Manly Sea Eagles have secured a promising addition to their squad, signing young prop Toni Mataele from the Parramatta Eels. The 23-year-old forward agreed to a two-year contract that will keep him with the Sea Eagles through the end of the 2028 season.

Mataele, who stands 188 centimeters tall and weighs 108 kilograms, made his NRL debut midway through the previous season. Since then, he has appeared in six first-grade games for Parramatta. A junior product of the Rouse Hill Rhinos, Mataele’s contract with the Eels was set to expire at the end of this year.

Despite interest from at least two other NRL clubs, Mataele chose to join Manly, attracted in part by the playing style under coach Kieran Foran, often referred to as "Fozball." The move marks one of Foran’s first recruitment successes as Manly’s coach.

Parramatta had expressed a desire to retain Mataele, acknowledging his potential and contribution. Nevertheless, the player opted for a new environment to further develop his career. The Sea Eagles are betting on Mataele’s physical presence and growing experience to strengthen their forward pack in upcoming seasons.