Why Are the We Releasing Players Mid-Season Without Replacements?
I have to admit I am perplexed at this latest mid-season release and have tried to think through the reasoning. There’s been a lot of discussion on here about the club’s approach of releasing players mid-season without bringing in direct replacements, especially given our current depth issues. I have tried to take a balanced approach to determine the why.
1. Salary Cap Management. The obvious reason behind the releases is is
managing the salary cap. By releasing players mid-season, we save part of the salary for the remainder of the year, which:
- Creates cap space for future signings;
- Provides flexibility in payment options for 2025 to allow for 2026 roster upgrades; and
- Avoids paying players who aren’t in the long term plans
2. Focus on the Long-Term Rebuild. It is clear that our club is focussed on a
long-term rebuild. Rather than holding onto players who won’t be here for the crocodile roll they’re choosing to clear the roster now to reset for the future.
3. Emphasis on Junior Development. Benji and Richo have made it clear that they will
develop younger players rather than fill spots with short-term journeymen. This has seen Galvin, Laulilii, TDS and Mason get early NRL exposure to accelerate their growth. However, if they then decide for whatever reason that they don't want to be part of the long term plan because they are ruthlessly cut. This sends a clear message to the playing group that you are part of the solution or you will not be taking up space in the roster that could be used to develop someone else. This leads us to what is probably the main reason behind the approach.
4. Cultural and Standards Reset. Several of the exits are about
culture and standards. If someone isn’t fitting into the new expectations or style of play, the club is willing to move them on, even if it leaves gaps in the short term.
The Risks
- Short-term: Less depth and experience means heavier losses and further challenges to competitiveness this season.
- Long-term: The goal is to build a more sustainable, cap-compliant squad with a strong core and the flexibility to recruit quality players for the future.
Final Thoughts
It’s a
calculated but risky strategy. The club is prioritising cultural reset and future recruitment opportunities over short-term results. Whether it pays off will depend on:
- The calibre of players we sign for 2026 and beyond
- The development trajectory of the young players being exposed to first grade now
- The club’s ability to maintain member and fan support during a challenging period
I know most have been scratching their heads as much as I have over this. We have constantly heard from Richo and Benji that this all part of the plan. We know the destination - top 4 club - but not the roadmap for how we intend to get there. We can only assume that this is planned part of the route.
The question that we need to ask ourselves as we endure the pain is this: Is this approach necessary to reset and rebuild our club after a prolonged period of poor administration and players coming to us for a pension. The subsequent question being: If this is a true rebuild and we are settting standards and developing our future player and club culture have we been too aggressive and lost sight of balancing our short-term competitiveness?
My gut feel is that Richo is keeping the cards held too tight to his chest. If the fan base was engaged and understood the road map there would probably be a lot less angst. The approach is clearly calculated and deliberate - we just don't understand why.
