Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

On the rumour that AJ Kepaoa might be rejoining us, it’s nothing to be jumping for joy about, but we certainly need to be much more strategic and start getting the right balance across our entire squad, not just focus on our top 17.
I believe having like for like replacements is ideal and when talking about someone who could be signed on a minimal contract primarily as a back up player, AJ Kepaoa is as close to Jeral Skelton as you could find as a back up.
In saying this, does it mean Brent Naden is departing as he is clearly demonstrating he is a more than capable back up, particularly as a winger wiling to do plenty of the tough hit ups out of our own danger zone.

you are comparing Kepaoa to Skelton ? This cannot be a real opinion

 

[Needaname]

believe aj kepoa is back with the club

Played NSWCup for Penrith on the weekend. That’s a quick transition.

 

[Needaname]

What annoys me here is I remember speaking to Tim White, who is involved with recruitment at Parra. I remember asking him about TDS and they never really looked at him as Parra "didn't rate him".

What now?

 

[Vicious]

you are comparing Kepaoa to Skelton ? This cannot be a real opinion

Similar body shape, similar size, similar in way of being a big bodied left winger who can make 150 running metres plus per game and score tries that smaller, lighter players may not,
I get where you are coming from with Kepao’s struggles under the high ball and ball handling in general, but I’m led to believe those areas of concern have improved dramatically while he’s been with the Panthers.
All I’m saying is there is not many others that fit this description and can potentially be signed as a back up pkayer on a minimal contract.

 

[Tom Shines]

Similar body shape, similar size, similar in way of being a big bodied left winger who can make 150 running metres plus per game and score tries that smaller, lighter players may not,
I get where you are coming from with Kepao’s struggles under the high balm and ball handling in general, but I’m led tj believe those area of concern
All I’m saying is there is not many others that fit this description and can potentially be signed as a back up pkayer on a minimal contract.

Struggles under the high ball, bad hands , poor defensive reads and low football IQ … I really think if he improved All those things then Penrith would be looking to keep him

 

[gallagher]

Nah not for 1 or 2 seasons to kick them off ! They will struggle to make signings I reckon .
I can see a squad full of Q cup and NSW also rans , with 3 or 4 big stars .

You might be right but it still would be a terrible decision.

 

[Needaname]

He’s better in the sense that , he’s had higher rep honours than TDS at the same age . From watching him , he seems really shift around dummy half .
For me I’d love a 9/14 combo of TDS and Hayward in 2028.
I saw something interesting on 360 today . Api is a bears junior , and will be thier target for thier inaugural season . Maybe he goes to Perth for a fat pay check and a couple of years . I wouldn’t begrudge him .

Oh f me. He is a Bulldogs Junior from Berala (Bears).

 

[Vicious]

Struggles under the high ball, bad hands , poor defensive reads and low football IQ … I really think if he improved All those things then Penrith would be looking to keep him

Without looking too closely into it other than watching highlights on BarTV and looking at the weekly stats, I would say he appears to have improved his ability under the high ball and improved his general ball handling, but I suspect his poor defensive reads and lack of football IQ is still an issue preventing the Panthers from considering him as a genuine NRL option.
Anyway it’s all speculation at the moment as we are just going off the post on this thread from earlier today, for all we know there may be nothing to it.
For the record I’d be looking to try and extend Brent Naden for another season, he might cost a bit more than someone like Kepaoa, but seems to be a much more reliable back up option for our outside backs.

 

[Vicious]

Oh f me. He is a Bulldogs Junior from Berala (Bears).

The Betala Bears were Wests Magpies territory for many years, so you could say we were just claiming one back from our old territory.

 

[jirskyr]

Went to the same High School as Douhei went to…in Strathfield ….another player we should’ve recruited, but let slip through

Pretty sure he switched to Union as a young lad, even before Harold Matts?

 

[Needaname]

The Betala Bears were Wests Magpies territory for many years, so you could say we were just claiming one back from our old territory.

I guess yeah from the Lidcombe days, would of been part of Wests Territory.

 

[TigerGene]

He’s better in the sense that , he’s had higher rep honours than TDS at the same age . From watching him , he seems really shift around dummy half .
For me I’d love a 9/14 combo of TDS and Hayward in 2028.
I saw something interesting on 360 today . Api is a bears junior , and will be thier target for thier inaugural season . Maybe he goes to Perth for a fat pay check and a couple of years . I wouldn’t begrudge him .

Good post.
I’ve mentioned elsewhere that Hayward has some experience at half and accordingly would make a good 14.
I would like to keep Api and down the track, I think he would make an excellent Assistant Coach.

 

[TigerGene]

Do not want AJ back.

Can we just send out a search party to find out where Charlie Staines went?

Went in for a service…….and hasn’t been sighted since…..

 

[TheKhan]

Nah not for 1 or 2 seasons to kick them off ! They will struggle to make signings I reckon .
I can see a squad full of Q cup and NSW also rans , with 3 or 4 big stars .

So just like us is what your telling me

 

[InBulaWeTrust]

NRL’s deadly sins: Transfer circus, chaos agents, SOO eligibility anyone see in this article

 

[vlad]

Do not want AJ back.

Can we just send out a search party to find out where Charlie Staines went?

He’s in this photo from Sunday next to Galvin

 

[ATown]

believe aj kepoa is back with the club

If I don’t believe will it not come true?

 

[Buttface]

I guess yeah from the Lidcombe days, would have been part of Wests Territory.

Uncle BF played and Poppy BF coach one of their jr sides through an undefeated season at Berala, different sides of the family, and we all lived around the corner from Lidcombe oval and the pool.
The Berries suk.

 

[ATown]

The Warriors have apparently recently signed Morgan Gannon for 2026 and beyond.
He is an up and coming young, mobile and aggressive edge back rower in the Matty Nicholson mould.
The Warriors don’t even need more edge back rowers, how do we keep missing out on these opportunities?
I’d like to bet The Warriors will not be wanting to offload any of their own young up and coming back rowers, so it might mean an early release is in the cards for Kurt Capewell ?
I know it’s not ideal looking at or potentially signing forwards on the wrong side of 30, but Kurt Capewell has always kept himself looking very fit and he still looks to be quicker than most other NRL edge back rowers.
If he become available I think he would be a good fit for season 2026 and 2027 while we wait for someone else to develop internally.

There’s already a Matty Nicholson mould? He’s played like 5 NRL games.

 

[ATown]

I heard he will do anything for a few $$$

And I mean anything….