Parramatta coach Brad Arthur insists that teenage sensation Blaize Talagi will remain at the Eels, despite the rookie’s decision to become a free agent.
Arthur’s side has recorded three wins from the opening eight games, with the 19-year-old set to make his fifth NRL appearance with the club on Friday night.
Talagi will likely don the No.1 jersey for an extended run from Friday night, with Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson ruled out with a knee injury.
Talagi powered onto the scene during his round three debut, running over Manly star Tom Trbojevic to score a try. However, the young gun has reportedly decided against triggering a clause in his contract to remain at Parramatta for 2025, meaning he is eligible to engage in negotiations with rival clubs.
Despite the clause, Arthur remains confident that Talagi will remain at the Eels, describing him as the “future of the club.”
“All the indications from us are that he is the future of the club,” Arthur said.
“I hope he feels that way. We’ve certainly as a club tried to do our utmost best to prove that to him.
“I’ve had a conversation with Blaize – he’s only a kid, so I try not to have too many of these conversations with him and just keep them footy related – but the only question that I’ve asked him is: Does he want to be at the club? He told me he does. That’s half the battle.
“The club has been working with his management to try and get something sorted.
“He wants to be here, so it will sort itself out.”
While Arthur sounds confident, the very fact that Talagi decided against triggering the option for 2025 has irked Brad Fittler, who slammed his manager Isaac Moses when the issue was raised on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth this week.
Arthur noted that the Eels have been working with the young star to find opportunities to develop his experience in first grade, with Talagi making appearances at five-eighth, centre, the bench and now fullback.
“We’ve shown him how important he is to the club, we’ve shown him how… his development is at the forefront for us,” said Arthur.
Despite the Eels’ slide down the ladder since missing the finals last season, Arthur said he is “100 per cent” backed by all internal club officials” and is “not scared” to coach the team.
“[The speculation] doesn’t both me,” said Arthur, who has been at the helm of the Eels for 11 seasons.
“I know I’ve got [the Eels] support and I 100 per cent mean that. I’m grateful for it.
“It allows me still to be able to coach and not coach scared and put people in the team like Blaize at fullback this week, knowing that’s what’s best for the club.”
With Gutherson sidelined for at least four to five weeks, Dylan Brown has been elevated alongside Junior Paulo to share the captaincy duties.