Former New South Wales captain Paul Gallen has questioned whether new Parramatta coach Jason Ryles should replace incumbent and skipper Clint Gutherson at fullback with rookie Blaize Talagi.

Talagi is currently in talks with the Eels over a contract extension with rumours suggesting Gutherson may be moved to the centres.

“Fullback’s a big job in the NRL these days,” Gallen began on Channe Nine’s 100% Footy.

“It’s probably one of your most important positions on the field… it’s part of your spine.

“I know you don’t make a lot of tackles but your first defensive line, you’ve got to get your defence right, everyone looks at the fullback straight away, he points and tells you what part of the field to go to, I don’t know if he’s any good at that. It’s a big job in the NRL these days, for a young guy to come in and expect he’ll just do it, I don’t know.

“I don’t know how good he’s going to be at it.”

Talagi ran for 110 metres from 13 runs in Parramatta’s last match against Gold Coast.