Ex-Eels prodigy backs Luai signing as Bears table offer to Paulo
Updated July 22, 2026 — 6:01pm,first published July 21, 2026 — 12:52pm
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Key points
- Ex-Eel Talagi says Luai will help Parramatta’s young halves
- Panthers facing contract juggle with stars
- Latrell Mitchell is battling to play again in 2026
- Cameron Murray headlines mounting Rabbitohs injury toll
Panthers five-eighth and former Eels prodigy Blaize Talagi believes Jarome Luai could prove to be a $700,000 circuit breaker for his old club as the Perth Bears target Parramatta captain Junior Paulo to lead their forward pack.
Talagi will line up against his old side on Thursday night in the No.6 jersey Luai wore in four premierships with Penrith. Luai’s 2027 shift to Parramatta has divided opinion since his one-year deal was confirmed last week.
Eels coach Jason Ryles defended the Luai signing – Wests Tigers will pay $500,000 of his salary – once again on Wednesday, as Perth stepped up their pursuit of 32-year-old Paulo.
The Bears are prepared to offer Paulo a two-year deal after coach Mal Meninga met with the ex-NSW Origin prop. Parramatta have been in talks with Paulo about a one-year extension for some time, and he will now weigh up the added security of the Bears offer against moving his family to WA.
Meanwhile, Ryles insisted Luai’s 12-month pit stop before joining PNG in 2028 won’t undermine Parramatta’s development of playmakers such Lorenzo Talataina, Lincoln Fletcher (both 19) and Joash Papalii (22), and denied it points to a lack of long-term roster planning.
Talagi has emerged as an unlikely ally in the debate around Parramatta’s roster, having knocked back a lucrative three-year Eels extension to join Penrith in 2024.
Eels veteran Junior Paulo is weighing up an offer from the Bears.NRL Imagery
Talagi played fullback, centre and off the bench in his debut season when Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses were entrenched as Parramatta’s halves, albeit with contract options that allowed Newcastle to poach Brown with a record-breaking 10-year deal.
Talagi stressed that playing alongside Nathan Cleary in the Panthers’ title-winning system was the driving factor behind leaving his junior club.
But having been mentored by Luai when playing in the halves for Samoa and touring the UK together, he said Luai’s short-term stint could work out perfectly for Parramatta’s next generation of playmakers.
“I don’t see anything but good things coming from signing Romey for Parramatta to be honest, especially the younger guys coming up,” Talagai said. “He’s definitely someone who knows how to lead and lead with his actions, and his record speaks for itself.
Blaize Talagi has backed Parramatta’s signing of Jarome Luai.Wolter Peeters
“For me when I was at Parra, it was the biggest call of my life to leave, and the club was struggling at the time.
“So moving to a club where I could tell there wouldn’t be all the focus on me, knowing there would be older guys, obviously someone like Nath to play alongside, that was a big attraction.
“I’ve matured a lot since I’ve been here. I think that’s just natural, but I also think it could have been very different if I’d stayed, too. Being a half in the NRL, there’s pressure that comes with that and I think timing of when you play first grade and how you develop is really important.
“You’ve got to be properly prepared, and everyone develops at different times. Even when I first got here, there were no promises and I started in reserve grade.
“It ended up being the best thing for me, it gave me extra time to adapt to how Penrith do things, so I don’t think anyone should get too disheartened as a young half.”
Parramatta have high hopes for Talataina and Fletcher as long-term playmakers. But given they are both still teenagers, the pair are considered another 12 to 18 months away from being ready for the NRL.
Ryles bristled at comparisons between the short-term deals of Luai and Broncos-bound half Jonah Pezet, who has been stuck in NSW Cup behind Ronald Volkman recentlt.
“Jonah’s an up-and-coming player who’s done a great apprenticeship and is on his path to being a seasoned first-grader, and Jarome is a four-time premiership winner,” Ryles said.
“So there’s a little bit of a difference there. I don’t apologise for anything that we’ve done … Is there a fear of [upsetting other players]? No, there isn’t, because we’re sitting in a spot on the ladder that we don’t want to be.
“It’s no one’s fault directly, but we need more experienced players. Jarome fits that bill at the moment.
“We have got younger players that are coming through our pathways and our system that may be ready in 12 months.
“But this gives them an extra bit of time to give them their reps in [NSW] Cup and learn off a true pro that’s won a lot of premierships.”
Penrith typically pause contract talk to win titles. Will this year be any different?
Dan Walsh
Ivan Cleary remains unfazed by Penrith’s multimillion-dollar roster juggle revolving around the future of his son and superstar halfback Nathan ahead of a critical few weeks before the club traditionally pauses contract talks to win premierships.
Penrith’s 2027 off-contract list has dominated rugby league’s rumour mill all year, with Nathan Cleary’s next contract move key to the Panthers salary cap and 10 NRL squad members who will become free agents if they are still unsigned come November 1.
Cleary was front-page news of The Daily Telegraph on Monday, which declared the game’s best player would test the market.
Nathan Cleary’s future has been a talking point all season.Tertius Pickard
Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of discussions have told this masthead he is yet to decide whether he goes to November 1, and that he will begin giving his future genuine consideration after Thursday’s clash with Parramatta.
Father Ivan said he didn’t know when asked on Tuesday if Cleary planned to test the market, and said he couldn’t “remember the last time” he spoke to his son about his contractual future.
Ivan announced mid-year that 2027 will be his last season as head coach, with assistant Peter Wallace anointed as his successor.
The Panthers remain confident a long-term extension can be sorted for their prize-winning No.7 to keep Cleary from entertaining rival offers. The club first discussed a new deal with his management at the start of the season and have continued to negotiate with the rest of their roster in the background.
Further talks are scheduled with star front-rower Moses Leota after he was recently granted a brief window to negotiate with rival clubs for 2028 and beyond.
Underrated hooker Mitch Kenny was the first off-contract Panther to recommit to the club on a lucrative four-year deal last week.
Throughout Penrith’s run to four straight premierships, the club typically paused contract talks leading into the end of the regular season and finals to avoid off-field distractions.
No hard and fast rule enforced the policy, but a similar stance looms once another few weeks of negotiations take place, and there is further clarity on Cleary’s future.
The Panthers have suffered three of their four losses this season in the past five weeks, but have most importantly come through the Origin period unscathed.
Kenny is their only top-line player sidelined through injury, though a return date from his badly broken leg is still unknown.
Focus on the club’s retention’s fight has intensified since Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Brian To’o’s NSW Origin commitments wrapped up, but Ivan Cleary said contract talk hadn’t proved any more a distraction than previous years.
“It is in the background,” Cleary said. “Obviously our GM Shane Elford’s done a lot of work in the background all year, because ideally we don’t want [players] to go to market, but we respect if they do.
“I don’t think it’s a distraction any more than any other time…I’m confident it’ll work out the way it’s meant to work out for all of them. I feel pretty confident that we’ll get our share of wins there, and if we don’t, then it won’t be through lack of trying.”
Luckless Latrell to see specialist for ‘complex nerve damage’
Adrian Proszenko
Latrell Mitchell may have played his last game in 2026, with the South Sydney superstar consulting a neurologist for treatment on “complex nerve damage” in a desperate bid to return to the field this year.
Mitchell’s prognosis is one half of a double blow for the Rabbitohs, with captain Cameron Murray also sidelined for up to a month with a calf injury he suffered in the loss to Canberra. The pair are the highest-paid members of the playing squad and represent about $2 million of talent unavailable to coach Wayne Bennett in the run to the finals.
Latrell Mitchell is struggling to get back on the field in 2026.Getty
Mitchell’s scheduled return from a back injury last month was aborted after he tore his calf in training. It was hoped Mitchell could be fit for the round-23 clash against Parramatta on August 8, but it’s increasingly likely he has played his last game for the season.
This masthead broke the news of Mitchell’s diagnosis on Tuesday, with the club providing a further update later in the day.
“Centre Latrell Mitchell has undergone further investigations and consultation with a specialist neurologist last week,” the club statement said.
“Mitchell is trying to overcome complex nerve damage that initially created complications with a lower back injury, and now a calf issue in his left leg. Mitchell will remain a week-to-week proposition as to a return to the field of play.”
Cameron Murray and Latrell Mitchell, Souths’ highest-paid players, are due for more time on the sidelines.
In further bad injury news, centre Tallis Duncan has sustained a hamstring strain that will sideline him for two to three weeks. Latrell Siegwalt will replace Duncan for Friday’s clash against the Storm at Accor Stadium, while Lachlan Hubner comes in at lock for Murray.
“Trelly is doing good, he obviously wants to be out there with the boys,” Souths centre Jack Wighton said of Mitchell.
“He’s a presence we’re missing, he’s an awesome player to have on the field with you. He just gives you that confidence and belief. The quicker we can have him back, the better. We can’t wait to have him back, we love big Trell.”
Murray and Mitchell are part of an already bulging casualty ward that includes Sean Keppie (thumb, expected return round 23), Dayne Jennings, (knee, TBC) Adam Elliott (ankle, season) and Talanoa Penitani (hamstring, round 26).
Murray’s teammates acknowledged the significance of his absence, but believed the team would be able to cover for him.
“Huge [loss]. Any team that Cam Murray is playing in, he has a massive positive impact on how they play,” Campbell Graham said.
“We are obviously no different. He’s our captain, he’s our leader and he’s one of those blokes who gives you confidence when you’re running out there with him.
“He’s a loss for us over the next few weeks or so, whatever it is. As I said before, it takes an NRL squad to do something in this competition and we believe we’ve got the depth.
Latrell Mitchell injured his calf in training last month as he attempted to return from a back injury.Steven Siewert
“The boys have filled that position before and done the job for us. We’re still confident we can steer the ship while he’s out and hopefully we’re in a good position when he’s back ready to play.”
Junior Tatola added: “It’s obviously a big loss for us, he does a lot of work.
“He’s great to be next to and play with. It’s a big loss, but we have got boys in there that can step up to the plate and do the same job as what came does as well.”
In other team news, Canterbury have named Stephen Crichton to make his return at five-eighth, pushing fill-in Sean O’Sullivan onto an extended bench.
Manly have named Lehi Hopoate as the fullback replacement for Tom Trbojevic, while the Storm welcome back Jarome Hughes after the halfback missed one game with a hamstring injury.
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Dan Walsh is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.