Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tiger_claws]

With Justin Holbrook as coach and other key signings for Newcastle, Josh Hannay assistant QLD coach going to titans, daniel atkinson going to dragons, I think we are favourites for the spoon next year. Can't think of a bottom team that is going to be content with their season like us, not have many good signings for next year and have a rookie coach. Seibold is probably the worst after Benji, but he's getting fogarty on board to replace DCE. We're getting KPP from the wooden spooners... another rough season is on the way in 2026. I can't see our completely instinctual style of play with no set plays and high risk footy working out to make it anywhere near the top 8. Bare in mind we have had Terrell May all season, what if he gets injured next year? We are done. Still have to worry about the clauses in luai and bula's contracts too

There is a bit of a rumour around that the Dragons have a few disgruntled players. Could be some instability there, Parramatta’s game revolves around lay down Sally. They need that break neck fast half to suit there style so if lay down Sally gets injured they are screwed. Holbrook will need at least a year to sort out the Knights & the Titans could definitely improve but there front office seems to make some bizarre decisions & as Tigers fans we all know how a bad front office can destroy a footy team. I think we have plenty of upside. Definitely need a couple of signings but I can see us improving again next year

 

[crazycat]

It’s already fact that we are hoping to offload as much of Bud Sullivan’s contract as possible and it’s been stated we are trying offload Jack Bird and potentially Royce Hunt.
So we are hoping Souths come to the party in regards to Bud Sullivan and I’m assuming the only possible chance of offloading either Jack Bird or Royce Hunt for their full contract values would possibly be to a UK Super League club.
Realistically we cannot afford to offload Hunt unless we manage to replace him with someone better.
I assume our current t pause on any more recruitment for 2026 is pending on at least 2 of the above players being moved on.
Without adding two more quality players I cannot see how our current roster as it stands for 2026 is top 8 quality.
Plenty of our fans disagree and believe we have a top 8 quality roster as it stands for 2026, time will tell.

We are improving

We have needed, no NEEDED another first class forward and KPP will add something to our squad. Ofcourse new recruit, so don't know if he will go well or average??

We aren't loosing many people. TDS is the only loss.

Stability + 1 forward. That may move us to a solid 10, possibly 9th.


One thing I have noticed is that we have changed a little to recruitment snipers. We made a desperate plea to Adam Reynolds, otherwise we haven't done as much desperate reaching. This is good, we won't "recruit" our way into the top 8.

We have to coach, train and perform our way there. Only recruiting for clear gaps.

 

[lathami]

It’s hard to see 1.3 million dollars of value in Dylan Brown, but he’s no lesser of a 5/8 than our own Jerome Luai, so if we are questioning Newcastle we should also be questioning ourselves.

The issue isn’t the cash amount it’s the 10 year contract.

 

[Bellend]

We are improving

We have needed, no NEEDED another first class forward and KPP will add something to our squad. Ofcourse new recruit, so don't know if he will go well or average??

We aren't loosing many people. TDS is the only loss.

Stability + 1 forward. That may move us to a solid 10, possibly 9th.


One thing I have noticed is that we have changed a little to recruitment snipers. We made a desperate plea to Adam Reynolds, otherwise we haven't done as much desperate reaching. This is good, we won't "recruit" our way into the top 8.

We have to coach, train and perform our way there. Only recruiting for clear gaps.

Crazy

I think the Reynolds was all smoke and mirrors with the desired effect of the Broncos re signing him was Richo's plan all along.

 

[weststigerman]

If Justin Holbrook was the best coaching option on the market, Benji doesn’t seem so bad.

 

[rugbygoated]

I respect most of your posts but this is ridiculous

We are close to if not in the 8 next year

More cohesion

No sooky Galvin bs

I think we will surprise the comp next year

I disagree. Just as we seemed to turn a corner vs Bulldogs late in the season. We lose 3 in a row including two bad losses vs cowboys and titans. Plenty of scoreless halves, choking big leads, massive losing streaks, shooting ourselves in the foot, still somehow can't win 3 in a row. We still don't have a consistent regular halfback in the NRL. AD has had a breakout season and is in a contract year. He will be good for us again but we can't rely on him solely. Luai can never step up whether he is at 6 or 7. Latu is still very green and has a lot of improvement but needs an experienced 7 to learn from. I think we finish bottom 4

 

[rugbygoated]

Eels have not improved at all
Knights are miles behind us
Manly are the most inconsistent team in the comp
Titans can attack every couple of weeks and that’s it
Dragons team isn’t getting any younger
Cowboys have no new signings coming in
Rabbits even without injuries are not a better team then us

This post has to be ragebait

Eels will be top 8 next year. Ryles is a good coach. Iongi is a great player and will only get better. Lomax, Fox, Moses in the backline is a lot of points. Good rotation of hookers in Ryley smith and da silva. Decent forwards.

Knights have signed trey mooney, sandon smith and dylan brown. Holbrook too. They will not be near top 8 but they will improve with new combinations.

Titans will improve a lot with hannay as coach and foran in coaching staff. Brimson at centre and Kini at fullback is promising.

Manly could get the spoon imo... Fogarty is a decent player but in a bad team he doesn't shine. Loss of DCE and turbo bros potentially on the outer is another distraction

Dragons with senior Flanno will never win the spoon. They are ugly to watch but they have been in plenty of close games this year losing by a small margin and Atkinson will help them win those games next year.

Rabbitohs won't get spoon with wayne. This year was the year if at all. Murray back will be huge.

Cowboys have terrible defence and todd payten will be first coach sacked next year I think but there's no way they're finishing bottom 2 with dearden there.

Who does that leave? Tigers. We have ticked the box. 3 spoons and then a 4 spot jump. Coach and team seem happy to 'improve' and this acceptance of a low standard is not a good attitude going into the off season. Kai Pearce-Paul being our only notable signing is a worry. Jock Madden will be a solid backup but that's all. Mav Geyer might surprise a few, but ultimately his ceiling isn't very high. It is good to build some depth, but we need a lot more class. I'm not hopeful of a good season next year

 

[rugbygoated]

I think those criticizing Luai are off their heads. I'm all in.

(and he didn't once totally break open a key Origin game that he was picked for lol...)

Worst value for money buy of the season by a mile

 

[Milky]

Aren’t Braith and Benji good mates?

Perhaps a little conversation about Pezet?

6. Luai
7. Pezet

14. L. Fainu

Fainu playing a lock role off the bench

 

[Oldman]

I think we should be very wary of signing spine players from good systems. Don't forget that Luai looked like he could be a game managing 7 with a kicking game at Penrith last year. At the moment Pezet is untested and throwing big money at him is a risk we can't really take when Luai and Latu are doing fine. It's our forwards that are the problem

Agreement we have Luai,Latu and Doueihi as our halves,
A dominant middle forward would be my first option.

 

[gregjm87]

I disagree. Just as we seemed to turn a corner vs Bulldogs late in the season. We lose 3 in a row including two bad losses vs cowboys and titans. Plenty of scoreless halves, choking big leads, massive losing streaks, shooting ourselves in the foot, still somehow can't win 3 in a row. We still don't have a consistent regular halfback in the NRL. AD has had a breakout season and is in a contract year. He will be good for us again but we can't rely on him solely. Luai can never step up whether he is at 6 or 7. Latu is still very green and has a lot of improvement but needs an experienced 7 to learn from. I think we finish bottom 4

I think we are one of the more difficult to predict teams for whether or not we improve next year.
You made some fair points in that our squad is essentially the same plus KPP and the side was very fortunate with injuries this year. So it's entirely possible if we are sitting middle of the pack or worse as far as injuries go we will regress next year. Particularly as I agree there is plenty of reasons to expect more from some of the other lowly ranked teams.
However there is a lot of potential for natural development in individuals across our best 17, Bula, Skelton, Taylan May, all 3 Fainus, Pole. I'm less confident but it is possible that we see more consistency from Toa plus who knows if Doueihi can turn himself into a capable 13 (if that is the plan). Enough individual improve will lead to a significant team improvement. I've more faith in some of the above than others, and I'm certainly not predicting we will suddenly look like top 8 material but next year is not without hope.

 

[gregjm87]

Eels will be top 8 next year. Ryles is a good coach. Iongi is a great player and will only get better. Lomax, Fox, Moses in the backline is a lot of points. Good rotation of hookers in Ryley smith and da silva. Decent forwards.

Knights have signed trey mooney, sandon smith and dylan brown. Holbrook too. They will not be near top 8 but they will improve with new combinations.

Titans will improve a lot with hannay as coach and foran in coaching staff. Brimson at centre and Kini at fullback is promising.

Manly could get the spoon imo... Fogarty is a decent player but in a bad team he doesn't shine. Loss of DCE and turbo bros potentially on the outer is another distraction

Dragons with senior Flanno will never win the spoon. They are ugly to watch but they have been in plenty of close games this year losing by a small margin and Atkinson will help them win those games next year.

Rabbitohs won't get spoon with wayne. This year was the year if at all. Murray back will be huge.

Cowboys have terrible defence and todd payten will be first coach sacked next year I think but there's no way they're finishing bottom 2 with dearden there.

Who does that leave? Tigers. We have ticked the box. 3 spoons and then a 4 spot jump. Coach and team seem happy to 'improve' and this acceptance of a low standard is not a good attitude going into the off season. Kai Pearce-Paul being our only notable signing is a worry. Jock Madden will be a solid backup but that's all. Mav Geyer might surprise a few, but ultimately his ceiling isn't very high. It is good to build some depth, but we need a lot more class. I'm not hopeful of a good season next year

I think Dragons are really building something.
2 X Couchman, Egan, Stewart, Halangahu are all going to have very good careers and is the making of a very strong pack in the future. Theres a few more highly regarded young forwards following them but it remains to be seen if they kick on should they reach first grade.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

If Justin Holbrook was the best coaching option on the market, Benji doesn’t seem so bad.

Unfortunately, we shouldn’t be in the position we are with Benji, considering a certain ex coach of ours and the position he’s in atm. And for us to luck into him after Cleary doing what he did was very fortunate. We could have easily ended up with a rookie. But Sheens decided to go into business for himself and set this club back even further than it was after Cleary took off.

 

[crazycat]

Only place he’s getting $1M per is back with ARU. He’s potentially an elite winger, which at best gets him to $650k, a possible centre option which maybe gets him to $750k, but who’s gunna sign him as an untried fullback?

Say you have the next GI or Israel Folau. You see them score 1-2 tries indivdually per game on the wing.

Do you:
push them to Fullback or Center where they score less?
or
keep them where they are?

Nofo was horrible for us. Because he let through more tries then he scored. But if you had a Nofu that could defend like Turuva, he would be worth 650k.

Center/wings are strike weapons. some don't even need you to give them the ball, they just snatch it.

 

[Magpies1969]

Is there an official list of players being farewelled now season is over?

 

[supercoach]

Games are not won on paper but when you stack our roster up against the other 16 I don’t see a top eight finish. I think we will be in the pack fighting for a finals spot but lack the grunt to ice it. Of course nobody can predict injuries and bad luck, so anything can happen, but I think we could finish anywhere between 17th and 10th. If Richo rattles a tree or two and two quality players drop than it’s a different story.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Is there an official list of players being farewelled now season is over?

It will be at the Grand Final luncheon before the GF

 

[Telltails]

There is always room for growth with most squads and I think without the distractions that impacted a percentage of the year we have scope to continue to improve. A couple of quality additions certainly would not go astray.
Injuries and depth is always the key to a successful/ unsuccessful season and the teams there at the end of the season usually have been able to utilise their good depth players, and have the majority of their best healthy.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I don't believe Jock Madden is coming here to play reserve grade as a back up half back.

I like that attitude of self-belief. Push for a spot and push the squad to improve.

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

I think Dragons are really building something.
2 X Couchman, Egan, Stewart, Halangahu are all going to have very good careers and is the making of a very strong pack in the future. Theres a few more highly regarded young forwards following them but it remains to be seen if they kick on should they reach first grade.

I was going to say the same. Old mate's extolling a utility, Grant Atkinson, like's the second coming of Andrew Johns, but it's the Dragons wealth of junior talent which will see them rise from 2027, if not 2026.