Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Moh said:
Haven't watched yet, assuming its another PR spin:

The fact that they need to do these interviews/put out all these statements, says it all.

Ya got so very wrong, own it.
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Yep , they just need to try and keep it positive as it was 100% a very poor outcome lead by Gould , Ceraldo and Galvin Camp , but Galvin could have just gone there and played out 2025 in reserves , coach made calls and destroyed there season , yes they were on top of comp but already had 3 byes , played weaker teams first up dream run , but they were set up by mid season with wins , positive around team so they should have finished better as applied to a team like say tigers who let’s say get
Melbourne , Broncos , Cronulla , Roosters , dolphins , etc all first up , puts you behind the 8 ball straight away as most games would end in defeat and last place on ladder , The NRL should make a first 4 / 5 rounds hand select games to stir up the pot to start season ,
Melb V penrith
Cronulla V Raiders
Roosters V Dolphins
Broncos V bulldogs
Tigers V Titans
South’s V Parra. Etc
 
426Tlgerland said:
Yep , they just need to try and keep it positive as it was 100% a very poor outcome lead by Gould , Ceraldo and Galvin Camp , but Galvin could have just gone there and played out 2025 in reserves , coach made calls and destroyed there season , yes they were on top of comp but already had 3 byes , played weaker teams first up dream run , but they were set up by mid season with wins , positive around team so they should have finished better as applied to a team like say tigers who let’s say get
Melbourne , Broncos , Cronulla , Roosters , dolphins , etc all first up , puts you behind the 8 ball straight away as most games would end in defeat and last place on ladder , The NRL should make a first 4 / 5 rounds hand select games to stir up the pot to start season ,
Melb V penrith
Cronulla V Raiders
Roosters V Dolphins
Broncos V bulldogs
Tigers V Titans
South’s V Parra. Etc
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No idea who organises who the teams play throughout the year but who ever the company is or whatever system they use, its all over the place.
 
fainty said:
I have a feeling we may sign Talakai and
Hamlin-Uele. Sharks trying to free up cap room, both been told previously could be free to leave. Gives us more forward power. Especially off the bench.
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Not sure if we can afford both.
If we could only have one of them, I’d take Takakai as he adds plenty of leg speed and power ball running as well as his versatility to play as a middle forward, an edge forward or as a centre if required.
 
fainty said:
I have a feeling we may sign Talakai and
Hamlin-Uele. Sharks trying to free up cap room, both been told previously could be free to leave. Gives us more forward power. Especially off the bench.
Click to expand...
Geez that would solve so many issues.
Doubbi to 13.
Find bottom dollar veteran serviceable hooker.

That is a team going to the finals
 
Vicious said:
Not sure if we can afford both.
If we could only have one of them, I’d take Takakai as he adds plenty of leg speed and power ball running as well as his versatility to play as a middle forward, an edge forward or as a centre if required.
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With the way the season ended we need a good news story I hope we get Talakai adds some experience to this young squad
 
Below is a potential squad list for 2026 that I believe could take us from unlikely to make the top 8 to become likely to make the top 8.
- Assuming we offload Bud Sullivan and Jack Bird.
- Obviously Latu Fainu will not be playing NSW Cup, but it’s rumoured he will miss the early rounds of 2026 due to his shoulder reconstruction, therefore I have named him outside our top 17 until he returns.
- I would consider Ray Stone as our tough tackling 9/13 rotation ahead of Tyson Smoothy, however Smoothy is a more natural and accomplished 9 and I strongly believe we cannot continue playing Api for 80mins each game.
- I acknowledge it’s highly unlikely we will offload Starford To’a after only recently re-signing him, but I honestly believe having a player such as Jesse Arthurs as our starting right centre with Corey Allan as his back up would make us much stronger and I don’t think Arthurs would cost anymore than what we are paying To’a.
- I also acknowledge we are still one high quality middle forward short, but I cannot see us being in a position to do anything about it for 2026 unless we offload Royce Hunt.
- Adding a depth middle such as Fletcher Baker should help keep the players in our top 17 honest.
There have been quite a few other good suggestions on this forum as a potential middle depth forward recruit, so plenty of options other than Baker.
- We also lack a genuine ball playing 13, not much out there, but potentially fitting someone like Adam Elliott into our top 30 could help for a season or two.
- Signing Mavrik Geyer when we still have Tony Sukkar and Sol Saukuru as top 30 contracted players was a strange decision to say the least, particularly when we have some very promising edge back rowers in Phoenix Godinet, Ethan Roberts and Byron Laupepa within our squad.
We do not need all 3 of Geyer, Sukkar and Saukuru, we only really need one of them.

1. Jahream Bula / Heath Mason
2. Jeral Skelton / Max Taotua
3. Jesse Arthurs / Corey Allan
4. Taylan May / Heamasi Makasini
5. Sunia Turuva / Luke Laulilli
6. Jerome Luai / Latu Fainu
7. Adam Doueihi / Jock Madden
8. Terrell May / Fletcher Baker
9. Tyson Smoothy / Tristan Hope
10. Sione Fainu / Kit Laulilli
11. Kai Pearce-Paul / Mavrik Geyer
12. Samuela Fainu / Tony Sukkar
13. Alex Twal / Alex Seyfarth

14. Api Korisau / Charlie Murray (Dev)
15. Siosifa Talakai / Sol Saukuru
16. Fonua Pole / Jaxson Rahme
17. Royce Hunt / Peter Taateo

NSW Cup Squad Extras;
Max Liles
Tino Tavana
Josese Lanyon
Lachlan Broederlow (Dev)

Dev Players still eligible for Flegg in 2026;
Javon Andrews
Ethan Roberts
Phoenix Godinet
Christian Taupau-Moors
Jared Haywood
** Logan Deininger
** Mitch Taotua
** Byron Laupepa
 
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Vicious said:
Below is a potential squad list for 2026 that I believe could take us from unlikely to make the top 8 to become likely to make the top 8.
Obviously Latu Fainu will not be playing NSW Cup, but it’s rumoured he will miss the early rounds of 2026 due to his shoulder reconstruction, therefore I have named him outside our top 17 until he returns.
I would consider Ray Stone as our tough tackling 9/13 rotation ahead of Tyson Smoothy, however Smoothy is a more natural and accomplished 9 and I strongly believe we cannot continue playing Api for 80mins each game.
I acknowledge it’s highly unlikely we will offload Starford To’a after only recently re-signing him, but I honestly believe having a player such as Jesse Arthurs as our starting right centre with Corey Allan as his back up would make us much stronger and I don’t think Arthurs would cost anymore than what we are paying To’a.
I also acknowledge we are still one high quality middle forward short, but I cannot see us being in a position to do anything about it for 2026.
Adding a depth middle such as Fletcher Baker should help keep the players in our top 17 honest.
There have been quite a few other good suggestions as a potential depth forward recruit on this forum, so plenty of options other than Baker.
We also lack a genuine ball playing 13, not much out there, but potentially fitting someone like Adam Elliott into our top 30 could help for a season or two.

1. Jahream Bula / Heath Mason
2. Sunia Turuva / Luke Laulilli
3. Jesse Arthurs / Corey Allan
4. Taylan May / Heamasi Makasini
5. Jeral Skelton / Max Taotua
6. Jerome Luai / Latu Fainu
7. Adam Doueihi / Jock Madden
8. Terrell May / Fletcher Baker
9. Tyson Smoothy / Tristan Hope
10. Sione Fainu / Kit Laulilli
11. Kai Pearce-Paul / Mavrik Geyer
12. Samuela Fainu / Sol Saukuru
13. Alex Twal / Alex Seyfarth

14. Api Korisau / Tino Tavana
15. Siosifa Talakai / Charlie Murray (Dev)
16. Fonua Pole / Jaxson Rahme
17. Royce Hunt / Peter Taateo

NSW Cup Squad Extras;
Max Liles
Josese Lanyon
Lachlan Broederlow (Dev)

Dev Players still eligible for Flegg in 2026;
Javon Andrews
Ethan Roberts
Phoenix Godinet
Christian Taupau-Moors
Jared Haywood
** Logan Deininger
** Mitch Taotua
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Yes to Jesse Arthurs no to Adam Elliot
 
Odessa said:
Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Suspended for Two back to back Grand Finals I know it's his fault but you do have to feel for the guy
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This might be controversial, but perhaps for the biggest games in the calendar where we want the best players playing, the suspensions are tripled or quadrupled in exchange for the right to play in origin or grand finals. The club can decide whether it's worth it.
 
Vicious said:
Below is a potential squad list for 2026 that I believe could take us from unlikely to make the top 8 to become likely to make the top 8.
Obviously Latu Fainu will not be playing NSW Cup, but it’s rumoured he will miss the early rounds of 2026 due to his shoulder reconstruction, therefore I have named him outside our top 17 until he returns.
I would consider Ray Stone as our tough tackling 9/13 rotation ahead of Tyson Smoothy, however Smoothy is a more natural and accomplished 9 and I strongly believe we cannot continue playing Api for 80mins each game.
I acknowledge it’s highly unlikely we will offload Starford To’a after only recently re-signing him, but I honestly believe having a player such as Jesse Arthurs as our starting right centre with Corey Allan as his back up would make us much stronger and I don’t think Arthurs would cost anymore than what we are paying To’a.
I also acknowledge we are still one high quality middle forward short, but I cannot see us being in a position to do anything about it for 2026 unless we offload Royce Hunt.
Adding a depth middle such as Fletcher Baker should help keep the players in our top 17 honest.
There have been quite a few other good suggestions on this forum as a potential middle depth forward recruit, so plenty of options other than Baker.
We also lack a genuine ball playing 13, not much out there, but potentially fitting someone like Adam Elliott into our top 30 could help for a season or two.

1. Jahream Bula / Heath Mason
2. Jeral Skelton / Max Taotua
3. Jesse Arthurs / Corey Allan
4. Taylan May / Heamasi Makasini
5. Sunia Turuva / Luke Laulilli
6. Jerome Luai / Latu Fainu
7. Adam Doueihi / Jock Madden
8. Terrell May / Fletcher Baker
9. Tyson Smoothy / Tristan Hope
10. Sione Fainu / Kit Laulilli
11. Kai Pearce-Paul / Mavrik Geyer
12. Samuela Fainu / Sol Saukuru
13. Alex Twal / Alex Seyfarth

14. Api Korisau / Tino Tavana
15. Siosifa Talakai / Charlie Murray (Dev)
16. Fonua Pole / Jaxson Rahme
17. Royce Hunt / Peter Taateo

NSW Cup Squad Extras;
Max Liles
Josese Lanyon
Lachlan Broederlow (Dev)

Dev Players still eligible for Flegg in 2026;
Javon Andrews
Ethan Roberts
Phoenix Godinet
Christian Taupau-Moors
Jared Haywood
** Logan Deininger
** Mitch Taotua
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I'm wondering whether we should give Latu another mainly 12 months in State Cup to give his body a bit more time to mature. He can fill in as needed in the 17 but gee, he sure is injury prone at the moment.
 
Vicious said:
Below is a potential squad list for 2026 that I believe could take us from unlikely to make the top 8 to become likely to make the top 8.
Click to expand...
Could sneak into the 8, but still unlikely with that squad IMO.

1. It is devoid of raw speed.
2. Douehi played well at halfback, but he isn’t consistent, controlling, nor good enough kicking game at 7 to make us a proper contender. Hope I eat my words.
3. Need at least one more gun forward.
4. Depth/cover options are not first grade material.
5. Api starts.

Arthurs would be good, as would Talakai. But where are you getting this from?
 
bigsiro said:
Could sneak into the 8, but still unlikely with that squad IMO.

1. It is devoid of raw speed.
2. Douehi played well at halfback, but he isn’t consistent, controlling, nor good enough kicking game at 7 to make us a proper contender. Hope I eat my words.
3. Need at least one more gun forward.
4. Depth/cover options are not first grade material.
5. Api starts.

Arthurs would be good, as would Talakai. But where are you getting this from?
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Just an educated guess as I don’t think Arthurs will stay at Broncos while not being part of their top 17.
He is definitely an NRL quality player and has proven it over a number of years.
As I stated, it’s not likely we would bring him in and offload To’a who we only recently re-signed, but if we are talking quality of player, I think it’s quite clear Arthurs is the winner.
There was an article before the finals stating the Sharks were having salary cap issues and advised Talakai and Hamlin-Uele were both free to explore other options even though they are currently contracted to the Sharks for 2026.
 
Vicious said:
Just an educated guess as I don’t think Arthurs will stay at Broncos while not being part of their top 17.
He is definitely an NRL quality player and has proven it over a number of years.
As I stated, it’s not likely we would bring him in and offload To’a who we only recently re-signed, but if we are talking quality of player, I think it’s quite clear Arthurs is the winner.
There was an article before the finals stating the Sharks were having salary cap issues and advised Talakai and Hamlin-Uele were both free to explore other options even though they are currently contracted to the Sharks for 2026.
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I’d love those two.
Though Richo said just the other day that there won’t be more signings.
Which is either a disappointing truth or a clever fib.
 
Vicious said:
Just an educated guess as I don’t think Arthurs will stay at Broncos while not being part of their top 17.
He is definitely an NRL quality player and has proven it over a number of years.
As I stated, it’s not likely we would bring him in and offload To’a who we only recently re-signed, but if we are talking quality of player, I think it’s quite clear Arthurs is the winner.
There was an article before the finals stating the Sharks were having salary cap issues and advised Talakai and Hamlin-Uele were both free to explore other options even though they are currently contracted to the Sharks for 2026.
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To'a runs rings around Arthars.. Even Madge prefers Karipani and Mariner over Arthars.
 
Canadian Club said:
To'a runs rings around Arthars.. Even Madge prefers Karipani and Mariner over Arthars.
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I don’t agree and believe Arthurs is taller, stronger, faster, runs the ball much harder, much better in the air, a better defender and much better in making yardage out of the danger zone.
But it’s only an opinion, let’s hope To’a proves Wests Tigers, yourself and quite a few others correct and demonstrates his quality for us consistently in 2026.
 
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