Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Wiz]

Logan Spinks would be a great get,very raw boned second rower.

Resigned with the bulldogs last week according to some bloke who rang up SEN.

 

[Vicious]

He is a big mobile unit who probably hasn’t played as much NRL as he deserved to play throughout his career and we could certainly do worse, but he will be 29y.o in 2027, so I think we should be looking for younger or better options to in improve our edge back row depth.
There are a few good performers in the Qld Cuo seeking an opportunity, but the likes of our former player Kelma Tuilagi who is a proven tackle buster/line breaker at NRL level, Joe Chan who is also a proven tackle buster/line breaker at NRL level and a few younger, unproven at NRL options looking for opportunities.
Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana an emerging big, strong and athletic back rower who is stuck behind a few good ones at the Knights, Logan Spinks an emerging big, strong and athletic back rower stuck behind a few good ones at the Bulldogs, Max McCathie who is strong, fast, athletic and great defender who is stuck behind a few good ones at the Roosters.
Dylan Coutts who is also tall, strong and fast athlete who I watched live rip and tear for the Sharks in the 2024 Jersey Flegg GF. He is currently at the Dragons, stuck behind a few good ones, but showing good signs with his dynamic ball running.
The whole 3 back rowers currently playing for North Sydney Bears are fast, athletic and have something to offer, particularly Matt Stimson who is an ex centre and after a few battle hardened seasons of NSW Cup is now becoming a dominant attacking threat and a reliable defender in each game he plays. Very confident he will succeed at NRL level given an opportunity.

In saying all of this we need to forecast how much improved our own players will be in 2027.
We can say we did not have sufficient back up depth in our back row this season, but it cannot be underestimated how much improved young players, particularly young forwards can be from one season to the next, particularly once they have had some NRL experience or just added confidence after some strong showings in the lower grades.
Tony Sukkar in my opinion has shown some real good signs this season. He needs to improve his lateral movement and defensive reads and I still think he will be better suited as a mobile middle forward, but I am not writing him off as an edge forward as he is recently carrying the ball very strongly.
Ethan Roberts is a prodigy talent who I believe is not far off being an elite attacking edge back rower, but can he measure up defensively is the million dollar question? He also might be better suited as a middle forward, but I think we need to give him another 12 months to prove himself on an edge and I would be trying to extend he and Sukkar’s contracts ASAP.
Lachlan Broaderlow had a great first half against the Bears yesterday and has been strong for the past month or so but, he too has previously had plenty is issues with his lateral movement defensively and is yet another who could have a better future as a middle forward.
Mitch Taotua is the prototype big, strong and athletic edge back rower, but he is an enigma who sometimes looks like a superstar in the making and at other times looks like an average plodder. If the penny drops and he becomes much more consistent, he will become a quality NRL player no questions asked.
Phoenix Godinet is still very young, but he too fits the enigma category of looking great one week and average the next.
It would be a tragedy if we let any of these talented young players slip through our hands and they end up being stars at a rival NRL club.
At the same time we do need some new recruits to provide fresh faces and fresh competition for positions.
Very difficult recruitment and retention decisions coming up.

 

[Odessa]

Like a lot of stories you hear …it’s likely false …

He left to make more money I would wager

Mate that's why I am asking

But apparently Benji's ego and not listening to some of the coaching staff with other ideas no one is allowed to have a different idea so it won't matter who he has as assistant coaches

 

[GNR4LIFE]

It’s been 25 years …Why would they start now ?

We do sign NRL level players. They just come here and hit the skids.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Mate that's why I am asking

But apparently Benji's ego and not listening to some of the coaching staff with other ideas no one is allowed to have a different idea so it won't matter who he has as assistant coaches

Idk about that. It would not surprise me though. What isn’t in dispute is the fact he only wants mates/yes men around him.

 

[clontarfkid]

Idk about that. It would not surprise me though. What isn’t in dispute is the fact he only wants mates/yes men around him.

That answers the question on Teo..

 

[Fainu Brothers]

They won’t sack Benji, but i think we need a fresh voice. It has worked at the Knights, Manly it has worn off but was a spark and seems to be working at the red V.

I would sign a Adriam Lam or Ben Hornby type.

 

[jirskyr]

I think he was always going to PNG with his good mate Jerome.

and his other good mate Taxo Exemptionisi

 

[wstigers11]

We do sign NRL level players. They just come here and hit the skids.

Yeh tend to think it’s best just to develop our own

 

[bptiger 0]

Yeh tend to think it’s best just to develop our own

And how has that worked out , if u can tell me who we have developed in the forwards over the last 5 years who have demanded a starting spot ,

 

[innsaneink]

And how has that worked out , if u can tell me who we have developed in the forwards over the last 5 years who have demanded a starting spot ,

I think he is speaking from a.club pov and.not advocating this line of recruitment himself
We all know we cannot develop players

Myself...i see the whole.thing a.hopeless failure and without change to governance at the top nothing will change

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

That's not the job of the NRL - put the $600M into defence not NRL

Tell PVL and Albo that.

I'm not thrilled we are funding a $600m foreign RL team.

 

[clontarfkid]

Am fearful were on a sinking ship and players like the Fainus and Douhje may bail on us..
Guys we've resigned have been bribed into acquiescence and have consumed most of Luais money
We struggle to grow our own
Coaching is crap
It's s mess
It's a complete mess

 

[SeanT]

Am fearful were on a sinking ship and players like the Fainus and Douhje may bail on us..
Guys we've resigned have been bribed into acquiescence and have consumed most of Luais money
We struggle to grow our own
Coaching is crap
It's s mess
It's a complete mess

Wonder why the hierarchy keeps on doing the same thing over and over. With 20 teams coming this team will not wina premiership when players have .ore options to move elsewhere.

 

[wstigers11]

I think he is speaking from a.club pov and.not advocating this line of recruitment himself
We all know we cannot develop players

Myself...i see the whole.thing a.hopeless failure and without change to governance at the top nothing will change

Yep exactly
Change coaches change players we’ve done it all it’s rotten at the top

 

[rihannafan1]

Yep exactly
Change coaches change players we’ve done it all it’s rotten at the top

And that's why a review was done and people chose to quit or were forced to. And within two years they'd.gone back to their old ways

 

[Tucker]

This PNG lineup is a house of cards for mine. Big names but will they deliver?

Alex Johnston = great finisher but at 33 and with 14 years of NRL under his belt by 2028, how long will his body hold up?

Brian To’o = has played a lot of football and is already showing signs of burnout. Is expected to make big meters every game which is taking its toll on his frame. Played horrible in SOO this year and lost his position. Has a lot of footy ahead of him this year with a GF run and a WC and then next year will be emotional as an era at Penrith concludes.

Joey Manu = won’t have played Rugby League since 2024. Will those 3 and a half years have undone a lot of his gameplay and conditioning? Look at RTS, best player in the Warriors club when he left and found it very hard to readjust just 2 years later. Took quite some time to hit form again.

Zac Lomax = See Joey Manu comments and add that this bloke is a mercenary who is unlikely to commit 100% to that club/region. He’ll find bonding with his teammates difficult I’d say as he pretty much will be a FIFO worker.

Connor Waston = He is a good signing who will likely commit and give his all. He will be 32 though and with his extensive history of injuries, could spend a lot of time in a pool rather than on the training paddock.

Matty Lees = He looks to be a great prospect. I’d question how he will handle the heat though. A Pommy playing in the engine room in Port Moresby will be a tough gig.

Jarome Luai = I’m not a fan. This guy is full of hot air and is not a leader. He is also not playing well and I’m sure that will continue in 2027. They are going to get a 31 year old who hasn’t been in form for 3 + years.

Add this to the fact that they will be living in Port Moresby - an absolute toilet of an unliveable city ranked near the top of the worlds most dangerous. They will be locked behind gated walls for their security which will harm them mentally and they will travel a lot.
Money doesn’t buy happiness. They will learn this lesson very quickly.

 

[Bellend]

Resigned with the bulldogs last week according to some bloke who rang up SEN.

shame we look good in our side.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

This PNG lineup is a house of cards for mine. Big names but will they deliver?

Alex Johnston = great finisher but at 33 and with 14 years of NRL under his belt by 2028, how long will his body hold up?

Brian To’o = has played a lot of football and is already showing signs of burnout. Is expected to make big meters every game which is taking its toll on his frame. Played horrible in SOO this year and lost his position. Has a lot of footy ahead of him this year with a GF run and a WC and then next year will be emotional as an era at Penrith concludes.

Joey Manu = won’t have played Rugby League since 2024. Will those 3 and a half years have undone a lot of his gameplay and conditioning? Look at RTS, best player in the Warriors club when he left and found it very hard to readjust just 2 years later. Took quite some time to hit form again.

Zac Lomax = See Joey Manu comments and add that this bloke is a mercenary who is unlikely to commit 100% to that club/region. He’ll find bonding with his teammates difficult I’d say as he pretty much will be a FIFO worker.

Connor Waston = He is a good signing who will likely commit and give his all. He will be 32 though and with his extensive history of injuries, could spend a lot of time in a pool rather than on the training paddock.

Matty Lees = He looks to be a great prospect. I’d question how he will handle the heat though. A Pommy playing in the engine room in Port Moresby will be a tough gig.

Jarome Luai = I’m not a fan. This guy is full of hot air and is not a leader. He is also not playing well and I’m sure that will continue in 2027. They are going to get a 31 year old who hasn’t been in form for 3 + years.

Add this to the fact that they will be living in Port Moresby - an absolute toilet of an unliveable city ranked near the top of the worlds most dangerous. They will be locked behind gated walls for their security which will harm them mentally and they will travel a lot.
Money doesn’t buy happiness. They will learn this lesson very quickly.

What'll happen if they get toweled their first few games and Luai turns up with his shit eating grin telling everyone to relax because they have work on Monday?

 

[bptiger 0]

Tell PVL and Albo that.

I'm not thrilled we are funding a $600m foreign RL team.

And I would not be surprised if it’s more like 1 billion or even more , because mr lair , ALBO never tells the truth