Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

BlackWhiteGold said:
Whilst we're thinking of our roster for the immediate season ahead, here is a list of our players who are in the final year of their contract next season - 10 players in total:

Brandon Tumeth (assuming he activates his player option)
Adam Doueihi
Justin Matamua
Josh Feledy
Fonua Pole
Brent Naden
Alex Seyfarth
Charlie Staines
Tony Sukkar (club has an option for 2026)
David Klemmer (mutual option for 2026, assuming club doesn't take that up)

Note 1 - assuming 1 or more of these are moved on very soon for next season.
Note 2 - We know that Makasini is top 30 in 2026 & assuming Mason is too but not confirmed.
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Pole (hopefully) and Seyfarth to resign, Makasini and Mason to top 30. Leaves 6 open spots but probably not a great deal of coin considering some of the hopeful upgrades (Pole, Galvin) but still room for a couple of solid first graders in key positions.

Agree that 2026 is moving year. Next year will be critical to this though. Must show improvement to the talent inside and outside the club. Would be happy with 9-12 wins considering the problems with the forward pack.
 
gregjm87 said:
But it wasn't just signing Crichton. They also signed a new fullback, a new halfback, 2 new centres, a new prop, a new lock and a few depth guys. Plus Kikau was like a new signing having only managed 9 games the previous season. In fact over the last 3 years their entire best 17 has changed. During which time they have also retained their better players whilst ours have seemingly had one foot out the door all season.

I very much doubt Luai is going to completely overhaul the team and don't think he has enough help, at least as yet to do so.
I'm not saying our team can't be transitioned over the next few years. It's very much possible that it can be. This could be the start to that. It could also be another false dawn like a couple years ago.
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Let's hope we don't burn out Luai like we have done to poor Api before the help arrives like the cavalry to save him.
 
The writing was on the wall for Gutho at the press conference after their second last game against Saints. He alluded to the fact there would be a lot of changes at the club over summer. Then a week later it was reporter Ryles was happy for him to go. I doubt we’d be showing any interest.
 
Spidercam said:
They’ve certainly managed their side better than the Tiges did following 05’s success… losing Prince really hurt and things just just went a bit 💩 thereafter
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Yep letting Prince leave was a big letdown but whispers were he was on big $$’s AND given a house on the Gold Coast. No way we could keep him.
 
Kaito said:
Mate, I understand you guys are cynical & bitter and
you're an OG veteran on here, but I represent the
optimism & the next gen, sooner rather than later
I hope. We'll sort the forwards out over the summer!
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I’d rather sort the coach out
 
GNR4LIFE said:
I’d rather sort the coach out
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That won’t happen anytime soon.

Benji said before spoon bowl he’s committed to his program, he thinks it’s right and will build a better club.

He and others in the club, talk about the improvements in the club even if they aren’t seen in the results.

That was a difficulty I had with the actual spoon bowl result. The extent of the flogging was inconsistent with the reliance on the grand development plan with Benji holding the pencil.

I guess my other point, made earlier, is that any majestic plans to bring players along have taken a back seat to groping around trying to pull up a catch when we get a nibble.

The JAC news is interesting because I think like others, we have got the backline into some kind of miserable order, about the best halves in the game ( or on their way) but there’s a lot of fog and mist swirling around the pack.

At this stage, it’s pretty awful and barely competitive.

The sad Kobe news added to that concern.

And Benji needs help. As I think you infer.
 
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851 said:
We were never going to be able to compete with their offer and his wife wanting to go home. The problem was Shonky bought Johnny Cronk to replace him, a good player, but not a halfback
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It didn't help that Tim refused to admit he was wrong and kept him at half back regardless of the continued failure
 
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TSP said:
That won’t happen anytime soon.

Benji said before spoon bowl he’s committed to his program, he thinks it’s right and will build a better club.

He and others in the club, talk about the improvements in the club even if they aren’t seen in the results.

That was a difficulty I had with the actual spoon bowl result. The extent of the flogging was inconsistent with the reliance on the grand development plan with Benji holding the pencil.

I guess my other point, made earlier, is that any majestic plans to bring players along have taken a back seat to groping around trying to pull up a catch when we get a nibble.

The JAC news is interesting because I think like others, we have got the backline into some kind of miserable order, about the best halves in the game ( or on their way) but there’s a lot of fog and mist swirling around the pack.

At this stage, it’s pretty awful and barely competitive.

The sad Kobe news added to that concern.

And Benji needs help. As I think you infer.
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Theory time, could we be doing a bit of quid pro quo with manager Mario Tartak?

We take on JAC as our left wing for 2 years (take on his final year at Dogs + 1 more) to partner Olam on the left side. Then this transitions in theory to a left side pairing of Makasini & Luke Laulilii in ‘27, both Tartak clients.

In return Tartak agrees to find a new home for Bud Sullivan without putting up any resistance.

I think I’d be ok with that result!
 
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