Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Not sure if we can afford both.
If we could only have one of them, I’d take Takakai as he adds plenty of leg speed and power ball running as well as his versatility to play as a middle forward, an edge forward or as a centre if required.
hammertime
Well-known member
I'm pretty sure Talakai is good mates with Royce
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
John Morris was a big part of his progress/development when Talakai went to the Sharks.
ShanghaiCharlie
Active member
Geez that would solve so many issues.
Doubbi to 13.
Find bottom dollar veteran serviceable hooker.
That is a team going to the finals
upthetigers
Well-known member
With the way the season ended we need a good news story I hope we get Talakai adds some experience to this young squad
user118245
Well-known member
Sione and Samuela commit to Fiji for the upcoming Pacific Championship while Latu is out with shoulder reco
Below is a potential squad list for 2026 that I believe could take us from unlikely to make the top 8 to become likely to make the top 8.
- Assuming we offload Bud Sullivan and Jack Bird.
- Obviously Latu Fainu will not be playing NSW Cup, but it’s rumoured he will miss the early rounds of 2026 due to his shoulder reconstruction, therefore I have named him outside our top 17 until he returns.
- I would consider Ray Stone as our tough tackling 9/13 rotation ahead of Tyson Smoothy, however Smoothy is a more natural and accomplished 9 and I strongly believe we cannot continue playing Api for 80mins each game.
- I acknowledge it’s highly unlikely we will offload Starford To’a after only recently re-signing him, but I honestly believe having a player such as Jesse Arthurs as our starting right centre with Corey Allan as his back up would make us much stronger and I don’t think Arthurs would cost anymore than what we are paying To’a.
- I also acknowledge we are still one high quality middle forward short, but I cannot see us being in a position to do anything about it for 2026 unless we offload Royce Hunt.
- Adding a depth middle such as Fletcher Baker should help keep the players in our top 17 honest.
There have been quite a few other good suggestions on this forum as a potential middle depth forward recruit, so plenty of options other than Baker.
- We also lack a genuine ball playing 13, not much out there, but potentially fitting someone like Adam Elliott into our top 30 could help for a season or two.
- Signing Mavrik Geyer when we still have Tony Sukkar and Sol Saukuru as top 30 contracted players was a strange decision to say the least, particularly when we have some very promising edge back rowers in Phoenix Godinet, Ethan Roberts and Byron Laupepa within our squad.
We do not need all 3 of Geyer, Sukkar and Saukuru, we only really need one of them.
1. Jahream Bula / Heath Mason
2. Jeral Skelton / Max Taotua
3. Jesse Arthurs / Corey Allan
4. Taylan May / Heamasi Makasini
5. Sunia Turuva / Luke Laulilli
6. Jerome Luai / Latu Fainu
7. Adam Doueihi / Jock Madden
8. Terrell May / Fletcher Baker
9. Tyson Smoothy / Tristan Hope
10. Sione Fainu / Kit Laulilli
11. Kai Pearce-Paul / Mavrik Geyer
12. Samuela Fainu / Tony Sukkar
13. Alex Twal / Alex Seyfarth
14. Api Korisau / Charlie Murray (Dev)
15. Siosifa Talakai / Sol Saukuru
16. Fonua Pole / Jaxson Rahme
17. Royce Hunt / Peter Taateo
NSW Cup Squad Extras;
Max Liles
Tino Tavana
Josese Lanyon
Lachlan Broederlow (Dev)
Dev Players still eligible for Flegg in 2026;
Javon Andrews
Ethan Roberts
Phoenix Godinet
Christian Taupau-Moors
Jared Haywood
** Logan Deininger
** Mitch Taotua
** Byron Laupepa
- Assuming we offload Bud Sullivan and Jack Bird.
- Obviously Latu Fainu will not be playing NSW Cup, but it’s rumoured he will miss the early rounds of 2026 due to his shoulder reconstruction, therefore I have named him outside our top 17 until he returns.
- I would consider Ray Stone as our tough tackling 9/13 rotation ahead of Tyson Smoothy, however Smoothy is a more natural and accomplished 9 and I strongly believe we cannot continue playing Api for 80mins each game.
- I acknowledge it’s highly unlikely we will offload Starford To’a after only recently re-signing him, but I honestly believe having a player such as Jesse Arthurs as our starting right centre with Corey Allan as his back up would make us much stronger and I don’t think Arthurs would cost anymore than what we are paying To’a.
- I also acknowledge we are still one high quality middle forward short, but I cannot see us being in a position to do anything about it for 2026 unless we offload Royce Hunt.
- Adding a depth middle such as Fletcher Baker should help keep the players in our top 17 honest.
There have been quite a few other good suggestions on this forum as a potential middle depth forward recruit, so plenty of options other than Baker.
- We also lack a genuine ball playing 13, not much out there, but potentially fitting someone like Adam Elliott into our top 30 could help for a season or two.
- Signing Mavrik Geyer when we still have Tony Sukkar and Sol Saukuru as top 30 contracted players was a strange decision to say the least, particularly when we have some very promising edge back rowers in Phoenix Godinet, Ethan Roberts and Byron Laupepa within our squad.
We do not need all 3 of Geyer, Sukkar and Saukuru, we only really need one of them.
1. Jahream Bula / Heath Mason
2. Jeral Skelton / Max Taotua
3. Jesse Arthurs / Corey Allan
4. Taylan May / Heamasi Makasini
5. Sunia Turuva / Luke Laulilli
6. Jerome Luai / Latu Fainu
7. Adam Doueihi / Jock Madden
8. Terrell May / Fletcher Baker
9. Tyson Smoothy / Tristan Hope
10. Sione Fainu / Kit Laulilli
11. Kai Pearce-Paul / Mavrik Geyer
12. Samuela Fainu / Tony Sukkar
13. Alex Twal / Alex Seyfarth
14. Api Korisau / Charlie Murray (Dev)
15. Siosifa Talakai / Sol Saukuru
16. Fonua Pole / Jaxson Rahme
17. Royce Hunt / Peter Taateo
NSW Cup Squad Extras;
Max Liles
Tino Tavana
Josese Lanyon
Lachlan Broederlow (Dev)
Dev Players still eligible for Flegg in 2026;
Javon Andrews
Ethan Roberts
Phoenix Godinet
Christian Taupau-Moors
Jared Haywood
** Logan Deininger
** Mitch Taotua
** Byron Laupepa
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upthetigers
Well-known member
Yes to Jesse Arthurs no to Adam Elliot
weststigers
Well-known member
This might be controversial, but perhaps for the biggest games in the calendar where we want the best players playing, the suspensions are tripled or quadrupled in exchange for the right to play in origin or grand finals. The club can decide whether it's worth it.
magpies forever
Well-known member
I'm wondering whether we should give Latu another mainly 12 months in State Cup to give his body a bit more time to mature. He can fill in as needed in the 17 but gee, he sure is injury prone at the moment.
bigsiro
Well-known member
Could sneak into the 8, but still unlikely with that squad IMO.
1. It is devoid of raw speed.
2. Douehi played well at halfback, but he isn’t consistent, controlling, nor good enough kicking game at 7 to make us a proper contender. Hope I eat my words.
3. Need at least one more gun forward.
4. Depth/cover options are not first grade material.
5. Api starts.
Arthurs would be good, as would Talakai. But where are you getting this from?
Just an educated guess as I don’t think Arthurs will stay at Broncos while not being part of their top 17.
He is definitely an NRL quality player and has proven it over a number of years.
As I stated, it’s not likely we would bring him in and offload To’a who we only recently re-signed, but if we are talking quality of player, I think it’s quite clear Arthurs is the winner.
There was an article before the finals stating the Sharks were having salary cap issues and advised Talakai and Hamlin-Uele were both free to explore other options even though they are currently contracted to the Sharks for 2026.
bigsiro
Well-known member
I’d love those two.
Though Richo said just the other day that there won’t be more signings.
Which is either a disappointing truth or a clever fib.
Canadian Club
Well-known member
To'a runs rings around Arthars.. Even Madge prefers Karipani and Mariner over Arthars.
I don’t agree and believe Arthurs is taller, stronger, faster, runs the ball much harder, much better in the air, a better defender and much better in making yardage out of the danger zone.
But it’s only an opinion, let’s hope To’a proves Wests Tigers, yourself and quite a few others correct and demonstrates his quality for us consistently in 2026.
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Canadian Club
Well-known member
Strange take considering Arthars was dropped for his poor defensive reads and missed tackles. To'a isn't a great defender by any means, but you really must not have been watching Arthars much to believe he is a better defender.
They played a similar amount of games this year and To'a had 20+ more tackle breaks, more try involvements (despite Arthars being a winger) and essentially averaged the same amount of running metres which involves kick return metres for Arthars. To'a also averaged more post contact metres. All while Arthars was playing for a top 4 team and To'a a non-finals team.
Its a bad pattern our fans have, they hate on our players more than they deserve and rate some opposition players more than they deserve. Then we wonder why our players look good once they leave and players that people thought looked good at other clubs all of a sudden look bad at ours.
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BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Great analysis and suggestions @Vicious
I just can't see many more incomings & just have a feeling that Jack Bird will see out his contract with us.
I certainly can see Siosifa Talakai coming in & being a lock rotation with AD (to provide a burst of impact) plus add versatility to the bench for backrow, middle & centre.
Have been an advocate for Corey Allan too as a depth outside back but would prefer Albert Hopoate for his upside (although risky). Have a feeling this spot may be given to Izaak Tui'tupou though.
Tyson Smoothy would be awesome but not sure he'd get quit on his ESL commitment before even starting it. Can see Soni Luke being given a pre-season T&T to put a case forward.
Fletcher Baker or Jack Hetherington as that depth prop with experience.
Would love Curran , he would be my 1st choice.
Ray stone is as tough as rock and is a worker
Elliot is a much better player than people give him credit for , would be a good 13
hammertime
Well-known member
I wouldn't understand the play for Arthurs. Makasini needs to have a pathway open. The way to ease him in is through covering injuries. We maybe need some depth there, but not replacing our starters.
We're currently risking doueihi at #13 next year and we dont have a good number #14 option. I dont want to see mason in firsts. If we can land a quality #13 and move doueihi to a super sub, that would be my play.
We're currently risking doueihi at #13 next year and we dont have a good number #14 option. I dont want to see mason in firsts. If we can land a quality #13 and move doueihi to a super sub, that would be my play.
