Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

Yes, we have done OK in the forwards, now the next hole to be plugged is definitely more speed in the outside backs.

Two spots left, could the club have identified this and are on the lookout, you would like to think so.

Finally someone with a bit of logic RHS.
I keep asking the question which forwards can we possibly buy that will dramatically improve our team and nobody can answer me ?
Yes it would be nice to have a stronger forward pack, but we have some very good young emerging forwards who could be in the top echelon of their positions within the next couple of years.

 

[tigahhh]

Think you are overstating how well Tuilagi, Kautoga and Hopgood played this season...

hopgood was nogood

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Think you are overstating how well Tuilagi, Kautoga and Hopgood played this season...

Kautoga is only 23 and looks to be improving under Ryles.

To think we chose Tumeth over Kiti and he became impatient and left, I know who I would have kept.

 

[jrtiger]

In 2025 when the Eels flogged us at ComBank Stadium, our forwards held their own but the Eels backs were too fast and classy for us.
What changes in 2026, we haven’t improved our backline ?

plenty actually. Taylan May ring a bell?

 

[Vicious]

hopgood was nogood

I would like him in our team.
He’s tough, hits hard when defending and is not one dimensional in attack as he has good ball playing qualities.

 

[Tom Shines]

Current 2026 Sportsbet premiership odds …

Parramatta 19.00
Us 34.00

Now I would say that is refelctive in the difference in Joe Public’s optimism about the two teams and nothing more than that… won’t count for anything on the field come March

 

[tigahhh]

I would like him in our team.
He’s tough, hits hard when defending and is not one dimensional in attack as he has good ball playing qualities.

he just about dropped a ball everytime i watched him, moses has sprayed him so many times lol

 

[Betterdays22]

Kautoga is only 23 and looks to be improving under Ryles.

To think we chose Tumeth over Kiti and he became impatient and left, I know who I would have kept.

He looked good at times, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't describe him as a "very good first grader" yet.

Not sure who's choice is was to move him on (whether him or the club), but he probably would of played 15-20 NRL games with us this year and fair chunk last year if he had stuck it out.

 

[Vicious]

plenty actually. Taylan May ring a bell?

Yes he rings a bell and he’s now clearly our best and most dangerous outside back.
Are you confident in Starford to step up and be consistently good all season and not look like a speedbump when defending against anyone with a bit of ability ?
I know we say Makasini might take his spot, it’s easier said than done transitioning from a natural left sided player to be confident and competent when playing on the right,
Our backline matches up poorly and gets found out against most of our NRL rivals, yet we have many supporters who think our backs are great ?

 

[Vicious]

Current 2026 Sportsbet premiership odds …

Parramatta 19.00
Us 34.00

Now I would say that is refelctive in the difference in Joe Public’s optimism about the two teams and nothing more than that… won’t count for anything on the field come March

For anyone who is confident we will make the top 8 in 2026 I suggest you put your money where your mouth is and have a good bet on it as the odds are much better than bank interest.

 

[Betterdays22]

For anyone who is confident we will make the top 8 in 2026 I suggest you put your money where your mouth is and have a good bet on it as the odds are much better than bank interest.

You should do likewise with the spoon, or at least a bottom 4 finish. You are very certain of yourself so you may as well make some money...

 

[Big Red]

A kerfuffle over a falafel?

Things got unruly over tabbouleh.

 

[Canadian Club]

Also Jack Williams who we should have signed.
They have developed the likes of Kitione Kautoga, Kelma Tuilagi and Matt Doorey and into very good NRL players.
They were smart enough to realise it’s a big advantage to have a 13 with ball playing ability and/or speed and moved J’maine Hopgood to prop which is proving to be very successful.
So they are now at the stage where they are a much more skillful team than us, a much faster team than us and a much more aggressive team than us.
We are no chance of finishing higher than them in 2026 and no chance of finishing higher than the Rabbitohs in 2026.

Kautoga and Tuilagi are massive defensive liabilities.

Parra are not as far ahead as people think. An easy draw to end the season and big win against a lifeless Newcastle masked over a few of their issues. Their backrowers are poor defensively and don't have much go forward through the middle outside of Paulo and Williams.

They will finish around the same spot next season.

 

[Canadian Club]

In 2025 when the Eels flogged us at ComBank Stadium, our forwards held their own but the Eels backs were too fast and classy for us.
What changes in 2026, we haven’t improved our backline ?

What changes from that game? Skelton, Taylan May and Makasini come in... That's literally half of the outside backs.

 

[jrtiger]

Yes he rings a bell and he’s now clearly our best and most dangerous outside back.
Are you confident in Starford to step up and be consistently good all season and not look like a speedbump when defending against anyone with a bit of ability ?
I know we say Makasini might take his spot, it’s easier said than done transitioning from a natural left sided player to be confident and competent when playing on the right,
Our backline matches up poorly and gets found out against most of our NRL rivals, yet we have many supporters who think our backs are great ?

I'm very confident in Starford providing he isn't playing busted like he was at the end of last year. beginning of the year he was phenomenal and I'm confident he lifts again.

you have to remember that by the end of the year the right edge was entirely different to what it was in preseason. no defensive cohesion, no trust, no understanding. we've now got four months to bed down combos with a settled right edge, which will include Star. I'm confident his defence will lift from there.

Heamasi will be gunning for Skelton's on the left sting and I'd say he's a fair chance of getting it. Turuva is brilliant despite the occasional defensive error, Taylan is Taylan and your man Jahream is going to level up again next year.

 

[Spartan117]

How can you get into a fight with a patron at a restaurant.

If you don't go looking for fights, you have no issues.

So many dikheads in the NRL.

Totally Disagree Mate

The Idiots are usually the Fans who troll players. cowards

My Mate is a former FG captain and media personality. A real nice guy. He used to comments and be drawn into so much garbage.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Finally someone with a bit of logic RHS.
I keep asking the question which forwards can we possibly buy that will dramatically improve our team and nobody can answer me ?
Yes it would be nice to have a stronger forward pack, but we have some very good young emerging forwards who could be in the top echelon of their positions within the next couple of years.

The unknown for the team is do we need to recruit a lock or use someone within, do we need to find another hooker to give Api a rest or use someone within.

We definitely could use more speed but who loses their spot Jeral is probably the slowest so if we do recruit speed what happens to him, can he be used somewhere else in the side.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Don't get me started on influencers, a bunch of pied pipers and a lot of them are looney birds.

What's wrong with the old more sensible way of thinking for yourself.

Why think for yourself when you can scroll tiktok for 8 hours a day and base all your thoughts off every clip you see.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Why think for yourself when you can scroll tiktok for 8 hours a day and base all your thoughts off every clip you see.

Quote from The Kinks Lola song.......It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world.
From all those years ago sums it up well.

 

[upthetigers]

Totally Disagree Mate

The Idiots are usually the Fans who troll players. cowards

My Mate is a former FG captain and media personality. A real nice guy. He used to comments and be drawn into so much garbage.

My bad mate I shouldn't generalise like that, always a few bad apples which affects the reputation of the good guys