The Parramatta Eels are turning up the heat in their push to bring back-rower Jaydn Su’A to Parramatta ahead of schedule — and with the June 30 transfer deadline looming, the clock is ticking.
The Eels officially announced in April that Su’A had agreed to join the club on a three-year contract commencing in the 2027 season and running through to the end of 2029. It was a massive signing on paper — but given the injury carnage currently ravaging the Parramatta roster, the Blue and Gold desperately want him sooner rather than later.
With St George Illawarra anchored to the bottom of the ladder and their finals hopes already a distant memory, the Eels are expected to turn the screws and make a renewed play for the star back-rower before the June 30 transfer deadline.
The situation is straightforward on Parramatta’s end. Jason Ryles’ side has the cap space to absorb Su’A without breaking a sweat. What stands in the way is whether the Dragons are willing to let him walk through the door early — and right now, there is no indication that Su’A has formally requested a release from his current contract.
Why Do the Eels Need Him So Badly?
The injury toll at Parramatta in 2026 has been nothing short of brutal. The Eels have signed Dragons back-rower Jaydn Su’A from next season, and they haven’t abandoned their hope of accelerating that arrangement, with coach Jason Ryles acknowledging the recruitment door while refusing to hide behind the club’s mounting injury list.
The Eels have already lost middle forwards J’Maine Hopgood and Matt Doorey for the year to ACL injuries, and are also without Sam Tuivati and Kitione Kautoga in the forwards. Four key forward casualties that have left coach Jason Ryles scrambling for bodies every single week.
With their pack decimated, the Eels have been leaking points at an alarming rate, conceding 35 points per game and topping the NRL’s missed tackle count. Bringing in an experienced, physical edge forward like Su’A — even mid-season — could be the difference between a season of survival and one of complete collapse.
Who Is Jaydn Su’A?
A powerful and hard-running back-rower, Su’A brings a wealth of experience to the Eels’ forward pack. Since making his NRL debut in 2016, he has gone on to play 160 first-grade matches, establishing himself as one of the competition’s most consistent and physical edge forwards.
Eels GM of Football Mark O’Neill praised the signing, saying Su’A has a strong physical presence, is a competitor who leads through his actions, can play big minutes, defend consistently, and will bring representative-level experience to the group.
The Verdict
The Dragons are under no obligation to release Su’A early, and with the Red V’s season already off the rails, there may be little incentive to hand a rival club a boost. But if Parramatta can negotiate a deal before June 30, it would be a game-changer for their second half of the season.
Discussion about this post