Tom Shines
Well-known member
Toa gone … we need to spend that $400k on Blore
Roster Breakdown: 2024-2029
- Thread starter KingRobbie
- Start date
Toa gone … we need to spend that $400k on Blore
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Let's go get him. Only 20 mins or so for the Storm on the weekend. He can fill a number of roles for us next season that we currently lack.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
As we see now ..we need edge depth badly
FrodoTBaggin
Well-known member
Now that Toa is gone I wonder how much Sloan would be after.
Yeah but also, I think with Luke L and Toa both gone, Skelton, Saukuru, Craig and Mason off contract, we need to work on our backline depth. As it stands:
Fullback: Bula & Attard
Wing: Maka, Tino, Turuva
Centre: May, Herbert
We are looking very skinny. Maka isn't a first grade centre IMO, although I think he holds his own on the wing.
I wouldn't mind going into round 1 with
1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. May
4. TBA
5. Maka
Although I think we need to be buying another first grade centre (pending what's happening with Averillo) and 2-3 decent backups
Tom Shines
Well-known member
I think you can pretty much write Averillo’s name in ink …
Still think they should keep Skelton one more year on the cheap…. Although Benji seems off him big time ..
Keep hearing Saukuru playing well in Cup..but remains unsigned …
Still think they should keep Skelton one more year on the cheap…. Although Benji seems off him big time ..
Keep hearing Saukuru playing well in Cup..but remains unsigned …
By officially releasing To’a, there is no doubt Averillo is heading our way.
It’s a very good upgrade for us which we can all be happy about, but we need to solidify our depth in the centres/wingers tj ensure we don’t get a repeat of the issues we have been facing over the past couple of months.
Unless we see Jack Attard really progress in leaps and bounds by the time the 2026 season comes around, we would currently have Averillo as our preferred fullback whenever Bula is not available.
That along with no guarantes on the shoulder issues with Taylan May and Bula means we could again be very short on quality in our outside backs if we are not very smart with our recruitment and retention.
We also cannot be certain Makasini will be ready start being the player he promises to be by the 2026 season, he will still be very young.
Turuva is like Bula, they have quality and generally capitalise on good play from those around them, but very rarely show individual brilliance to make something out of nothing.
In a perfect world we leek Skelton as our left winger and make Makasini play good enough tjbtrulgcear an NRL position whether that be at left wing or in the centres.
Knowing Makasini has the jump on him in Benji’s eyes will probably my see Skelton head elsewhere looking for a more permanent NRL spot.
I would be disappointed if we have done all this development of Saukuru to now let him go when he is really starting to look like he could live up to his potential he showed when part of our Wests Magpies Harold Matthews winning side.
I would like him to be kept as a genuine NRL back up and be pushing strongly to earn a starting MRL position.
That still leaves a couple more outside back uk positions available and if we are being honest we really need better than Herbert.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
The maths has been done and the salary cap money is very limited … any new purchase needs to be carefully considered .. the club has gone down a youth path for the backs depth … it is what it is apparently …I wouldn’t even be surprised if they keep Mason 🙄
They need upgrades in the forwards which will mean new players being brought to the club … he won’t even play the forwards depth that’s here now .. with our limited funds I would be spending them on Top 17 level edge and middle and possibly a back up 9…
2 nrl props and 2 backrowers for depth, another centre and winger and we will be in alot better place
Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
Thanks------much clearer.
2027 Roster and approx contract values
1. Bula 900 - Attard 150
2. Turuva 450 - Tavana 150
3. Averillo 650 - Tupou 100
4. Taylan May 700 - Saukuru 150
5. Makasini 400 - Skelton 300
6. Luai 1.2 - Andrews 150
7. Doueihi 450 - Madden 150
13. Twal 400 - TBC 150
12. KPP 600 - Sukkar 250
11. Sam Fainu 500 - Roberts 150
10. Sione Fainu 400 - TBC ???
9. Korisau 700 - Haywood 150
8. Terrell May 900 - TBC ???
14. Latu Fainu 500
15. Seyfarth 400
16. Pole 50
17. Hunt 450
** We are getting very close to the 11.7 million salary cap even with 3 roster spots to fill.
** Possibility that we offload Hunt to the UK Super League, but we would need to replace him with someone we can rely on to play regular NRL, preferably a starting prop to allow Sione Fainu to provide impact off the bench.
- The only prop currently available for 2027 with proven NRL experience and potentially able to recruit within our price range of under 500k is Samuel Hughes. No superstar and seems a bit injury prone which is a concern, but if he is gettable for around 400k I think he has the size, go forward impact and reliability to play a role for us.
The other middle forward currently available for 2027 who I think could add something to uis with his no nonsense approach and hard hitting defence is Liam Le Blanc, but you would not want to pay more than 200k, possibly stretching to 250k for him. He’s a good up and comer, I think he is a superior player to Alex Seyfarth which would put them in direct competition for a bench spot.
Not sure where we find another depth prop for the minimum wage, it may be a case of keeping Bunty around for another season if he is keen ?
Some may look at 300k for Skelton as a back up and say no way, but Makasini is not at the same ability as Skelton as an NRL yet in my opinion, so I would be starting with Skelton and make Makasini play well enough in NSW Cup to demand an NRL spot.
I look at our potential back up outside backs and although there is certainly some talent amongst them, there is none with any real speed to offer us a point of difference at NRL level if required.
With the Knights looking to offload Schiller, he would be a great addition possibly ahead of Tavana in our top 30 to add some genuine speed and attacking ability. I think Tavana is on a development contract for 2027 in any case ?
Adding to that we could and should be using the next month or so to find out who is a more valuable top 30 option for 2027 between Tavana and Solo Saukuru. At the moment Saukuru would be ahead based on NSW Cup form, but that could change.
1. Bula 900 - Attard 150
2. Turuva 450 - Tavana 150
3. Averillo 650 - Tupou 100
4. Taylan May 700 - Saukuru 150
5. Makasini 400 - Skelton 300
6. Luai 1.2 - Andrews 150
7. Doueihi 450 - Madden 150
13. Twal 400 - TBC 150
12. KPP 600 - Sukkar 250
11. Sam Fainu 500 - Roberts 150
10. Sione Fainu 400 - TBC ???
9. Korisau 700 - Haywood 150
8. Terrell May 900 - TBC ???
14. Latu Fainu 500
15. Seyfarth 400
16. Pole 50
17. Hunt 450
** We are getting very close to the 11.7 million salary cap even with 3 roster spots to fill.
** Possibility that we offload Hunt to the UK Super League, but we would need to replace him with someone we can rely on to play regular NRL, preferably a starting prop to allow Sione Fainu to provide impact off the bench.
- The only prop currently available for 2027 with proven NRL experience and potentially able to recruit within our price range of under 500k is Samuel Hughes. No superstar and seems a bit injury prone which is a concern, but if he is gettable for around 400k I think he has the size, go forward impact and reliability to play a role for us.
The other middle forward currently available for 2027 who I think could add something to uis with his no nonsense approach and hard hitting defence is Liam Le Blanc, but you would not want to pay more than 200k, possibly stretching to 250k for him. He’s a good up and comer, I think he is a superior player to Alex Seyfarth which would put them in direct competition for a bench spot.
Not sure where we find another depth prop for the minimum wage, it may be a case of keeping Bunty around for another season if he is keen ?
Some may look at 300k for Skelton as a back up and say no way, but Makasini is not at the same ability as Skelton as an NRL yet in my opinion, so I would be starting with Skelton and make Makasini play well enough in NSW Cup to demand an NRL spot.
I look at our potential back up outside backs and although there is certainly some talent amongst them, there is none with any real speed to offer us a point of difference at NRL level if required.
With the Knights looking to offload Schiller, he would be a great addition possibly ahead of Tavana in our top 30 to add some genuine speed and attacking ability. I think Tavana is on a development contract for 2027 in any case ?
Adding to that we could and should be using the next month or so to find out who is a more valuable top 30 option for 2027 between Tavana and Solo Saukuru. At the moment Saukuru would be ahead based on NSW Cup form, but that could change.
Last edited:
Skelton, Saukuru and Sukkar are not contracted for 2027 at the moment.
Yeah I know, but if we were looking at it as a wish list right at this moment, you would hope we retain all 3 of them at the right price.
Would be more good business, keeping all three for the right price.
Staff online
-
Suzie-QAdministrator