]

Was tracking well as a winger b4 Campbell punctured his lung. I still reckon he will be our best ever Rhino. Ryles will sort him.

True. Always hoped he would step up for us. He is actually pretty quick when he hits full stride.

 

[the phantom menace]

2031
Utility: Brown (31)*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

f**k, only 1 player in the 2031 squad, and he's a utility on a player option... we're well and truly screwed

Thank goodness for this thread!

 

[the phantom menace]

Parramatta Eels extend two players

Brendan Hands and Sean Russell have re-signed with the Eels.

www.parraeels.com.au

“Brendan is the ultimate professional; he always puts the club first and is an important part of our squad moving forward.”

In addition, winger Sean Russell has extended his contract until the end of the 2026 season.

Great news about Hands. I don't think we need to look for another hooker to be honest. We do need to look for another back-up hooker instead of Lussick though...

Russell has done OK when asked, and somehow became an international last month... has potential not yet realised, so I'm ok with the extension. But at the moment he's not getting a gig in the top 17 (except with Simonssen out for the first few weeks).

 

[the phantom menace]

Hands and Russell sign one year extensions:

* = player option
¢ = club option
" = mutual option
^ = development contract

2025
Utility: Brown, Hands, Papali'i
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Add-Carr, Dunster (26)", Lomax, Renisini^, Wenisini, Russell, Samrani, Simonsson
Half: Hawkins, Moses
Hooker: Lussick (30)
Edge forward: Cartwright (31), Doorey, Guymer^, Lane, Mataele (23), Matterson, Tuilagi (26), Williams
Middle: Greig (26), Hopgood, Moretti (25), Ofahengaue (30), Paulo, Pryke^, Tuivati (20)

So we (officially) have 27 merkins in next year's top 30

Source in another thread (Eels in the Media) has Samrani as a train and trial.

Copied below in case eventually relevant to updating the remaining 3-4 places in the 2025 top 30.

 

[Twizzle]

Hands will play in the 17, probably 13, but I reckon Russell will play cup this year. There are way too many pacy young blokes to keep him out for mine unless we get injuries, and then he becomes what every club needs: an experienced back-up player.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

f**k, only 1 player in the 2031 squad, and he's a utility on a player option... we're well and truly screwed

Thank goodness for this thread!

You let me worry about 2031. You need to focus on pissing your knickers before 2025 has even started.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hands will play in the 17, probably 13, but I reckon Russell will play cup this year. There are way too many pacy young blokes to keep him out for mine unless we get injuries, and then he becomes what every club needs: an experienced back-up player.

He is our fifth best outside back. As you say, you don’t want some merkin on minimum salary.

 

[the phantom menace]

You let me worry about 2031. You need to focus on pissing your knickers before 2025 has even started.

So is Samrani already a top 30 for 2025, or a train and trial ffs?

That's what I'm pissing my knickers about in this thread!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Nobody knows mate. Keep pissing until we get clarification.

 

[Gronk]

Nobody knows mate. Keep pissing until we get clarification.

Sometimes there are secrets that can’t be shared.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Tuilagi:

* = player option
¢ = club option
" = mutual option
^ = development contract

2025
Utility: Brown, Hands, Papali'i
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Addo-Carr, Dunster (26)", Lomax, Renisini^, Wenisini, Russell, Samrani, Simonsson
Half: Hawkins, Moses
Hooker: Lussick (30)
Edge forward: Cartwright (31), Doorey, Guymer^, Lane, Mataele (23), Matterson, Tuilagi, Williams
Middle: Greig (26), Hopgood, Moretti (25), Ofahengaue (30), Paulo, Pryke^, Tuivati (20)

2026
Utility: Brown*, Hands (27), Papali'i (22)
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Addo-Carr (31)¢, Lomax, Renisini (21), Wenisini (24)*, Russell (24), Samrani (24), Simonsson
Half: Hawkins (27), Moses
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Doorey (26), Guymer (22), Lane (32)", Matterson (32)*, Tuilagi (27), Williams
Middle: Hopgood, Paulo (33), Pryke (22)^

2027
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: Iongi (24)
W/C: Lomax, Simonsson (29)
Half: Moses*
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Williams (31)
Middle: Hopgood (28)

2028
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: Lomax (29)
Half: Moses (34)*
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2029
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2030
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2031
Utility: Brown (31)*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

So we (officially) have 27 merkins in next year's top 30, and 21 in the 2026 squad.