2026-2027 Salary Cap

[jstigers]

How do you think we are in terms of the Salary Cap?

2026:
*We are still paying a little bit for Bateman
*Jayden Sullivan- We might be chipping in for 2026 or pay overs for him for 26/27
* Had quite a few leave in 2025, Miller, Olam, Klemmer, Galvin, De silvia,
*We are cutting a lot of dead wood at the end of 2025. Lots of underperformers that don't deserve a top 30 contract, Brandom Tumeth, Justin Matamua, Josh Feledy and maybe a few others.

Overall salary cap rating in my opinion given we are still paying overs for 2 players 8/10.

2027:
*Still paying overs for Sulvian
*Alot of players contracts will be up which will give the club flexibility to resign performing players and new players.
*Will be interesting to see if Luai will take up player option

Overall, I rate the salary cap 9/10 for 2027

I reckon we have a good shot at making the finals if we recruit well, 2026 or 2027.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Here is a table of approx salaries of our currently contracted players for 2026 (including Bud). All based on internet research and putting an approx $150K (just above minimum) on our bottom tier players.

PS the year listed is the final year of the contract.

If anyone can help with Seyfarth, Pole, Sione & To'a ...

Luai	2029	$1.2M	PO for 27,28,29
Seyfarth	2028
Pearce-Paul	2028	$550K
Hunt	2027	$425K
Turuva	2027	$450K
Terrell May	2027	$650K
Twal	2027	$400K
Latu Fainu	2027	$500K
Samuela Fainu	2027	$500K
Pole	2027
Sullivan	2027	$600K
Bula	2026	$700K	MO for 27
Sione Fainu	2026
Bird	2026	$400k
Skelton	2026	$230K
Koroisau	2026	$700K
T'oa	2026
Luke Laulilii	2026	$150K
Saukuru	2026	$150K
Kit Laulilii	2026	$150K
Sukkar	2026	$150K
Mason	2026	$150K

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Just for sh*ts'n giggles, I've roughly worked out we have $1.54M remaining in the salary cap for next season with 7 spots remaining. This is out of the full cap of $11.55M.

This equates to an average of close to $220k per player, equivalent to Skelton or Sione Fainu value.

I've factored in Bud Sullivan's contract as still on our books.

So if we secured a $700k player, we'd have spend the minimum on the remaining 6 players.

For the above reason, I do think we'll give top 30 contracts to the likes of Tristan Hope, Charlie Murray, Izaak Tui'tupou, Krystian Mapapalangi & Jaxson Rahme who would probably take $140K contracts. That would leave us about $850K to fit in Taylan May and one other.

Interesting exercise.