Recruitment and Retention for 2025

[jodragon40]

They are trying to punt lawrie(He was signed for big money so it’s impossible to shift his salary) and RFM/Michael Molo will likely go as well. It takes time to overhaul a roster.
Ivan Cleary is about to sign Moses Mbye to Penrith, so if that doesn’t show you that every club has ordinary players that fill out their top 30 then idk what will.

You’re overrating the young guys btw, Egan was very solid but he wasn’t spectacular in NSW cup and the jump from that level to NRL is huge.
Halangahu hasn’t even played a game of NSW cup yet and only just turned 18, Finau Latu similarly has only played 1 game of NSW cup.

Loko Tonga is the only one who I think can genuinely crack first grade in 2025 and stay in the 17.
Just my opinion and I respect yours but I don’t agree

In my view you are spot on. The number of times the next big thing has actually made it through ressies to 1sts you can count on my 2 hands over my many years of playing and coaching. Unless you have actually played the game at the highest level then you really don't know how hard it is to take those steps from promising junior through to ressies then 1sts. Personally I feel because we all mostly say " I hope he can take that final step". It gives the illusion and mentality that it is only one more small step when in fact it is far far more than a step. Last season there were 200,000 registered RL players from U6 to 1st grade. Out of that number 378 played 1st grade, traditionally less than 0.5% actually pull on a 1st grade jersey. Tough gig being a RL player with dreams of actually making it to the big stage. In the period 1908 - 2010 there had been 8870 1st grade players.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

In my view you are spot on. The number of times the next big thing has actually made it through ressies to 1sts you can count on my 2 hands over my many years of playing and coaching. Unless you have actually played the game at the highest level then you really don't know how hard it is to take those steps from promising junior through to ressies then 1sts. Personally I feel because we all mostly say " I hope he can take that final step". It gives the illusion and mentality that it is only one more small step when in fact it is far far more than a step. Last season there were 200,000 registered RL players from U6 to 1st grade. Out of that number 378 played 1st grade, traditionally less than 0.5% actually pull on a 1st grade jersey. Tough gig being a RL player with dreams of actually making it to the big stage. In the period 1908 - 2010 there had been 8870 1st grade players.

Exactly, and the number gets a lot smaller when you look at players who have played 20 games,50 games and 100 games of first grade.

It often takes 2-3 preseasons to get a young man’s body NRL ready and conditioned for first grade rigours. That’s why I try to play down the fans baying for the young forwards in particular to be thrown in. It is such a huge jump from Flegg to Reggie’s to First grade

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

They are trying to punt lawrie(He was signed for big money

Neither is correct

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Sharks have rejected our release request for Atkinson and have tabled him an extension deal.
Appears they will push Kennedy out.

 

[TheRev]

farrrrrkkkk.. if we can get him for 2026 we should be good.. but this could be the worst case scenario...

 

[GCRV]

farrrrrkkkk.. if we can get him for 2026 we should be good.. but this could be the worst case scenario...

Hopefully Reed will be good to go by then. Too optimistic?

 

[TheRev]

I mean if we have him signed for 2026.. we can still agitate for 2025.. perspective changes once a player is signed elsewhere... but if he has signed nothing.. then the sharks potentially get to keep him if they come up with a decent counter offer.. which tbh im surprised they can do with Kennedy still on their books.

Edit: Now that I have recovered lol.. I guess nothing is done yet.. but this could go either way.. I really wanted him over Ilias.. hes fast, clever.. I think hes a longterm part of the club and will work well with Kyle.

Reed (if he comes on) will be over several years, his goal is to be the back up 7 in the next 2yrs.

 

[GCRV]

I mean if we have him signed for 2026.. we can still agitate for 2025.. perspective changes once a player is signed elsewhere... but if he has signed nothing.. then the sharks potentially get to keep him if they come up with a decent counter offer.. which tbh im surprised they can do with Kennedy still on their books.

Edit: Now that I have recovered lol.. I guess nothing is done yet.. but this could go either way.. I really wanted him over Ilias.. hes fast, clever.. I think hes a longterm part of the club and will work well with Kyle.

Reed (if he comes on) will be over several years, his goal is to be the back up 7 in the next 2yrs.

Maybe he can be rushed. Multiple clubs fielded teenage halves last season.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I mean if we have him signed for 2026.. we can still agitate for 2025.. perspective changes once a player is signed elsewhere... but if he has signed nothing.. then the sharks potentially get to keep him if they come up with a decent counter offer.. which tbh im surprised they can do with Kennedy still on their books.

Edit: Now that I have recovered lol.. I guess nothing is done yet.. but this could go either way.. I really wanted him over Ilias.. hes fast, clever.. I think hes a longterm part of the club and will work well with Kyle.

Reed (if he comes on) will be over several years, his goal is to be the back up 7 in the next 2yrs.

Yeah that’s a good point, it’s different if Atkinson if a guaranteed starter but he’s not.
I reckon ability wise he’s the best half available, I’d sign him for 2026 and let Reed/LKT battle it out for the other halves spot over the next 2 years

 

[Dave03]

Kennedy only signed until 2025. Looks like they'll go for a Hynes (FB), Tricky/Atkinson (Halves) combo. TBH if their offer is similar to ours they'll be very confident of re-signing him. This sucks for us.

 

[Illusion]

Lawrie to 6 Rav to 7 and Big G. Rose out of retirement and we should be good to go ...........

 

[TheRev]

Ilias doing his medical with us today they said, so id say chances are a decision out of Atkinson must be imminent in the next few days.. if he stays with the sharks.. we go with Ilias..

I cant imagine we would buy both, but its not impossible.. given one is potentially 2026.. but I think money/top30 spots would make just 1 more likely.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Ilias doing his medical with us today they said, so id say chances are a decision out of Atkinson must be imminent in the next few days.. if he stays with the sharks.. we go with Ilias..

I cant imagine we would buy both, but its not impossible.. given one is potentially 2026.. but I think money/top30 spots would make just 1 more likely.

Where’d you see the Illias news?
I seen one of those ITK Tigers podcasts say Douehi is off to the dragons then deleted it a few minutes later earlier today

 

[TheRev]

Its on various forums, think it came from one of the journos re: Ilias (doesnt mean we r signing him tho... we did a medical with DSaf a few months ago and never pursued him). I reckon we are just keeping both trains in motion so this doesnt drag on too much longer.

Douehi I think was a lock for our 30th position before Flanno seemed to decide he wanted to hold the 30th spot open into the new year.. I still think Douieh does make sense to us for 5/8 and Ctr cover though.. but maybe he wants to consider other options.. plus see which halfback he gets.. Atko is more of a 5/8 also potentially... Ilias is more of a 7.

 

[GCRV]

Where’d you see the Illias news?
I seen one of those ITK Tigers podcasts say Douehi is off to the dragons then deleted it a few minutes later earlier today

From what I've seen of Douehi, I think he's underrated. Decent ball playing and running. Like Cameron Munster lite. Just a bit injury prone.

 

[RedVictory]

From what I've seen of Douehi, I think he's underrated. Decent ball playing and running. Like Cameron Munster lite. Just a bit injury prone.

Funny you say that. I remember when it looked like Munster was moving on from the Storm it was strongly rumoured Melbourne were high on Douehi as his replacement. If Bellamy is high on someone then they must be doing something right. Although this was of course before his most recent ACL injury.

 

[Chris M]

Ilias doing his medical with us today they said, so id say chances are a decision out of Atkinson must be imminent in the next few days.. if he stays with the sharks.. we go with Ilias..

I cant imagine we would buy both, but its not impossible.. given one is potentially 2026.. but I think money/top30 spots would make just 1 more likely.

I think Ilias might be better anyway. Needs to work on his game but probably copped too much of the blame for Souffs form in the first half of last season.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Where is the big prop we need badly Flanno. You lost May now pull out the finger old son and sign us a decent bookend enforcer.

 

[Illusion]

Where is the big prop we need badly Flanno. You lost May now pull out the finger old son and sign us a decent bookend enforcer.

Surely there is someone from English Super League .........

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

How the sweet f*ck are the wooden spooners beating us to the punch for good players. Are we that on the nose with other clubs and players or is Flanno proving to be a pissweak salesman? The two most dire spots we need to fill, an organising half and a prop with mongrel and an offload, continue to elude us. Dead set all he has given us since he arrived are over the hill has beens or 30s guys with minimal years left in the game. C'mon Flanno give me more faith in you.