Parramatta Eels roster analysis: Post-Brad Arthur exodus threatens club

Parramatta officials insist Brad Arthur’s sacking will not trigger a roster overhaul, as the club fights to keep one of the most in-demand free agents in the NRL. Eels roster analysis.

Retaining one of the NRL’s hottest young talents will be a priority for Parramatta in the wake of Brad Arthur’s sacking.

Parramatta officials insist Arthur’s axing will not trigger a roster overhaul, as chairman Sean McElduff revealed the besieged club is confident star local junior Blaize Talagi won’t walk out on the Eels.

It comes as club bosses reached out to marquee recruit Zac Lomax in the wake of Arthur’s axing.

Talagi, one of the club’s best prospects, is yet to take up a player option for 2025 leaving the door open for NRL rivals to swoop in and poach the talented teenager.

There had been speculation that Talagi’s management was concerned about the club’s direction under coach Arthur.

Asked whether the removal of Arthur strengthened the club’s chances of retaining Talagi, McElduff said he was confident the 19-year-old would stay at the Eels.

“I’m not sure I have the answer to that,” McElduff said when asked if Arthur’s tenure was a sticking point in contract negotiations.

Blaize Talagi is one of the hottest free agents in the NRL. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“The conversations with his manager continue at this point in time with Isaac (Moses) and his team.

“Blaize is a Parra kid, I expect him to stay…he has come through all of our pathways. His family is connected to the club. I feel like he is going to stay.”

Talagi’s younger brother, Ryda, a Harold Matthews (under-17s) prop, is also contracted at the Eels.

Parramatta CEO Jim Sarantinos is just as confident that Lomax, who joins the club on a four-year deal from 2025, will not renege on his deal after asking for a clause in his contract that allowed him to walk away if Arthur was sacked.

The Eels rejected that request.

“We will be having a conversation with Zac today,” Sarantinos said.

“Our focus over the last little while has been having a conversation with the players in the building. We will be having a conversation with Zac.

“None of our players have any clause like that in their contract. That’s not the way we operate.”

Sarantinos also said the decision to move on from Arthur would not lead to a re-build of the club’s roster nor does he expect a player exodus.

But there is speculation Maika Sivo, who has a mutual option for 2026, has already been offered to English Super clubs.

“No, at this point in time we have made one change, that is in our head coach,” Saratinos said.

During his time at the club, Arthur built strong relationships with the likes of Dylan Brown and Bryce Cartwright.

Brad Arthur developed strong relationships with his players. Picture: NRL Imagery

“I’m not concerned (about an exodus). We need to be empathetic, a lot of these players have had a long term relationship with Brad,” Sarantinos said.

“We have to give them the opportunity to process that, once they get through that, they’ll pick their heads up and move forward.

“Many of our core players are contracted until at least 2025 and many beyond. I expect they will be playing a big part in our future.”

If Talagi commits to the club, the Eels will have 22 players contracted for 2025 but only eight players signed in 2026.

The new head coach would have a strong say in recruitment, like Arthur did, but ultimately the final call would come down to the club’s recruitment committee.

That process will not change under a new head coach, according to Sarantinos.

“We are very comfortable with the say that Brad has had in recruitment. I think the head coach at any club should have the strongest say on players that come in or leave the club,” Sarantinos said.

“We haven’t operated any different than that and that will continue with the next head coach.”

Nine players left the club after Parramatta’s grand final appearance in 2022, including hooker Reed Mahoney and Isaiah Papali’i.

It put Parramatta’s retention and recruitment strategy under the spotlight.

Sarantinos insisted the club’s recruitment and retention had not failed Arthur after the player exodus in 2022.

“Many of the players were players that Brad had played a part in developing from young players into experienced and established players,” Sarantinos said.

“We have a roster committee in place, and Brad played a key part in that, he has the strongest voice. We did everything we could to retain as many of those players as possible, but ultimately they chose to go to other clubs.”