Daily Telegraph
Melbourne Storm set to re-sign key Eels target Tyran Wishart
The Parramatta Eels look set to miss out on a key recruitment target as the Melbourne Storm move early to ensure he doesn’t hit the open market.
A key Parramatta recruitment target is poised to be swept off the open market long-term.
This masthead has been told Melbourne is formulating plans to extend gun utility Tyran Wishart well beyond next season, when his current deal expires.
It is understood Parramatta officials have a massive opinion of Wishart, who has been touted as a potential replacement for departing Eel star Dylan Brown.
Parramatta coach Jason Ryles, Eels assistant Nathan Brown and Wishart’s dad, Rod, who were all part of St George Illawarra during the late 1990s and 2000s.
Sources close to Melbourne claim they “wouldn’t be surprised” if Parramatta wanted Wishart.
Melbourne has an option with Wishart for next season.
But rather than take up the option, the Storm are poised to extend Wishart long-term, a move which would end Parramatta’s hopes of signing the south coast junior.
The Storm are content to allow negotiations to develop over the next three to four months.
While Melbourne wants Wishart to focus fully on the start of the season, club officials do not want him to enter the open market and be a target for rivals clubs, including Parramatta.
Wishart, 25, is also being discussed as a possible NSW State of Origin candidate.
While Connor Watson is the incumbent Blues bench utility, Wishart is certain to drive hard for selection.
Melbourne coach and NSW assistant Craig Bellamy is well aware of Wishart’s immense versatility value.
While a superb utility player, Wishart is keen to one day establish himself in the halves.
Parramatta won’t rush into a decision to replace Brown, who signed a 10-year, $13m deal with Newcastle, but the process has begun internally.
Wests Tigers stars Jarome Luai and Lachlan Galvin have been mooted as possible replacements for Brown, along with Wigan’s Bevan French.
Parramatta has a powerful cluster of young halves emerging through the club’s representative program but most are two to three years away from developing into NRL players.
The Eels set aside $1m to $1.2m a year for Brown, money the club can now outlay on future prospects.
Newcastle are supremely confident Brown will succeed, despite playing under the pressure of being a $1.3m a year player.
The Knights believe Brown, Fletcher Sharpe and Kalyn Ponga will offer a potent strike combination, along with New Zealand Test hooker Phoenix Crossland and NSW centre Bradman Best.
It seems certain Brown will play number seven and be first receiver.
Brown’s Knights contract does include clauses but not until around 2034 and 2035 and are in the club’s favour.
