CLEAN OUT + WISH LIST

Okay I'm not usually into in the fantasy manager side of things but stuff it, lets play.

For mine the 3 areas I'd quite like to address is marquee prop, edge and hooker.

Now 2026 I'll assume is close to capacity so on it I'll say its worth resigning TKO to a 1 year deal and I'd add Harrison Hassett as a flyer on a one year deal. I'd also say, hopeefully Brown can pick up a multi year SL deal or something and Moale can come in early.

So the big bit of work is 2027 with players soon to be available.

Firstly us

Screenshot_20251007_181133_Chrome.webp


Jake and Tom, I think Tom on a two or three year deal at 800k is good business and personally I'd offer Jake another year at circa 500k. That should save us 700k (on their averages wages, more on the backended but lets be conservative).

Croker to go say at approx 350k.

And TKO to go at the end of 26 along with Brown if not gone earlier and Schoupp.

Bryan and Zaidas pending how they go.

Garrick Ideally wed keep on the same he is on.

Now the big one for me is allowing Brooks the opportunity to move on a year early with Walsh taking over and with Perth in and halves rare I think we have zero issue getting someone to pay full freight.

So between Brooks, TKO moving on and Turbo and Jake reductions I see us having approx 1.5mil to spend.

For that I'd want.

Marquee prop - I dont think Haas is going anywhere and I think he'll be too much. Tino would be my dream and I do think he'll move but again the money seems absurd. Which leads me to Keon or Lindsay Smith. Probs looking 800-900 for Keon maybe 700 odd for Lindsay. Neame a cheaper hackup, Henry another cheaper option.

Left edge hole runner - Those Dylan Lucas rumours are tasty but I dont believe it so lets look towards the off contract Beau Fermor at approx 600.

Backup half - Walsh steps up, hopefully Large pushing through but would grab a bargain basement half with NRL experience. A few off contract, take your pick Te Maire, Schnieder, Volkman, Boyd, Cole, Clifford, Cogger....depth.

For hooker its tougher as there are less decent options off contract, I'd be using Crokers money (possibly a pinch more) and just enquire about Pattie, Mozer, Healey etc....need a rough diamond here.

That should line us up something like this in 2027

1.T Trbojevic
2.Saab
3.Garrick/Lehi
4.Koula
5.Lehi/Garrick
6.Walsh
7.Fogarty
8.Paseka
9.Pattie/Mozer/Healey
10.Keon/Smith
11.Fermor
12.Olakau'atu
13.Trbojevic/Hethrington/Navale

Picking the bench from
Faulalo
Wilson
Willett
Feledy
Large
Backup Half
Simpkin
Zaidas/A Large
Bullemor
Moale
B Trbojevic
J Trbojevic/Hethrington/Navale
J Trbojevic/Hethrington/Navale
Hart
Laifai
Waddell
Hassett/Bryan

Anyhoo......fantasy
 
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If we are going to be back as a serious PREMIERSHIP contender we need to make several big call changes, and make at least 3-4 astute purchases, including at least one mega star forward.

This is my CLEAN OUT + WISH LIST.

Obviously these are my opinions only

ALREADY GONE:
Cherry-Evans - how stupid he didn't take one more year and go out a one club legend, but there's obv deep politics
Sipley - great servant, wish him well
Tevaga - terrific job, pity only a year
Aloiai - for mine never really up to it, and culturally question marks
Talau - can't understand letting him go only to buy Wilson
Chee Kam - sadly wasn't up to first grade
Schoupp - ditto CK

CLEAN OUT:
Tom Turbo - love him to death, but he's just not getting any better or less injured, let him go to UK, get a huge $1m back
Jake Turbo - love him even more, but the modern 6 again game has passed him by, UK or retire, get a hugr 900k back
Ben Turbo - also loved, but truth is not a first grader at almost any other club, let him go with Tom to UK
Brooks - did a good job, but he's never gonna win us a comp, time to move on and free up the 6 for Walsh
Waddell - just not first grade standard, now or ever
Brown - did a good job, but also wouldn't be in first grade at most other clubs, time to move on
Croker - been an absolute warrior, but truth is hasn't figured for 2 seasons now, time to move on or medically retire

COMING:
Kobe Hetherington - immediate swap for Burbo
Blake Wilson - completely mysterious signing, what does it say to talented Faulalo waiting behind Saab, Garrick, Hoppa?

WISH LIST:
Payne Haas - remember when we used to buy Gillespie, Carroll, Roberts, Kennedy, Kite etc - just pay him Tom and Jake salary
Davvy Moale - close to signed, a 22 year old big prop is exactly what we need, and imagine what he'd learn from Haas
Owen Pattie - huge talent but now in a 3 way queue at Canberra with Starling and incoming Jayden Brailey
Tui Kamikamica - off contract, just get him
Nelson Asofa-Solomona - teach him to aim a bit lower, and he could be our new Ian Roberts or better

SALARIES ALREADY LEAVING: 7
SALARIES TO CLEAN OUT: 7
TOTAL: 14

SALARIES ALREADY COMING IN: 3
SALARIES ON WISH LIST: 5
TOTAL: 8

That would save 6 salaries, including 2m alone for Turbo bros, that's enough to buy Haas and back ups listed.

To those saying we'd never get Haas, many thought we'd never get Carroll, Gillespie, Roberts, Kennedy, Kite, Ridge, O'Connor, Jamie Lyon, etc etc etc, but we DID, and they won us premierships.

And to those saying he wouldn't leave Bris, tell that to Parra with Lomax about to bail. Players move fast when the $ are in front of them.

DREAM TEAM 2026:
1. Hopoate - give him the reins
2. Saab - sure needs hands and defence improvements, but that raw speed is irreplaceable
3. Koula - either centre or fullback
4. Faulalo - way too good for reserve grade, it's time to let him own centre
5. Garrick - average centre, but great finishing winger
6. Walsh - let him learn from Fogarty - he can handle it (and he's already bigger than guys like Jayden Campbell)
7. Fogarty - not DCE but a very handy substitute
8. Paseka - welcome back
9. Pattie - we need a new gun dummy half and now (and could be better than Da Silva who we missed out on)
10. Haas - would completely turn the club around AND attract other names, remember we once got names this big
11. Olakau-atu - could be best player in comp if injury free
12. Hetherington - GF win won't hurt
13. Navale - it's time

14. Simpkin - great 30 min back up 9
15. Kamikamica - could be an absolute bargain brute for us
16. Osafa-Solomona - teach him to tackle lower and imagine the damage he could do
17. Bullemor - we all love him, but use him as bench injection not a starting prop

18. Moale - back up prop, first picked on bench
19. Laiafi - emerging prop talent
20. Hart - emerging edge forward talent
21. Maugututia - emerging dummy half talent
22. Wilson - replaces Talau (for reasons unknown) but solid back up wing/centre
23. Willett - emerging winger

LET'S DO IT.
Owen Pattie is contracted to the Raiders until 2028 so I doubt very much that he would be in the mix

Also, Payne Haas is still contracted to the Broncos for another year (until the end of 2026).
 
Owen Pattie is contracted to the Raiders until 2028 so I doubt very much that he would be in the mix

Also, Payne Haas is still contracted to the Broncos for another year (until the end of 2026).

I’m fairly sure Pattie extended long term when Starling was told to look elsewhere & was under the impression he’d be going into 26 as starting hooker. Starling then goes on to have a breakout season earning a 2 year extension & is only 27.
Its worth keeping an eye on IMO - similar to what happened with Talyn Da Silva & Api.
 
In all seriousness a clean-out is what the Dogs and Tigers have done.

Be prepared to pick up a couple of spoons with absolutely no assurances of anything.

I'd much prefer the Storm/Roosters approach of keeping key members of the squad together and picking the eyes out of the market.

Alternatively the Broncos approach of a couple of slight player additions and head hunt the coach you know will get the job done.
 
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In all seriousness a clean-out is what the Dogs and Tigers have done.

Be prepared to pick up a couple of spoons with absolutely no assurances of anything.

I'd much prefer the Storm/Roosters approach of keeping key the squad together and picking the eyes out of the market.

Alternatively the Broncos approach of a couple of slight player additions and head hunt the coach you know will get the job done.
I would add that since Siebold signed on our squad has been better each year. If it weren't for injuries and DCE's idiocy we could have been in it this year.

Next year we get the halfback from the minor premiers and a premiership winning bench forward who was immense for his team in the victory, and Joey Walsh, Onitoni Large and Hugo Hart all get closer to first grade.
 
Good post, even though I totally disagree with 90% of it. I am not going to pick it to bits, but a couple of points.

Schopp has re-signed.

NAS - I think is about to go rebel rugby.

Haas probably not would think about playing for Manly when the rugby offer is $AUD2.3mil. But I agree we should make a big play. He could change our club or any club.

Lets chase a big name coach too. I keep saying Cleary or Robbo. but others dont like it on here.

The comment "to those saying we'd never get Haas, many thought we'd never get Carroll, Gillespie, Roberts, Kennedy, Kite, Ridge, O'Connor, Jamie Lyon, etc etc etc, but we DID, and they won us premierships" is not accurate. Manly always signed the best players on the market, even Zinzan Brook was ready to sign if you remember correctly we rarely missed our man. On top of those you mentioned Orford, Josh Perry, Steve Bell, Craig Innes and plenty of others. These days no one really wants to play with an under achieving club, and that is Manly.
Spot on Bob, unfortunately. We once had some mighty negotiators in the front office. People of status in our game. The mighty Arko, Fulton, even Dessie (when sane). Honestly, You couldn't trust the lightweights in there now to buy you a salad sandwich for lunch and get it right. Someone like Robbo is exactly what we need.
 
I have some strong disagreements here.

The first, and most important, is we cannot let the Turbos leave, much less clean them out. Forcing Jake, Tom, and Ben out the door, would be remembered in the same light as the Tigers forcing Moses and Tedesco out. A wooden spoon would just be a formality. Many club people would walk out the door, and the culture would be completely annihilated.

Also, forget about signing Haas if we were to do that.

Love Hoppa, but he doesn’t possess the aura of Turbo yet. He is not yet a game winner. Brooks over Walsh is a similar dilemma. Walsh will be there (I think by 2027), but don’t hedge your bets too soon.

Kamikamica is 31. Pass.

Pattie won’t leave, as it looks certain that Brailey will be the reserve grade backup.
Didn't Moses and Tedesco want to leave the Tigers. I think they were pretty keen to move on werent they? Tedesco knew he had better chance of success at the Roosters.
 
Spot on Bob, unfortunately. We once had some mighty negotiators in the front office. People of status in our game. The mighty Arko, Fulton, even Dessie (when sane). Honestly, You couldn't trust the lightweights in there now to buy you a salad sandwich for lunch and get it right. Someone like Robbo is exactly what we need.
Having Toovey as a negotiator ie coaching director would be an ideal move.
 
Spot on Bob, unfortunately. We once had some mighty negotiators in the front office. People of status in our game. The mighty Arko, Fulton, even Dessie (when sane). Honestly, You couldn't trust the lightweights in there now to buy you a salad sandwich for lunch and get it right. Someone like Robbo is exactly what we need.

We had the power of "offering" rep jerseys back then which helped!
 
Okay I'm not usually into in the fantasy manager side of things but stuff it, lets play.

For mine the 3 areas I'd quite like to address is marquee prop, edge and hooker.

Now 2026 I'll assume is close to capacity so on it I'll say its worth resigning TKO to a 1 year deal and I'd add Harrison Hassett as a flyer on a one year deal. I'd also say, hopeefully Brown can pick up a multi year SL deal or something and Moale can come in early.

So the big bit of work is 2027 with players soon to be available.

Firstly us

View attachment 31400

Jake and Tom, I think Tom on a two or three year deal at 800k is good business and personally I'd offer Jake another year at circa 500k. That should save us 700k (on their averages wages, more on the backended but lets be conservative).

Croker to go say at approx 350k.

And TKO to go at the end of 26 along with Brown if not gone earlier and Schoupp.

Bryan and Zaidas pending how they go.

Garrick Ideally wed keep on the same he is on.

Now the big one for me is allowing Brooks the opportunity to move on a year early with Walsh taking over and with Perth in and halves rare I think we have zero issue getting someone to pay full freight.

So between Brooks, TKO moving on and Turbo and Jake reductions I see us having approx 1.5mil to spend.

For that I'd want.

Marquee prop - I dont think Haas is going anywhere and I think he'll be too much. Tino would be my dream and I do think he'll move but again the money seems absurd. Which leads me to Keon or Lindsay Smith. Probs looking 800-900 for Keon maybe 700 odd for Lindsay. Neame a cheaper hackup, Henry another cheaper option.

Left edge hole runner - Those Dylan Lucas rumours are tasty but I dont believe it so lets look towards the off contract Beau Fermor at approx 600.

Backup half - Walsh steps up, hopefully Large pushing through but would grab a bargain basement half with NRL experience. A few off contract, take your pick Te Maire, Schnieder, Volkman, Boyd, Cole, Clifford, Cogger....depth.

For hooker its tougher as there are less decent options off contract, I'd be using Crokers money (possibly a pinch more) and just enquire about Pattie, Mozer, Healey etc....need a rough diamond here.

That should line us up something like this in 2027

1.T Trbojevic
2.Saab
3.Garrick/Lehi
4.Koula
5.Lehi/Garrick
6.Walsh
7.Fogarty
8.Paseka
9.Pattie/Mozer/Healey
10.Keon/Smith
11.Fermor
12.Olakau'atu
13.Trbojevic/Hethrington/Navale

Picking the bench from
Faulalo
Wilson
Willett
Feledy
Large
Backup Half
Simpkin
Zaidas/A Large
Bullemor
Moale
B Trbojevic
J Trbojevic/Hethrington/Navale
J Trbojevic/Hethrington/Navale
Hart
Laifai
Waddell
Hassett/Bryan

Anyhoo......fantasy
Fermor or even Angus Crichton would be great pick ups. Lucas i think is a stretch and he has lots of injuries. Fermor best of the 3 imo
 
Didn't Moses and Tedesco want to leave the Tigers. I think they were pretty keen to move on werent they? Tedesco knew he had better chance of success at the Roosters.
I’m no Tigers expert, but iirc they had deadlines placed upon them accepting contract extensions. These deadlines were both short and completely unnecessary. It was a strange move that pissed those two off into leaving, and they would’ve otherwise stayed. They felt disrespected.

They did the same to Brooks in 2023. Benji wanted to keep him, but that, and some other obvious factors, prompted Brooks into coming here instead of extending.
 

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