2026 recruitment & retention

[The Wheel]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1975691061550064056

 

[XV-1]

The story says Manly already have their top 30 for next year and would have to get rid of someone.

??

 

[The Wheel]

The story says Manly already have their top 30 for next year and would have to get rid of someone.

??

My gut feel would be Croker retires, but I guess anything is possible.

It would be nice if we knew what the actual top 30 is! Eg Is TKO, Lodge included

 

[Heckenberg]

My gut feel would be Croker retires, but I guess anything is possible.

It would be nice if we knew what the actual top 30 is! Eg Is TKO, Lodge included

I’ve heard its likely.

 

[Pete W]

Schoupp extending on minimum wage won’t stop anything. Most likely scenario will be Croker is medically retired which free’s up a spot + the money needed for Moale

My understanding is the ZDC spot is conditional to Croker retiring (unless rumours are true that Muagututia is leaving). I.e. we still need to free up one of our middles to get Moale for next season. Hence the attempt to offload Brown. Either that, or Lodge can find a better deal in Super League, or if we are desperate for Moale then we could also reconsider Taukeiaho's extension

 

[maxta]

My understanding is the ZDC spot is conditional to Croker retiring (unless rumours are true that Muagututia is leaving). I.e. we still need to free up one of our middles to get Moale for next season. Hence the attempt to offload Brown. Either that, or Lodge can find a better deal in Super League, or if we are desperate for Moale then we could also reconsider Taukeiaho's extension

Muagututia is a great potential, but needs to get his 'off field" attitude right.
Would hate to see another wasted potential player for Manly and he has all the skills to make an impact early as 2026, if he gets it right....if gone our 9 options again are shot.

 

[Rocky]

My understanding is the ZDC spot is conditional to Croker retiring (unless rumours are true that Muagututia is leaving). I.e. we still need to free up one of our middles to get Moale for next season. Hence the attempt to offload Brown. Either that, or Lodge can find a better deal in Super League, or if we are desperate for Moale then we could also reconsider Taukeiaho's extension

I have no insight, but surely the club thinks the retirement for Croker is a sure thing to convince ZDC to agree to such an arrangement?

I appreciate that ZDC may not have a lot of options out there, but he still played a decent amount of NRL first grade last year for a finals club.

 

[Highflier]

My gut feel would be Croker retires, but I guess anything is possible.

It would be nice if we knew what the actual top 30 is! Eg Is TKO, Lodge included

is there a list of the current top 30 Wheel ?

The injury update the other day talked about Aloiai's medical retirement still waiting to be rubber stamped by the NRL. I assume that's what we are waiting on.

Aloai isnt even on that Top 30 list Aiden posted

 

[Highflier]

My gut feel would be Croker retires, but I guess anything is possible.

It would be nice if we knew what the actual top 30 is! Eg Is TKO, Lodge included

Likely 2026 Top 30 (my best guess):

1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jason Saab
3. Tolu Koula
4. Reuben Garrick
5. Lehi Hopoate
6. Luke Brooks
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Taniela Paseka
9. Jake Simpkin
10. Siua Taukeiaho
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Caleb Navale
15. Ethan Bullemor
16. Kobe Hetherington
17. Nathan Brown
18. Matt Lodge
19. Corey Waddell
20. Blake Wilson
21. Joey Walsh
22. Zach Dockar-Clay
23. Aaron Schoupp
24. Clayton Faulalo
25. Navren Willett
26. Zaidas Muagututia
27. Simione Laiafi
28. Paul Bryan
29. Onitoni Large
30. Brandon Wakeham

From my understanding, this is probably the closest thing to our current Top 30. This assumes Croker ends up medically retired and Moale joins in 2027, but a few of these spots are still educated guesses — there’s been talk that Zaidas might be released, and a couple of the newer signings haven’t been officially confirmed yet.

Even so, this list seems to make sense considering that recent article said our Top 30 is already full.

Just a question is Branden Wakeman really in the Top 30 ?Also maybe Rueben is on the move which is why we got the otherwise puzzling signing of Blake Wilson ,when we also have Clayton. Also Lodge do we know if he is already contracted for 26 to us ?

 

[SeaEagleSI1]

1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Reuben Garrick
3. Tom Trbojevic
4. Tolutau Koula
5. Jason Saab
6. Luke Brooks
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Nathan Brown
9. Lachlan Croker ( two years of neck issues and concussion, is he going to retire?)
10. Taniela Paseka
11. Ben Trbojevic
12. Haumole Olakau'atu
13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Jake Simpkin
15. Corey Waddell
16. Caleb Navale
17. Ethan Bullemor

18. Simione Laiafi
19. Joey Walsh
20. Paul Bryan
21. Onitoni Large (might be in top 30)
22. Zaidas Muagututia (apparently attitude issues might be released)
23. Clayton Faulalo
24. Willett (might be in top 30)
25. Schoupp (ACL maybe a train and trial)
26. Moale (signed for 27 hopefully comes in 26)
27. Taukeiaho (in talks hopefully resigns are one new deal)
28. Hetherington (no statement yet)
29. Wilson (in talks)
30. No player signed

Lodge might be going to UK
Talking to Dockar-clay
Wakeham into top 30?

Still think we need a forward-second row

 

[Ohgeez]

Just a question is Branden Wakeman really in the Top 30 ?Also maybe Rueben is on the move which is why we got the otherwise puzzling signing of Blake Wilson ,when we also have Clayton. Also Lodge do we know if he is already contracted for 26 to us ?

Yes Wakeham is reportedly in the top 30 next year.
Wilson isn’t a puzzling signing when Talau + Vaega have both left that were in the top 30.

 

[Cliffycomeback]

I’ve heard its likely.

Surely he can't continue after the length of time he missed through concussion. But Will Warbrick made a successful return after a lengthy concussion so who knows?

 

[Cliffycomeback]

I have no insight, but surely the club thinks the retirement for Croker is a sure thing to convince ZDC to agree to such an arrangement?

I appreciate that ZDC may not have a lot of options out there, but he still played a decent amount of NRL first grade last year for a finals club.

I think the second part of your post is where it's at Roxy. The Roosters weren't flush with hookers last year and there doesn't seem to be much interest from elsewhere.

 

[maxta]

There are 2 spots available if Croker is done, which I believe is the case.
Garrick move is likely 2027 if he does go, not 2026, so he will feature at Manly again this season

 

[The Wheel]

is there a list of the current top 30 Wheel ?

Aloai isnt even on that Top 30 list Aiden posted

No official list from what I am aware

 

[Buddy Love]

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.

Out first half the season? Oh we are so smart and we let Talau go. Unless he's injured as well haha

 

[Buddy Love]

Just a question is Branden Wakeman really in the Top 30 ?Also maybe Rueben is on the move which is why we got the otherwise puzzling signing of Blake Wilson ,when we also have Clayton. Also Lodge do we know if he is already contracted for 26 to us ?

I think Wilson covers Talau's spot