‘We want him here’: Parramatta offer rookie Talagi three-year deal

1 week ago 8

Parramatta person offered Blaize Talagi a three-year woody arsenic the Eels rookie prepares for his archetypal hit-out successful his preferred No.1 jersey.

Plenty of fans wrong CommBank Stadium connected Friday nighttime volition beryllium excited to spot Broncos superstar Reece Walsh successful afloat formation – but they could besides beryllium witnessing the commencement of a caller epoch for the Eels, with Talagi successful enactment to win Clint Gutherson.

The Eels skipper had an cognition connected his genu during past week’s bye round, which volition present support him connected the sidelines for up to a month.

Talagi, 19, has played five-eighth and centre successful the NRL this season, but is keen to go the regular fullback. The section inferior has an enactment successful his favour for 2025, but is reportedly prepared to trial the unfastened market.

Talagi’s absorption has been investigating options for the 19-year-old, drafting disapproval from Brad Fittler. “Geez, they permission quick,” the erstwhile NSW manager said connected Freddy and the Eighth. “He’s travel up arsenic a [local junior], Parramatta person fixed him an opportunity, and his manager is retired determination flogging him to different clubs.”

The Eels, though, spot Talagi arsenic a large portion of their future, offering him a woody that volition support him astatine Parramatta until the extremity of 2027. Coach Brad Arthur is simply a large admirer of the youngster.

Blaize Talagi has been offered a three-year woody by the Eels.

“Blaize spent clip astatine fullback successful some our trials, helium tin bushed radical with the ball, and he’s got nary fearfulness – physically he’s pugnacious for his age,” Arthur told this masthead. “Fullback is simply a hard position. It took Gutho years to maestro it.

“So we cognize Blaize volition get things wrong, helium volition get his numbers incorrect successful defence helium volition beryllium caught retired of presumption with kicks, but the lone mode you larn and get acquisition is by playing.

“We privation Blaize present astatine the club. We astir apt inactive don’t cognize what his champion presumption is. Five-eighth, fullback, centre? Centre is astir apt the easiest presumption erstwhile you are starting out. But we privation to support him.”

Moving Gutherson to the centres would assistance the skipper to negociate his troublesome knee. But Arthur won’t beryllium hurried into making the switch.

Clint Gutherson is retired for a period arsenic helium recovers from genu surgery.

“Blaize tin larn a batch from Gutho and hold his time. I won’t pre-empt erstwhile that determination could happen,” Arthur said. “Gutho is inactive 1 of our astir influential players and cardinal to our performances.”

The lack of Gutherson means Dylan Brown becomes co-captain, portion Sean Russell volition instrumentality implicit the goal-kicking duties against Brisbane.

Brown has had the added work of guiding the Eels astir without Mitchell Moses, who is simply a accidental to instrumentality from a ft fracture adjacent weekend.

Arthur said Moses had been moving connected the anti-gravity treadmill, but would implicit his archetypal tract league this weekend.

“He’s a accidental of playing Magic Round, if not the pursuing week,” Arthur said.

“We’ll cognize much erstwhile we spot him connected the field; we won’t beryllium selfish and unreserved him, and Mitch volition cognize erstwhile he’s ready.”

As for Brown receiving the honour of starring the broadside retired against the Broncos – Junior Paulo is besides co-captain – Arthur said: “I ran it past Dyl connected Thursday, and helium doesn’t spot the co-captaincy arsenic other unit – thing fazes him.

“He plays rugby league due to the fact that helium loves it and enjoys it. He mightiness person to person a mates of conversations with the referee, but that volition beryllium it. His occupation won’t change. We’ve fixed this occupation due to the fact that we person assurance successful him.”

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