Kiwis captain and Penrith Panthers fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is set for a shock mid-season to a rival NRL club.
NRL.com is reporting the Parramatta Eels have been in talks with Watene-Zelezniak's management and are set to table a deal to lure the 23-year-old to the Western Sydney club before the June 30 transfer deadline.
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The Panthers have lost seven of their first nine games this season, and Watene-Zelezniak, who has struggled with form, could be forced out after coach Ivan Cleary hinted at overhauling his roster and moving players on after his team's loss to the Wests Tigers on Friday night.
"It's fair to say we're probably going to have to look at everything we're doing," Cleary said.
"We're going to have to change something, whether it's personnel or something else.
"We've definitely got to make some changes because if we keep doing what we're doing... it's not good enough.
"We need to discuss this with players and staff over the next 24 hours, and there needs to be some answers. That's what we've got to try and get to.
"When you're a third of the way through the season, and we are where we are you've got to review what you're doing, certainly.
"There'll be some serious reflection, and we'll talk more about it in the next 24 hours."
The Eels don't have permission to offer Watene-Zelezniak a deal, as he still has 18 months left on his contract, but that changes should he request a release or the Panthers give him permission to negotiate with other teams - similar to the Kodi Nikorima situation with the Warriors.
Parramatta wants Watene-Zelezniak to play in the centres, but he could be a fallback option at fullback if Clint Gutherson leaves the club.
Watene-Zelezniak captained the Kiwis during their three-test tour of England in November last year.
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