Official 2026 NRL General Discussion

Capital_Shark said:
Okay, well that would be an upgrade. But it is another short term 6 solution for them, and not one that is going to change their fortunes too much. Surely they need to start developing someone.
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They have a good (apparently) young six they are excited about but he's only about 20
I think they can buy another year for him. Joash Papalii was the original play for 6 for next season anyway, as I understand it. Volkman also obviously forced his way into consideration.

From last year
The 2025 SG Ball Player of the Year, Lorenzo Talataina, had a tournament to remember in the Under-19s competition which saw him guide the Eels to the Grand Final and has continued his form in the Jersey Flegg Cup.

Able to cut the defence to pieces with his silky skills and footwork, he is also very strong for his size in defence and has been earmarked to be the club's future in the halves with Dylan Brown departing for the Newcastle Knights.

Age: 19
Team: Parramatta Eels
Position: Five-Eighth / Halfback
Contract Status: N/A
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bort said:
They have a good (apparently) young six they are excited about but he's only about 20
I think they can buy another year for him. Joash Papalii was the original play for 6 for next season anyway, as I understand it. Volkman also obviously forced his way into consideration.

From last year
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Fair enough if he’s still not ready I suppose.
 
Capital_Shark said:
Okay, well that would be an upgrade. But it is another short term 6 solution for them, and not one that is going to change their fortunes too much. Surely they need to start developing someone.
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I read somewhere a few weeks ago that they have 2 young halves who they rate very highly but just aren't ready yet. Probably another 12-18 months away. So what they're doing really seems to align with that. Hoping though that fails miserably for them and they continue being **** haha
 
bort said:
They have a good (apparently) young six they are excited about but he's only about 20
I think they can buy another year for him. Joash Papalii was the original play for 6 for next season anyway, as I understand it. Volkman also obviously forced his way into consideration.

From last year
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Lorenzo is probably one of the most hyped juniors I've heard of in awhile

Little I've seen of his highlights warrants it though
 
sharks2010 said:
Is it possible to have 2 more hated halves though?
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Unfairly criticised maybe more than hated.

Laui and Moses together next season for Eels with have a good career behind them of criticism!

Burton/Crichton and Galvin not really a beloved pairing across the NRL fan base...
 
For the stat minded, the Foxsports lab has us finishing 3rd pre finals with an 84% chance i think it was, top 4 finish. For the shark/$$ minded, time to load up on Knights at $2.60 this week.
 
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Vichyssoise said:
Eels are truly desperate if this didn't even bother them.
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Tigers supposedly chipping in 500k of his 1.2m probably makes eels less worried about the hassles.

Also your rental being a hassle is a easier to overlook than than your marquee guy doing it to you
 
I dont understand why Tigers couldn't dig their heels and and tell Luai he can't fulfil any third party commitments for PNG next year? That is a direct conflict of interest surely?

If he doesn't like it, he can walk out. Tigers shouldn't have to pay to get rid of him?
 
I don't think anyone has actually said what these commitments would be yet? A thing I heard was that the $3.5m was the ceiling for what he could earn, but he's only locked into maybe 1-2 3rd parties currently. Smells like yet another NRL360 beat up, at this stage at least
 
Sparkles said:
I don't think anyone has actually said what these commitments would be yet? A thing I heard was that the $3.5m was the ceiling for what he could earn, but he's only locked into maybe 1-2 3rd parties currently. Smells like yet another NRL360 beat up, at this stage at least
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Could very well be. Wouldn't be the first time. Luai is an easy target.

Tigers obviously believed paying 500K (apparently rumoured) to get rid of him was worth it. This in itself says a lot.
As far as commitments go, I suppose he could travel to PNG during the preseason or whenever the Eels have a bye. Heck he could even do it in Sydney if it merely involves shooting a commercial.

It also appears that Eels think 700K (supposedly) a year for a Moses/Luai pairing could help them either mentor young players or make the 8.
I'm not convinced, but I've been wrong before.
 
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