Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[TheEnz]

I would give him a shot as a redemption story and a second chance, however, would not make any recruitment decisions in relation to an expectation that he becomes a first grader.

 

[liltiger]

Quick question I just thought of, with this hand gesture that supposedly offended the poor dogs supporters, you know how the gesture means to bugger off. Im wondering if the middle finger is broken, dislocated, twisted kind of out of whack or if it has real bad arthritis so it's all over the shop, would that count as a speech impediment.

 

[TheEnz]

It's pretty hard to say at this stage that the team hasn't improved. Obviously the cattle is better but I think an honest assessment of the squad's quality at the start of the season would have pegged us round about where we are now: clear of spoon danger but just as far from finals. FWIW I have it on decent authority that the powers that be within the club weren't expecting finals this year - it was always down as a progress season and there will be more expectation next year.

What I keep coming across at the moment is the idea that NRL is not a game about your star players but about the mid-to-bottom level of the roster. The 17th best player on your roster is going to play even when everyone is fit and with injuries you're going to need to rely on players 20-30, a lot. As we've seen, when we can put close to our best 17 on the park we're pretty competitive. We fall in a heap when we need to use the bottom end of the roster - and we haven't even been particularly unlucky with injuries this year.

That's why I think a big focus of Richardson's was getting rid of the dead wood, and why I think we'll focus in this off-season on turning over more of the bottom 10-15 players. With KPP, Taylan May and Makasini, and - hopefully - a better year out of Pole there shouldn't be an obvious weakness in the first choice side. But we need proper, first-grade standard depth: better options to come in than Staines, Hope, Sukkar (who could improve but clearly isn't there yet), Fa'atape and so forth, and a bit more reliability out of the backup middles.

What this also means is that we're only going to become competitive in the long run when we are producing first-grade quality juniors, year in year out, as a matter of course. These players, 20-30 on the roster, are going to be on low salaries (especially when you're relying on the free agent market, and thus paying overs, for your stars). Yes, there are occasional diamonds that can be picked up from the discard pile - but it's not reliable.

And you will not have wishart, pezet, fualago type players in your 17 - 30 if you are not a successful club, with good development systems in place, it is a bit of a catch 22.

 

[Don Kershane]

Does anyone have access to the Lloyd Perret story in SMH about concussion.

‘Comatose for two days’: Former NRL player launches $5 million lawsuit against Manly

Lloyd Perrett claims his NRL career – and almost his life – prematurely ended after he was deprived of water at a Manly training session. The matter has just become a multimillion-dollar Supreme Court case.

www.smh.com.au

Not sure if you can access. Article too long to copy paste

 

[Modman]

This is my real worry. I'm hoping the consistent injury free gametime hopefully he's finding consistent form.

Considering he's wants a third of Luai wage I think he has shown he has value. I think we have to keep him personally. Plus it would be good we have players that have been here for a while wanting to stay. His public announcements to Rucho shows he wants to stay. I'd keep him personally.

 

[2041]

And you will not have wishart, pezet, fualago type players in your 17 - 30 if you are not a successful club, with good development systems in place, it is a bit of a catch 22.

It's possible to develop good pathways and a production line of talent without being a destination club for established first graders, though. Penrith and Canberra are the most obvious examples, also the Warriors.

 

[liltiger]

Considering he's wants a third of Luai wage I think he has shown he has value. I think we have to keep him personally. Plus it would be good we have players that have been here for a while wanting to stay. His public announcements to Rucho shows he wants to stay. I'd keep him personally.

He's handy in that he can play anywhere in the backline and 13, just for the utility value I'd keep him.

 

[Modman]

For gods sake merlot, can you let those that didn't get your sarcasm know that this wasn't serious

Oh damm I thought it may of been tino and Farnworth. So there not coming is that what your saying

 

[Modman]

Little harsh calling Stefano a dud lol. He pretty much single-handedly carried the storm pack on the weekend. He'll only get better at Melbourne. But you're right, he would have caused team issues i think he seems to have that sort of character.

He was exceptional on the weekend although I don't think he's had the year they were talking abt. Think May suits our side better all round although would be nice to have another big front rower

 

[hank37w]

Can’t remember where I heard or read it but it was something about the nrl not allowing him to play until his parole is finished which would be 2030 about 4 years after his pending release from jail.

So, just playing devil's advocate here but, someone is released from jail and his prior occupation is professional football player, should the NRL have the right to refuse him to make an honest living as part of his release and rehabilitation.

Would it happen if he was a builder, plumber or electrician?

Would the Master Builder's Association or relevant industry association say that he could not work in that industry until the time that his full prison term has expired?

 

[Ermo]

Liam Henry apparently going to test the market come November 1

 

[jirskyr]

Does anyone have access to the Lloyd Perret story in SMH about concussion.

Comatose for two days’: Former NRL player launches $5 million lawsuit against Manly
Adrian Proszenko
ByAdrian Proszenko
August 4, 2025 — 3.43pm
Save


Former NRL forward Lloyd Perrett has launched a $5 million lawsuit against the Manly Sea Eagles, claiming he was placed in a “a comatose state for two days” after a training session which he has never recovered from.

A statement of claim filed in the Supreme Court outlines the career-ending injuries he allegedly suffered during a pre-season workout at the Narrabeen Sports Complex on November 6, 2017.

Lloyd Perrett is suing the Sea Eagles.
Lloyd Perrett is suing the Sea Eagles.Credit:NRL Photos

According to the claim filed by Brisbane legal firm Carter Capner and obtained by this masthead, Perrett suffered exertional heat stroke, heat stress-induced seizure and psychiatric injury during running sessions in which he was deprived of water.

It’s alleged that after a 20-minute warm-up, Perrett was made to complete three two-kilometre time trials, with a two-minute break between the first and second. The first took Perrett eight minutes and 23 seconds, the second 10 minutes and 30 seconds. Perrett then completed one lap of the third before he “collapsed unconscious to the ground.”

“The Plaintiff was not supplied with any water or other fluids during the Training Session because Mr Dan Ferris, the Club Performance Coach, had directed before the start of the session that there would be no water breaks,” the claim states. The temperature in Sydney on the day was in the mid-20 degree celsius.

As a result, Perrett’s lawyers say their client was in “a comatose state for two days” and suffered “disabilities” including a seizure, poor heat tolerance, severe pain, fatigue, muscular degeneration, impaired cognitive ability, anxiety, moodiness and poor kidney, liver and thyroid function.

 

[jirskyr]

Comatose for two days’: Former NRL player launches $5 million lawsuit against Manly
Adrian Proszenko
ByAdrian Proszenko
August 4, 2025 — 3.43pm
Save


Former NRL forward Lloyd Perrett has launched a $5 million lawsuit against the Manly Sea Eagles, claiming he was placed in a “a comatose state for two days” after a training session which he has never recovered from.

A statement of claim filed in the Supreme Court outlines the career-ending injuries he allegedly suffered during a pre-season workout at the Narrabeen Sports Complex on November 6, 2017.

Lloyd Perrett is suing the Sea Eagles.
Lloyd Perrett is suing the Sea Eagles.Credit:NRL Photos

According to the claim filed by Brisbane legal firm Carter Capner and obtained by this masthead, Perrett suffered exertional heat stroke, heat stress-induced seizure and psychiatric injury during running sessions in which he was deprived of water.

It’s alleged that after a 20-minute warm-up, Perrett was made to complete three two-kilometre time trials, with a two-minute break between the first and second. The first took Perrett eight minutes and 23 seconds, the second 10 minutes and 30 seconds. Perrett then completed one lap of the third before he “collapsed unconscious to the ground.”

“The Plaintiff was not supplied with any water or other fluids during the Training Session because Mr Dan Ferris, the Club Performance Coach, had directed before the start of the session that there would be no water breaks,” the claim states. The temperature in Sydney on the day was in the mid-20 degree celsius.

As a result, Perrett’s lawyers say their client was in “a comatose state for two days” and suffered “disabilities” including a seizure, poor heat tolerance, severe pain, fatigue, muscular degeneration, impaired cognitive ability, anxiety, moodiness and poor kidney, liver and thyroid function.

The claim states the incident prompted the “loss of NRL career” and “loss of future incoming earning capacity”. While there is no mention of the recompense sought in the documents filed to the court, sources not authorised to speak publicly due to the matter being before the courts said the figure would be about $5 million.

The claim states Manly was negligent in its “Failure to provide a safe place of work”, citing a number of issues including “Depriving the plaintiff of water and other fluids during the training session”, not taking into account that players were returning to training after an end-of-season break and not considering each players’ physical preparedness to withstand the demands of the session. Those failings, the claim states, resulted in “Placing the plaintiff in a position of peril.”

Following the incident, Perrett was taken to Mona Vale Hospital by ambulance for emergency treatment and remained there until discharged three days later. The claim states Perrett recuperated at home for seven weeks “in a state of severe pain and nausea with a lack of capacity to thermoregulate and unable to engage in any physical activity.” He started walking six weeks after the incident and resumed team training in the third week of December 2017, where he participated in a portion of the session before he became “dizzy” and suffered from “blurred vision”, resulting in club treatment and a return to hospital.

“As a result of the injuries and continuing disabilities, the plaintiff has sustained consequential losses in that he was unable to regain his pre-accident form as a first-grade rugby league player and was prevented from progressing his playing career in the NRL Competition or otherwise,” the claim states.

“The plaintiff played in 10 or 11 games under the NRL Playing Contract in 2018 at far below the level of performance he would have enjoyed but for the Accident because he could not thermoregulate, he was in constant pain, he was prevented from taking the medication indicated by reason of the NRL Anti-Doping Rules by which the parties were bound and he spent a lot of time in each game off the field.”

Before the incident, Perrett was considered a player of great promise. The claim states he received a rugby league scholarship from the age of 13 or 14 at the Sydney Roosters after being spotted by the club’s then recruiter Peter O’Sullivan; was a former Junior Kangaroos co-captain and NSW Cup player of the year; represented Queensland at junior level and was later picked in an emerging Maroons senior squad, and was a regular NRL player.

 

[jirskyr]

The claim states the incident prompted the “loss of NRL career” and “loss of future incoming earning capacity”. While there is no mention of the recompense sought in the documents filed to the court, sources not authorised to speak publicly due to the matter being before the courts said the figure would be about $5 million.

The claim states Manly was negligent in its “Failure to provide a safe place of work”, citing a number of issues including “Depriving the plaintiff of water and other fluids during the training session”, not taking into account that players were returning to training after an end-of-season break and not considering each players’ physical preparedness to withstand the demands of the session. Those failings, the claim states, resulted in “Placing the plaintiff in a position of peril.”

Following the incident, Perrett was taken to Mona Vale Hospital by ambulance for emergency treatment and remained there until discharged three days later. The claim states Perrett recuperated at home for seven weeks “in a state of severe pain and nausea with a lack of capacity to thermoregulate and unable to engage in any physical activity.” He started walking six weeks after the incident and resumed team training in the third week of December 2017, where he participated in a portion of the session before he became “dizzy” and suffered from “blurred vision”, resulting in club treatment and a return to hospital.

“As a result of the injuries and continuing disabilities, the plaintiff has sustained consequential losses in that he was unable to regain his pre-accident form as a first-grade rugby league player and was prevented from progressing his playing career in the NRL Competition or otherwise,” the claim states.

“The plaintiff played in 10 or 11 games under the NRL Playing Contract in 2018 at far below the level of performance he would have enjoyed but for the Accident because he could not thermoregulate, he was in constant pain, he was prevented from taking the medication indicated by reason of the NRL Anti-Doping Rules by which the parties were bound and he spent a lot of time in each game off the field.”

Before the incident, Perrett was considered a player of great promise. The claim states he received a rugby league scholarship from the age of 13 or 14 at the Sydney Roosters after being spotted by the club’s then recruiter Peter O’Sullivan; was a former Junior Kangaroos co-captain and NSW Cup player of the year; represented Queensland at junior level and was later picked in an emerging Maroons senior squad, and was a regular NRL player.

Perrett managed to briefly play in the NRL after the incident but claims he was never the same person or player. He finished his career with 56 NRL matches for the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles.

According to the claim, club-directed measures such as using ice baths and ice vests were “unsuccessful” in treating the prop-forward’s health issues in his attempts to return.

“The plaintiff was subsequently directed by the Club to play in part of the last 5 or 6 games towards the end of the 2019 season as many of the Club’s other players could not play due to their injuries,” the claim states.

None of the staffers who oversaw the session in question remain at the Sea Eagles. Manly declined to comment.

In an interview with this masthead in May last year, Perrett spoke about the physical and mental toll the incident had on him.

“I was comatose,” Perrett said at the time. “Six out of 10 people die in this situation, that’s what the nurse told me when I was in hospital.

Related Article
Lloyd Perrett playing for the Sea Eagles in 2019.
NRL 2024
‘We can’t be killing our young footy stars’: Why Perrett intends to sue Sea Eagles
“I became much more anxious [afterwards], I was even suicidal at points.

“If it wasn’t for my parents, I would have taken my own life … I considered myself to be worthless.”

Perrett said for years he had grappled with whether to proceed with legal action, but felt he had no choice.

“I feel I need to do this,” Perrett said at the time. “It’s not about money, it’s not about me. I put my ego aside because I know people are going to tease me, they already are. They’re saying I’m just a wash-up, I’m not good enough, that I’m trying to get money and all that. But it’s about player safety.”

Perrett’s is the second legal action taken by a player against their club that is before the Supreme Court. Former Canterbury forward Jackson Topine is su-ing Canterbury, claiming he was subjected to “assault” when forced to wrestle up to 35 teammates during a training session last year. The Bulldogs have publicly stated they will defend the matter.

 

[jirskyr]

Liam Henry apparently going to test the market come November 1

Who likes giant white thighs, anyone? Biggest whitest thighs on the market.

 

[Groundup]

Mainuse’s management team from what I’m being told is working very very hard from behind the scenes to try make it possible to find ways for registration by next year or potentially 2027 - then if successfully registered they’ve made it clear to the club he’d like to earn a spot via a T&T.

Mario Tartak has an extremely close bond with Mainuse and has made it his personal mission to find ways to allow him to play with his brothers pending release.

Just what I’m being told - unsure how likely or even if the club are interested.

I thought tartak was suspended?

 

[bomberbrown]

How convenient, Galvin in doubt the next few weeks with injuries, I would say dropped

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I thought tartak was suspended?

All that went quiet from the NRL.

 

[loklok]

Perrett managed to briefly play in the NRL after the incident but claims he was never the same person or player. He finished his career with 56 NRL matches for the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles.

According to the claim, club-directed measures such as using ice baths and ice vests were “unsuccessful” in treating the prop-forward’s health issues in his attempts to return.

“The plaintiff was subsequently directed by the Club to play in part of the last 5 or 6 games towards the end of the 2019 season as many of the Club’s other players could not play due to their injuries,” the claim states.

None of the staffers who oversaw the session in question remain at the Sea Eagles. Manly declined to comment.

In an interview with this masthead in May last year, Perrett spoke about the physical and mental toll the incident had on him.

“I was comatose,” Perrett said at the time. “Six out of 10 people die in this situation, that’s what the nurse told me when I was in hospital.

Related Article
Lloyd Perrett playing for the Sea Eagles in 2019.
NRL 2024
‘We can’t be killing our young footy stars’: Why Perrett intends to sue Sea Eagles
“I became much more anxious [afterwards], I was even suicidal at points.

“If it wasn’t for my parents, I would have taken my own life … I considered myself to be worthless.”

Perrett said for years he had grappled with whether to proceed with legal action, but felt he had no choice.

“I feel I need to do this,” Perrett said at the time. “It’s not about money, it’s not about me. I put my ego aside because I know people are going to tease me, they already are. They’re saying I’m just a wash-up, I’m not good enough, that I’m trying to get money and all that. But it’s about player safety.”

Perrett’s is the second legal action taken by a player against their club that is before the Supreme Court. Former Canterbury forward Jackson Topine is su-ing Canterbury, claiming he was subjected to “assault” when forced to wrestle up to 35 teammates during a training session last year. The Bulldogs have publicly stated they will defend the matter.

Thank you jirskyr .very interesting read

 

[supercoach]

It's pretty hard to say at this stage that the team hasn't improved. Obviously the cattle is better but I think an honest assessment of the squad's quality at the start of the season would have pegged us round about where we are now: clear of spoon danger but just as far from finals. FWIW I have it on decent authority that the powers that be within the club weren't expecting finals this year - it was always down as a progress season and there will be more expectation next year.

What I keep coming across at the moment is the idea that NRL is not a game about your star players but about the mid-to-bottom level of the roster. The 17th best player on your roster is going to play even when everyone is fit and with injuries you're going to need to rely on players 20-30, a lot. As we've seen, when we can put close to our best 17 on the park we're pretty competitive. We fall in a heap when we need to use the bottom end of the roster - and we haven't even been particularly unlucky with injuries this year.

That's why I think a big focus of Richardson's was getting rid of the dead wood, and why I think we'll focus in this off-season on turning over more of the bottom 10-15 players. With KPP, Taylan May and Makasini, and - hopefully - a better year out of Pole there shouldn't be an obvious weakness in the first choice side. But we need proper, first-grade standard depth: better options to come in than Staines, Hope, Sukkar (who could improve but clearly isn't there yet), Fa'atape and so forth, and a bit more reliability out of the backup middles.

What this also means is that we're only going to become competitive in the long run when we are producing first-grade quality juniors, year in year out, as a matter of course. These players, 20-30 on the roster, are going to be on low salaries (especially when you're relying on the free agent market, and thus paying overs, for your stars). Yes, there are occasional diamonds that can be picked up from the discard pile - but it's not reliable.

One of the best posts I have read in a long time.