NRL news: Who will Parramatta Eels sign to play hooker in 2023?

The departure of Reed Mahoney leaves a massive hole in Parramatta’s roster - one that a bevy of agents are keen to help fill.

Jacob Liddle, Api Koroisau and Reece Robson have all been shopped to the Eels.

Api Koroisau, Reece Robson and Jacob Liddle have all been pitched to the Eels in the wake of the crushing departure of Reed Mahoney to the Bulldogs.

The clean-up at Parramatta is already underway after yet another roster blow with the future Queensland Origin hooker accepting a four-year $2.4 million deal with Canterbury from 2023.

Mahoney, 23, informed his Eels teammates and coaching staff on Thursday that he was headed back to the Bulldogs – the club that originally scouted him to Sydney on a $1,000 deal as a teenager from Queensland.

As a result, the Eels recruitment policy is under fire from fans and commentators with Mahoney’s exit emerging in the wake of backrowers Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore joining the Wests Tigers and Warriors respectively from 2023.

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Signing Penrith's Apisai Koroisau would go a long way to softening the blow for Parramatta. Picture: Brett Costello

Off-contract NSW Origin prop Junior Paulo is now the Eels priority with negotiations to extend his future believed to be in its final stages.

Mahoney’s intention to join the Dogs after making his NRL debut with the Eels in 2018 – while disappointing – was far from a major shock for Parramatta officials, who were acutely aware of Canterbury’s massive pitch.

In the background, player agents with dummy-halves on their books have also been preparing to fix the Eels dummy-half issue, should it unfold, as it did on Thursday.

Koroisau, currently off-contract at Penrith, will now become a discussion point for the Eels recruitment team as a solution that would provide immediate experience and class following Mahoney’s exit.

The Panthers are under salary cap pressure and are unlikely to enter an auction for the two-time premiership-winner who will be seeking a new contract worth around $600,000 a season.

Reece Robson isn’t off contract till the end of 2023 but could be moved on earlier. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Jacob Liddle appeared to finally break his injury curse and played 20 games in 2021.

Robson, the former St George-Illawarra junior now at the Cowboys, isn‘t off-contract until the end of 2023.

However, with the Cowboys working hard to secure Storm star Brandon Smith, on top of re-signing young hooker Reuben Cotter on Wednesday until 2025, Robson’s name has been bandied to rival clubs, including the Eels.

Those aware of Robson being shopped believe it’s an indication that he may achieve an early release from his Cowboys deal to return to Sydney.

Liddle is another hooker off-contract in 2023 with the Wests Tigers dummy-half linked to a move to the Raiders in a swap for Josh Hodgson.

Liddle has also been spruiked to Parramatta as an answer to Mahoney in 2023.

Despite widespread criticism of their inability to retain Mahoney, the Eels are standing firm that they couldn’t have done any more to keep him.

If they opt against recruiting an NRL-standard hooker, the club’s position is one of confidence in coach Brad Arthur developing another young hooker, as was the case with Mahoney who originally signed four-years ago from Canterbury on a paltry contract worth $6,000.

The Eels are also banking on their next wave of talented youngsters including Jock Brazel, Larry Muagututia, Will Penisini, Sean Russell and Blaize Talagi.

All five young guns have been included within the 2021 NSW Future Blues squad.

BELMORE BLITZ: DOGS RAID EELS TO LAND STAR SIGNING

Canterbury’s recruitment blitz has continued with the Bulldogs securing Parramatta hooker Reed Mahoney on a long-term deal.

Mahoney told the Eels on Thursday morning of his decision to accept a deal worth about $600,000 a season to switch to Canterbury in 2023.

Paperwork is yet to be signed by Mahoney with his signature expected within the coming days.

Mahoney will become the Bulldogs second big signing in as many weeks after the club secured premiership winner Viliame Kikau last week.

It comes two weeks after Canterbury was caught launching a multimillion-dollar bid to sign Mahoney over a private dinner at a Chinese restaurant.

Reed Mahoney is set to join the Bulldogs in 2023. Picture: NRL Photos

The Daily Telegraph obtained exclusive footage from the Dynasty restaurant inside Canterbury Leagues Club where the club’s heaviest hitters met with Mahoney, who comes off contract after next season.

Bulldogs head coach Trent Barrett was at the meeting along with general manager of football, Phil Gould, club chairman, John Khoury along with Mahoney and his manager, Sam Ayoub.

Prior to dinner, Mahoney was given a guided tour of the Bulldogs’ high-performance facilities at Belmore Sports Groun

“Nothing to report,” Gould told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

“Had a nice dinner with Reed. I wanted him to meet our people. He’s a very impressive young man. No formal offer at this stage. Very much preliminary discussions.

“If Reed shows a genuine interest in being a Bulldog, we would be keen for further talks. We shall see what the future brings.”

Ayoub was adamant Mahoney was doing nothing wrong, and said he even told Eels general manager of football, Mark O’Neill, about the meeting.

“I was being transparent — I let Mark O’Neill know about the meeting,” Ayoub said.

Originally published as NRL news: Who will Parramatta Eels sign to play hooker in 2023?