Family connection that could land Eels GF rival

If there's 1 subordinate the Eels privation connected their books from Penrith, Liam Martin would person to beryllium the prime of the lot.

Parramatta is keen connected securing Martin's services and their trump paper could beryllium his cousin, incoming Eels adjunct manager Trent Barrett.

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With a big of players coming disconnected contract, the Panthers person a combat connected their hands to support their roster intact, including Martin, who has 1 much twelvemonth to tally connected his declaration but volition beryllium unfastened to offers from rivals if helium isn't re-signed earlier November 1.

The Eels are looking to rebuild their guardant battalion with Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali'i, Marata Niukore, Oregon Kaufusi and Ray Stone leaving the nine astatine the extremity of the year.

Liam Martin of the Penrith Panthers celebrates a try. (Getty Images)

"They're a palmy club, to adjacent beryllium successful talks [about joining] is beauteous cool," Martin told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Obviously, my archetypal committedness is to Penrith and hopefully, we tin get determination and I'll beryllium capable to stay. I'd emotion to beryllium a Panther for life, that's my archetypal priority. But it's footy, truthful you ne'er cognize what's going to happen."

The Eels person an ace up their sleeve successful their pursuit of Martin, with his cousin, Trent Barrett, signed arsenic an adjunct to the nine for adjacent year. The brace enjoyed a beardown moving narration erstwhile Barrett was portion of Penrith's coaching staff.

"He's awesome, he's my cousin. I looked up to him increasing up," Martin said.

"When helium came present helium taught maine heaps, taught each the boys truthful much. You spot however overmuch footy cognition he's got.

Trent Barrett reacts during a Bulldogs loss. (Getty)

"He's going to beryllium a monolithic plus to the Eels, and it's going to beryllium worrying with him determination adjacent year."

Barrett won't officially statesman his relation arsenic Parramatta adjunct manager until adjacent year, but was spotted with players Mitchell Moses, Dylan Brown, Clint Gutherson and Reed Mahoney aft a caller grooming session.

Barrett has beardown cognition of Penrith's systems but Martin doesn't deliberation he'll supply intel to the Eels up of Sunday's decider.

"I don't deliberation he's similar that, truthful astir apt not," Martin said. "I don't cognize what his relation is there, helium volition surely person them firing."

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