2026 predicted line ups

[Vicious]

Opinions sought?

I'm going to work on a club depth chart over the coming weeks as it comes to light who our Train & Trialists are for the pre-season and who is definitely departing.

A quandry I've got and maybe Benji has as well is who will be our NSW Cup fullback in 2026 - who could be our 3rd string fullback behind Bula & Turuva.

I think we can assume it's between Heath Mason & Luke Laulilii (or a bolter is Krystian Mapapalangi).

Mason
- Was the preferred option leading into this season.
- Seemed to stifle our sweep plays when played at fullback in NRL.
- A few games later in the NSW Cup season this year he did very well at the back with his tackle-busting, good yardage and some good cover defence.
- Still very susceptible under the high ball & making front-on tackles especially close to the try line.
- He himself said he sees his future as that utility type.
- Will he develop at dummy half over the pre-season and moreso back in his former position of 5/8?

Laulilii
- Has been a representative fullback since about U15s. Captained Magpies Harold Matts in '23 from fullback in year he made Australian Schoolboys on the wing
- Moved to wing more permanently last year and made his NRL debut there with the strength & powerful running his big assets.
- Dominated a few NSW Cup games at fullback this season with his support play & strong running a feature.
- Is ok under the high ball, better than Mason.

Other factors include how quickly the club sees the development of Javon Andrews & Logan Brookes.

If the club wants to play Andrews & Madden in the halves in NSW Cup, then Mason's only options are fullback or bench. If Logan Brookes takes off & is regarded as our long-term fullback deputy to Bula, then maybe it's best to develop Mason back in the halves with Madden and then Luke develops as a winger. So many questions!

Both are good whole hearted young players, but both have issues under the high ball, lack of height also a concern.
I was hoping Mason with his experience playing in the halves during his younger days would become valuable as a genuine playmaking, ball playing fullback option, but for whatever reason he has gone a long way backwards with his playmaking this season and now looks very unsure every time he has the ball in hand.
It must be a confidence issue, let’s hope he can work on it and overcome it for a fresh start in 2026.
Luke Laulilli has shown a great ability to hit top speed quickly, really rip and tear with his ball running making good metres, if not half breaks or line breaks in the process. This strength in his game diminished at the back end of the season for some reason, let’s hope he also works hard in the off season and heads into the 2026 season bigger, stronger, faster and more confident than ever.

 

[TheEnz]

Is there and reason why he can not play 13 and kick on the 5th

I think he will train the off season in 13 and will be asked to add some size

Yes he can and should.