Penrith are in the box seat to sign Blaize Talagi after the Parramatta young gun told Eels management he would be rejecting an offer to stay at the club in 2025.
Talagi handed Jason Ryles his first major setback on Wednesday, informing the club he would not stick around for the incoming coach's first year in charge.
Instead, AAP has been told arch-rivals Penrith will benefit from the 19-year-old's decision, with only formalities standing between the Panthers and a deal.
Talagi's expected arrival shapes as a massive boost for Penrith, who sacked centre Taylan May midway through this year.
The club is also preparing to lose winger Sunia Turuva and five-eighth Jarome Luai, who have signed for Wests Tigers in 2025.
Effectively, it means Talagi will take up a similar place in Penrith's salary cap to May, while also acting as an option to play centre or five-eighth.
The news comes as a massive hit to the Eels, who made a big effort to retain Talagi.
After making his debut at Parramatta in March, the Cabramatta junior decided against taking up an option to stay at the Eels for next season.
He was then a top priority when Ryles left his role as Melbourne's assistant coach a fortnight ago to begin planning for life at Parramatta.
Included in the pitches to Talagi and his agent Isaac Moses were suggestions he could play fullback at the club in the future, along with a lucrative and lengthy deal.
But he is set to move to Parramatta's fierce rivals.
It also means the Eels have lost two of their brightest young stars in the space of a year, with teenage half Ethan Sanders to join Canberra in 2024.
Another member of their next-generation spine hooker, Matt Arthur, has also been given permission to talk to rivals after his father Brad was axed as coach.
Ryles must now begin planning for life without Talagi, and with only three players locked into contracts for 2026 and beyond.
"The club made a very strong offer to Blaize, provided a clear path for his football future and consistently made it clear to Blaize and his family that we wanted him to be part of the club long-term," Parramatta CEO Jim Sarantinos said.
"While we are disappointed, particularly given the opportunities provided to Blaize during his time at the club, we wish him all the best."
Talagi had also been linked to St George Illawarra and Newcastle in recent months, but Penrith come with the obvious appeal of being three-time premiers.
His signing will mark only the second in-demand player Penrith have bought from elsewhere during their title dynasty, after Isaiah Papali'i was brought in from Wests Tigers for next year following the release of James Fisher-Harris for 2025.
"It's pretty exciting if he is (signing)," Panthers second-rower Liam Martin said.
"It's the first I've heard of it ... but he is a massive talent and an exciting prospect."
The news comes as Penrith grapple with their own headlines, following a report star winger Brian To'o is restless at the club.
The Panthers plan to meet with To'o and his management in coming days, but the situations are not believed to be linked.
