2026 recruitment & retention

[Waz13]

The fact that the only 2 players that aren’t flashy and consistently give 100% performances along with having extremely good defence in Garrick and Talau aren’t re-signed is a worry especially when we are signing cast offs from canterbury in their position. It is criminal that we aren’t signing them. Yet we offer guys like Saab long extensions. Don’t get me started on the forward pack. Sione Fainu should have been offered big money before he left for tigers, and we should have leaned on the guilt trip that we stood by his brother because nobody else did. Our recruitment is a joke.

You lost me at Garrick and extremely good defence. The rest I agree with.

 

[Waz13]

Spot on

We should have used Garrick as trade bait for a decent middle. He’d have reasonable value goal kicking outside back that’s versatile. Can even play fb.

 

[manly al]

Garrick is still on the books for 2026 and seemed to be an additional aspect to his previous contract upgrade with that desire or part demand that he wished to be considered seriously as a centre
Probably going to come more down to whether a club like the Perth Bears is prepared to pay that much more then his current deal and that Manly would most likely be less inclined to go over or into overs territory to any major degree .
Even allowing for the cap increase soon
Doubt that Saab would be on anywhere near big money but the priority again has to be Koula to try and get well beyond 26 with Manly.
He has shown against good sides or average sides that he has some definite and consistent line breaking ability
Talau may be inclined to extend for at least another year though may be some interest from less successful performing clubs right now and depending presumedly also how much Manly wish to keep him and on moderate money
Jake Arthur may have been on just above a basic contract level but the savings on his contract no doubt will help a bit also for either retaining or signing worthwhile ability players of whatever level

 

[Nambawan]

Our roster is a shambles

Who gave Saab a 5 year contract FMD in June 2024 until the end of 2029.

Corey Waddell is only here because he is now part of the Trbojevic family and has a contract to 2027.

While on the Trbojevic there a lovely family but honestly ruthless calls need to be made and even if they love the club we are a professional football club not a charity for them.

The club needs to move on Ben & Waddell.

Jake tapped on the shoulder with his concussions for a post career club role.

Tom can either stay or if he isn't happy with the those 3 being moved on go to the SL.

Luke Brooks go over to the UK and coast there.

Matt Lodge didn't want you here in the first place and certainly don't want you here now.

At least another slug in Aloiai is going to be taken off the books

Benn is evolving into one of our best forwards. Probably will continue to get even better.

 

[Not Paul Kent]

I know this will be an unpopular call, but I’d like to offer Ryan Matterson a two-year deal.

At his best he’s elite. He clearly didn’t get along with Ryles, but he was a major factor in Parramatta’s forward pack when they were having success.

Looking at the alternatives on the market, there isn’t much. I think he’d be a good buy for us; he’s a clear upgrade on Waddell in that middle/edge cover role.

Let’s be honest, at this point it’s basically him or Klemmer.

I’d say this with the caveat that we also invest heavily in a couple of gun 19/20-year-old forwards. Matterson can hold us over while they develop.

 

[Ohgeez]

I know this will be an unpopular call, but I’d like to offer Ryan Matterson a two-year deal.

At his best he’s elite. He clearly didn’t get along with Ryles, but he was a major factor in Parramatta’s forward pack when they were having success.

Looking at the alternatives on the market, there isn’t much. I think he’d be a good buy for us; he’s a clear upgrade on Waddell in that middle/edge cover role.

Let’s be honest, at this point it’s basically him or Klemmer.

I’d say this with the caveat that we also invest heavily in a couple of gun 19/20-year-old forwards. Matterson can hold us over while they develop.

Matterson has said his preference would be to stay in England if Parra release him. We are better of going for Shibasaki or Hassett

 

[Not Paul Kent]

Matterson has said his preference would be to stay in England if Parra release him. We are better of going for Shibasaki or Hassett

He signed with Warrington for the remainder of this year on a loan deal.

Not sure what his status is with Parra but we could also probably get him for less than full contract value?

Edit: still contracted for 26 with Parra. I don’t think getting him is a fantasy at all.

 

[eaglezap]

Yeah, although there are others in the works, but that was the one closest to finalisation

Anymore intel / info on other potential signings @ Bomb Voyage ?

 

[Bomb Voyage]

Anymore intel / info on other potential signings @ Bomb Voyage ?

It's pretty quiet on this front

 

[Waz13]

I know this will be an unpopular call, but I’d like to offer Ryan Matterson a two-year deal.

At his best he’s elite. He clearly didn’t get along with Ryles, but he was a major factor in Parramatta’s forward pack when they were having success.

Looking at the alternatives on the market, there isn’t much. I think he’d be a good buy for us; he’s a clear upgrade on Waddell in that middle/edge cover role.

Let’s be honest, at this point it’s basically him or Klemmer.

I’d say this with the caveat that we also invest heavily in a couple of gun 19/20-year-old forwards. Matterson can hold us over while they develop.

He’s a def upgrade on Waddell and would be a reasonable 3rd backrow option at the start of this year. Won’t happen tho.

 

[Ohgeez]

He signed with Warrington for the remainder of this year on a loan deal.

Not sure what his status is with Parra but we could also probably get him for less than full contract value?

Edit: still contracted for 26 with Parra. I don’t think getting him is a fantasy at all.

Him saying in an interview that he’d like to stay in England if Parra release him makes it pretty far fetched IMO but I guess we’ll see. Quality player on his day.

 

[Rocky]

I know this will be an unpopular call, but I’d like to offer Ryan Matterson a two-year deal.

At his best he’s elite. He clearly didn’t get along with Ryles, but he was a major factor in Parramatta’s forward pack when they were having success.

Looking at the alternatives on the market, there isn’t much. I think he’d be a good buy for us; he’s a clear upgrade on Waddell in that middle/edge cover role.

Let’s be honest, at this point it’s basically him or Klemmer.

I’d say this with the caveat that we also invest heavily in a couple of gun 19/20-year-old forwards. Matterson can hold us over while they develop.

Unpopular call with me for sure.

Matterson is basically finished as an NRL player ..oh and he's also a complete fckwit.

Hard no from me.

 

[manly al]

Have to keep things into perspective a bit also and Brown despite his issues for a good part of this season was a big contributor and doing real good for the i st part of last season so not the worst addition at the start of 24 by any means
Even Lodge was impressive on some of his initial games at the latter stages of last season before falling away starting with that Rooster's elimination match
Never really had the notion that James could have gone on with it and Patolo looks like being a disappointment this season
So , onto Hart , Bryan , that Brisbane junior prop recruit and the young gun props now playing N S W cup to see how they go soon or into the future
Thought that Max Haley the backrower from N S W cup may have had something to offer as well but looks like not to be

 

[tookey]

Benn is evolving into one of our best forwards. Probably will continue to get even better.

Tragic if Ben is one of our best forwards

Sums up where our pack is at the moment

 

[JakeyB789]

Tragic if Ben is one of our best forwards

Sums up where our pack is at the moment

Exactly, are people overrating him because their expectations for him going into the year were so low? He has improved this year and is far from our biggest issue but I still don't see him as a quality 80-minute edge forward, on a good side at least. Still looks completely unthreatening in attack and his defence is inconsistent at best.

Would make a pretty good bench/back up player at his current level but our depth in the backrow is atrocious with him as the regular starter and Waddell as the next man up. When people say we need more forwards that shouldn't be limited to just middles.

 

[Pete W]

Ben is one of the few players putting in, developing nicely, and would still be an asset in any of the best teams in the comp - watch him closely and he's doing a lot right, and getting increasingly imposing. Still a way to go, but a good player.

He, Haumole, Tolu, Rubes (wing), Nella, and Bullemor are the only guys that I would consider high quality at this stage.

I also reckon Simpkin, Talau and Hoppa can get to this level shortly.

Taukeiaho, Tom and Jake good to have around for a bit longer in the meantime.

Add Fogarty.

Hopefully Navale, Walsh, Laiafi, Mafoa,
Muagututia, Hart, Large? ready to play serious minutes next year.

There's 20 guys I would be happy to support. Unfortunately, that's half a full squad, when you consider age/development contracts.

The rest are barely NSW Cup quality.

Recruiting Turpin, Wilson etc standard players does absolutely nothing to improve such a lacking squad. Our recruitment team should be taking half a salary for half a squad

 

[madmax]

Ben is one of the few players putting in, developing nicely, and would still be an asset in any of the best teams in the comp - watch him closely and he's doing a lot right, and getting increasingly imposing. Still a way to go, but a good player.

He, Haumole, Tolu, Rubes (wing), Nella, and Bullemor are the only guys that I would consider high quality at this stage.

I also reckon Simpkin, Talau and Hoppa can get to this level shortly.

Taukeiaho, Tom and Jake good to have around for a bit longer in the meantime.

Add Fogarty.

Hopefully Navale, Walsh, Laiafi, Mafoa,
Muagututia, Hart, Large? ready to play serious minutes next year.

There's 20 guys I would be happy to support. Unfortunately, that's half a full squad, when you consider age/development contracts.

The rest are barely NSW Cup quality.

Recruiting Turpin, Wilson etc standard players does absolutely nothing to improve such a lacking squad. Our recruitment team should be taking half a salary for half a squad

Sorry mate….Ben would struggle to get a look in at another club. I like him but too slow & cumbersome for an edge back rower. As a benchie I guess ok. Beau Fermor would be nice to get. He & Okakau’atu would be great!

 

[manlyfan76]

Ben is tuff.
Not agile enough, doesn't brush tacklers in broken play enough.

Needs to be stronger and faster.

 

[Pete W]

Sorry mate….Ben would struggle to get a look in at another club. I like him but too slow & cumbersome for an edge back rower. As a benchie I guess ok. Beau Fermor would be nice to get. He & Okakau’atu would be great!

Fermor is almost Origin quality so yeah obviously he is a better player currently. But still strongly believe Ben is not slow nor cumbersome and is a quality player still improving his game. In a Panthers or Storm system, he wouldn't take long to fit right in

 

[Rocky]

Fermor is almost Origin quality so yeah obviously he is a better player currently. But still strongly believe Ben is not slow nor cumbersome and is a quality player still improving his game. In a Panthers or Storm system, he wouldn't take long to fit right in

Agree with a lot of this - i still think he's on a trajectory to make it as a 13. He only just turned 24 and his physicality has improved a lot this year.