They’ve been quiet on the player market, having welcomed just two new faces for next season but the battle for spots at Parramatta will be heating up ahead of Round 1, with several key positions yet to be locked in.
The race to partner Will Penisini in the centres will be one to watch with Sean Russell, Bailey Simonsson and new recruit Morgan Harper all in the frame. But 21-year-old Russell looks set to be given first crack after starring on an edge last season.
Following the retirement of veteran Englishman Josh Hodgson, a two-way battle to be Parramatta’s No. 9 also looks to be brewing at CommBank. Young gun Brendan Hands is likely to take the reins in Round 1 but if Joey Lussick doesn’t nail a spot on the bench, he will be pushing his teammate all season.
With contract negotiations surrounding halfback Mitch Moses, a potential positional switch on the cards for Clint Gutherson and five-eighth Dylan Brown missing rounds 15-23 due to an NRL Breach Notice, Parramatta were under pressure all season to shut out external noise.
But with Gutherson in career-best form at fullback, Moses locked in on a new contract and Brown putting a troubled season behind him with an impressive Kiwis campaign, that ‘core group’ will still be driving the hunger to break the 38-year premiership drought after coming so close in 2022.
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