Mystery as promising Eels gun ‘disappears’ from team and training
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Plenty of people around Parramatta are wondering what has happened to backline utility Joash Papalii.
The promising fullback played virtually the entire first three-quarters of the season before suddenly disappearing in recent weeks.
Joash Papalii of the Eels. Getty Images
He hasn’t been named in NRL or NSW Cup (who are now finished for the year).
And sources close to him have confirmed he is not injured.
Papalii hasn’t even been sighted at training and it’s evident the promising 22-year-old has played his last game for the Eels.
Several rival clubs are looking at the former Bulldog for next season.
Warriors halves headache set to worsen
The high-flying Warriors have a glut of halves – but that could be about to change.
Blessed with more playmaking talent than any other club in the NRL, the Wahs have already lost Luke Metcalf (Dragons) as well as back-up halves Jett Cleary (Panthers) and Luke Hanson (Titans) for next season.
Nine.com.au has now learned that talented pivot Te Maire Martin is likely to go onto the open market on November 1.
Martin, a key figure in the Warriors’ title quest, is signed until the end of next season, which means he can negotiate with rival clubs in a couple of months.
“It looks like we will be going to market, the Warriors are very deep in halves,” Martin’s manager Andrew Purcell told nine.com.au.
“Te Maire is settled and happy in Auckland, but we will look at our options.”
Te Maire Martin. Getty
The 30-year-old, who missed last Sunday’s win over the Knights with a hamstring injury, has had a fine season with the Kiwi club.
But the Wahs also have two experienced halves on good money in Chanel Harris-Tavita and Tanah Boyd and may look to spend their salary cap money elsewhere.
‘Luck of the draw’ looms for Cleary
The luck of the draw has handed Penrith coach Ivan Cleary a massive favour in the final round of the regular season this weekend.
With the Panthers locked on 40 points with the Warriors at the top of the ladder, the Kiwi team plays its last game against Manly more than 24 hours before Penrith face the Tigers.
That means that Cleary has the luxury of waiting and watching how the Warriors go before deciding on the final make-up of his team if he wants to win the minor premiership.
He can weigh up exactly how many key players who are carrying niggling injuries to rest before the start of the finals - something he has done in the past.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary. Getty Images
Cleary has named a 23-man squad, with several big names in the reserves, and can tinker with that right up until 90 minutes before the game on Sunday.
Some major football competitions – notably England’s Premier League – play all the final round games at exactly the same time so teams can’t gain an advantage.
But that would never happen in the NRL due to the lucrative TV and radio deals the league has in place.
Dragons lock in young talent
St George Illawarra have awarded a three-year deal to one of their most promising young forwards.
Isaac Tasca, a Corrimal product who plays at lock, stood out for Illawarra in the U16 Andrew Johns Cup this year and at schoolboy rugby union level.
The 15-a-side code was keen to put the youngster on contract, but the Dragons won out and will closely monitor his progress through the lower grades.
