The Jason Ryles rebuild has finally got underway in Parramatta, with Penrith young gun Isaiah Iongi signing a three-year deal with the Eels. The 21-year-old will make the switch at the end of the season.
Iongi is arguably the perfect replacement for Blaize Talagi, who rejected a big cash offer from the Eels to join the Panthers and sign a similarly-lengthed contract earlier this month.
The Sporting Base understands Ryles sees Iongi as the perfect long-term fullback for the Eels during his tenure. This instantly raises questions about Clinton Gutherson and where he fits into the incoming boss’ plans—there have been talks that another rebuilding club, the St George Illawarra Dragons, are interested.
If he stays, Gutherson may instead be shifted into the centres mix where he’d contest the three and four jerseys with Bailey Simonsson and new signing Zac Lomax. Fox Sports has also suggested he’ll lose the captaincy.
#NRL signing 🟡🔵⚡ Incoming @TheParraEels coach Jason Ryles has landed his first big signing by picking up Panther Isaiah Iongi on a three-season deal from next year
The 21-year-old is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Blaize Talagi, who the club just lost to Penrith pic.twitter.com/xtM2mDP4lG
— The Sporting Base – NRL (@BaseNrl) August 17, 2024
For the Panthers, the release makes sense; Dylan Edwards just signed a huge new deal with the club and Daine Laurie has deputised well for Penrith recently. Iongi spoke to Ivan Cleary and the Panthers powerbrokers and voiced his interest in playing regular first-grade footy. They were only too happy to let him leave for any good opportunities.
Iongi is the latest in a line of Panthers that have joined Parramatta, including Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Waqa Blake, and J’maine Hopgood.
Of those three, Campbell-Gillard is actually now on the chopping block. Ryles doesn’t rate the aging forward and wants his $750,000 deal off the books as soon as possible. The Dragons have informally spoken to “RCG” and will take him if the Eels pay some freight.
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Before Iongi arrives the Eels still face a fight to avoid the wooden spoon in 2024. They sit a win ahead of last-placed Wests Tigers with three games still to play in the club’s disastrous year.
