Recruitment & Retention 2027

Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
George Sancti said:
With Tom Dearden, Jahrome Hughes and Luke Metcalf all locked into long‑term deals, the next representative‑level halfbacks won’t be available until Sam Walker and Nathan Cleary come off contract for the 2028 season. Therefore, I suspect DA has put any plans for chasing an elite, established halfback on hold. Instead, is concentrating on stockpiling the best young halves the club can find and backing their development system to produce a representative‑level playmaker over the next couple of years.
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Jaxon Purdue will be better than Tom Dearden and Luke Mecalf and is off contract at the end of this year. Jahrome Hughes is really good. I predict Purdue will be Sam Walker's long term Qld's halves partner, when he takes Munster's spot in the next 2 or 3 years.
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
Frank Facer said:
Jaxon Purdue will be better than Tom Dearden and Luke Mecalf and is off contract at the end of this year. Jahrome Hughes is really good. I predict Purdue will be Sam Walker's long term Qld's halves partner, when he takes Munster's spot in the next 2 or 3 years.
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Dearden has been one of the best players over the past 2 years. You might be right but I doubt it personally.
 
K

Kim

SGI Jersey Flegg
George Sancti said:
With Tom Dearden, Jahrome Hughes and Luke Metcalf all locked into long‑term deals, the next representative‑level halfbacks won’t be available until Sam Walker and Nathan Cleary come off contract for the 2028 season. Therefore, I suspect DA has put any plans for chasing an elite, established halfback on hold. Instead, is concentrating on stockpiling the best young halves the club can find and backing their development system to produce a representative‑level playmaker over the next couple of years.
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Yep. And it is the best approach. There is no guarantee any star half will ever come to us so we have to grow our own. Get in a bunch of young
talent and let them compete.
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Kim said:
Yep. And it is the best approach. There is no guarantee any star half will ever come to us so we have to grow our own. Get in a bunch of young
talent and let them compete.
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I do agree about getting the best young talent and let them compete. But in my opinion, the best we have done with that approach is Mathew Head, who's career was ruined by injuries.

I have not mentioned Sam Walker, because he has been signed up by Easts long term. They got him from Qld before he debuted. He will be exceptional and it was obvious to me from the first few games he played in first grade.

Dylan Brown who is a 5/8 also debuted at 18 and was very good in his debut year. I think Newy have paid overs for him and don't see him as a halfback.

They are another 2 who both debuted at 18.
 
K

Kim

SGI Jersey Flegg
Frank Facer said:
I do agree about getting the best young talent and let them compete. But in my opinion, the best we have done with that approach is Mathew Head, who's career was ruined by injuries.

I have not mentioned Sam Walker, because he has been signed up by Easts long term. They got him from Qld before he debuted. He will be exceptional and it was obvious to me from the first few games he played in first grade.

Dylan Brown who is a 5/8 also debuted at 18 and was very good in his debut year. I think Newy have paid overs for him and don't see him as a halfback.

They are another 2 who both debuted at 18.
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If someone is good enough at 18 and circumstances are right then pick him but I do not think we have previously tried the approach of signing a logjam of young talent then letting them put themselves forward. Instead previously we've bet our wages on this player or that player (e.g., Amone, Sullivan) and when he failed there was no "next man up". We can't fall in love with young players. If we look at the young 6s and 7s we have now, we could name five or six competing possibles. Great. If one (e.g., Kade Reed) falls over, another will take his place. For such an important position as the halves, this should always be our approach. Just keep them coming.
 
D

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
He did play a lot of 7 im getting older by the day sorry about that chief
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Sometimes the players role doesn't represent the number on their back. Soward was a halfback, despite being named a 6. He controlled the side with assistance of Hornby, ditto Widdop with Hunt. I thought Soward had an underutilised running game but was an elite kick. Widdop troublesome shoulders unfortunately cut short his nrl career.
 
K

Kim

SGI Jersey Flegg
Dave03 said:
I hope we give Atko a long rope to show his effectiveness as a halfback, I doubt he hits the ground running. All I want to see is improvement throughout the season but expect it to be a rollercoaster year for him. I assume we'll ease him into the role with a focus on his kicking game & set management.
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He looks like he plays gritty and cheeky. Good attributes in a half, especially as he grows in confidence. Show him trust, Flanno!
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Dave03 said:
Sometimes the players role doesn't represent the number on their back. Soward was a halfback, despite being named a 6. He controlled the side with assistance of Hornby, ditto Widdop with Hunt. I thought Soward had an underutilised running game but was an elite kick. Widdop troublesome shoulders unfortunately cut short his nrl career.
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Thats how I remembered it
 
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