Eels land rising Tigers star Da Silva immediately with lucrative, four-year deal
By Dan Walsh
Updated June 29, 2025 — 4.44pmfirst published at 4.00pm
Parramatta are poised to sign Wests Tigers hooker Tallyn Da Silva in the next 24 hours on a lucrative four-and-a-half-year deal.
Tigers officials are prepared to release Da Silva on Monday after giving the young rake permission to explore the market early given the club’s plans to re-sign skipper Api Koroisau.
Parramatta’s extended offer until the end of 2029 proved the difference as Da Silva weighed up a three-year contract from Manly as well as interest from Newcastle and North Queensland.
The Sea Eagles were told on Sunday afternoon that Da Silva would be heading west, while North Queensland’s interest was also rebuffed by the 20-year-old given his preference is to remain in Sydney close to his family.
Manly will continue talks with Newcastle around an early release for rookie prop Paul Bryan to join the club before Monday’s June 30 deadline, having already signed a deal for next season. In turn, Sea Eagles back up half Jake Arthur will join his brother Matthew at the Knights for the rest of 2025.
Da Silva, meanwhile, will bolster Parramatta’s No.9 stocks alongside regular starting hooker Ryley Smith and his back-up Brendan Hands.
Of the Eels’ current roster, which is undergoing a significant overhaul by rookie coach Jason Ryles, only skipper and million-dollar halfback Mitchell Moses is signed as long as Da Silva’s new deal.
Parramatta’s round 18 bye will bring Da Silva into contention for a Sunday afternoon debut against a rejuvenated Penrith outfit.
Da Silva played his last game for the Tigers and scored a try in their 28-10 loss to Manly on Friday night, with the club prepared to release him despite Koroisau suffering a head knock that rules him out of next Sunday’s clash with the Roosters.
Third-choice rake Tristan Hope was withdrawn from NSW Cup duties and shapes as the Tigers starting No.9 in a playmaking spine already missing Jarome Luai (NSW Origin camp), Jahream Bula (hamstring) and Heath Mason (suspension).
Da Silva’s early exit in pursuit of regular NRL game time was reluctantly agreed to by the Tigers given Koroisau is their priority at hooker and he has shown no signs of slowing down.
The Tigers will save cap space by releasing Da Silva from the last 18 months’ of his contract – reportedly worth up to $400,000 next season – and can potentially frontload portions of next year’s player wages into their 2025 salary cap.
The joint venture will remain in the market for a depth player in the halves after missing out on Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds, while outside back Taylan May is on a train-and-trial deal that will be revisited at the end of the season.
May was named to make his club debut in NSW Cup on Saturday but was a late withdrawal as the club manages his return to the game after more than a year on the sidelines on court charges that were eventually dismissed.
The Tigers hooker has made a call on his future after meeting with four rival clubs.
www.smh.com.au