Recruitment and Retention for 2025
- Thread starter Eric
- Start date
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
They’ve got the future of the edge backrow sorted nicely with Halangahu Top 30 for 26’ and ‘27 and Stanley Trail Development 26’ and Top 30 27’.
Timeline works with Leilua and Sua both coming off at the end of 26’ IIRC
Timeline works with Leilua and Sua both coming off at the end of 26’ IIRC
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
Are they gonna sign Egan beyond this year do you think? And NickT I think is included for 2026.. im not sure what theyre gonna do tbh.. Halangahu was meant to be a few years off.. CST Maybe plays middle.. I dunno..
Even this weekend this issue will come up.. if Egan drops back, you'd think Egan and NickT probably start with Halangahu off the bench or playing middle maybe.. like I dunno how this next year or so works.
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Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Nice problem to have, Egan’s solid but i just think his ceiling is a lot lower than the other edge backrowers we have, If I had to say yes or no to Egan re-signing I’d say no.
I am interested to see who they target for the middle once Eisenhuth, Molo x 2, JDB, Lawrie all move on at the end of the year (JDB may extend 1 more year). Sele’s injuries make him a massive question mark
It would be reckless to let that many players in one position to go and expect juniors alone to cover the losses. I’m sure they’ve got 3-4 guys in mind + whoever becomes available they can target
I am interested to see who they target for the middle once Eisenhuth, Molo x 2, JDB, Lawrie all move on at the end of the year (JDB may extend 1 more year). Sele’s injuries make him a massive question mark
It would be reckless to let that many players in one position to go and expect juniors alone to cover the losses. I’m sure they’ve got 3-4 guys in mind + whoever becomes available they can target
jodragon40
Staff
The future looks bright in relation to our edges forwards but we really need 2 decent bookends within the next year
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
There are a lot of players retiring or being let go this year.. but there are also a lot of young 2nd row and props that we cant really support all at once... as it is I was looking at the make-up of our squad recently, and we are already very middle heavy.. with very little depth in positions like halves and centres.
I also do think we will aim for atleast 1 more hardened prop to replace JDB or Klemmer in either 2026 or 2027... before we start to rely on the Couchmans and Tonga/Stewart as mainstays.
The other thing messing up our squad balance is guys like Rava, Mick, Lawrie, Fifita chewing up spots and that we dont really intend to develop or use in 1st grade.. Eisenhuth and RFM to a lesser degree, atleast we are ok to use them in the 17 for depth.. but this would be their final year also. And ofcourse Sele, but all clubs have a player in an injury rut.. sometimes thats just life.
I wouldn't mind letting Egan go myself.... if.. in weeks/months to come we find out that Halangahu is coming on much faster than we had hoped for.. but Egan is still young and I think Flanno really likes that reliable player.. tbh I really want to see him play this year also.. a year older now.. and then Nick.. well at his best hes a standout too and very aggressive.. but Top30 is a big call.. I just hope we dont have to make decisions quite yet.... we are basing a lot already on 1 nsw cup game.
I also do think we will aim for atleast 1 more hardened prop to replace JDB or Klemmer in either 2026 or 2027... before we start to rely on the Couchmans and Tonga/Stewart as mainstays.
The other thing messing up our squad balance is guys like Rava, Mick, Lawrie, Fifita chewing up spots and that we dont really intend to develop or use in 1st grade.. Eisenhuth and RFM to a lesser degree, atleast we are ok to use them in the 17 for depth.. but this would be their final year also. And ofcourse Sele, but all clubs have a player in an injury rut.. sometimes thats just life.
I wouldn't mind letting Egan go myself.... if.. in weeks/months to come we find out that Halangahu is coming on much faster than we had hoped for.. but Egan is still young and I think Flanno really likes that reliable player.. tbh I really want to see him play this year also.. a year older now.. and then Nick.. well at his best hes a standout too and very aggressive.. but Top30 is a big call.. I just hope we dont have to make decisions quite yet.... we are basing a lot already on 1 nsw cup game.
Just a Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
We have 17 forward in the squad ATM why can't we keep the 10 young ones, still gives us 7 expirence Su'A Luch and 5 middles, even by the time guys like Weatherall, Meafou come thru Couchman will have 3 or 4 years and be part of experienced players.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Guess it just depends on how the guys develop. If the Couchman’s develop the way we think they will it takes a huge amount of pressure off.
Interested to see how it all plays out
Interested to see how it all plays out
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
I felt like the couchmans were the key to our success (or failure).. a lot of forwards dont really come on till they are 23-24.. including JDB.. but I also recall Host, Sele, Ford etc.. really struggled in early years and were not holding their own in 1st grade.... not even sure if they would make it at all... and it was really hard to keep picking or extending their contracts..... and if the Couchies needed that long we were in real strife.. i.e. we really couldnt keep protecting the 2 of em... on top of having the wave of 19-20 years olds behind them also needing development.. thankfully.. Toby is exceeding expectations already at 21yrs of age.. I dont feel like we need to cover for him at all.. Ryan i thought was ready too and thats a real let down.. but if he got there this year he should be good for next year too.
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
Is it 17 forwards not including hookers? So 19 forwards, 11 backs? Thats what we have now actually.. though again we are definitely carrying a few more forwards than almost every other club when I looked at it.. and if we shed say 2 wingers, and replaced them with depth for half and centre.. that might get us closer to the goal. And we can try to hide a few more depth players in development positions.
But your plan would be a bit of a changing of the guard in terms of forwards, right now we have 9 'old' middles + 2 couchies, potentially ur taking it down to 5 + 2 couchies.. but also tbf.. we are carrying around 4 oldies that we dont really want to use..
As Mailroom says.. its interesting.. and I feel like Flanno sometimes 'goes with the flow' of opportunity also.. not completely rigid.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Hoping for more good news today and into the next week.
Rava goes to Souths effective immediately.
Frank Molo released effective immediately.
Klemmer signed, effective immediately.
Latu extended.
Rava goes to Souths effective immediately.
Frank Molo released effective immediately.
Klemmer signed, effective immediately.
Latu extended.
Edward
SGI Jersey Flegg
Probably a couple of others Flanno wouldn't mind offloading though not sure who he would have in mind to bring in. Frank Molo for Klemmer is a no brainer and I heard somewhere Lawson was in line for a top 30 spot. Based on his game in the trials, I think this is a good idea.