2026 recruitment & retention

[Bomb Voyage]

Out of curiosity, in what field is your source? A lot of people on here know someone within the club, but some specific ones seem to have connections within the broader NRL.

Come on man

 

[ManlyTragic]

Hethrington is on his way to us in 26.

Is that you Danny weidler?

 

[Phobia]

Come on man

Man, with some of the people on this place, you can't blame me...

Like some of them saying Seibold is a certainty for the sack, or that DCE hates all of us supporters as a certainty, verified by their perfect instincts, it's like panning for gold in Manly Creek.

That signing does fit the "robust, versatile" profile yet another leaker described on here...

 

[Ohgeez]

PANTHER CUB COULD BE ON THE MOVE

Former schoolboys star Harrison Hassett made his first grade debut with the Panthers earlier this year but he could be on the move as he prepares to test himself on the open market along with Mavrik Geyer, the son of Penrith legend Mark Geyer.

Hassett and Geyer are both off contract at the end of the year. Hassett opted to stay at Penrith two years ago despite significant interest from the Dolphins at the time.

He was rewarded with a taste of first grade earlier this year and it is believed the Panthers are keen to keep him. However, Sport Confidential understands that he and Geyer have appeared on the radar of rival clubs in recent weeks.

 

[Disco]

Hassett is one I've mentioned a few times.

One Id really like to provide edge competition

 

[Kalvin]

Ok I'm going to throw it out there... is Josh Pappali worth getting for 1 last season?! Raiders won't be re signing.... could have a BK type of impact potentially?

 

[eaglebuzz]

Ok I'm going to throw it out there... is Josh Pappali worth getting for 1 last season?! Raiders won't be re signing.... could have a BK type of impact potentially?

I like the idea but I think Taukeiaho is already filling that role for us. Better to spend the money on younger players. With the DCE / Fogarty swap and a pending downgrade of the Trbojevic contracts we are well placed to do some recruiting. Need to be smart about it.

 

[Sheikheagle]

I like the idea but I think Taukeiaho is already filling that role for us. Better to spend the money on younger players. With the DCE / Fogarty swap and a pending downgrade of the Trbojevic contracts we are well placed to do some recruiting. Need to be smart about it.

Yeah agree and there is no way he will play against the Raiders. Super League is beckoning.

 

[nightster]

If we wanted an alpha male leader of the pack for one season Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is off contract from SL at the end of the year - he could finish where he started and hook up with old mate TKO - actually I don't really follow SL but here is a list of all players coming off contract at the end of the season - some dudes listed that I thought had retired years ago there may be a likely prop amongst them.

Every Super League player off-contract in 2025 featuring big names at Leeds Rhinos, Hull KR and Leigh Leopards - Serious About Rugby League

We might have only just started the 2025 season but here is a list of every Super League player off-contract at the end of the season. With plenty of recent transfer activity, including player movements for this season and some deals done for 2026 already as well as contract extensions at...

www.seriousaboutrl.com

 

[mave]

We've already got Dads army.

Hopefully Seibs is looking at props born in this century, at a minimum.

 

[Jay Eagle]

I like the idea but I think Taukeiaho is already filling that role for us. Better to spend the money on younger players. With the DCE / Fogarty swap and a pending downgrade of the Trbojevic contracts we are well placed to do some recruiting. Need to be smart about it.

I think we can all see this is pretty much the plan going forward and may have been the reason Mestrov wasn't overly concerned about the DCE situation.

We don't sign DCE on he's $1.1million contract ( we couldn't anyway and let's face it he was never taking a major haircut to stay)
Land Fogarty for $650k

Direct replacement and a saving of $450k

The Turbos will have to take a lower contract to remain at the club, and on current form over the last 2 or 3 seasons Jake would only be looking at $450k ( that's more than half his current contract)
Tom given he's injury record alone and now with his form slump due to his confidence i don't think will be offered any more than 750k
I think both Trbojevic will be happy with that and both will only sign 2 year extensions.
The club wouldn't want to give them more than 2 years on current form but will do so because of who they are and Tom will want to prove himself over the 2 years and back himself for a Bigger contract after that.

That's another $950k per season saving.

The club has already started moving players on (Arthur, Jazz) and brought in a couple of young forwards in Bryan from the Knights and Lavakieaho from the Roosters both are very young and mobile front rowers and would be on no more than $200k each.

If that is what I believe the figures and situation to be we should have around $500k in our cap for 2026 and possibly (depending on upgrades or who we buy for 2026)
$1mill in 2027, and that would buy us a marquee prop/lock which is what we really need.

I think missing out on Da Silva was a blow as at 650k he will be a bargain in 2 to 3 years.

We have a good crop of juniors coming through earmarked for 2 or 3 years and along with Lehi we could have a solid spine for 2027 and beyond..
just need the forwards to take us forward!

 

[eaglebuzz]

I think we can all see this is pretty much the plan going forward and may have been the reason Mestrov wasn't overly concerned about the DCE situation.

We don't sign DCE on he's $1.1million contract
Land Fogarty for $650k

Direct replacement and a saving of $450k

The Turbos will have to take a lower contract to remain at the club, and on current form over the last 2 or 3 seasons Jake would only be looking at $450k
Tom given he's injury record alone and now with his form slump due to his confidence in don't think will be offered any more than 750k
I think both Trbojevic will be happy with that and both will only sign 2 year extensions.

That's another $950k per season saving.

The club has already started moving players on (Arthur, Jazz) and brought in a couple of young forwards in Bryan from the Knights and Lavakieaho from the Roosters both are very young and mobile front rowers and would be on no more than $200k each.

If that is what I believe the figures and situation to be we should have around $1mill in our cap for 2026 and that would buy us a marquee prop/lock which is what we really need.

I think missing out on Da Silva was a blow as at 650k he will be a bargain in 2 to 3 years.

We have a good crop of juniors coming through for 2 or 3 years and along with Lehi we could have a solid spine for 2027 and beyond..
just need the forwards to take us forward!

Agree with all of that.

I am hopeful that Simpkin and Zaidas will see us through to Ashton Large's debut. Once he is in First Grade I don't think we will be all that upset about missing out on TDS.

Parra will probably be glad they have him in 2 years time but are probably overpaying a little for next year.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

I dont think the sharks will let him go as he is bonding very well with all the Cronulla boys

Conjoined at the abdominal/buttocks region.

 

[Eagle 1]

If we wanted an alpha male leader of the pack for one season Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is off contract from SL at the end of the year - he could finish where he started and hook up with old mate TKO - actually I don't really follow SL but here is a list of all players coming off contract at the end of the season - some dudes listed that I thought had retired years ago there may be a likely prop amongst them.

Every Super League player off-contract in 2025 featuring big names at Leeds Rhinos, Hull KR and Leigh Leopards - Serious About Rugby League

We might have only just started the 2025 season but here is a list of every Super League player off-contract at the end of the season. With plenty of recent transfer activity, including player movements for this season and some deals done for 2026 already as well as contract extensions at...

www.seriousaboutrl.com

Saw one old fav..Legi Sao, or Soggy Sao.

 

[Andrew..]

I think we can all see this is pretty much the plan going forward and may have been the reason Mestrov wasn't overly concerned about the DCE situation.

We don't sign DCE on he's $1.1million contract ( we couldn't anyway and let's face it he was never taking a major haircut to stay)
Land Fogarty for $650k

Direct replacement and a saving of $450k

The Turbos will have to take a lower contract to remain at the club, and on current form over the last 2 or 3 seasons Jake would only be looking at $450k ( that's more than half his current contract)
Tom given he's injury record alone and now with his form slump due to his confidence i don't think will be offered any more than 750k
I think both Trbojevic will be happy with that and both will only sign 2 year extensions.
The club wouldn't want to give them more than 2 years on current form but will do so because of who they are and Tom will want to prove himself over the 2 years and back himself for a Bigger contract after that.

That's another $950k per season saving.

The club has already started moving players on (Arthur, Jazz) and brought in a couple of young forwards in Bryan from the Knights and Lavakieaho from the Roosters both are very young and mobile front rowers and would be on no more than $200k each.

If that is what I believe the figures and situation to be we should have around $500k in our cap for 2026 and possibly (depending on upgrades or who we buy for 2026)
$1mill in 2027, and that would buy us a marquee prop/lock which is what we really need.

I think missing out on Da Silva was a blow as at 650k he will be a bargain in 2 to 3 years.

We have a good crop of juniors coming through earmarked for 2 or 3 years and along with Lehi we could have a solid spine for 2027 and beyond..
just need the forwards to take us forward!

I thought Aloiai's retirement would free up at least another $500k for 26, and as others have mentioned it wouldn't surprise me if Croker walks away for health reasons and he'd probably be on $300k.

 

[The Wheel]

Thought Kobe Hetherington went all right tonight - would be a good pick up

 

[eaglebuzz]

Thought Kobe Hetherington went all right tonight - would be a good pick up

I was thinking the same watching it, he was energetic and impactful. If we do land him that's a great acquisition.

 

[The Insomniac]

I was thinking the same watching it, he was energetic and impactful. If we do land him that's a great acquisition.

It would be a miracle. The Hetherington we are talking to is the Jack version from Newcastle not the Kobe version from Brisbane.

 

[Ohgeez]

It would be a miracle. The Hetherington we are talking to is the Jack version from Newcastle not the Kobe version from Brisbane.

No mate, If you read back through the thread it’s rumoured we signed Kobe not Jack.

 

[Andyvb88]

I think Kobe and reed mahoney would be fantastic. Jake to prop for first 30 with paseka, bully and a young prop. Simpkin and reed to share hooker role.