Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tiger Tarl]

Finally got some crumbs re. Doueihi's contract talks. So Dragon's offer is still at $400k for 2 seasons (not $500k as some reported). Our Offer is now at $350k for 2 seasons. If Doueihi extends with us, then he doesn't have to pay Moses commission. If he goes with Dragons then he pays Moses 8% commission, which is $32k, ostensibly making his salary $368k per year at the Dragons. For the sake of $18k, I think he stays. Probably could get a third party to cover that anyway as a local junior... My only concern is if he gets offended by Richo refusing to budge on the price.

One more tidbit... APPARENTLY (still not 100% sold on their intel) Richo has cloistered $1M from next year's cap for a possible new signing. I did the maths (albeit using the Zero Tackle numbers and generous estimations of some player wages) and even including Sullivan, Doueihi and May on the books it brings us to around $10.5M spend for next year. And the NRL Salary Cap for 2026 is set at $11.5M. So it does add up. But who knows what dark arts (ie. frontloading, etc.) Richo may be doing. And it doesn't mean we have someone lined up, just that there's $1M ready if a big fish 'falls out of a tree.'

 

[liltiger]

Wonder what's going to happen with Hunt, if he pushes his way back onto the bench perminatly or if he never sees first grade again with us.

 

[SeanT]

When you consider what is available and how it’s likely we haven’t paid overs for any of them, they aren’t bad signings mostly for depth & cap management, apart from KPP who is a genuine first grader. Let’s hope for a couple more established first graders and some news around who we are moving on (hopefully Bird and some others). I reckon Richo will be keeping some coin up his sleeve to see who falls out of the tree like Terrell May did last off season.

100% go for Koloamatangi in November. Perfect lock. Plays big minutes. Makes 30 tackles and runs 150m a game. If Souths have a bad end to the year you never know.

 

[Westoz]

4 spots left now in the top 30

 

[Demps]

My memory ain't what it was but I think his old man played out of WA. Maybe that's the plan for 2027 and beyond.

He did.

Perhaps ey.

 

[Demps]

100% go for Koloamatangi in November. Perfect lock. Plays big minutes. Makes 30 tackles and runs 150m a game. If Souths have a bad end to the year you never know.

Keon is playing prop and said he doesn't want to play prop.

If he can get what he wants elsewhere, we should make the offer.

 

[CWWTF]

One more tidbit... APPARENTLY (still not 100% sold on their intel) Richo has cloistered $1M from next year's cap for a possible new signing. I did the maths (albeit using the Zero Tackle numbers and generous estimations of some player wages) and even including Sullivan, Doueihi and May on the books it brings us to around $10.5M spend for next year. And the NRL Salary Cap for 2026 is set at $11.5M. So it does add up. But who knows what dark arts (ie. frontloading, etc.) Richo may be doing. And it doesn't mean we have someone lined up, just that there's $1M ready if a big fish 'falls out of a tree.'

And who knows who else will be moved on. Hopefully some additional cap freed up for the dark arts you speak of or for the big fish!

 

[stephen]

My memory ain't what it was but I think his old man played out of WA. Maybe that's the plan for 2027 and beyond.

Bit of history repeating, maybe?
Might also be looking at a return to Panthers in future.

 

[bbobb]

I watched Mavrik closely when he played Wests in KOE. Had a weird feeling he could be on our radar - as an attacking threat he was quite difficult to handle, always made metres against us and defence was solid. I am thinking this may be a bit better than what peeps are expecting.

 

[mtd#2]

100% go for Koloamatangi in November. Perfect lock. Plays big minutes. Makes 30 tackles and runs 150m a game. If Souths have a bad end to the year you never know.

Imagine that. Terrell and Keon. Both origin players who won't get picked because they play for the tigers 😂

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Guess that means Hasslett is off the table then.

 

[rihannafan1]

I watched Mavrik closely when he played Wests in KOE. Had a weird feeling he could be on our radar - as an attacking threat he was quite difficult to handle, always made metres against us and defence was solid. I am thinking this may be a bit better than what peeps are expecting.

He's a solid signing. Coming into his best years and Penrith have paid for most of his development. He's completely average but for depth it's the sort of player you hope to get and honestly, the sort of player we usually let go.

 

[TheEnz]

Agree.

Interesting its only one year.

I don't hate this, could be a handy first grade back up and fulltime KOE player. I'm guessing Jerome gave Benji the lowdown on him. We also would not have broken the bank, as I'm guessing it's a minimum contract and its one year because he probably wants to follow in his fathers footsteps and hook up with the Perth team in 2027.

 

[Jolls]

Mav was on my watch list as a potential earlier in the year. Pretty sure someone had "int" at the time that he was not a chance as he was about to be tied up in the Penrith system. He has plenty of up side and will push for a spot in FG ahead of Seyfarth/Sukkar.

I would not be surprised to see him on the pine come round 1.

It will all depend on his application over the off season.

 

[Jolls]

Guess that means Hasslett is off the table then.

He was my pick out of that system. You just don't know with Richo as it is all done in silence.

 

[tigahhh]

Guess that means Hasslett is off the table then.

hassett is after a big deal few clubs want him

 

[tigahhh]

Samuela Fainu has spoken publicly after criticism of his 'khawd' try celebration, saying it wasn’t meant to offend.

🗯️ “ "The hand gesture I made on Sunday was never intended to hurt or cause harm," Fainu said.
"It's something I've always shared as lighthearted banter with my friends and even my own brothers.
"We've done it in a playful manner for years even over a card game, it's just a part of how we joke around with each other”
"I've got a lot of Arabic friends as I've grown up with them and have embraced their culture, some of my closest mates, even my agent is Lebanese, I love them."

📎 [via Daily Telegraph]

 

[gregjm87]

Guess that means Hasslett is off the table then.

Hopefully we can put this rumour, and the forum's weird fascination with him, to an end.
The bloke belongs in reserve grade.

 

[Snidest 0]

Kenty was saying on his podcast that the rlpa could agree to one in a bargaining agreement but the n.r.l would have to give a pretty big lump sum payment to them for the players for them to agree with it. What he also said was that the genesis for the rlpa came from an ex player in the 70s I think he said and at the rlpas very core it was set up to be totally against any form of draft system it's in the very DNA of the rlpa so can't see it ever happening.

Any draft is a restraint of trade - and the Terry Hill common law precedent cannot be re-written without consent of EVERY player who aspires to play NRL!

The NBA/NFL/MLB drafts are only viable because of the College ranks serving as their independent pathway system - and players nominating for the draft at their preferred development stages!

Any rugby league draft only serves as a disincentive for NRL clubs invest into player development & local pathways - and the entire development system would be blown up!

The VFL/AFL draft is a symptom of a bottom-feeding nothing sport run by a front office with absolute power - and no other options for kids who want to professionally play that sack of garbage!

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Mav was on my watch list as a potential earlier in the year. Pretty sure someone had "int" at the time that he was not a chance as he was about to be tied up in the Penrith system. He has plenty of up side and will push for a spot in FG ahead of Seyfarth/Sukkar.

I would not be surprised to see him on the pine come round 1.

It will all depend on his application over the off season.

He will be our Billy Burns then for next season. Solid experienced backrower who is probably too good for NSW Cup & solid depth for NRL, nothing more.

Anyone who has watched him closely know what his effort areas are like especially kick-chase as that is important for a backrower in today's game and something Benji values highly?