Rookie lifts lid on Ryles chat as Gutho exit looms

Isaiah Iongi has declared he is ready to fill the Clint Gutherson-sized hole at the Parramatta Eels in 2025. Iongi inked a transfer deal from four-time reigning premiers the Penrith Panthers to the Parramatta Eels, which will see him in the blue and gold jersey until 2027. Having made only appearance in the NRL, the 21-year-old has been tasked to take over from Gutherson in the No.1 jersey. Gutherson was granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs by the Eels on Thursday after the club informed him they wouldn't be offering a contract extension beyond 2025. The Dragons currently lead the race to steal the fullback's signature, with speculation rife that Gutherson may have already played his last game for the Eels. Despite the significant weight of the task ahead of him, Iongi is confident he is fit to fulfil the role. "I feel like I am (ready)," he told The Sydney Morning Herald. "Obviously that's the goal. You've got to work for it. I'll get a good pre-season under my belt at Parra, that will help me build the confidence with them. "There is always going to be challenges and expectations anywhere. It's all part of the game, it's all about how you handle it." Iongi revealed a conversation with incoming coach Jason Ryles was the turning point in his decision to exit Penrith. "I'm looking forward to working with him," he said. "Like every other club, 'you have to work for the spot and put in your all to get the opportunity for yourself'. That's what he said to me." The Queenslander praised the experiences and knowledge taught by Dylan Edwards, who he was stuck behind in the Panthers squad, for his success. "To learn from Dyl and then go to Parramatta and learn from him as well, it puts me in a good situation for my future career," Iongi said. "I can look at what they have in the game to put it in mine." Iongi will return on the international stage with Tonga in the coming days as he faces Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific Championships.

Luai admission as Tigers pre-season put on hold

Jarome Luai has admitted captaining Toa Samoa at the upcoming Pacific Championships will be among the biggest moments of his rugby league career. The 27-year-old is fresh off a fourth-straight NRL premiership with the Panthers, but will leave the club in the off-season and join the struggling Wests Tigers. But before he gets to Concord, the fleet-footed playmaker will have a massive task on his hands, heading overseas with the Samoan squad for a historic series in England. Speaking to 9News, Luai was asked whether leading his teammates in the two-game Test series would rank as high as his title victories with Penrith. "Definitely, yeah," he replied. "I know I've just come off the back of a four-peat, but being able to do this and represent my country as captain is definitely up there." Luai has inked a long-term deal with the Tigers, bringing immediate star power and class to the squad that has finished with the wooden spoon in three consecutive seasons. Despite his rep commitments putting his pre-season training on hold, Luai isn't worried and is looking forward to joining coach Benji Marshall in the new year. "I'll be sweet - I will link up with Benji ASAP when I get back and we will start talking Tigers," he said. The man that Luai is expected to partner next year, Lachlan Galvin, is keen to play alongside the NSW Blues five-eighth. "I think he will be massive," the rookie playmaker said on Thursday from PM's XIII camp. "As we saw in the grand final, he's a quality player and he can lead a team around. He's probably gonna change our whole culture at the Tigers and that's what we need. "We want a quality player like him."

Kalyn Ponga and Knights hit with ultimatum from NRL over controversial Kangaroos withdrawal

The Newcastle Knights and Kalyn Ponga have been issued a deadline by the NRL to change their stance on the fullback playing representative football or face potential sanctions. Ponga dropped a bombshell on Tuesday when he announced he wouldn't be making himself available to play for Australia in the upcoming Pacific Championship Test matches. But crucially Ponga revealed he isn't injured but simply wants to put his full attention into a pre-season with the Knights. "I want to win a comp, for me, anything short of that isn't success. My focus has never shifted from wanting to win a premiership with the Knights, that has been my goal since I joined the club in 2018 and continues to be my focus. Ponga said in a statement on the Knights website. "When I'm done, I want to look back at my career with a positive reflection, including people saying he was a great signing and represented our community to the best of his ability. For now, I don't feel like I have earned that yet. That's why I have made this decision and will work hard every day to chase those goals." The fact Ponga isn't injured means his withdrawal is against NRL rules. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, NRL clubs must make all players available for representative selection unless there's a valid reason they can't play (usually injury). And, News Corp reports the Knights have been contacted by the NRL over the matter, with the league outlining the club and Ponga's requirement to be available for the Kangaroos. The NRL reportedly set a 4pm Thursday deadline for the Knights and Ponga to change their stance, although that was later extended to Friday. The NRL does have the power to step in and force Ponga to play if Mal Meninga wishes to select and play him. However, instead, they have first gone to the club to seek information about his withdrawal and if they are not satisfied with the reasons provided and Ponga and the Knights don't make him available to play in the Pacific Championships he could be fined and/or suspended for the start of the 2025 NRL season. It is understood the Knights believed Ponga would play for the Kangaroos and were blindsided by his choice to pull out. However, they understandably supported his decision to withdraw himself, given their obvious desire to have their star player back for the start of pre-season training.

Bulldogs bolter selected in Kangaroos shock

Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz will reportedly be named in an extended Kangaroos squad for this year's Pacific Championship. The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Bulldogs winger has been rewarded for his outstanding form this year as the Bulldogs surged to a finals appearance. NRL clubs were reportedly notified which players could be in line for selection this week, with 31 players set to be named. The report states that Zac Lomax, Connor Watson, Reece Robson, Tom Dearden and Mitch Barnett are also in contention to make their debuts. The squad will be trimmed to 22 ahead of Australia's first Test match against Tonga on October 18. No Sharks, Titans or Tigers players have been included in the preliminary squad, according to the report. The four remaining teams in the finals, apart from Cronulla, form a large part of the likely squad. Kalyn Ponga was originally included in the Kangaroos preliminary squad, but controversially ruled himself out of contention to focus on Newcastle's pre-season and now faces a possible ban.

Benji snaps up explosive Fijian in Tigers rebuild

The Wests Tigers have signed a powerhouse Fijian prop who made his Test debut in the recent Pacific Championships.Gordon Whippy, 21, is expected to start on a development contract but could move up to NRL level after his impressive performance when given his chance at the elite level by Fiji.Whippy is a superb natural athlete, having represented Fiji in both swimming and athletics before deciding to concentrate his efforts in rugby league.He began with the Raiders as a raw teenager three years ago and then had stints with Souths juniors and most recently with Ipswich Jets in the Hostplus Cup."Gordon has done a great job and this is a big opportunity for him," his manager, former NSW and Kangaroos star Matt Adamson told Wide World of Sports."He is big and strong and still has a lot to learn but he is very keen and the Tigers should be a good for for him."Tigers coach Benji Marshall has shown he is prepared to give youth a go and is certain to closely monitor Whippy's form on the training paddock and in the pre-season trials.