The Bulldogs have recruited very smartly to obtain players such as Josh Curran who was unwanted and released by the Warriors, but has long shown good potential and mentioned by many posters on here that he would have been an ideal recruit for Wests Tigers.
I don’t think his contract value would be above 250k but moving forward he will be worth much more.
Jacob Preston was signed as a virtual unknown from the Roosters NSW Cup team. He was stuck behind many quality back rowers at the Roosters, but scored plenty of tries and made plenty of line breaks while playing NSW Cup, which showed he had plenty of ability,
Jacob Kiraz was unwanted by the Bulldogs and went to the Knights in search of opportunity, before returning back to the Bulldogs. When playing NSW Cup for the Knights he was regularly in the NSW Cup Team of the Week regularly making over 150m making plenty of tackle breaks and scoring plenty of tries, so the writing was on the wall he was an NRL star in waiting.
Brunson Xerri was a powerllh built, fast & athletic young star at the Sharks before his ban for steroid use. It was highly likely he had not lost his talent and would return to the game better than ever with more age and maturity.
Toby Sexton was another young star at the Titans who also starred as a schoolboy alongside Tom Dearden. Even while in and out of the Titans NRL team he always showed glimpses of his talent with a very good kicking game and game management skills. Another who quite a few posters on here called for the Wests Tigers to sign when we were in desperate need of a controlling halfback.
Kurt Mann was mainly playing off the bench at the Knights, but was showing he was one of the rare players who could play 13 as a genuine link man, but also big enoug, fast enough and tough enough to run the ball well when required and also tackle with venom,
Connor Tracey could not get a regular NRL spot with the Sharks, but was regularly starring at NSW Cup level and whenever he got a rare NRL start. He’s another that many posters on her were wanting Wests Tigers to sign.
To think all of these players who are proving to be high quality NRL players and an integral part of the Bulldogs success are all unlikely to be contracted to any more than a maximum of 250k per season.
However with the Bulldogs talking up their chances of signing Stefano, you would hope Richo is the phone to all the managers of the players listed above making them well aware their contract values are way below their true value and a club like Wests Tigers could happily pay them a lot more.