Recruitment and Retention for 2025

[jodragon40]

If Tonga is ready to step up, won't be such a big deal. Middle rotation of Couchmans, JDB, Frank Molo and Tonga isn't bad. But one more good middle would be useful. So Tonga can slowly be introduced and pressure is on Frank Molo to deliver.

Ogden or Makatoa interest Flanagan?

 

[jodragon40]

I think Flanno played hardball on DSaf, seems very likely he is @ the dolphins, RCG also seems like its not happening unless the other parties all pull out.. but I think that agent might have burnt Flanno also, suspect they had the deal close to finished before they started courting other clubs all over again.

Probably could have gotten Lodge for a steal until yesterday, but I'd say hes definitely on our radar still.. not all clubs will be willing to talk to him.. the question is what is his price gonna be.. beyond him yeah I dunno.. not sure if Welch is interested.. and beyond him god knows.. we have to start taking punts, I think the other clubs have picked the eyes out of the english league, and again here we are in the off-season trying to get talent for the upcoming season, but everyone is in contract.

Well the Eels let 2 other props go, Ogden and Makatoa, other props available on the cheap would be Hola (Raiders), Moeroa ( Storm), Lodge is a hard man but his discipline is an issue, Liam Knight has plenty of experience but I believe that Bennett wants him back. Otherwise slim pickings

 

[Red T]

Hamish Stewart looks like he will play first grade next year.

 

[TheRev]

I dont think were in any position to pass up any upgrades we can get, but unless JAC was a swap for Ravalawa, im far more concerned with our centre and potentially fullback depth.. we are going to be relying on Allan and Mat Feagai as our depth 1thru5 currently.. and we dont have any specialist centres other than Suli/Val.. if indeed Val is even playing centres.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

I dont think were in any position to pass up any upgrades we can get, but unless JAC was a swap for Ravalawa, im far more concerned with our centre and potentially fullback depth.. we are going to be relying on Allan and Mat Feagai as our depth 1thru5 currently.. and we dont have any specialist centres other than Suli/Val.. if indeed Val is even playing centres.

Manly: Turbo, Saab, Garrick, Koula, Talau, Hopoate, Faulalo.
Titans: Kini, AKP, Kelly, Sami, Fifita, Campbell, AJ Brimson, J DeGroot,
We should be targeting players from this list, either a swap for Hunt with a Titan and the more i look at the Manly backs can't see how they all fit in there next year, can we possibly get one of them?
Garrick and Koula can play Fullback, Wing, Centre
Campbell and AJ play Fullback, 5/8

 

[RedV01]

I dont think were in any position to pass up any upgrades we can get, but unless JAC was a swap for Ravalawa, im far more concerned with our centre and potentially fullback depth.. we are going to be relying on Allan and Mat Feagai as our depth 1thru5 currently.. and we dont have any specialist centres other than Suli/Val.. if indeed Val is even playing centres.

I'd sign JAC on less than he worth but introductions to the best coke dealers in the Gong.

One a more serious note, it's been a while since the club was mentioned in any kind of scandal. I think they can afford to bring JAC onboard. He probably wouldn't have to move either.

 

[TheRev]

Manly: Turbo, Saab, Garrick, Koula, Talau, Hopoate, Faulalo.
Titans: Kini, AKP, Kelly, Sami, Fifita, Campbell, AJ Brimson, J DeGroot,
We should be targeting players from this list, either a swap for Hunt with a Titan and the more i look at the Manly backs can't see how they all fit in there next year, can we possibly get one of them?
Garrick and Koula can play Fullback, Wing, Centre
Campbell and AJ play Fullback, 5/8

o Of the Manly backs we might be chasing.. the ones I hope we go for are Faulalo or Hopoate.. although Hopoate has shown he's a fullback or nothing imo.. but these are exciting prospects.. the one I suspect we are actually shooting for is Jaxson Paulo.. who im rly not excited about.. I feel like we would be doing Manly a favour by taking him. If for some reason Garrick was homesick.. that would be interesting.

o Of the Titans its just a question of how do the Titans motivate Campbell to want to move interstate? Right now he keeps getting selected in 1st grade..

o My recruitment expectations are so low currently, I feel like despite winning 11 games and being a standout story.. we still seem to be 16th or 17th in terms of priority for players to come too.. its a real slap in the face.. doesnt feel like we got much of a reward for our efforts.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

o Of the Manly backs we might be chasing.. the ones I hope we go for are Faulalo or Hopoate.. although Hopoate has shown he's a fullback or nothing imo.. but these are exciting prospects.. the one I suspect we are actually shooting for is Jaxson Paulo.. who im rly not excited about.. I feel like we would be doing Manly a favour by taking him. If for some reason Garrick was homesick.. that would be interesting.

o Of the Titans its just a question of how do the Titans motivate Campbell to want to move interstate? Right now he keeps getting selected in 1st grade..

o My recruitment expectations are so low currently, I feel like despite winning 11 games and being a standout story.. we still seem to be 16th or 17th in terms of priority for players to come too.. its a real slap in the face.. doesnt feel like we got much of a reward for our efforts.

Ah forgot about Jaxson Paulo he can play centre/wing and if desperate fullback as well..
Will be a very interesting off season, we need to start moving on, a few of these contracted players.

 

[GCRV]

Manly: Turbo, Saab, Garrick, Koula, Talau, Hopoate, Faulalo.
Titans: Kini, AKP, Kelly, Sami, Fifita, Campbell, AJ Brimson, J DeGroot,
We should be targeting players from this list, either a swap for Hunt with a Titan and the more i look at the Manly backs can't see how they all fit in there next year, can we possibly get one of them?
Garrick and Koula can play Fullback, Wing, Centre
Campbell and AJ play Fullback, 5/8

Campbell would be a big signing but is there any indication the Titans are prepared to let him go? I think they might let Brimson go but not Campbell.

 

[TheRev]

Campbell would be a big signing but is there any indication the Titans are prepared to let him go? I think they might let Brimson go but not Campbell.

I mean Kini has stolen that #1 jersey that both Campbell and Brimson were ideally suited too.. so there must be some belief within the Titans walls that they probably have 1 too many on big coin... but its a nice problem to have..

Campbell though.. like he was born in Cronulla, but moved to the gold coast @6yrs of age (i.e. basically his entire life is in qld).. was recruited by the Titans early.. which was the club where his dad was the first player signed.. I mean its a hell of a legacy to be leaving.. I just dont see what his motivation to leave would be.. surely hes the starting 6 next year.

Brimson is the one I feel should be more likely to want out, but by all accounts he really loves it there also.. so I dont see how we leverage one of these guys out.. even if the Titans were desperate to sign Hunt...

 

[GCRV]

I mean Kini has stolen that #1 jersey that both Campbell and Brimson were ideally suited too.. so there must be some belief within the Titans walls that they probably have 1 too many on big coin... but its a nice problem to have..

Campbell though.. like he was born in Cronulla, but moved to the gold coast @6yrs of age (i.e. basically his entire life is in qld).. was recruited by the Titans early.. which was the club where his dad was the first player signed.. I mean its a hell of a legacy to be leaving.. I just dont see what his motivation to leave would be.. surely hes the starting 6 next year.

Brimson is the one I feel should be more likely to want out, but by all accounts he really loves it there also.. so I dont see how we leverage one of these guys out.. even if the Titans were desperate to sign Hunt...

He seems to have a found a home at 5/8.

 

[Chris M]

So what's going on with RCG? Does he still have offers on the table? I bet for two years and for less money than Dragons were offering. It'd be nice if he were to come crawling back and Flanno would tell him the two year deal is still on the table but for 50k less.

 

[Red T]

It would have to be for less money.

Also, now JAC looks almost certain to boned by the Grubs, I wonder what he will be on the market for ? Not his current 550 K,

 

[Chris M]

It would have to be for less money.

Also, now JAC looks almost certain to boned by the Grubs, I wonder what he will be on the market for ? Not his current 550 K,

JAC is 29 now so it'll be interesting to see how long h wants. 2 years and then another contract at the end of that or 3 or 4 years to see him into retirement.

 

[Red T]

If the price is right I would think about signing him. I am not that worried he did some powder.

RCG has apparently been released by Parramatta. He seems to have quite an ego saying he will stay in Sydney. But at what club ? Apart from us I can only think of the Tigers as a possible club who might sign him. His asking price is very high for a veteran forward.

The solution : He plays for Saints and takes a pay icut or he can piss off to the Super League !

 

[GCRV]

RCG has apparently been released by Parramatta. He seems to have quite an ego saying he will stay in Sydney. But at what club ? Apart from us I can only think of the Tigers as a possible club who might sign him. His asking price is very high for a veteran forward.

The solution : He plays for Saints and takes a pay icut or he can piss off to the Super League !

 

[Chris M]

If the price is right I would think about signing him. I am not that worried he did some powder.

RCG has apparently been released by Parramatta. He seems to have quite an ego saying he will stay in Sydney. But at what club ? Apart from us I can only think of the Tigers as a possible club who might sign him. His asking price is very high for a veteran forward.

The solution : He plays for Saints and takes a pay icut or he can piss off to the Super League !

There is one more thing which could link JAC and RCG. Look to move CT from the wing to prop. Why not? He gets through a lot of work on the wing but is too slow to be a good winger. He would have more work to do in the middle but only for about 40min a game rather than 80. He's certainly big enough. He's probably trying to keep weight off for the wing. If he allowed himself to put on a couple more kgs, only Fifita would be bigger in the top 30.

 

[TheRev]

Listening to Gus on 100% Footy, hes using the language "We will do whats best for the club", in other words JAC almost certainly gone.. Im not rly fussed either way on him, has a lot of injuries and doesnt cover any positions bar wing.. but if it was something we were looking for sure..

RCG I would be shocked if he doesnt have somewhere lined up.. I do keep hearing there is a slim chance its still us.. but surely thats only a thing if his other options have dried up.. the ones he was willing to torpedo our deal over.

 

[RedV01]

Listening to Gus on 100% Footy, hes using the language "We will do whats best for the club", in other words JAC almost certainly gone.. Im not rly fussed either way on him, has a lot of injuries and doesnt cover any positions bar wing.. but if it was something we were looking for sure..

RCG I would be shocked if he doesnt have somewhere lined up.. I do keep hearing there is a slim chance its still us.. but surely thats only a thing if his other options have dried up.. the ones he was willing to torpedo our deal over.

Ditto. Not really fussed either way but one thing it would do, fix the lack of speed the club has had for a long time. If Sloan keeps his spot, Val in the centres JAC on the wing. I remember the last time we won a finals game. Against the Broncos. David Fifita made a break and comfortably outran our winger to score. Say good bye to that state of affairs. Would also be good timing if we could get him for 2 years. Allow blokes like Williams and Kirk, Rumble plenty of time to do an apprenticeship in NSW Cup.

So not really fussed on JAC due to his ability and form but I think for other reasons he'd be a good signing.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Ogden or Makatoa

Ofahiki Ogden or Makahesi Makatoa. Both played roughly same amount of games; 52 & 42. But both different types of Props. Ogden is more of a hard running, barging front-rower while Makatoa is a worker. Makatoa has only started in 2 of his 42 games, BA sees him as a bench forward that stablises the middle, while Ogden can start. Makatoa averages 93 metres per game with 93% tackle effeciency, while Ogden averages 131 metres with 94% tackle effeciency. Stats lean in Ogden's favour, even with less minutes and games overall.

26 plays 31. Go for the younger man. Ogden with the better stats too. Neither big boppers, at 106k tho.. but hey another reject or is this because of Eels salary cap constraint, in which case I say take him if no one else.