2026 recruitment & retention

If I was recruiting I would be targeting;

  • Kobe Hetherington a strong workhorse
  • a young second rower with potential
  • a Richie Faoso, Joe Gualvo type who is explosive, hard running bench player

Don’t know who is available?

Our backline is fine, Fogarty coming in will help our game and focus.

Never seen young Zaidas play but hopefully he can cover hooker with Simpkin. If Foggy retires we would need another option in case of long term injury to either of these two.
Yes agree with that , we probably have enough kids ( our own ), a few plodders ( you need them , hopefully only occasionally) are on board so it’s exactly what you mention that we need.

They’ll be there , it’ll just take the right dollars
 
Time to be a lil ruthless, sorry to say, not deal for Schoupp

1757212639347.webp
 
If we load up on some kids with some old heads I'm onboard but if we load up on old plodders and tread water count me out. We no longer have a heap of money we need to look at the raiders go after top tier young talent but have patience no more quick fixes with plodders. I would prefer to finish 10th with kids on the way up than 8th with old men with no more ttomorrows.

Next time we make the 8 I want us to be a chance to win it.
 
If we load up on some kids with some old heads I'm onboard but if we load up on old plodders and tread water count me out. We no longer have a heap of money we need to look at the raiders go after top tier young talent but have patience no more quick fixes with plodders. I would prefer to finish 10th with kids on the way up than 8th with old men with no more ttomorrows.

Next time we make the 8 I want us to be a chance to win it.
The plodders we have already should be enough , Lodge , Brown , Waddell , hopefully only used as backups for injuries , but no more than that..
 
Yes agree with that , we probably have enough kids ( our own ), a few plodders ( you need them , hopefully only occasionally) are on board so it’s exactly what you mention that we need.

They’ll be there , it’ll just take the right dollars
Notice Joey Lussick is leaving the eels. Maybe he could come home to slide into that 3rd hooker spot?
 
1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Reuben Garrick
3. Tom Trbojevic
4. Tolutau Koula
5. Jason Saab
6. Luke Brooks
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Aloiai (MR)Siosiua Taukeiaho (in talks)
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Taniela Paseka
11. Ben Trbojevic
12. Haumole Olakau'atu
13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Jake Simpkin
15. Corey Waddell
16. Nathan Brown
17. Ethan Bullemor

18. Simione Laiafi
19. Joey Walsh
20. Paul Bryan
21. Clayon Faulalo
22. Caleb Navale

(23 to 30 no statement but what I seen or can find, but no club statement)

23. Matt Lodge (has a player option I think, but needs a good off season)
24. Zaidas Muagututia(might be in the top 30)
25. Onitoni Large (might be in the top 30)
26. Navren Willet (might be in the top 30)
27. Blake Wilson (rumor in talks)
28. No player signed.
29. No player signed.
30. No player signed.

Last three spots
Kobe Hetherington
Davvy Moale
Jacob Alick-Wiencke

Knowing Manly lately
David Klemmer
Silivq Havili
Jack Hetherington
 
That's from over a month ago.

I would think it's not happening anymore, as the noise completely disappeared.
Honestly if we give contracts to TKO & Lodge ( neither on big dollars ) I’d rather we target a young go hard prop who is languishing in reserves ( not getting a run due to the superstars in front of him).

Jake & Taniela as the run ons

TKO & ???? On the bench

Navale to lock ( run on).
 
Last edited:
Hopefully we can secure a quality forward like a Tino or a good backrower
You'd think we should be able to do just that, having let nine players go, including "stars" like Cherry and Aloiai who took decent chunks out of our salary cup. Fogarty is going to need a decent pack to work behind, so you'd think a couple of quality forwards would be a priority, even for our (lack of) brains trust.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest posts

2025 Ladder

Team P W D L PD Pts
1 Raiders 23 19 0 4 186 44
2 Storm 24 17 0 7 212 40
3 Bulldogs 24 16 0 8 120 38
4 Broncos 24 15 0 9 172 36
5 Sharks 24 15 0 9 109 36
6 Warriors 24 14 0 10 21 34
7 Panthers 24 13 1 10 107 33
8 Roosters 24 13 0 11 132 32
9 Sea Eagles 24 12 0 12 21 30
10 Dolphins 23 11 0 12 87 28
11 Cowboys 24 9 1 14 -146 25
12 Eels 23 9 0 14 -132 24
13 Tigers 24 9 0 15 -135 24
14 Rabbitohs 24 9 0 15 -181 24
15 Dragons 24 8 0 16 -130 22
16 Titans 24 6 0 18 -199 18
17 Knights 23 6 0 17 -244 18
Back
Top Bottom