tigahhh
Well-known member
i don’t think we need to upgrade to’a benji just has to try and find how to get consistency from him
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
With a couple of minor adjustments such as the ones I’ve noted above, yes we will definitely make the top 8 in 2026.
If we do not make a couple of minor, but vital improvements, than we will struggle once again.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
You make a lot of requests for “minor changes “…what’s the latest ? I’m assuming more moves to improve our depth …that won’t help much next season
I think we need one more good quality middle to add pressure for top 17 positions and give us the option to drop under performing players.
Upgrading Jack Bird with someone like Talakai would be massive.
He is a player who is highly aggressive, very versatile and has shown he can use his high speed, aggressive ball running through the middle to really lift his team when they are struggling for yardage.
Sounds like exactly what we need at times.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
I put a move like this as a pipe dream … it relies on two things happening which are not even on anyone’s drawing board at the moment ..Bird leaving and Talakai wanting to come here
They haven’t done a hell of a lot really to improve the starting 17 to date for next season, other than KPP for Seyfarth and let’s include Taylan as well… two moves that improve the team…but I don’t think it’s enough to get us in the 8
TheEnz
Well-known member
love it! finally a Team that has some spirit, passion and personality.
weststigerman
Well-known member
IMO No.
We’ve had a fairly good run with injuries this year and we may not be so lucky next year.
If we get the right starting prop and AD/Latu spend a lot of time in the pre season in their 2026 positions and Benji gets an experienced assistant I think we can.
Lots of ifs there.
I agree with you that what we currently have is not quite enough and we need 2 to 3 more genuine NRL quality recruits before we can be confident we have genuine top 8 team.
1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. ???
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jerome Liai
7. Adam Doueihi
8. Terrell May
9. Api Korisau
10. Sione Fainu
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Alex Twal
14. Latu Fainu
15 ???
16. Fonua Pole
17. ???
** Heamasi Makasini looks likely to make plenty of improvement between now and round 1 of the 2026 season, therefore it may just be a case of slotting him into our vacant centre position. The question mark is will he be 💯 NRL ready by round 1 2026 and if so, who will capably play as our right centre considering both May and Makasini seem to heavily favour playing on the left ?
It coud also be an option to start Makasini’s NRL career off on the wing which could mean he takes Skekton’s wing spot ?
** Seyfarth would be in contention to challenge for a spot on our bench form permitting.
** Filling the question marks with better quality than what we currently have will be crucial to our success in 2026.
** I don’t love the idea of Twal at 13, however he stiffens our defence and helps with the yardage, therefore I think we need him to start games at 13 and allow Latu Fainu to come on and replace him at 13 after approximately 25mins. Whether that means Latu plays 13 or plays 7 with Doueihi moving to 13 is up for debate. I think Latu has shown he is a very capable 13 who creates a big positive impact when playing that position, but if we decide he plays 7 and Doueihi shares the 13 role with Twal, that could also work, but I’m not sold on that idea.
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Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
we need to move on the contracts
Dud Sullivan
Royce Hunt
Jack Bird
Dud Sullivan
Royce Hunt
Jack Bird
Buttface
Well-known member
Pressure for his spot will be a refreshing change for us all.
He goes alright, but there’s a big gap between best and worst games, but he’s been our best centre, so we’ve had to put up with it. But next year we will have options. He will need to play well consistently or else.
Buttface
Well-known member
A run on number ten is paramount for me.
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
next year
1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. Makasini / Toa
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jerome Luai
7. Jock Madden
8. Terrell May
9. Api Korisau
10. Sione Fainu
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. AD
14. Latu Fainu
15 Twal
16. Fonua Pole
17. Seyfarth
1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. Makasini / Toa
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jerome Luai
7. Jock Madden
8. Terrell May
9. Api Korisau
10. Sione Fainu
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. AD
14. Latu Fainu
15 Twal
16. Fonua Pole
17. Seyfarth
Tito Santana
Well-known member
Not bad.
Would like to not see Seyfarth in first grade (or enough depth so hes not there).
Hunt, Bird, Toa i would also be keen to see leave.
Roar_Power
Well-known member
There is a good chance Sullivan never plays for us again. Potential for Bird to get a couple of years in SL. I think we are stuck with Hunt though...
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Skelton and Toa were good early this season …and are both under contract next year …I assume that both have been affected by injury this season and the focus should be over the offseason getting them back into the form they demonstrated early …Skelton was improved last week, and scored a good finishing wingers try …
I would be starting them in their respective positions Week 1 2026 the way things are at the moment ..If Makasini is looking good over the offseason than that could change my mind ..
I’m not going to give up on Latu just yet at 7…his ceiling is high … but it seems we aren’t agreeing on that one ..
I would put AD as 14 week 1… he will be my first cab off the rank to be back up 6,7 and 13 so he will start plenty of games over the course of the season
I want to see them still buy a starting 13 at the every least ..it’s a massive need …that would push Twal back to the bench ..looks like Seyfarth is still on the best 17 bench the way things stand at the moment …
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
I'm with you guys on those needs, however we have no 'official' idea on how many spots we have remaining.
We can only assume Jock Madden is top 30 as he wouldn't have signed so early just for a T&T + upgrade. And Mav Geyer for 1 season wouldn't have signed in August for next season if it was just a T&T (so top 30 for him).
Then Javon Andrews & Ethan Roberts, we just don't know officially yet if both are top 30 or Dev with an upgrade in '27.
Then the Bud situation has to be formalised, the potential for 1 or 2 surprise early releases & many of us on here think Broederlow could be under the gun.
But what we do know is that the Benji/Richo/Gallant team has been good thus far in recruiting needs (KPP as a right edge, Madden as a game managing goal kicking depth half, Geyer as a solid matured depth backrower, Hope as a permanent backup hooker, Javon as a exciting young half etc etc).
So common sense tells us that an experienced 1st grade-ready depth centre or winger & tallish, strong experienced prop will be on their radar.
If one of To'a or May (assuming May is extended) go down, we will have AD plus the potential of a Makasini or Laulilii, but I think someone like Naden at the right price or the ilk of Hiroti (goal kicker too) could be a target. Maybe Mapapalangi is highly thought of but he doesn't have much NRL experience to bring.
Just not sure on that big prop unless Richo is saving $$$ for one to fall out of the tree.
Kelce68
Well-known member
Whilst it's a long way from now, I'd be very surprised if Latu at 7 and Doueihi at 13 isn't how we begin next season, regardless of how AD is slotting in currently.
It's the long term plan with Latu, another pre season together, a squad that will be better again than this year and Benji has already shown he's willing to pick him as his starting 7 at full, or near-full strength.
It's the long term plan with Latu, another pre season together, a squad that will be better again than this year and Benji has already shown he's willing to pick him as his starting 7 at full, or near-full strength.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
I agree …
Any chance you think that Latu could fill in at 9 to give Api a 20 min rest next year ?
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
It's probably the likely outcome from what we know @Kelce68 .
But jeez I can see so much potential for Latu at lock and becoming one of the NRL's best in this spot. Whilst I do want him to succeed in the halves, I just see so much lock forward in him.
... his deft ball skills as 1st receiver & ability to push our halves wider.
... ability to put the defence in two minds with his explosive running game off the mark & power in his little legs to break tackles.
... but probably more than anything, his defence & strength in the tackle/wrestle is exceptional.
... and he atm lacks a very good long & short kicking game which he will need as a half. That may come but I just haven't seen it.
Just an opinion and probably the unlikely plan.
