The incoming coach has been working in the background since finishing up early at the Storm, adding dual-code player and coach Scott Wisemantel and premiership-winning prop Sam Moa to a new-look brains trust.

However, the signature Ryles most craved was that of Talagi, a rookie-of-the-year contender who has been a rare bright spot for a club in danger of finishing the season with the wooden spoon.

Parramatta’s pitch to Talagi was compelling: an average salary of $525,000 over the next three years for a teenager who has made 13 first-grade appearances.

The counter-offer from the Panthers, a clandestine bid hatched several weeks ago, also held appeal. This was a chance to play alongside Nathan Cleary at a club in a premiership window rather than one embarking on a rebuild

However, the Eels felt they could do no more. They had fast-tracked Talagi’s debut, the skipper was prepared to step aside from his preferred position and officials spent time at his hospital bedside after the local junior suffered a collapsed lung in a City-Country under-age match.

So when Moses informed Parramatta of his client’s decision on Tuesday morning, it wasn’t the call they were expecting. While there is a 10-day cooling-off period, it will take longer still for Parramatta powerbrokers to cool down after the lengthy negotiations. During that time, they have missed out on the opportunity to move on contingency plans, such as back-up Dolphins custodian Trai Fuller.