2026 recruitment & retention

[eaglebuzz]

"We had agreed to a new contract before I did my knee, so I’m very grateful for the club to honour that,” Schoupp said.

Ah fair enough

 

[double hoops]

Ah fair enough

He probably isn't huge dollar anyway, but not cheaper due to injury. Top 30 spot hurts, if he won't play till after June 30. He could be 2nd tier and do that.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

"We had agreed to a new contract before I did my knee, so I’m very grateful for the club to honour that,” Schoupp said.

And that’s one way to reinvigorate the reputation of our club, in the eyes of respective playing recruits from elsewhere.

 

[TheEagle]

For someone so tall, I was hoping he'd become our equivalent of Daniel tupou... alas, I was mistaken. Maybe Fogartys kicks will be closer to the in goal but Saab still has to catch the ball 🤔

it’s a shame that he has hands like feet because he could be a great aerial weapon close to the try line. Oh, and he is useless in defense!

 

[Eagle 1]

He probably isn't huge dollar anyway, but not cheaper due to injury. Top 30 spot hurts, if he won't play till after June 30. He could be 2nd tier and do that.

Didn't he do it on our 2nd last match. So if he's not playing till early July say, that would equate to about 9 and a half months . Could come back a month earlier maybe, early June Hopefully 🤔

 

[Ben]

For someone so tall, I was hoping he'd become our equivalent of Daniel tupou... alas, I was mistaken. Maybe Fogartys kicks will be closer to the in goal but Saab still has to catch the ball 🤔

We should sent him to the swans over the offseason a few days a week

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

I think Schoupp is a pretty good player. Was it that game against Souths last year (where the coach ridiculously went into the game without a halfback) that he debuted for Manly in FG?

He is a good hard runner. Reminds me a bit of Brad Parker, the likes of whom we could do with again.

 

[Ben]

I think Schoupp is a pretty good player. Was it that game against Souths last year (where the coach ridiculously went into the game without a halfback) that he debuted for Manly in FG?

He is a good hard runner. Reminds me a bit of Brad Parker, the likes of whom we could do with again.

Can play backrow and centre so wouldn’t be a bad bench option. Would put Burbo under pressure

 

[Frogz]

I think Schoupp is a pretty good player. Was it that game against Souths last year (where the coach ridiculously went into the game without a halfback) that he debuted for Manly in FG?

He is a good hard runner. Reminds me a bit of Brad Parker, the likes of whom we could do with again.

He is out for half the season. Now taking up a spot that might stop us signing Moale for next year

NRL​

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David Fifita has almost certainly played his last game for the Titans with the Rabbitohs in the final stages of securing the $1 million talent from the Gold Coast.
With only final paperwork remaining towards finalising Fifta’s release, both the Titans and Rabbitohs are working on a deal that would see the Gold Coast contribute $500,000 to Fifita’s contract for the next two years with South Sydney.

Delaying the otherwise smooth transfer of Fifita, who has been in dialogue with legendary coach Wayne Bennett, to Redfern is the Rabbitohs tight top-30 roster.

David Fifita’s proposed move to the Rabbitohs has hit a snag: Souths’ tight top-30 roster. Picture: Getty Images
Despite both clubs being comfortable with the salary cap implications of the Fifita move, the former Test backrower’s two-year deal can’t officially be confirmed by the Bunnies until a top-30 spot opens up inside South Sydney’s NRL squad.

The recent release of English halfback Lewis Dodd from his mega-deal in 2026 wasn’t enough to create a top-30 spot for the Bunnies with rookie forward Thomas Fletcher elevated immediately into Dodd’s top-30 spot.

Ultimately, it’s Manly that has the foot on the accelerator of Fifita’s move to Sydney after five seasons on the Gold Coast.

Manly could ease the Rabbitohs problems if Davvy Moale is released to join the Sea Eagles early. But the Sea Eagles also have a tight top-30 roster. Picture: NRL
Manly have signed hard-running Rabbitohs forward Davvy Moale from 2027, but are eager to secure the talent, as early as next season.

However, in order to secure Moale early, which would then trigger Fifita’s deal with South Sydney, the Sea Eagles must also relinquish a player from their top-30 roster.

They currently have no top-30 roster spots available and are looking at ways they can create a top-30 spot for Moale to arrive into.


One spot Manly opted against manufacturing in their roster was with that of utility Aaron Schoupp, after re-signing the injured star.

The Titans release of Fifita will unfold in the wake of prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard also being released, while winger’s Phillip Sami and Alofiana Khan-Pereira are also in talks with the Dragons and Warriors respectively.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

However, in order to secure Moale early, which would then trigger Fifita’s deal with South Sydney, the Sea Eagles must also relinquish a player from their top-30 roster.

They currently have no top-30 roster spots available and are looking at ways they can create a top-30 spot for Moale to arrive into.

So in other words - we still have no idea who's in Manly's top 30 for 2026!
I thought we had a few spots not yet settled? 🤷‍♂️

 

[Stewbojevic]

So in other words - we still have no idea who's in Manly's top 30 for 2026!
I thought we had a few spots not yet settled? 🤷‍♂️

Very much in the dark aren’t we!!