Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Whatson]

With Naden, Staines, Lobb, Faataape, and Feledy gone, backs depth has gone down the shitter. And by depth, I mean players who are backs in the NRL36 roster. Apart from Bula, Turuva, Skelton, To'a, & Tiny May, there is really only Luke Laulilii, Makasini, & Mason. Really slim. Doueihi and Bird aren't fullbacks or outside backs in 2026 so not including them.

The roster is still in a sad state when it is heavily weighted to forwards, and it's agreed by many that the club is short a prop or two. There are a stack of middles in the roster!

Also, there are now a tonne of wide-forwards in the list behind Pearce-Paul and Sam Fainu, and there's still a hole if either are missing. Maybe Geyer is that back up. Sukkar, Roberts, Saukuru, Godinet, and maybe Broederlow are the rest. Two of them need to dominate reserve grade to show they deserve an NRL gig, and not just move up because Benji doesn't have any other options. The latter has basically been the MO over the past 5 - 10 years!

It's actually going to be interesting to see how the club fits all the forwards in the 36 into the top two grades teams, and then have a few holes in the backs.

 

[Whatson]

anyone watch t mays vlog ? talked abt gaining a ton of weight… trying to lose it all on a 5 day fast no food.

good to see all the boys playing oz tag together in the off season though.

Whyte is a beast. What a fine man he seems too. Roosters recruiting on point once again.

 

[Whatson]

Id be willing to keep nadan on minimum if he'd accept. From a few interviews, sounds like he's a good mentor for the kids coming through. He's decent depth.

Ex-NRL players make more than NRL minimum playing park footy. No way he'd sign minimum just to play reserve grade.

 

[user118245]

Whyte is a beast. What a fine man he seems too. Roosters recruiting on point once again.

Haven’t watched it yet but think he means this video not the podcast

 

[Buttface]

Remember he is off contract Nov 1 and only on a modest contract with us $230k I think. If this new mob throw much much bigger $$$ at him, may be hard to keep him especially with Makasini coming through.

I hope he stays, just saying.

He’s worth every cent of that but he ain’t flawless, I wouldn’t be going much north of another 50k. I love yelling Helta Skelta but I don’t wanna ruin our cap over it.
I hope he stays on a reasonable contract.

 

[2041]

Any reasonable applicant would have been carrying out due diligence relating to retention prior to, or at the very least, since officially submitting their interest. They would not have been considered if they didn't address it at the interview stage.

I like the idea that the whole hiring process has been conducted with extensive interviews and the candidate considering what's right for their career, then on day one they turn up to training and say HOLY SHIT IS THAT THE PLAYERS YOU HAVE I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE BRISBANE BRONCOS and promptly walk out.

 

[markgr64]

Remember he is off contract Nov 1 and only on a modest contract with us $230k I think. If this new mob throw much much bigger $$$ at him, may be hard to keep him especially with Makasini coming through.

I hope he stays, just saying.

I’d like to see how he goes off the bench in the middle. We don’t really need a Talakai we have one already

 

[Spartan117]

With Naden, Staines, Lobb, Faataape, and Feledy gone, backs depth has gone down the shitter.

Who of the above would you have kept ????

Please factor in their salaries.

Without available spots or $$$, we cant move forward.

 

[crazycat]

With Naden, Staines, Lobb, Faataape, and Feledy gone, backs depth has gone down the shitter. And by depth, I mean players who are backs in the NRL36 roster. Apart from Bula, Turuva, Skelton, To'a, & Tiny May, there is really only Luke Laulilii, Makasini, & Mason. Really slim. Doueihi and Bird aren't fullbacks or outside backs in 2026 so not including them.

The roster is still in a sad state when it is heavily weighted to forwards, and it's agreed by many that the club is short a prop or two. There are a stack of middles in the roster!

Also, there are now a tonne of wide-forwards in the list behind Pearce-Paul and Sam Fainu, and there's still a hole if either are missing. Maybe Geyer is that back up. Sukkar, Roberts, Saukuru, Godinet, and maybe Broederlow are the rest. Two of them need to dominate reserve grade to show they deserve an NRL gig, and not just move up because Benji doesn't have any other options. The latter has basically been the MO over the past 5 - 10 years!

It's actually going to be interesting to see how the club fits all the forwards in the 36 into the top two grades teams, and then have a few holes in the backs.

Back depth really doesn't matter that much.
So:
Turuva, Tyrone, Bula, Toa, Skelton .. decent first grade outing.

Laulilii, Makasini, Mason, and Greg Bird... as cover.

What are we worried about. Yes the reserves can't really defend but neither could the ones we have parted ways with. Less Depth=More money and better first grade players.

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Back depth really doesn't matter that much.
So:
Turuva, Tyrone, Bula, Toa, Skelton .. decent first grade outing.

Laulilii, Makasini, Mason, and Greg Bird... as cover.

What are we worried about. Yes the reserves can't really defend but neither could the ones we have parted ways with. Less Depth=More money and better first grade players.

How do people still not know the names of the May brothers we have? lol

 

[happy_tiger]

Back depth really doesn't matter that much.
So:
Turuva, Tyrone, Bula, Toa, Skelton .. decent first grade outing.

Laulilii, Makasini, Mason, and Greg Bird... as cover.

What are we worried about. Yes the reserves can't really defend but neither could the ones we have parted ways with. Less Depth=More money and better first grade players.

Greg Bird ...don't you mean Larry Bird

 

[tigahhh]

Who of the above would you have kept ????

Please factor in their salaries.

Without available spots or $$$, we cant move forward.

exactly, we should be happy they are clearing the decks.

 

[Demps]

How do people still not know the names of the May brothers we have? lol

Greg Bird 😂

 

[Milky]

Time the NRL gets rid of the salary cap and introduces a points system, our game is gona fall apart

 

[Rusty]

Time the NRL gets rid of the salary cap and introduces a points system, our game is gona fall apart

POINT SYSTEM??

 

[gregjm87]

POINT SYSTEM??

It's a delusional idea that instead of having a salary cap each player should be attributed a points value. Each team then is allowed to make up there roster up to a certain point value.
It's believed it will create a more even comp but the biggest flaw no-one can put forth any fair way for the point value attributed to each player.

 

[innsaneink]

Greg Bird ...don't you mean Larry Bird

 

[Wiz]

Time the NRL gets rid of the salary cap and introduces a points system, our game is gona fall apart

Until ratings start to drop and revenue falls as a result they won’t do it. With a larger number of kids in NSW and QLD playing AFL and soccer nowadays, you might find this becomes a problem for the NRL in about ten years time when these kids won’t be watching rugby league and some of the rusted ons have passed.