Ah fair enough
2026 recruitment & retention
- Thread starter Disco
- Start date
double hoops
First Grader
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
First Grader
And that’s one way to reinvigorate the reputation of our club, in the eyes of respective playing recruits from elsewhere.
TheEagle
Member
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!
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 🤔
We should sent him to the swans over the offseason a few days a week
Terry Zarsoff
First Grader
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 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
He is out for half the season. Now taking up a spot that might stop us signing Moale for next year
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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.
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
Bencher
Very much in the dark aren’t we!!
Does that surprise you 😡
double hoops
First Grader
We are all Mushrooms to Penn
You are such a fun guy
This from @Chip and Chase in the MWSE Squad Contract Status thread seems the bestimate we've got so far, in which case who has the other 4 spots?
Maybe Ontoni Large has one?
Maybe Ontoni Large has one?
Likely 2026 Top 30 (my best guess):
- Tom Trbojevic
- Jason Saab
- Tolu Koula
- Reuben Garrick
- Lehi Hopoate
- Luke Brooks
- Jamal Fogarty
- Taniela Paseka
- Jake Simpkin
- Siua Taukeiaho
- Haumole Olakau’atu
- Ben Trbojevic
- Jake Trbojevic
- Caleb Navale
- Ethan Bullemor
- Kobe Hetherington
- Nathan Brown
- Matt Lodge
- Corey Waddell
- Blake Wilson
- Joey Walsh
- Zach Dockar-Clay
- Aaron Schoupp
- Clayton Faulalo
- Navren Willett
- Zaidas Muagututia
- Simione Laiafi
- Paul Bryan
- Onitoni Large
- Brandon Wakeham
Even so, this list seems to make sense considering that recent article said our Top 30 is already full.
Given out lack of edge forwards, I think another middle shouldn't have come at the expense of Schoupp's extension.He is out for half the season. Now taking up a spot that might stop us signing Moale for next year
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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.
It seems there are only 3 options left for Manly to get Moale for 2026: Lodge decides not to take up his option, Brown is offloaded, or Taukeiaho is not re-signed
Hopefully doesn't scupper the chance to get Moale early.
But Schoupp does have some upside, potentially.
"He has scored 12 NRL tries, but has a strong work rate and running game, and coach Anthony Seibold said he believes Schoupp still has his best footy ahead of him.
“Aaron has had a few challenges through his young career, but I know he will be diligent with his reconditioning, and we expect to see him push for a place in the 17 as next season progresses,” Seibold said.
"He's young, he can play multiple positions and I'm sure his best years are ahead of him."
Schoupp, provided his ACL recovery goes well, will be fit for approximately the final three months of the 2026 NRL season.
Sea Eagles utility makes next contract call after ACL rupture
It was left late, but he has a new deal for 2026.
www.zerotackle.com
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