Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
When we had jock and had full strength second row and centre AD running through gaps was a thing of beauty
TurnStyle
Well-known member
I like Seb Kris. I think he's a great option for the wing and also excellent depth for centre.
He's also a lot faster than I think people realise. I know in 2025 he clocked in the top 10 fastest top speeds.
Do you think so though ? There’s no spot for Saukuru potentially next year if AD/ averillo fill right centre .
You have in reserve a depth chart of Attard . Tavana Saukuru Herbert (winger I guess here*** ) and then a whole bunch of kids like the Tautua bros , Lanyon , the couple Lebanese kids from Balmain . Brookes if he stays . Oitman … also Hayze Dunster . Although he might move to edge backrow .
There’s always a back and a forward who push through and get far further up the grades than most people expect . This year you’d say it was Tavana, maybe Roberts (although I predicted he’d play early in the offseason) . Next year I think Godinet and Duncombe … as for the back I dunno ).
With older guys though you can’t drop them in between cup and Massey , they won’t cop it just to blood an 18 year old . You gotta pick and stick . So it doesn’t leave much room for development IMO if you have 2 or 3 dudes who are either trying to make first grade, or put themselves in the shop window for SL or another team .
I think the issue is a lot of clubs see nsw cup as a transit lounge , and fans want success . You watch the bears struggle next year as their players move up and down depending on what’s happening in flegg and nrl .
hank37w
Well-known member
Only position he could play here would be Fat-eight.
Betterdays22
Well-known member
Too many ifs and buts in those players you listed Lestronge. It's the same mistake we have been making for years. We need proven and consistent first graders as insurance.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
The 6 man bench has changed things though.
Someone like a Kris or Tass could be the outside back benchie while Saukuru, Makasini, Tavana, Taotua, Attard, Nassar gets reps in Cup with other experienced heads like Herbert & Dunster.
Injuries & niggles will happen so we need to have depth in the OBs and competition for spots.
I wouldn’t say no to us signing Kris if it’s on the cards. Our depth in the three quarters was exposed dramatically this season, we could certainly use some experienced depth players in those positions. Some of the guys that had to step in just weren’t up to it, but Kris would be.
Jolls
Well-known member
Spine Wars, the Doueihi Paradox, and our 2027 Roster Reality PART 1
Luai is heading to PNG via the Eels, To’a is off to Manly, and the Lauliliis and Geyer are off to the Bears; but not much is coming in. Let's look past the journo spin and break down the key elements of our squad for 2027, built on the facts and player profiles we know.
The Hookers
The signing of Brailey from Canberra changes our tactical look at dummy-half. Instead of a single point of failure, we now have a three player option that gives us a clear transition plan for the future:
The Engine Room
The Doueihi Paradox: Leader, Liability, or Left Out?
The Adam Doueihi drama exposed cultural and structural problems within the club, while highlighting a significant personality schism. A player cannot consistently self-identify as a club leader and front the media while abandoning the playing group.
It is an untenable situation for club discipline. But given his contract is through to 2029 and his lack of market value to rival clubs due to injury and attitude, it’s a marriage of convenience we may have to make work. Don’t get me wrong, AD is a good athlete, but he lacks the full complement of skills required for the positions he suits. Personally, I hope he leaves of his own accord; however, if we have to make it work, where does he actually fit?
Following his shoulder reconstruction, his options break down like this:
Luai is heading to PNG via the Eels, To’a is off to Manly, and the Lauliliis and Geyer are off to the Bears; but not much is coming in. Let's look past the journo spin and break down the key elements of our squad for 2027, built on the facts and player profiles we know.
The Hookers
The signing of Brailey from Canberra changes our tactical look at dummy-half. Instead of a single point of failure, we now have a three player option that gives us a clear transition plan for the future:
- The General: Api Koroisau remains the focal point of our spine. His elite ball-playing deceit and creativity at dummy-half are irreplaceable. He should, and will, command the majority of starting minutes.
- The Defensive Anchor: Brailey is signed through to 2028. He brings over 170 games of NRL experience and defensive steel. To me, he is our perfect number 14. He can play as an attacking lock in the middle third or relieve Api as required.
- The Future: Brailey’s presence is an excellent developmental buffer. It means the club can give Haywood a full season in Cup to get his body is ready for first-grade contact. This is what proper development looks like; and it's the road we should have taken with Makasini.
The Engine Room
- The Alex Twal Concussion: The Round 25 incident against the Roosters wasn't just a tough day at the office; it was a milestone that places Twally’s career at a genuine crossroad. This isn't an isolated incident, and the alarm bells are ringing because of his history. Under the NRL's concussion guidelines, any player with a "cluster history" (multiple Category 1 or 2 HIAs within a 24-month window) is automatically referred to an Independent Concussion Panel. I don't think Alex can simply "turn up" for Round 1, 2027. I suspect that he will have to undergo cognitive testing to get a neurological clearance. Given his high-workrate, no-preservation style, there is a chance that Alex and the club may be forced into a long-term conservation plan. I hope not as he is key to any success in 2027.
- Royce and KPP: Our mid-to-late season spiral showed how much we hurt without this pair, raising long-term questions about our middle/edge rotation. While Ethan Roberts and Vaka Aho are developing, we lack true first-grade-ready depth in key positions. Ideally, we need one more of each. Either by retaining Bunty and Tony Sukkar, or finding undervalued depth on an otherwise bare open market. Once the finals wrap up, hopefully a few options fall from the trees.
The Doueihi Paradox: Leader, Liability, or Left Out?
The Adam Doueihi drama exposed cultural and structural problems within the club, while highlighting a significant personality schism. A player cannot consistently self-identify as a club leader and front the media while abandoning the playing group.
It is an untenable situation for club discipline. But given his contract is through to 2029 and his lack of market value to rival clubs due to injury and attitude, it’s a marriage of convenience we may have to make work. Don’t get me wrong, AD is a good athlete, but he lacks the full complement of skills required for the positions he suits. Personally, I hope he leaves of his own accord; however, if we have to make it work, where does he actually fit?
Following his shoulder reconstruction, his options break down like this:
- The 13 Experiment (High-Risk Gambit): Benji’s vision to play AD at Lock was an attempt to create a modern ball-playing middle. He has the size and the ball-skills to unlock our edges from the middle. It also hides his below average kicking and short passing game. However, forcing a guy with multiple knee and shoulder reconstructions to make 35+ tackles a game is a gamble. We already lack glue in the middle corridor. Throwing a fragile AD into that heavy traffic is a risk.
- AD at 6: Partnering AD with Latu Fainu at 7 could create an imposing halves pairing on paper, but it comes with severe trade-offs. Offensively, AD at 6 acts as a direct, hard-running secondary edge. But it forces a massive gamble on game management. AD lacks half-level control, has a limited passing game, and lacks short-kicking nuance. This would dump the entire burden of organising, steering the team, and creating space squarely on Latu’s shoulders. Pairing an unstructured, high-tempo running half like Latu with another run-first player like AD risks turning our attack sideways under heavy pressure, resulting in boom-or-bust football.
- The Centre Fallback: Moving AD to centre is the best outcome for his longevity and the squad's structure. Defensively, it takes him out of the high-traffic middle. Offensively, it relies on his spatial awareness and wide cutout passing. He is excellent at standard "outside-in" attacking shapes or isolating a winger. However, he faces a harsh reality. The bottleneck out wide is intense, primarily because Benji didn't just sign depth; we paid premium dollars to lock in Jake Averillo on a 3-year deal through 2029. Averillo is a specialist right centre with elite lateral speed, defensive anticipation, and a right-foot step that will create immediate synergy with Jahream Bula on sweep plays. With Averillo locked down on the right, AD is stuck in a battle with Taylan May on the left. Realistically, he might find himself playing NSW Cup.
- Departure: Speculation was rife that he'd leave after the blowout. But with his price tag, poor attitude and injury history, no rival club is touching that contract. There is still a chance he leaves, but expect us to be paying freight if he does. The smart move is to keep AD at Concord, but Benji must transition him permanently out of the halves to preserve coaching authority and clear the pathway for Latu and Javon Andrews; our future.
Jolls
Well-known member
PART 2
The Halves Conundrum & The Schuster Wildcard
With Luai departing, our playmaking options offer contrasting styles:
The Unknowns (Squad Fillers & Question Marks)
The Development (The Powerhouse Generation)
The big moves are happening off the paddock. Morris was Benji's tactical right-hand man, but his tenure was cut short after we leaked points consistently through the middle of the season. Removing the only former head coach from the staff leaves a void in technical accountability.
Weidler has reported that "Bomber's" exit is a targeted move to rein in Benji's operational control. I don’t buy it; Shaun and Pat are doing their due diligence and are shortlisting options. Benji as head coach will still have the final say, so what has really changed?
Having said that, I expect Benji realises by now that he needs to be challenged by strong, progressive football minds if we are going to be successful (meaning Shane Flanagan types need not apply).
While I have no inside info on the process, they have cast the net wide. Given that Teo has ruled himself out, it is highly likely the club will look hard at NSW/QLD Cup specialists. Lower-grade and pathway coaches at other NRL clubs can be readily secured for a first-grade opportunity, as tier-one systems routinely grant releases to staff stepping up into senior NRL assistant roles. We should be targeting tier-one reserve grade systems like the Panthers, Dolphins, Roosters, and Storm, where defensive line-speed and decision-making are drilled into players daily. That would provide a plug-and-play blueprint to fix our defensive leaks.
What Success Looks Like
While success on paper in 2027 is finishing in the Top 8, the reality for us needs to be measured differently. A finals appearance might happen, but real success for us in 2027 means developing a coherent and stable spine, establishing genuine defensive steel, and building the squad depth required to be a long-term threat.
The cold roster reality is that we are still a transitioning team that lacks depth. We might jag a player or two over the off-season to change our fortunes, or get a relatively injury-free run. But at this stage, with our current roster, I see us finishing anywhere between 10th and 14th.
Expect plenty of explosive, high-scoring highlights from our young kids, but developmental inconsistency will likely keep us just outside of finals football for one more season unless we can recruit well during the off season.
The Halves Conundrum & The Schuster Wildcard
With Luai departing, our playmaking options offer contrasting styles:
- Jock Madden: A textbook, traditional option. He provides a standard, structural kicking game and reliable direction, but lacks x-factor.
- Latu Fainu: A high-ceiling, modern option with devastating running power and unstructured attacking instincts, but needs to work on his discipline and game management.
- Javon Andrews: A big half and a rookie wildcard. While sidelined at the tail-end of the season with a right calf strain, he represents raw potential that he demonstrated clearly in NSW Cup. He needs more time in Cup to refine his defensive reads before transitioning to first grade permanently.
- Josh Schuster: The ultimate reclamation project. Dropping an astounding 33kg (from 120kg to 97kg) to play NSW Cup proves his dedication. He offers elite ball-playing size, and Benji clearly views him as a high-reward asset who could easily push for a Top 30 spot as a utility, back-rower, or dynamic five-eighth.
- Jake Averillo at 6? Shifting Averillo to five-eighth injects speed and an explosive running threat directly into the spine, but it could disrupt team balance. Offensively, Averillo at 6 would excel at unlocking outside backs on quick shift plays, using his acceleration to slice through compressed lines. These traits would create instant, dynamic sweep combinations with Jahream Bula. However, this move would place an immense burden on the halfback. Because Averillo relies on an instinctive, eyes-up running style rather than disciplined tactical kicking, pairing him with someone like Fainu leaves us with two run-first playmakers and no structural control. To make Averillo at 6 viable, he would need to be paired with a percentage-play halfback like Jock, who could shoulder the game management, direct end-of-set kicking, and anchor the defence.
- The Short Term: We are in a decent position here with a three-into-two competition over the off-season between Madden, Latu, and Schuster. In my mind, it all depends on how Schuster progresses. From a developmental perspective, the more time Latu spends at 7, the better. However, this depends on Schuster being up to standard at 6. If he is, it allows Madden to backup the 7 spot and mentor Latu on game management, while Schuster takes the opposite role with Javon Andrews: starting 6 and mentor. Should Schuster not be up to the task, Madden must act as the primary, steady general to handle the tactical kicking and organising duties. This structural safety net would allow Latu to play his natural, high-tempo running game with maximum freedom; lowering his error rate and protecting him from playmaking pressure while he builds first-grade resilience.
- The Long-Term Strategy: The future lies in a dynamic combination of Latu and Andrews. Once Latu develops his ability to manage game tempo, the pathway for Andrews to transition into the top grade is clear. Javon provides distinct line-running traits and raw playmaking potential that, when paired with Fainu's running power, should give us an unpredictable, highly explosive 6/7 pairing capable of driving the team out of this rebuild cycle.
The Unknowns (Squad Fillers & Question Marks)
- Bunty Afoa: Pure operational depth. He'll provide stability and mid-game engine metres, but at his age, offers zero x-factor.
- Heath Mason: Utility insurance. Versatile depth across fullback, wing, and outside backs, but needs to lock down a permanent role.
- Tristan Hope: Under immense pressure. The arrival of Jayden Brailey completely pushes Hope out of first-grade utility and backup hooking calculations. He's likely holding back youth if he remains on a Cup contract.
The Development (The Powerhouse Generation)
- Vaka Aho: An emerging middle forward. He needs to work hard on his fitness and lateral movement in defence. A work in progress, but a keeper.
- Solomone Saukuru: A highly-rated youngster with great attacking skills but defensively quite frail out wide. He could be an excellent centre with time, but needs careful development with a clear focus on his defensive reads.
- Ethan Roberts: Officially graduating to the Top 30 in 2027. He showed enough this season to prove he can handle the transition. Expect to see him demanding bench minutes early and building from there.
The big moves are happening off the paddock. Morris was Benji's tactical right-hand man, but his tenure was cut short after we leaked points consistently through the middle of the season. Removing the only former head coach from the staff leaves a void in technical accountability.
Weidler has reported that "Bomber's" exit is a targeted move to rein in Benji's operational control. I don’t buy it; Shaun and Pat are doing their due diligence and are shortlisting options. Benji as head coach will still have the final say, so what has really changed?
Having said that, I expect Benji realises by now that he needs to be challenged by strong, progressive football minds if we are going to be successful (meaning Shane Flanagan types need not apply).
While I have no inside info on the process, they have cast the net wide. Given that Teo has ruled himself out, it is highly likely the club will look hard at NSW/QLD Cup specialists. Lower-grade and pathway coaches at other NRL clubs can be readily secured for a first-grade opportunity, as tier-one systems routinely grant releases to staff stepping up into senior NRL assistant roles. We should be targeting tier-one reserve grade systems like the Panthers, Dolphins, Roosters, and Storm, where defensive line-speed and decision-making are drilled into players daily. That would provide a plug-and-play blueprint to fix our defensive leaks.
What Success Looks Like
While success on paper in 2027 is finishing in the Top 8, the reality for us needs to be measured differently. A finals appearance might happen, but real success for us in 2027 means developing a coherent and stable spine, establishing genuine defensive steel, and building the squad depth required to be a long-term threat.
The cold roster reality is that we are still a transitioning team that lacks depth. We might jag a player or two over the off-season to change our fortunes, or get a relatively injury-free run. But at this stage, with our current roster, I see us finishing anywhere between 10th and 14th.
Expect plenty of explosive, high-scoring highlights from our young kids, but developmental inconsistency will likely keep us just outside of finals football for one more season unless we can recruit well during the off season.
