Round 1 team so far in 2026

[TSP]

He still has 10 months before he has to report for pre season training.

That’s quite true but it’s a large wadster of cash to keep aside “ just in case” he signs.

And maybe lost opportunities to sign alternatives or a good kid might be held up.

Clubs love to plan. Especially SGI at the moment when it’s pretty much public policy.

And usually it’s a wish list and contingencies. I think he’s in Flannos goldilocks zone, but not a genuine desire.

My thoughts anyway.

 

[TSP]

TBF, it's not just his manager. That's a managers job. But it would be nice to get clarity one way or another ASAP. Though Gutho would still be good next year. Just not as good as Bula.

I don’t think it’s in the players best interest to hold 3 clubs to ransom over 1%.

If it is, we should change their fee structure.

I am more interested in what Gutho can bring closer to the line action than just signing Bula per se.

I used to laugh at Dylan Edwards at his early days at fb, now I can’t get enough of him.

Or a Tedesco, comes back like the plague.

 

[GCRV]

That’s quite true but it’s a large wadster of cash to keep aside “ just in case” he signs.

And maybe lost opportunities to sign alternatives or a good kid might be held up.

Clubs love to plan. Especially SGI at the moment when it’s pretty much public policy.

And usually it’s a wish list and contingencies. I think he’s in Flannos goldilocks zone, but not a genuine desire.

My thoughts anyway.

Should be easy enough to spend the money though with Luciano, Cook, Blocka, Sloan all coming off contract, none of whom will be kept (Cook to retire). Then the following year Gutho will retire and Holmes might go to the ESL for his last couple of years.

Going to have a mountain of money within the cap.

 

[jodragon40]

You think Kyle will start at 5/8 then move to hooker to give Cook a break?

That is the big question who or how are we going to give our only specialist hooker a breather. No doubt in my mind that needs to be addressed as a matter of high priority

 

[TSP]

Should be easy enough to spend the money though with Luciano, Cook, Blocka, Sloan all coming off contract, none of whom will be kept (Cook to retire). Then the following year Gutho will retire and Holmes might go to the ESL for his last couple of years.

Going to have a mountain of money within the cap.

Sure, but I think 900 is still a hefty chunk of 12m or so.

According to zt, let’s look at a couple of other players;

Walshy $800, AJ $850, Edwards $850, Herbie $850, I don’t think I need to go much further.

Against these guys, I can’t see any kind of argument for any of the “coalition of the willing” to offer him more than 750 as things stand ( although someone will!)

In terms of improving his own game, Flanno is the obvious choice.

In terms of roster power, atm the dogs.

Comfort and holidays, Benji. There’s the easy money anyway.

Source:

https://www.zerotackle.com/players/highest-paid-players/

Its probably not 100% accurate, but in the zone somewhere. ZT is a good site, but always a guide.

That’s comparing the stuff I know from the few players family I know to their actual reports.

Just as an aside, I’d be using Gutho to help recruit him. He’s an enigma.

 

[Edward]

Sure, but I think 900 is still a hefty chunk of 12m or so.

According to zt, let’s look at a couple of other players;

Walshy $800, AJ $850, Edwards $850, Herbie $850, I don’t think I need to go much further.

Against these guys, I can’t see any kind of argument for any of the “coalition of the willing” to offer him more than 750 as things stand ( although someone will!)

In terms of improving his own game, Flanno is the obvious choice.

In terms of roster power, atm the dogs.

Comfort and holidays, Benji.

Source:

https://www.zerotackle.com/players/highest-paid-players/

Its probably not 100% accurate, but in the zone somewhere. ZT is a good site, but always a guide.

That’s comparing the stuff I know from the few players family I know to their actual reports.

Just as an aside, I’d be using Gutho to help recruit him. He’s an enigma.

Walsh on 800k?!

 

[redv4life]

Sure, but I think 900 is still a hefty chunk of 12m or so.

According to zt, let’s look at a couple of other players;

Walshy $800, AJ $850, Edwards $850, Herbie $850, I don’t think I need to go much further.

Against these guys, I can’t see any kind of argument for any of the “coalition of the willing” to offer him more than 750 as things stand ( although someone will!)

In terms of improving his own game, Flanno is the obvious choice.

In terms of roster power, atm the dogs.

Comfort and holidays, Benji. There’s the easy money anyway.

Source:

https://www.zerotackle.com/players/highest-paid-players/

Its probably not 100% accurate, but in the zone somewhere. ZT is a good site, but always a guide.

That’s comparing the stuff I know from the few players family I know to their actual reports.

Just as an aside, I’d be using Gutho to help recruit him. He’s an enigma.

Who’s game has Flanno improved? The tigers finished ahead of us last season and probably will this year. Not sure how Tigers are a holiday but we aren’t.

 

[TSP]

Walsh on 800k?!

That’s what they claim per reports.

There’s hope for us all if Walsh is on 800!

 

[TSP]

Whose game has Flanno improved? The tigers finished ahead of us last season and probably will this year. Not sure how Tigers are a holiday but we aren’t.

It’s relative.

You had a weaker roster which played more strongly.

Tigers at virtually full strength by the end of the season and got easily run over. That was a very bad sign.


Benji said “they were gassed” and admitted that his players ran at 80%.

It was a noble reflection to make publicly but a worrying concession about his lack of ability.

Career wise Benjis is the worst coach in the NRL, 36%, Flanno is 52%.

Benji enjoyed his last premiership as coach from general admission. Whatever his merits, he can’t coach. It’s not easy, no shame in that.

I could blah on, but it’s just my view.

So I’m still with Flanno.

 

[Justadragon]

The more I think about it my gut feeling is the Atkinson/KF combo wont be split. I also really wouldnt like to see LKT put in at 14, I'd rather he keep developing at5/8 in ressies. My option would be bring O'neill in at 14.

 

[TheRev]

The more I think about it my gut feeling is the Atkinson/KF combo wont be split. I also really wouldnt like to see LKT put in at 14, I'd rather he keep developing at5/8 in ressies. My option would be bring O'neill in at 14.

we also have atleast 3 more spots to fill.. so we could pull a hooker/14, but by the time we got someone here.. maybe Liddle is back (hopefully was a once off injury..).. it does however highlight that hooker is a problem given that our cover in Muhleissen is many months away

but I actually believe Ando when he says they wont make hasty decisions for the sake of a short-term problem.. but it could result in a rly tough 2026 for us.

 

[Ryan]

we also have atleast 3 more spots to fill.. so we could pull a hooker/14, but by the time we got someone here.. maybe Liddle is back (hopefully was a once off injury..).. it does however highlight that hooker is a problem given that our cover in Muhleissen is many months away

but I actually believe Ando when he says they wont make hasty decisions for the sake of a short-term problem.. but it could result in a rly tough 2026 for us.

I like what Ando says but would fans be ok with someone taking up a top 30 spot just so Flanno has an excuse not to have his favourite player play in the position Flanno says he was recruited for?

 

[Ryan]

The more I think about it my gut feeling is the Atkinson/KF combo wont be split. I also really wouldnt like to see LKT put in at 14, I'd rather he keep developing at5/8 in ressies. My option would be bring O'neill in at 14.

It's surely got to be LKT and Atkinson in the halves and Kyle at 14 if Liddle is indeed unavailable.

 

[jodragon40]

It's surely got to be LKT and Atkinson in the halves and Kyle at 14 if Liddle is indeed unavailable.

Based on my personal experiences Liddle wont be available for sometime

 

[Ryan]

Based on my personal experiences Liddle wont be available for sometime

I don't think he'll be available for the first 3~4 rounds based on the prognosis the media is reporting. But Flanno seems to believe it's possible he'll be back.

 

[RufusRex]

f*cking SuA ... if he simply puts the ball down we finish the season two places higher (above Bunnies and Tigers) ...
Worst turning moment in a game i can remember.

 

[TheRev]

has to be atleast 3-4 weeks with Liddle missing.. hate to say it but if we have a bad 3-4 weeks after Vegas... its basically us done in terms of Top 8, but Top 8 isnt really the goal this year... we just need to do better than last year, harden those young forwards... and just get some positivity happening ahead of 2027...

So I just dont see us risking Liddle to a longer term injury if hes not 100%.. I still have nightmares about the way CT kept getting bought back last season.. should have been playing reserve grade, going slow.. and testing himself out... but they kept putting him into 1st grade and he kept leaving us short in games... atleast 1 of them was pre-match instead of mid-match.

 

[Ryan]

f*cking SuA ... if he simply puts the ball down we finish the season two places higher (above Bunnies and Tigers) ...
Worst turning moment in a game i can remember.

I bet there are plenty of what ifs Bunnies and Tigers fans are saying.

My opinion is there is no reason to sugarcoat last season. Flanno needs to own it and show he's learned a few lessons from it. I think he's still got it as a coach. But he should be under pressure after the last 2 years.

 

[Frank Facer]

I take it you aren't in favour of signing Bula? How many times have you seen him play?

He's not as good as Walsh or Ponga but if we got him for 900k, he'd be on significantly less money than those 2.

I haven't seen that much of Bula. I know he was pretty good in his debut season, but doesn't looked to have go on with it. As I have said, if he was "that good" Wests would have taken up the 900K a season option and others clubs would be lining up to him more than 900K a season. As I have also said, 900K a season is a big chunk of our salary cap and fullback is one of the most important positions on the field. I wouldn't want him blocking us signing someone else better, taking up too much cap space or blocking a youngsters path who is better. Do you think he is the fullback who would be instrumental in winning us or any other club a premiership?
If you had the option, would you prefer Sharpe or Bula?

 

[Frank Facer]

When he's fit, if possible I'd like Flanno to have him on for longer. Not sure what the average was last year but I think less than 40 minutes. It would be good if he can maintain the same output for 50 minutes or even a bit more.

I agree. I think he is our best hooker. In one way I think he should be our starting hooker, but I also know he is really good coming off the bench. He should be playing at least 50 minutes a game. I don't even mind the idea of him playing 80 minutes. I like 80 minute hookers. It give the team more cohesion and gives up more interchanges to use elsewhere. Liddle averaged 45 minutes a game last year.