it was a circle jerk
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
mtd#2
Well-known member
Unless its a tigers player. Then 50/50s are forward.
Now do Penrith.
No, I'm saying we need to start finding and developing a consistent pipeline of junior talent. We aren't doing that at the moment, so we have to sign established players to put a competitive team on the park. But we're never going to become consistently competitive by trying to build rosters out of players who have been developed elsewhere.
king_sirro
Well-known member
If Ivan cant get Blaize to tackle i dont see how Benji will
king_sirro
Well-known member
100% he is an edge backrower
weststigerman
Well-known member
We don’t need to sign a 5/8. We have 3 at the club already, let’s see how they go.
Almost every other position needs strengthening before 6.
Almost every other position needs strengthening before 6.
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
yeoh would be great and push twal up to front row
Part 1
Our likely starting 17 for 2027 at full strength;
1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Averillo
4. Taylan May
5. Makasini
6. Doueihi
7. Latu Fainu
8. Terrell May
9. Korisau
10. Pole
11. Pearce-Paul
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Twal
14. Brailey
15. Sione Fainu
16. Seyfarth
17. Hunt
** Is that strong enough to be a top 8 team and beat the best teams in the NRL?
** I would say there is a chance that is a top 8 team at full strength, but there is still a big question mark surrounding some of these players being at or near their best for anywhere close to a full season and that is if they stay mainly injury free.
** So realistically our only hope is building strong enough depth so barely any of the above listed players are irreplaceable if not playing up to standard or injured.
** Being this close to the 2027 season there is obviously not much available in way of potential signings and doing basic guesstimates of each players salary factoring in likely upgrades to some players we re-signed this season and others such as Samuela Fainu who we are hoping to re-sign, there is no way possible we have enough space in our 2027 Salary Cap to sign anyone on big money (Above 500k) even if someone of interest suddenly becomes available.
** So our only chance is looking to make a few shrewd signings out of who is still available including some players supposedly being allowed to leave despite being contracted by their current clubs.
Our likely starting 17 for 2027 at full strength;
1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Averillo
4. Taylan May
5. Makasini
6. Doueihi
7. Latu Fainu
8. Terrell May
9. Korisau
10. Pole
11. Pearce-Paul
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Twal
14. Brailey
15. Sione Fainu
16. Seyfarth
17. Hunt
** Is that strong enough to be a top 8 team and beat the best teams in the NRL?
** I would say there is a chance that is a top 8 team at full strength, but there is still a big question mark surrounding some of these players being at or near their best for anywhere close to a full season and that is if they stay mainly injury free.
** So realistically our only hope is building strong enough depth so barely any of the above listed players are irreplaceable if not playing up to standard or injured.
** Being this close to the 2027 season there is obviously not much available in way of potential signings and doing basic guesstimates of each players salary factoring in likely upgrades to some players we re-signed this season and others such as Samuela Fainu who we are hoping to re-sign, there is no way possible we have enough space in our 2027 Salary Cap to sign anyone on big money (Above 500k) even if someone of interest suddenly becomes available.
** So our only chance is looking to make a few shrewd signings out of who is still available including some players supposedly being allowed to leave despite being contracted by their current clubs.
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Part 2
Players we should at least consider trying to recruit for 2027 and reason why;
Joash Papali’i - Rumoured to be unwanted despite being contracted to the Eels for 2027.
I am guessing he would only be on a very minimal contract value, but the question is would he offer any more than our own Jack Attard who we have big hopes for? I am unsure if Attard is still on a Development Deal or top 30 in 2027, but if he is still on a Development Deal I would take a chance on Joash Papali’i as a player who has already played a couple of very good NRL games and although very small, has shown he is definitely tough enough and has better footwork and x-factor than anyone currently in our squad. He would be a great back up option at fullback and is also capable of providing x-factor or impact at 5/8 if required.
James Schiller - I have mentioned him a lot as he is supposedly free to get out of his Newcastle Knights contract early.
He is a player with plenty of height, strength, speed, athleticism and ability who has not even scratched the surface on what he is capable of at NRL level.
Like most signings he would be a risk as he has had an injury riddled season and I get the feeling he is a bit of a head case who coaches struggle to get the best out of on a regular basis, but at his best is a superior right sided attacking centre or winger to either Averillo or Turuva.
I’m guessing his contract value is no more than 200-250k so would not be a high cost risk.
Sebastian Kris - Another player who is supposedly free to find a new club for 2027. His contract value is likely more expensive, I am guessing somewhere around 400k.
I know some good judges of player talent such as @king_sirro dont believe he is any better than Starford To’a who we just offloaded.
I disagree and think Sebastian Kris is bigger, stronger, faster, more aggressive and an all round much better proven try scoring NRL quality centre or winger than what To’a is.
He is another one who seems to do his coaches head in from lack of consistency, but I strongly believe we need some very good attacking weapons who are superior to the likes of Patrick Herbert and Tino Tavana to apply genuine pressure to our NRL starters and be good enough to command a regular starting position if they play at or near their best on a regular basis.
Toby Rudolph - Yet another player who is an enigma, a much better player than what he shows on a regular basis and another who has had an injury riddled season in 2026, so would be a risk at what I’m guessing would be an asking price of around 400k.
We clearly need an extra middle ideally with a bit of size, experience and mongrel, Rudolph has all those qualities and would command a spot in our top 17 when at or anywhere near his best.
- IF we signed the ageing Tyson Frizell and we could guarantee he would play at the same standard he has for the Knights this season, he would probably be just as good an option as what Rudolph would be for the 2027 season. I am not confident Frizell can be at the same level in 2027 at 35 years of age, but he does keep himself very fit, so you never know it might be possible.
Players we should at least consider trying to recruit for 2027 and reason why;
Joash Papali’i - Rumoured to be unwanted despite being contracted to the Eels for 2027.
I am guessing he would only be on a very minimal contract value, but the question is would he offer any more than our own Jack Attard who we have big hopes for? I am unsure if Attard is still on a Development Deal or top 30 in 2027, but if he is still on a Development Deal I would take a chance on Joash Papali’i as a player who has already played a couple of very good NRL games and although very small, has shown he is definitely tough enough and has better footwork and x-factor than anyone currently in our squad. He would be a great back up option at fullback and is also capable of providing x-factor or impact at 5/8 if required.
James Schiller - I have mentioned him a lot as he is supposedly free to get out of his Newcastle Knights contract early.
He is a player with plenty of height, strength, speed, athleticism and ability who has not even scratched the surface on what he is capable of at NRL level.
Like most signings he would be a risk as he has had an injury riddled season and I get the feeling he is a bit of a head case who coaches struggle to get the best out of on a regular basis, but at his best is a superior right sided attacking centre or winger to either Averillo or Turuva.
I’m guessing his contract value is no more than 200-250k so would not be a high cost risk.
Sebastian Kris - Another player who is supposedly free to find a new club for 2027. His contract value is likely more expensive, I am guessing somewhere around 400k.
I know some good judges of player talent such as @king_sirro dont believe he is any better than Starford To’a who we just offloaded.
I disagree and think Sebastian Kris is bigger, stronger, faster, more aggressive and an all round much better proven try scoring NRL quality centre or winger than what To’a is.
He is another one who seems to do his coaches head in from lack of consistency, but I strongly believe we need some very good attacking weapons who are superior to the likes of Patrick Herbert and Tino Tavana to apply genuine pressure to our NRL starters and be good enough to command a regular starting position if they play at or near their best on a regular basis.
Toby Rudolph - Yet another player who is an enigma, a much better player than what he shows on a regular basis and another who has had an injury riddled season in 2026, so would be a risk at what I’m guessing would be an asking price of around 400k.
We clearly need an extra middle ideally with a bit of size, experience and mongrel, Rudolph has all those qualities and would command a spot in our top 17 when at or anywhere near his best.
- IF we signed the ageing Tyson Frizell and we could guarantee he would play at the same standard he has for the Knights this season, he would probably be just as good an option as what Rudolph would be for the 2027 season. I am not confident Frizell can be at the same level in 2027 at 35 years of age, but he does keep himself very fit, so you never know it might be possible.
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That’s a fair team , but as we found out this year injuries killed us , we need two more mongrel backrowers and a better centre to cover
pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
If the club has money to spend and with the stronger clubs wanting to clear players well-past their prime, obviously WTs will be linked to them. Astute or smart are not words to be associated with signing players well-past their prime.
Yes our edge back rower depth is still a concern.
I have previously stated I believe both Sukkar should we retain him and Roberts have made big strides forward in 2026 and should be better again in 2027, so we could have the answer with the natural improvement of these 2 players.
I have previously stated I believe Roberts has a higher ceiling than either Samuela Fainu or KPP and stand by that, but it is dependent on his work ethic and desire and I don’t believe he has shown enough in those areas so far.
I do believe we need a point of difference, someone with a bit more speed off the mark as an edge back rower option.
Without spending big money, there does not appear to be much available, but I do like the idea of Tommy Talau in that role if he was willing to make the positional switch,
The other smokey who was mentioned by another of our very good judges of player talent @BlackWhiteGold earlier this week is current Qld Cup player Tane Kiriona. I had a look at his recent highlights and he appears to be an emerging tackle busting, athletic edge back rower who could be good enough to get an NRL opportunity sometime soon.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
It’s a reasonable team ..on the edge of the Top 8,,,but the problems will be like this year , when they have inevitable injuries and try to force other players to play out of position like Turuva and Sione , or promote inexperienced depth in the absence of experienced depth ..
💯 and I think most of not all of our supporters all agree with that.
My Part 2 post mentions mid to low cost potential player signings who will not excite many, but in my opinion would help a lot with better depth to ensure we don’t lose much if our likely top 17 players are out of form or injured.
As smart clubs such as Melbourne Storm have shown over the years and more recently The Warriors, the mid to low cost depth players are extremely important to a successful season.
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Tom Shines
Well-known member
Yeah … the question is inevitably what funds remain to try to upgrade the depth .. if there is money still to be spent, they are leaving things late for 2027
Andruws to have a big offseason with Peter Moussa in the gym , the dietician , and the wrestling coach .
He will go past AD . I’m not saying he will be there round 1 , as I genuinely think AD if he’s still here will get first crack , but eventually AD will be in the 14 or left right out .
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Yes ..I don’t see AD as the 6 throughout the season … he is a good option for the bench actually
user118245
Well-known member
He’s had played centres and fullback before but he’s shit, especially for the coin he’d want
Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
Very true. We need to build from within. Stay on course with that mindset.
Home grown comradery built over a few seasons outweighs mercenaries.
That's why we need the best-dedicated talent scouts at identifying and nurturing those talents.
And body types and speed need to be at the forefront, not just big at an early age.
Poach, if necessary, at an early age to fill gaps where needed.
That is the pathway to build that close nit group and encourage players to stay.
