The chance to cement a first-grade spot may result in Tamworth's exciting Parramatta flyer Ethan Parry playing elsewhere in 2021.
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Parry - whose Eels contract expires at the end of this season - recently revealed that a "few clubs" were interested in him signing him.
On Wednesday, his Tamworth-based father, Troy, confirmed that the outside back - who turns 21 on March 20 - had put "it out there" to see what interest there was from other clubs.
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Troy Parry said his son would "take the opportunity" to go to another club if it meant he had a better chance of securing a first-grade spot, although he wanted to remain an Eel. "There's a couple [of clubs] looking at him," he said.
He said his son played two preseason trial matches for Parramatta, and would play for the Eels' reserve-grade side in a Canterbury Cup clash against the Bulldogs at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday. He has not been listed in the side, however.
Parry was signed by Parramatta at age 15. He worked his way through the grades at the club, and earned Australian Schoolboys and NSW under-20 honours along the way.
He dazzled in his NRL debut last season, scoring a sensational try in a July 21 clash against Manly at Brookvale.
The following round against the Warriors in Auckland, he scored again. But that was his last first-grade appearance - the return of Michael Jennings from injury resulting in a backline reshuffle that forced the 191-centimetre, 97-kilogram speedster out of the side and back to the Canterbury Cup.
And therein lies the problem for the former Oxley High student: the Parra side who will confront the Bulldogs at Bankwest Stadium, in a round one clash on Thursday night, will feature Maika Sivo and Blake Ferguson on the wings, with Jennings and Waqa Blake in the centres.
Parry, who is in the Eels' top-25 squad, has also played fullback. But the current Eels No 1 is Clint Gutherson.
"So that [Parra's backline talent] isn't ideal for me given I only have a couple of [top-grade] games," Parry told the Daily Telegraph last month.
Parry's younger brother, Cody, is playing Harold Matthews Cup for Parramatta this season.
