Toni Mataele

Courtesy of the paragon of virtue, otherwise known as the Mole:

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/the-mo...e-return/2776224c-f3a5-4d31-a21c-c66bf64dcd02

"The Eels are in danger of losing rising back-rower Toni Mataele to Newcastle next season.

The Knights are showing huge interest in the 17-year-old, who is still growing and weighs in at an impressive 105kg.

A Parra junior, Mataele has Tongan heritage and represented NSW under 16s in 2018.

He has met with new Knights coach Adam O'Brien and the pair established an immediate rapport.

A 17 year old meeting with the head coach either means he is a crazy good prospect, or O'Brien is a lot more involved with the lower grades than we have seen from any firstgrade coach I can remember.

Although its nothing more than a meeting at this stage I'm keen to see if anything eventuates. It certainly can't hurt bringing in another big young guy with some rep experience, always nice to have competition for kids looking to force their way into the senior grades.

Dangling an opportunity to train in an extended squad with Klemmer as a mentor has to be a pretty appealing lure Obi has at his disposal to make Newcastle a club players want to play for.

He played alongside Tom Cant in the NSW backrow (Tom Cant is a Knights player from Cessnock I think), and his opposite number for Qld was Brocco Uhrle, who is currently training with our Flegg squad I think, so 3 out of 4 of the backrowers in the under 16s SOO in 2018 could be in Knights colours next year.

Tom cant is an East Maitland junior. Be interesting too see if any of these young fellas make it to grade.

Just reading that Mataele has signed with us for the next three years from 2021 on .

I don't know why the eels would put another year of development into a 17 year old if he is signed for us from next year.
I know we released guys like Greg Bird, Boyd Cordner, Robbie Rochow etc when they signed elsewhere.