Eels young gun Will Penisini has revealed it will be hard to turn a bumper offer from Rugby Australia when his current contract with Parramatta expires at the end of 2025.
The 20-year-old signed an extension to remain in the blue and gold in January after he was earmarked as one of Eddie Jones’ priority targets.
Rugby Australia handed Jones a five-year deal and the 63-year-old made no secret of his desires to poach NRL talent with backgrounds in the 15-man code.
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Joseph Suaalii, a close friend of Penisini, signed a bumper $1.6 million per-season deal for three years, making him available for the British and Irish Lions tour in 2025.
Speaking to the SMH, Penisini conceded that “it would be hard to say no” to a mammoth Rugby Australia contract, but for now his focus is on the Eels.
“I’m not looking at rugby at the moment. Obviously, I have just signed a contract at the start of this year, so it leaves me here for another two or three years, and I love what this club is building,” Penisini said.
“Obviously, I enjoyed my time playing it (rugby) back in school, and yeah, it’s a great game.”
Penisini and Suaalii played the 15-man code together at Sydney’s prestigious King’s School.
The gun centre also believes the NRL shouldn’t fear rugby union’s poaching raids with new talent coming through the ranks every year.
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“You see young kids coming out each year. Rugby league has got unlimited talent,” Penisini said.
“Everyone’s growing up, and all the younger boys are coming through anyway, so if they do take players, good on them. If you’re talented (enough) to play both, why not?”
If Penisini was to make a cross-code switch after his current contract, he would be available for the 2027 World Cup held in Australia.
He would also join up with Suaalii after the Roosters gun had spent one season in a Wallabies jumper, likely slotting into fullback, the centres or on the wing.
Jones also reportedly named Manly young gun Tolu Koula and Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona as key targets.
Since reports emerged, both clubs have reportedly begun discussions to re-sign their potential rugby converts.
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Meanwhile, Parramatta centre Waqa Blake has reportedly offered his services to Rugby Australia.
The Eels are searching for an X-factor signing and according to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler, Blake could be the man to make way.
“I don’t know if Waqa Blake is necessarily on that hit-list, but he has been offered to Eddie Jones and rugby union,” Weidler told 100% Footy.
“There’s been a lot of talk about his future at Parramatta, and Parramatta is looking for X-factor players with Clint Gutherson being moved to the centres because its centres aren’t strong.
“Well, it appears that maybe Waqa Blake is reading that information, and there has been a reach-out by his management to Eddie Jones.
“I don’t know whether he would be a player Eddie Jones would go for.”
