Well look at the positives, we can farewell them at next year's GF presentation for retiring players. We didn't have any this year.😊
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
vlad
Well-known member
Matterson & MBye were token WTs
Odessa
Well-known member
I find it very funny with Matteson he wanted a two year contract with Melbourne to go there I personally think he would have pulled the plug on season 27 left Melbourne in the pool and went after a medical retirement to fill his pockets like a mercenary
Didn’t he coach in the bush for a year as well?
Somewhere round Coffs?
hammertime
Well-known member
Yep. I think that is very telling.
We have an extremely young squad. I'd prefer to throw a frizzel or a mann into the 19 rather than a junior who isn't ready. We need that experience and profesionalism. We do not have it.
Depth with quality guys at the end of their career vs depth in unproven juniors. I know who'd I take. Especially on year by year contracts.
When the juniors are ready, we retire the seniors. Or, if they get injured, we medically retire them early and bring the junior in faster.
The direction is the right one in my book.
Odessa
Well-known member
He was massive at the Raiders super star in the making with Ricky's tough love but took the easy way
We're aiming to recruit experience.
Surely Frizz on a 1 year deal > Tamou.
I'm not a huge fan but the guy just played in a grand final and is a former rep player.
He's there to do a job.
Chunk
Well-known member
Yeah that's true but I think you could make a positive case for many of our players to be in a good position to improve on what's happened this year, I thought there were good signs.
Anyway, it's a pipe dream but I'm going to be half glass full
pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
You could have fun with the last line.
Joel Helmes
Well-known member
Not the first or last to suffer that outcome.
happy_tiger
Well-known member
What about the West Coast Eagles ....they have been a mess since 2020
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Whilst a lot of our NRL team will benefit from not playing the RLWC (i.e injury rehab for some, full pre-season for others), I think the RLWC will be great benefit for these guys …
Latu Fainu (Tonga, hopefully 5/8)
Solomone Saukuru (Fiji)
Josese Lanyon (Fiji)
Tony Sukkar (Lebanon)
Glassie Glassie (Cook Islands)
Great experience, environment, hopefully plenty of game time & (for Latu) reps in the halves ahead of 2027.
Latu Fainu (Tonga, hopefully 5/8)
Solomone Saukuru (Fiji)
Josese Lanyon (Fiji)
Tony Sukkar (Lebanon)
Glassie Glassie (Cook Islands)
Great experience, environment, hopefully plenty of game time & (for Latu) reps in the halves ahead of 2027.
Current 2027 playing roster looking likely to be:
1. Bula / Attard
2. Turuva / Tavana
3. Averillo / Herbert
4. Taylan May / Saukuru
5. Makasini / Tupou
6. Doueihi / Andrews
7. Latu Fainu / Madden
8. Terrell May / Aho
9. Korisau / Haywood
10. Frizell / Sione Fainu
11. KPP / Godinet
12. Sam Fainu / Roberts
13. Twal / Seyfarth
14. Brailey / Lanyon
15. Mann / Schuster
16. Pole / Taateo
17. Hunt / Taupau - Moors
Players not yet re-signed for 2027, but possibly still being considered:
- Tony Sukkar
- Heath Mason
Players rumoured to have re-signed on lower tier contracts for 2027:
- Duncombe
- Plati
- Max Taotua
- Glassie Glassie (Development)
- Van Drie (Development)
- Havea Jnr (Development)
Players who could possibly be re-signed to lower tier contracts for 2027:
- Mitch Taotua
- Lachlan Broederlow
- Ryder Huth
Where are our weaknesses and what areas urgently need to be strengthened?
I believe there is a glaring depth weakness to our right sided centre and winger. I think one of Herbert or Tavana is ok if they are our 2nd choice back up on the right side, but we need someone better as our 1st choice rback up and competition for Turuva and Averillo.
There is not many suitable players available at a low cost who can help solve this problem, but I keep mentioning James Schiller as someone who could fit into our top 30 roster puzzle. He is a high class attacking player desperately seeking more regular NRL opportunities and is a right sided specialist. Signing him would have risk involved as he is now in his mid 20’s and has never reached his potential, but he is now getting to the stage where it’s now or never as far as becoming a more regular NRL player, so there is a chance he will make the most of the next opportunity that comes his way.
We also continue to look very shaky in regards to our edge back row depth and I would hope we are looking to re-sign Tony Sukkar as we have done all the hard work in developing him and I don’t think we will find a better option at this late stage of proceedings.
Ideally we need another edge 2nd row depth option in addition to Sukkar and preferably someone with a bit of speed off the mark, but there is nobody jumping out who fits this description, therefore we will likely again have to rely on our younger players such as Sukkar if we re-sign him, Ethan Roberts and possibly Phoenix Godinet if he improves enough over the off season.
I would consider re-signing Heath Mason in some capacity and using him as a specialist off the bench impact 9 or 13 in NSW Cup with the chance of progressing to this same role for our NRL team if his form warrants it.
We probably need one more experienced and tough, bigger bodied prop to mainly play NSW Cup and help guide our younger players, but also be good enough to push for an NRL position.
That could be as simple as keeping Bunty Afoa for another season, or if Bunty is not planning on hanging around on a minimum contract value Liam Knight could be another option.
He was a standout for the North Sydney Bears at the back end of the 2026 season looking very fit and capable of another couple of good years even though he is now on the wrong side of 30.
We ideally need someone with good speed off the mark and versatile enough to play in the backs or forwards.
It is very hard to find this type of player, but I would not be surprised if the Panthers contribute towards offloading Izaac Tago, so he could become an option and being the cousin of the May brothers could mean we would be a club he would consider to try and rejuvenate his NRL career.
We now have right centre covered with Jake Averillo, but strong competition for positions would be fantastic and I think Tago has the size and toughness to also be a very good impact lock or 2nd rower if used that way.
I would ideally like us to recruit a progressive blinding fast winger with pls th of x-factor who could surprise and become a genuine NRL candidate.
None better than Joven Gyemore who lit up the State Championship Final for Redcliffe Dolphins alongside Jake Averillo on Grand Final day.
Maybe Jake could put in a good word?
1. Bula / Attard
2. Turuva / Tavana
3. Averillo / Herbert
4. Taylan May / Saukuru
5. Makasini / Tupou
6. Doueihi / Andrews
7. Latu Fainu / Madden
8. Terrell May / Aho
9. Korisau / Haywood
10. Frizell / Sione Fainu
11. KPP / Godinet
12. Sam Fainu / Roberts
13. Twal / Seyfarth
14. Brailey / Lanyon
15. Mann / Schuster
16. Pole / Taateo
17. Hunt / Taupau - Moors
Players not yet re-signed for 2027, but possibly still being considered:
- Tony Sukkar
- Heath Mason
Players rumoured to have re-signed on lower tier contracts for 2027:
- Duncombe
- Plati
- Max Taotua
- Glassie Glassie (Development)
- Van Drie (Development)
- Havea Jnr (Development)
Players who could possibly be re-signed to lower tier contracts for 2027:
- Mitch Taotua
- Lachlan Broederlow
- Ryder Huth
Where are our weaknesses and what areas urgently need to be strengthened?
I believe there is a glaring depth weakness to our right sided centre and winger. I think one of Herbert or Tavana is ok if they are our 2nd choice back up on the right side, but we need someone better as our 1st choice rback up and competition for Turuva and Averillo.
There is not many suitable players available at a low cost who can help solve this problem, but I keep mentioning James Schiller as someone who could fit into our top 30 roster puzzle. He is a high class attacking player desperately seeking more regular NRL opportunities and is a right sided specialist. Signing him would have risk involved as he is now in his mid 20’s and has never reached his potential, but he is now getting to the stage where it’s now or never as far as becoming a more regular NRL player, so there is a chance he will make the most of the next opportunity that comes his way.
We also continue to look very shaky in regards to our edge back row depth and I would hope we are looking to re-sign Tony Sukkar as we have done all the hard work in developing him and I don’t think we will find a better option at this late stage of proceedings.
Ideally we need another edge 2nd row depth option in addition to Sukkar and preferably someone with a bit of speed off the mark, but there is nobody jumping out who fits this description, therefore we will likely again have to rely on our younger players such as Sukkar if we re-sign him, Ethan Roberts and possibly Phoenix Godinet if he improves enough over the off season.
I would consider re-signing Heath Mason in some capacity and using him as a specialist off the bench impact 9 or 13 in NSW Cup with the chance of progressing to this same role for our NRL team if his form warrants it.
We probably need one more experienced and tough, bigger bodied prop to mainly play NSW Cup and help guide our younger players, but also be good enough to push for an NRL position.
That could be as simple as keeping Bunty Afoa for another season, or if Bunty is not planning on hanging around on a minimum contract value Liam Knight could be another option.
He was a standout for the North Sydney Bears at the back end of the 2026 season looking very fit and capable of another couple of good years even though he is now on the wrong side of 30.
We ideally need someone with good speed off the mark and versatile enough to play in the backs or forwards.
It is very hard to find this type of player, but I would not be surprised if the Panthers contribute towards offloading Izaac Tago, so he could become an option and being the cousin of the May brothers could mean we would be a club he would consider to try and rejuvenate his NRL career.
We now have right centre covered with Jake Averillo, but strong competition for positions would be fantastic and I think Tago has the size and toughness to also be a very good impact lock or 2nd rower if used that way.
I would ideally like us to recruit a progressive blinding fast winger with pls th of x-factor who could surprise and become a genuine NRL candidate.
None better than Joven Gyemore who lit up the State Championship Final for Redcliffe Dolphins alongside Jake Averillo on Grand Final day.
Maybe Jake could put in a good word?
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Canadian Club
Well-known member
Agreed, I think most of our main squad needed the rest and/or surgery. I was hoping Api and KPP would opt out but hopefully they can get through the tournament unscathed.
Like you mentioned, I really hope Latu and Saukuru in particular build on their end of season form and have a good world cup.
orange&black
Well-known member
What has happened with Bunty?
I am not sure.
We could do far worse than keep him around for another season as he was pretty decent for us at the back end of the 2026 season.
Canadian Club
Well-known member
In an ideal world, a top class 13 and move Twal back into the front row rotation. After that a depth backrower and centre.
The strategy would be to target a Nov 1 player for 2028 and then explore the possibility of getting them early. I mentioned O'Donoghoe a couple weeks ago. Stuck on the bench behind Knowles, not to mention the Phins also have Plath. Offering him a starting 13 role and pay increase may be enough to convince someone of his calibre. Phins will need to generate cap space to re-sign Herbie, Katoa, Bostock and Hammer this off season. While they wouldn't want to let him go, they may not be able to keep a player of his calibre on the bench considering what he can earn elsewhere.
Hey @Canadian Club many were asking about your post saying sam & latu have re-signed
Wheres this from?
Wheres this from?
orange&black
Well-known member
Some positions are still short on quality depth. I’d like to see us bring in a young aggressive prop with good leg speed and a tall fast winger ( maybe Schiller is not a bad option here). I think we won’t be able to manage much more than that under our cap.
After a good preseason I am hoping quite a few of our young guys take a leap forward. Our new recruits combined with some of the squad now hopefully playing injury free, plus the return of Taylan and KPP, and we should improve as a team overall.
After a good preseason I am hoping quite a few of our young guys take a leap forward. Our new recruits combined with some of the squad now hopefully playing injury free, plus the return of Taylan and KPP, and we should improve as a team overall.
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