Hopefully we have abit of a cleanout this year Toa, Stafford, Murray, hope, Mason, will Craig, Seyfarth, Hunt. We need a backup hooker, 2 props, decent backup backrower and improve the forward depth badly. Problem is salary cap and still have to pay Luai 1.2 million in 2027....
Roster Breakdown: 2024-2029
- Thread starter KingRobbie
- Start date
Are you happy with our centres and wingers ?
With Luke Laulilli departing for Perth Bears and Jeral Skelton not yet re-signed for 2027, it only leaves us with Sunia Turuva, an injury plagued Taylan May and a promising, but not quite ready for regular NRL in Heamasi Makasini as our only genuine NRL centre/winger options for 2027.
You need 5 or 6 genuine NRL centre/winger options, not 2 or 3.
2027 starting backs
1 Bula
2 Turuva
3 Jake Averillo will be announced soon
4 May
5 Tino
NSW cup depth
1 Attard
2 TBD
3 Herbert
4 Makasini
5 Skelton-resign
That's how I see next year's back lineups and to be honest I'm fine with the depth for next year if it's like that, I'm more concerned with our forwards depth. Besides Ethan Roberts Im not happy with any of the forward depth we have this year at all
If Tino is our starting winger, forget about making the 8.
I love his story and there is no doubting the effort he puts in, but he is not tall, he is not strong, he is not fast, he struggles in defence and struggles making good yardage out of our own end.
There is at least a couple of better outside backs in almost every rival NRL teams reserve grade team.
I don’t mind Tino as roster player 26-30, but any higher than that and we have learned nothing from these floggings we are getting.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Team photo this week. All top 30 players (28) accounted for + 6 development players + Tino Tavana.
Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
I'm surprised you are happy with Tino. After his last effort or lack of effort I have him well away from NRL level.
And the depth chart is barren as well. We are in deep s#*^ with that lot for 2027.
Hope our pockets are full.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
We don’t know ..but considering that story a week back of them looking to move on the likes of Hunt and Seyfarth …I would suggest not
Whats this about?
A nice reminder of the worst week in the clubs history?
Tom Shines
Well-known member
The Faithful guys were saying that Luke L was dreadful in NSW Cup past weekend … the opposition targeted him early with kicks and he was found out … basically they said he isn’t an NRL level winger… probably just as well he is moving on then
Toa and Patrick Herbert remain signed to the squad next year so I make half a dozen options including Averillo.. the problem is more the players signed than the numbers
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Luke Laulilli should have been developed as a centre. In that position he would be a very good run threat with his strong carries, speed and tackle break ability, plus he has a more than competent catch pass and passing game.
He had one shocker defensively playing as a centre in an NRL game last season and we gave up on him in that position.
To put it into perspective the likes of To’a, Herbert and even Makasini have shockers defensively nearly every time they play and we keep giving them extra chances.
I do think Makasini will become a top class centre in time, but he has certainly had his defensive issues so far.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Water under the bridge now with Laulili … but we will add him to the list of young guys who appear to never have been developed or utilised correctly …his limitations really make it hard for him to be a winger these days … would have liked to see him given a go at fullback instead of Mason …we’ll see how he goes at his next stop …: hopefully he will find some success …
They have decided on the centres for 2027 already looks like … maybe they will move Toa on and bring in another one
426Tlgerland
Well-known member
So for the next season and beyond where do we use the broom, I have a couple who seem or have signed off elsewhere
Kit - Luke - Poss Geyer
Now who gets shown the door from first grade and reserve grade
Skelton - not signed yet , not sure , I keep him but club May remove .
Toa - needs to go .
Hunt May move to super Pommy footy .
Bunty - no news on keeping him so another spot to fill.
That’s maybe 7 players who go , is that enough to change us up to be more competitive, I suppose it depends on who turns up, Alverillo only name I’ve heard maybe coming so 6 more
Kit - Luke - Poss Geyer
Now who gets shown the door from first grade and reserve grade
Skelton - not signed yet , not sure , I keep him but club May remove .
Toa - needs to go .
Hunt May move to super Pommy footy .
Bunty - no news on keeping him so another spot to fill.
That’s maybe 7 players who go , is that enough to change us up to be more competitive, I suppose it depends on who turns up, Alverillo only name I’ve heard maybe coming so 6 more
I think Ethan Roberts, Christian Taupau-Moirs, Jarad Haywood and Phoenix Godinet all move into our top 30 in 2027 don’t they ?
They all seem to be players with good potential to become NRL regulars, so I don’t think it is a mistake promoting any of them 4.
But we do need a certain element of experienced depth, players that have done well in at least some of their previous NRL opportunities who may be stuck behind some high quality players at their current clubs, or maybe just not getting the opportunities they deserve.
I’m not seeing much available for 2027 in way of middle forwards who fit this criteria unfortunately. Players such as Ata Mariota or even Samuel Hughes would both be decent recruits, but I think they would both be expecting to be top 17 regulars, rather than depth players and their asking price would reflect this.
One players who I think would be a really good fit for us is Hohepa Puru currently at the Sharks. He has been playing well as their starting hooker filling in for Blake Brailey and also plays quite well as a ball distributing and tough tackling 13.
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BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Roberts & Haywood move into Top 30 next season. But I can't find anything on what contract CTM & Godinet move onto next year. It could well be Development as they are T&T this year.
But it's still an unsolved mystery. Anyone? Bueller?Anyone?
It’s really important game for Tony Sukkar on Sunday as he has not yet really been dominant at NRL level, but he is looking better than ever when playing NSW Cup, so it really is his time to shine and make that left edge back row position his own until Samuela returns from injury.
If he can play strongly over the next 5-8 weeks he will deserve a contract extension and we probably won’t need to recruit any other depth edge back rowers.
On the flip side, if he does not play well enough to lock down that position and show he is a more than capable back up, we would then need to recruit and find someone who can be for 2027.
Probably the same scenario for Starford To’a.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
I'm confident he can lock down a depth backrower spot for next season. I think if given a run of 3-4 games on the left edge in the NRL, we will see very solid output. He's no world beater but can be solid depth. Billy Burns took some games to get his eye in at NRL level for the Sharks and he is older.
wstigers11
Well-known member
I agree, if they do move Seyfarth on I’d be happy if he got that spot in the roster.
