Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Vicious said:
As for To’a hopefully we are looking for an upgrade, someone like Jake Averillo who could be tempted to return hone to Sydney would be nice.
Click to expand...

Why will he tempted to join us ? His current team could be pushing for a premiership next season ….is he that homesick ?

Do we need a new middle or are you happy with what we have?
 
Tom Shines said:
I would play him at 13…

I gotta question too…Do you think we will make the 8 next season ?
Click to expand...
With a couple of minor adjustments such as the ones I’ve noted above, yes we will definitely make the top 8 in 2026.
If we do not make a couple of minor, but vital improvements, than we will struggle once again.
 
Vicious said:
With a couple of minor adjustments such as the ones I’ve noted above, yes we will definitely make the top 8 in 2026.
If we do not make a couple of minor, but vital improvements, than we will struggle once again.
Click to expand...

You make a lot of requests for “minor changes “…what’s the latest ? I’m assuming more moves to improve our depth …that won’t help much next season
 
Tom Shines said:
Why will he tempted to join us ? His current team could be pushing for a premiership next season ….is he that homesick ?

Do we need a new middle or are you happy with what we have?
Click to expand...
I think we need one more good quality middle to add pressure for top 17 positions and give us the option to drop under performing players.
Upgrading Jack Bird with someone like Talakai would be massive.
He is a player who is highly aggressive, very versatile and has shown he can use his high speed, aggressive ball running through the middle to really lift his team when they are struggling for yardage.
Sounds like exactly what we need at times.
 
Vicious said:
I think we need one more good quality middle to add pressure for top 17 positions and give us the option to drop under performing players.
Upgrading Jack Bird with someone like Talakai would be massive.
He is a player who is highly aggressive, very versatile and has shown he can use
Click to expand...

I put a move like this as a pipe dream … it relies on two things happening which are not even on anyone’s drawing board at the moment ..Bird leaving and Talakai wanting to come here

They haven’t done a hell of a lot really to improve the starting 17 to date for next season, other than KPP for Seyfarth and let’s include Taylan as well… two moves that improve the team…but I don’t think it’s enough to get us in the 8
 
Tom Shines said:
I would play him at 13…

I gotta question too…Do you think we will make the 8 next season ?
Click to expand...
IMO No.

We’ve had a fairly good run with injuries this year and we may not be so lucky next year.

If we get the right starting prop and AD/Latu spend a lot of time in the pre season in their 2026 positions and Benji gets an experienced assistant I think we can.

Lots of ifs there.
 
Tom Shines said:
I put a move like this as a pipe dream … it relies on two things happening which are not even on anyone’s drawing board at the moment ..Bird leaving and Talakai wanting to come here

They haven’t done a hell of a lot really to improve the starting 17 to date for next season, other than KPP for Seyfarth and let’s include Taylan as well… two moves that improve the team…but I don’t think it’s enough to get us in the 8
Click to expand...
I agree with you that what we currently have is not quite enough and we need 2 to 3 more genuine NRL quality recruits before we can be confident we have genuine top 8 team.

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. ???
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jerome Liai
7. Adam Doueihi
8. Terrell May
9. Api Korisau
10. Sione Fainu
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Alex Twal

14. Latu Fainu
15 ???
16. Fonua Pole
17. ???

** Heamasi Makasini looks likely to make plenty of improvement between now and round 1 of the 2026 season, therefore it may just be a case of slotting him into our vacant centre position. The question mark is will he be 💯 NRL ready by round 1 2026 and if so, who will capably play as our right centre considering both May and Makasini seem to heavily favour playing on the left ?
It coud also be an option to start Makasini’s NRL career off on the wing which could mean he takes Skekton’s wing spot ?
** Seyfarth would be in contention to challenge for a spot on our bench form permitting.
** Filling the question marks with better quality than what we currently have will be crucial to our success in 2026.
** I don’t love the idea of Twal at 13, however he stiffens our defence and helps with the yardage, therefore I think we need him to start games at 13 and allow Latu Fainu to come on and replace him at 13 after approximately 25mins. Whether that means Latu plays 13 or plays 7 with Doueihi moving to 13 is up for debate. I think Latu has shown he is a very capable 13 who creates a big positive impact when playing that position, but if we decide he plays 7 and Doueihi shares the 13 role with Twal, that could also work, but I’m not sold on that idea.
 
Last edited:
tigahhh said:
i don’t think we need to upgrade to’a benji just has to try and find how to get consistency from him
Click to expand...
Pressure for his spot will be a refreshing change for us all.
He goes alright, but there’s a big gap between best and worst games, but he’s been our best centre, so we’ve had to put up with it. But next year we will have options. He will need to play well consistently or else.
 
next year

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. Makasini / Toa
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jerome Luai
7. Jock Madden
8. Terrell May
9. Api Korisau
10. Sione Fainu
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. AD

14. Latu Fainu
15 Twal
16. Fonua Pole
17. Seyfarth
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
next year

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. Makasini / Toa
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jerome Luai
7. Jock Madden
8. Terrell May
9. Api Korisau
10. Sione Fainu
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. AD

14. Latu Fainu
15 Twal
16. Fonua Pole
17. Seyfarth
Click to expand...
Not bad.

Would like to not see Seyfarth in first grade (or enough depth so hes not there).

Hunt, Bird, Toa i would also be keen to see leave.
 
Vicious said:
I agree with you that what we currently have is not quite enough and we need 2 to 3 more genuine NRL quality recruits before we can be confident we have genuine top 8 team.

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. ???
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jerome Liai
7. Adam Doueihi
8. Terrell May
9. Api Korisau
10. Sione Fainu
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Alex Twal

14. Latu Fainu
15 ???
16. Fonua Pole
17. ???

** Heamasi Makasini looks likely to make plenty of improvement between now and round 1 of the 2026 season, therefore it may just be a case of slotting him into our vacant centre position. The question mark is will he be 💯 NRL ready by round 1 2026 and if so, who will capably play as our right centre considering both May and Makasini seem to heavily favour playing on the left ?
It coud also be an option to start Makasini’s NRL career off on the wing which could mean he takes Skekton’s wing spot ?
** Seyfarth would be in contention to challenge for a spot on our bench form permitting.
** Filling the question marks with better quality than what we currently have will be crucial to our success in 2026.
** I don’t love the idea of Twal at 13, however he stiffens our defence and helps with the yardage, therefore I think we need him to start games at 13 and allow Latu Fainu to come on and replace him at 13 after approximately 25mins. Whether that means Latu plays 13 or plays 7 with Doueihi moving to 13 is up for debate. I think Latu has shown he is a very capable 13 who creates a big positive impact when playing that position, but if we decide he plays 7 and Doueihi shares the 13 role with Twal, that could also work, but I’m not sold on that idea.
Click to expand...

Skelton and Toa were good early this season …and are both under contract next year …I assume that both have been affected by injury this season and the focus should be over the offseason getting them back into the form they demonstrated early …Skelton was improved last week, and scored a good finishing wingers try …

I would be starting them in their respective positions Week 1 2026 the way things are at the moment ..If Makasini is looking good over the offseason than that could change my mind ..

I’m not going to give up on Latu just yet at 7…his ceiling is high … but it seems we aren’t agreeing on that one ..

I would put AD as 14 week 1… he will be my first cab off the rank to be back up 6,7 and 13 so he will start plenty of games over the course of the season

I want to see them still buy a starting 13 at the every least ..it’s a massive need …that would push Twal back to the bench ..looks like Seyfarth is still on the best 17 bench the way things stand at the moment …
 
IronFist said:
I agree with @Vicious. Our needs are a right centre, and a starting prop. I just don't agree with Averillo and Talakai.
Click to expand...
I'm with you guys on those needs, however we have no 'official' idea on how many spots we have remaining.

We can only assume Jock Madden is top 30 as he wouldn't have signed so early just for a T&T + upgrade. And Mav Geyer for 1 season wouldn't have signed in August for next season if it was just a T&T (so top 30 for him).

Then Javon Andrews & Ethan Roberts, we just don't know officially yet if both are top 30 or Dev with an upgrade in '27.

Then the Bud situation has to be formalised, the potential for 1 or 2 surprise early releases & many of us on here think Broederlow could be under the gun.

But what we do know is that the Benji/Richo/Gallant team has been good thus far in recruiting needs (KPP as a right edge, Madden as a game managing goal kicking depth half, Geyer as a solid matured depth backrower, Hope as a permanent backup hooker, Javon as a exciting young half etc etc).

So common sense tells us that an experienced 1st grade-ready depth centre or winger & tallish, strong experienced prop will be on their radar.

If one of To'a or May (assuming May is extended) go down, we will have AD plus the potential of a Makasini or Laulilii, but I think someone like Naden at the right price or the ilk of Hiroti (goal kicker too) could be a target. Maybe Mapapalangi is highly thought of but he doesn't have much NRL experience to bring.

Just not sure on that big prop unless Richo is saving $$$ for one to fall out of the tree.
 
Whilst it's a long way from now, I'd be very surprised if Latu at 7 and Doueihi at 13 isn't how we begin next season, regardless of how AD is slotting in currently.

It's the long term plan with Latu, another pre season together, a squad that will be better again than this year and Benji has already shown he's willing to pick him as his starting 7 at full, or near-full strength.
 
Kelce68 said:
Whilst it's a long way from now, I'd be very surprised if Latu at 7 and Doueihi at 13 isn't how we begin next season, regardless of how AD is slotting in currently.

It's the long term plan with Latu, another pre season together, a squad that will be better again than this year and Benji has already shown he's willing to pick him as his starting 7 at full, or near-full strength.
Click to expand...

I agree …

Any chance you think that Latu could fill in at 9 to give Api a 20 min rest next year ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 735 (members: 13, guests: 722)
Back
Top