Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[Morgan]

I think we are already doing that, but we cant just keep frontloading year on year, we will need to spend some cash.. I assume we have a fallback option or 2 in mind.. but its a tricky game trying to juggle multiple targets at once as Plan A, B and C, while other clubs do the same.

Pay Ponga 1.3 mil a year for 3 years. Newcastle must have some serious salary cap problems. I think they will have to let him go. But then that would make Gutho surplus to our needs and he is on 800k a season!

 

[TheRev]

Gutho is easily worth the 800k to us, where are we going to spend the money alternatively? Newcastle have 2 players on 1.3m.... We do need young fullback legs at some point of course (and I believe we are trying.. koula would have me doing cartwheels) but we have to pay someone some cash in the meantime.. and its not like we just go to the shop and pick up an upgrade for Leilua or Gutho like were playing supercoach.. we r struggling to get players in, we either pay overs.. or we do what we did in 2025 and just leave spots open and pray someone gets shaken loose.. again on overs.

 

[redv4life]

According to Zero Tackle, Kade Reed is top 30 next year. I thought he was going to be on a development contract. It's probably just a mistake. But he's surely a good chance to make his debut at some point next year barring injury.

CEO said Atkinson was going to be halfback. He might go ok. A bit like Ben Hornby.

that would mean Kyle wouldn’t be in the side, no chance of that happening.

 

[TheRev]

They never give information on what the contract actually is in the dragons press releases (its a real pain for us nerds trying to track it), but id almost be certain its development for 2026, Top 30 in 2027.. kid played like 1 game of cup, this is his first real cup year coming.

Zero Tackle even says as much: "Reed's re-signing is through to the end of 2028, although it's unclear what the break up of that deal between development and Top 30 is. Zero Tackle have reached out to the Dragons for clarification, but received no response."

Good that Ilias is gone though.. 1 less guy we need to try and find a spot for in reserve grade.

 

[Morgan]

Gutho is easily worth the 800k to us, where are we going to spend the money alternatively? Newcastle have 2 players on 1.3m.... We do need young fullback legs at some point of course (and I believe we are trying.. koula would have me doing cartwheels) but we have to pay someone some cash in the meantime.. and its not like we just go to the shop and pick up an upgrade for Leilua or Gutho like were playing supercoach.. we r struggling to get players in, we either pay overs.. or we do what we did in 2025 and just leave spots open and pray someone gets shaken loose.. again on overs.

I'm a Gutho fan but he is nowhere near as good as Ponga.

 

[Red T]

I suppose Papenhuyzen is going to the rugby circus. But if he gets cold feet we might sign him. Gutho will probably not be fullback by season’s end. He is too slow off the mark…

 

[GCRV]

I suppose Papenhuyzen is going to the rugby circus. But if he gets cold feet we might sign him. Gutho will probably not be fullback by season’s end. He is too slow off the mark…

Gutho should be ok for another year but need some fast wingers to make up for Gutho's lack of speed.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Lomax gone to Union

 

[Eric]

Lomax gone to Union

He still had 3 years to go with the Eels but they were happy to let him go. Maybe his game is much better suited to the slower speed of Union.

 

[TheRev]

gives you a hint that us parting ways wasn't without good reason.

does possibly open the floodgates though, and every player that goes is 1 less chair in the game of musical chairs that we are playing trying to sign players.

 

[Illusion]

He still had 3 years to go with the Eels but they were happy to let him go. Maybe his game is much better suited to the slower speed of Union.

Lomax only came good once he moved to the wing , his biggest asset was he competes for every play and then it was his airial competing for high ball that made him deadly ....... But once the opposition worked him out he really has nothing else ....... He was never going to score a long range try , so as you say it may suit him the move .......

 

[Xuiz]

I think eels would quietly want Lomax moved on. His 650k would be useful with the other props on the market. They do have simonsson who can replace him on the right wing

 

[Dragon David]

Lomax is no great loss to the NRL. He really wasn't that great for the Dragons and it turns out that the Eels did not really try to keep him and seem happy to release him from the remaining 3 years of his contract. Goodbye Zac.

https://www.zerotackle.com/eels-confirm-immediate-contract-call-for-zac-lomax-229013/#:~:text=The%20back%20has%20been%20linked%20to%20rugby%20union.&text=NEW!,remainder%20of%20his%20playing%20contract.

 

[Eric]

Lomax only came good once he moved to the wing , his biggest asset was he competes for every play and then it was his airial competing for high ball that made him deadly ....... But once the opposition worked him out he really has nothing else ....... He was never going to score a long range try , so as you say it may suit him the move .......

Agree 100%. That type of player generally flames out sooner than the really talented players and they do it quite suddenly.

 

[Red T]

I don’t know how many have signed with rugby but quite a few I think. They have signed but are just having an each way bet by not admitting they have signed.

It will leave a hole in the playing ranks though.

I would say there will be a settlement at some stage so the ten year bans will be lifted.

Rugby Union needs reform. It never changed because league came along and it just stayed the same albeit with professional rugby coming into existence…..

 

[Mug Fan]

And now they have cap space for Keaon

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

And now they have cap space for Keaon

Yeap, first thing i thought.... Was talking to an eels mate of mine, said it has been in the works for awhile, that's why the kept Simonsson but he reckons Nelson will sign now...

 

[Xuiz]

R360 have got RTS, Lomax and Papenhuyzen so far

if they get Haas as well that’s a fair chunk of talent poached

 

[Ryan]

R360 have got RTS, Lomax and Papenhuyzen so far

if they get Haas as well that’s a fair chunk of talent poached

RTS is hardly first grade standard these days. The others are a loss but not huge. Haas would be a big loss.

 

[Kim]

The rumor at front row forum is that murray taulagi will be coming to us. That would get the band back together for Cowboy's 2022 left side: Leluia, Holmes, Taulagi. He was a good winger that year. I don't know about now.