2026 halves plan
- Thread starter Disco
- Start date
frank stokes
I discriminate indiscriminately
4 tries and 6 try assists in 26 games at NRL level… tackles at about 85%…
Jake is not a bad player but he has won 11 of the 26 NRL games he has played in and I am not convinced he is the answer… he may be the interim solution (2026) though…
Based on all of the above, I feel we may be in for a few tough/mediocre seasons ahead unfortunately (just in the short term while we transition). To me Arthur ain't the long term answer, there are no decent halves on the market and the young blokes coming through are not guaranteed to be the solution either
The crazy thing is that's a higher winning % than DCE's without Turbo
frank stokes
I discriminate indiscriminately
There is actually whispers that Luai will hit the open market in November next year…
(He won’t be $750K though 😉)
frank stokes
I discriminate indiscriminately
Is it though?
Don’t forget that 3 of those games Turbo misses each year are during origin (when Chez is not playing)
Have faith round 18 2024 is an example of how the team played without DCE, 44-6 win against the knights with Humphreys on debut and playing 7, with Turbo in the team we need a 7 that has a good long and short kicking game and can defend.
10 years is a rather large sample size, so it would be thereabouts. (Don't forget Arthur too has had to play without Turbo)
I agree not a long-term solution but could just be right to get us through 2026, and watch the development of Large, Walsh, and Dowell hoping one of them shows promise like Galvin.
Also remembering Arthur is 22, DCE debuted at 22... Arthur can still improve.
God
Bencher
If Tommy playes 5/8 we'd need to play Arthur at lock it'd give us more ball playing and kicking options, JakeT moving into the front row rotation at his age is logical anyway. Then we'd have the cash to a good replacement for Ben in the second row and / or a quality prop
It'd buy a year to develop Walsh anyway.
It'd buy a year to develop Walsh anyway.
frank stokes
I discriminate indiscriminately
Yep, agree… I do not think Jake is a bad player but he will need to improve if we are gonna remain in finals contention…
If only this ****e had been revealed before we let Humphries go to the vermin on $150K.
Just get us through 2026, don't be silly with other half back options and pay overs be patient with the talent we have and if we are unsure go to the market for 2027
frank stokes
I discriminate indiscriminately
Luai may be available then* (if we are saving our pennies)… has shown that he is a leader with a good work ethic and is elite-half level…
(*If we are not confident by that stage that Walsh / Large is the answer)
Stewbojevic
Bencher
I agree we need to cop a down year next to invest in the future. We can’t panic buy another half and not improve our forwards just to then lose one of our youngsters.
frank stokes
I discriminate indiscriminately
Not sure it would have mattered… Wayne was offering an opportunity for 2025 (granted it was at hooker at that stage)If only this ****e had been revealed before we let Humphries go to the vermin on $150K.
fLIP
UFO Hunter
I’d certainly hope Daly communicated this all with the club before watching the handful of prospective replacements depart the club over the last couple of years.
It wouldn’t surprise me though, cherry does seem like it’s number one first and everyone else a very distant second thought.
It wouldn’t surprise me though, cherry does seem like it’s number one first and everyone else a very distant second thought.
If Walsh is not ready and needs some time to develop and we are not sold on Jake Arthur a bit of a left-field option who is not contracted next year according to NRL.com - Brad Schneider who is playing NSW Cup for Panthers. Has been in a high performing system for a couple of years now stuck behind Cleary, Cole and Talagi in the halves, has a good kicking game, accurate goalkicker.
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| Team | P | W | D | L | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raiders | 24 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 148 | 44 |
| 2 | Storm | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 212 | 40 |
| 3 | Bulldogs | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 120 | 38 |
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| 6 | Warriors | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 34 |
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