Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[TheEnz]

If we don’t exercise the option in Bula’s contract by Nov 1, he goes on the market. Is Richo confident that no other club will offer him his current salary, leading him to take up the player option at a lower amount or perhaps sign a new extended contract? While I don’t think he’s currently worth $900k, we’re a much better team with him in it, and he hasn’t yet reached his ceiling, which is likely above $900k. I’m glad it’s not my decision to make.

 

[tigahhh]

If we don’t exercise the option in Bula’s contract by Nov 1, he goes on the market. Is Richo confident that no other club will offer him his current salary, leading him to take up the player option at a lower amount or perhaps sign a new extended contract? While I don’t think he’s currently worth $900k, we’re a much better team with him in it, and he hasn’t yet reached his ceiling, which is likely above $900k. I’m glad it’s not my decision to make.

3 year deal at $800k id be comfortable with. Moses is the concern as always

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I think I would prefer a free roster spot over both Brown and Bird, but if we are chosing between the two for 2026 it would be Brown.

Me too. I think of it this way. If AD is being transitioned into our #13 for 2026, then Brown provides a good rotation for him and a point-of-difference (leg speed, line speed, aggression & impact). We lack in all of those 4 areas so would be a better fit for us than Bird IMHO.

 

[jrtiger]

happy to see the swap eventuate but unsure if Brown even makes the bench. definitely helps us with depth thru the middle but really curious to see what role he plays. is it 6-8 games of grade, is it more than that? time will tell I spose.

 

[Vicious]

3 year deal at $800k id be comfortable with. Moses is the concern as always

No chance he re-signs with us for 800k and you are dead right in saying that is his maximum value.
Like many before him he via Isaac will likely try and pilfer 1 million per season out of us.

 

[tigahhh]

if bula does leave they better have a plan for it. our issue has not only been player retention but also having no contingency plan for when they do leave

 

[Telltails]

Easier to retain than replace at a club like ours - and replacing some of equal ability in a spine position is rarely successful. They need to be creative with incentives if that's what it takes to retain Bula. You have to find a way to keep the ones you want to reach a level of success.

 

[Wiz]

You could take up Bula’s option and have him on contract for 2026 and 2027. That would give you another 12 months to monitor the development of not only Bula, but also Logan Brookes, and any other youngsters who may be a suitable replacement. Or a free agent. The time would give you options.

 

[crazycat]

If we don’t exercise the option in Bula’s contract by Nov 1, he goes on the market. Is Richo confident that no other club will offer him his current salary, leading him to take up the player option at a lower amount or perhaps sign a new extended contract? While I don’t think he’s currently worth $900k, we’re a much better team with him in it, and he hasn’t yet reached his ceiling, which is likely above $900k. I’m glad it’s not my decision to make.

Lets do pros vs cons:
Pro:
crosses the line and can be dynamic.
Developing
Team player.

Cons:
Moses player
Bula is good, but not as good as the top Fullbacks. i.e Teddy, Paps, Dylan Edwards, Weeks, etc.
A little expensive.

Keep going with him. Kalyn Ponga, Turbo etc are pretty broken.
We can probably train up another fullback. We have Brett Hodgson on staff. Bula though shows a dynamic and playing style that is greater then 50% of fullbacks. He isn't top, he will command 1m salary to get him to stay and that's how the market is...

I would only squeeze if we could line up a replacement. Scarily I could see Turbo + Brothers as a possibility.

 

[Tucker]

Diamond in the rough?

The bloke is 28 and described season 2025 as his best yet….all in NSW Cup.
Only played 1 game of first grade.
ABSOLUTELY NOT what we are looking for.
Hard pass.

 

[Aceshigh]

happy to see the swap eventuate but unsure if Brown even makes the bench. definitely helps us with depth thru the middle but really curious to see what role he plays. is it 6-8 games of grade, is it more than that? time will tell I spose.

Maybe he could at the expense of Seyfart or Sukkar

 

[Red88_Tiger]

We’ve upgraded our back row stocks. I can see merit in bird brown swap as this year I thought we were 1 bench front rower short

Re Bula I’d expect at a minimum he will be taken up on the 1 year at 900k purely to create time for a replacement or at a minimum can be used as a bargaining chip for whoever signs him for 27 after November 1.
Wouldn’t mind betting that Perth is dangling carrots.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

happy to see the swap eventuate but unsure if Brown even makes the bench. definitely helps us with depth thru the middle but really curious to see what role he plays. is it 6-8 games of grade, is it more than that? time will tell I spose.

6-8 games this year I think we needed an extra front row bench back up

 

[Fainu Brothers]

Brown sauce in to be the impact off the bench. Either pick him or Hunt whoever is playing the best footy. And like someone said he is a smaller front rower he didn’t really break into NRL until he was 21/22.
He can show kit how its done! Get it done richo

 

[hsvjones]

Re Bula
I would say to him and agent here is an upgraded and extended deal OR we just take up the club option and look at this in 12 months. This way his agent would want him taking the new extended deal, so he gets paid.

Richo just needs to make this happen before Nov 1 as I think the dogs will be on the prowl for and maybe his wife

 

[jrtiger]

Maybe he could at the expense of Seyfart or Sukkar

I dunno if those two will even get a sniff.

8. May
9. Koroisau
10. Twal
11. Sa. Fainu
12. Pearce-Paul
13. Doueihi

14. ?
15. Pole
16. Hunt
17. Si. Fainu

Depth: Brown, Geyer, Seyfarth, Sukkar, Taateo

 

[tigahhh]

I dunno if those two will even get a sniff.

8. May
9. Koroisau
10. Twal
11. Sa. Fainu
12. Pearce-Paul
13. Doueihi

14. ?
15. Pole
16. Hunt
17. Si. Fainu

Depth: Brown, Geyer, Seyfarth, Sukkar, Taateo

pretty decent depth when you put it like that

 

[Vicious]

I dunno if those two will even get a sniff.

8. May
9. Koroisau
10. Twal
11. Sa. Fainu
12. Pearce-Paul
13. Doueihi

14. ?
15. Pole
16. Hunt
17. Si. Fainu

Depth: Brown, Geyer, Seyfarth, Sukkar, Taateo

With Latu Fainu supposedly missing the opening rounds of 2026, Doueihi will highly likely start the season at 7 and even if he does transition to 13 it cannot be as a starting 13 if we want to be successful.
If he starts off the bench and comes on after 20-25mins it might work, but I really don’t see him working as a 13, Latu is more likely to work as a 13.
A bench consisting of Fonua Pole, Sione Fainu and Royce Hunt would provide strong ball carrying ability, but not a lot of line speed or defensive work ethic.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Jack Bird for Nathan Brown potential swap is in the works, the deal is still being discussed with only a small difference in contract sizes but same length

F yeah, do it quickly before they wake up to themselves and change their minds.

 

[Vicious]

You could take up Bula’s option and have him on contract for 2026 and 2027. That would give you another 12 months to monitor the development of not only Bula, but also Logan Brookes, and any other youngsters who may be a suitable replacement. Or a free agent. The time would give you options.

That sounds good in theory, but what if his manager comes to us or already has come to us requesting an immediate upgrade for 2026 onwards and threatening to request a release if we do not oblige ?
It is highly likely he will request an upgrade for 2026 and request 1 million per season from 2027 onwards even though the current contract Terms & Conditions state we can activate an extension of 900k for 2027 onwards.
There is no way the Bulldogs are paying Bula 900k or 1 million per season and teaming him up with an emerging spine of Galvin, Woods and Hayward.