Recruitment and Retention for 2026

RedV01

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
RedVHeartbeat said:
Some of us long suffering fans demand answers from our club bosses as to why Hunt was kept too long, why Flanagans son was signed, why the quality Zac Lomax and now Sione Finau were forced out, why we have not been able to lure any elite players, why we extend moderate quality players, why three guys past their best were expected to walk us into the finals.
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The recruitment and retention under the Flanno regime has been a sick joke. Why I think everyone is happy about Anderson taking over.

Even good signings like Cook and Holmes are on overs and rapidly approaching the end of their careers.

I'm sorry to be negative but I can hardly bare the celebrations after one win. A game I think everyone admits Canberra played very bad. 2 penalty kicks failed to find touch in one game!
 
Mailroomsgi

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
The issue is more that when you let players go, the replacement ideally is better or of a very similar level

I was thinking that targeting Albert Hopoate should be something we consider, can play wing and centre and won’t break the bank
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I'm not too shattered about Finau going, im a little disappointed because hes my favourite of our wingers (and we have many), he has done his apprentiship properly in reserve grade (thats the hard part getting them to stay-put and be patient), but with him going and hopefully Sloan, we really have noone of any quality (or pace) left for right wing in our system...... that said SFinaus injuries have been the main thing that held him back.

Jesse Williams (injury prone thus far and struggles with the hitups and ball security so far in reserve grade), Lyric (jury is still out) and Lawson (jury is still out).. none of them are as good an option as Finau (for 2026).. We will assumably recruit someone external.. but he has to be better than Finau, and honestly we almost need to recruit 2.. 1 winger and 1 fullback/winger... we might also have to live with Ravalawa yet..

But the thing is imo that we need some wingers with speed and aerial skills.. like I dont think its something we can continue to ignore.. if we run safe halves and safe centres (Val an exception) and at times safe 2nd rowers (though MMolo prob not here next year and Egan is wonderful but hes also a defensive focussed player), we dont have the strike to run around teams.. not without a fast winger who can close that last 10m gap before the defence gets there... and.. if we arent a threat out wide... then grubbers into the ingoal becomes something we need to rely on.. but in order to do that you need to be able to catch the short dropout.. so imo you need to have guys who can jump and have atleast above average pace on the wing.. doesnt have to be god mode.. but you cant run 2 tanks imo in the modern game... if you do... you will lose a lot of close games against sides that have speed and aerial skills.

90% of the wingers out there do it all thesedays.. Coates is the best of the best in this regard.. guys who can still do the hard yards and run 100m or even 200m in a game.. but arent a weakness in the air or as finishers.. thats what we are missing... hoping we can pick up someones scraps in this regard, would rly love a Sloan replacement.. Winger who can migrate to Fullback in the next 1-2 years.
 
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Mug Fan

Mug Fan

SGI NSW Cup
Top 30 fo 2026 so far.

Atkinson
Cook
Toby
Ryan
Egan
Feagai
Flanagan
Guler
Gutherson
Halangahu
Homes
Ilias
King-Togia
Lawson
Lawrie
Leilua
Liddle
Pacific Tonga
Ravalawa
Sele
Sloan
Stewart
Su'A
Suli
Tsougranis
Tuipulotu

Supplementary list

Buchanan
Reed
Stanley-Traill
Weatherall

4 top 30 spots left, we really need to clear some players out to give us room for new signings.
 
Mailroomsgi

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
Mug Fan said:
Top 30 fo 2026 so far.

Atkinson
Cook
Toby
Ryan
Egan
Feagai
Flanagan
Guler
Gutherson
Halangahu
Homes
Ilias
King-Togia
Lawson
Lawrie
Leilua
Liddle
Pacific Tonga
Ravalawa
Sele
Sloan
Stewart
Su'A
Suli
Tsougranis
Tuipulotu

Supplementary list

Buchanan
Reed
Stanley-Traill
Weatherall

4 top 30 spots left, we really need to clear some players out to give us room for new signings.
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Ilias/Sloan/Rava/Lawrie aka the Bomb squad aka the undesirables

If Anderson can shift all them he’s done well
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Dont think we can shift them all, well if we do it'll be on our coin:
  • Ilias might have some clauses we can clear him.. could be wrong.. question is whether anyone has a Top30 spot available
  • Rava might be open to ESL or similar.. his injury has ruined the chances of an easy sell though,, and Souths extended Alex Johnston.
  • Lawrie maybe ESL or maybe hes just another year of depth, I wish it was Michael Molo that had the extra year.. hes more reliable than Lawrie and made a good fist of 2nd row.. but cant keep both of them.
  • Sele I think we would sell if someone was buying.. but hes actually a very workable prop when fit.. so hes not the worst use of a Top 30 spot... on decent coin though.. was purchased as a big name at the time.
  • Sloan hopefully will go to the ESL.. someone may buy him in the NRL though.. problem is again itll be on our coin.. 500k+ is way overs.
The last 2 dev spots I think are between Heidke, Liu & Williams... maybe they will figure it out in pre-season or early next season..
 
Ryan

Ryan

SGI NSW Cup
TheRev said:
Dont think we can shift them all, well if we do it'll be on our coin:
  • Ilias might have some clauses we can clear him.. could be wrong.. question is whether anyone has a Top30 spot available
  • Rava might be open to ESL or similar.. his injury has ruined the chances of an easy sell though,, and Souths extended Alex Johnston.
  • Lawrie maybe ESL or maybe hes just another year of depth, I wish it was Michael Molo that had the extra year.. hes more reliable than Lawrie and made a good fist of 2nd row.. but cant keep both of them.
  • Sele I think we would sell if someone was buying.. but hes actually a very workable prop when fit.. so hes not the worst use of a Top 30 spot... on decent coin though.. was purchased as a big name at the time.
  • Sloan hopefully will go to the ESL.. someone may buy him in the NRL though.. problem is again itll be on our coin.. 500k+ is way overs.
The last 2 dev spots I think are between Heidke, Liu & Williams... maybe they will figure it out in pre-season or early next season..
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Rava and Lawrie or Sele will surely go if they know they aren't getting another contract but are offered 3 years in the ESL with Dragons paying part of their salary the first year.
 
Mailroomsgi

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
TheRev said:
Dont think we can shift them all, well if we do it'll be on our coin:
  • Ilias might have some clauses we can clear him.. could be wrong.. question is whether anyone has a Top30 spot available
  • Rava might be open to ESL or similar.. his injury has ruined the chances of an easy sell though,, and Souths extended Alex Johnston.
  • Lawrie maybe ESL or maybe hes just another year of depth, I wish it was Michael Molo that had the extra year.. hes more reliable than Lawrie and made a good fist of 2nd row.. but cant keep both of them.
  • Sele I think we would sell if someone was buying.. but hes actually a very workable prop when fit.. so hes not the worst use of a Top 30 spot... on decent coin though.. was purchased as a big name at the time.
  • Sloan hopefully will go to the ESL.. someone may buy him in the NRL though.. problem is again itll be on our coin.. 500k+ is way overs.
The last 2 dev spots I think are between Heidke, Liu & Williams... maybe they will figure it out in pre-season or early next season..
Click to expand...
6 development spots is quite low IMO, should be 10 as the rule for all clubs

I reckon if we keep Sele he’ll have a good year considering it’s a contract year next season

The others I’m completely off and would be happy to pitch in some coin to get rid
 
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