Edward
SGI NSW Cup
It's likely Haas will get still better before he gets worse. And he will be good for longer than Taumalolo. Taumalolo's body shape meant he was probably going to slow down sooner rather than later.
Recruitment and Retention for 2026
- Thread starter Dragons Chris
- Start date
jodragon40
Staff
To my eye Hass will surpass anything Taumololo has. Time will tell
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
Agree. Unfortunately.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Haas it might be more mental.. keeping him motivated... Tino is the other one I really like.. 10yrs I think is incredibly risky for a forward.. but Tino isnt a massive unit like Taumololo.. and hes a proper leader.. Id be happy to make that deal..
There are a lot of class middle forwards in the game currently, it was a topic on the radio on the weekend.. a purple patch they called it.. its something we are just lacking.. dont really feel any of our guys are close to rep quality.. and other than something crazy like AFB or May getting released out of nowhere.. they are not easy to attract to the club.
I know we have some good 18-20yr old kids who might become those players, but realistically they are 4-5yrs from that peak period.. or atleast 2yrs from being genuine first graders.. need others to cover them till then... Couchies we will see.. obviously Ryan just lost a year also.
There are a lot of class middle forwards in the game currently, it was a topic on the radio on the weekend.. a purple patch they called it.. its something we are just lacking.. dont really feel any of our guys are close to rep quality.. and other than something crazy like AFB or May getting released out of nowhere.. they are not easy to attract to the club.
I know we have some good 18-20yr old kids who might become those players, but realistically they are 4-5yrs from that peak period.. or atleast 2yrs from being genuine first graders.. need others to cover them till then... Couchies we will see.. obviously Ryan just lost a year also.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Lots of clubs near the bottom of the table have taken a big gamble on a player which has turned out to be a master stroke/great decision.
Knights signing Ponga from cowboys as an 18 YO for big money, Broncos signing Payne Haas to a BIG contract for an 18/19 YO front rower after playing 2-3 games of first grade.
Titans signing Tino on big coin from Melbourne as a youngster and then proceeding to offer him a 10 year 10 mil deal
Bulldogs signing burton on big coin while still relatively fresh onto the scene. (I think Atkinson could be very similar for us)
Tigers going big on Luai and Terrell May which may have looked overs at the time look like genius signings
I think we definitely need a bit of bravery in the market, we can’t expect stars to sign for us market value especially with 3-4 clubs chasing them.
When I say bravery I don’t mean Corey Norman for 700-800k or whatever that was which was an absolutely outrageous decision and everybody knew it was before he kicked a ball for us
Knights signing Ponga from cowboys as an 18 YO for big money, Broncos signing Payne Haas to a BIG contract for an 18/19 YO front rower after playing 2-3 games of first grade.
Titans signing Tino on big coin from Melbourne as a youngster and then proceeding to offer him a 10 year 10 mil deal
Bulldogs signing burton on big coin while still relatively fresh onto the scene. (I think Atkinson could be very similar for us)
Tigers going big on Luai and Terrell May which may have looked overs at the time look like genius signings
I think we definitely need a bit of bravery in the market, we can’t expect stars to sign for us market value especially with 3-4 clubs chasing them.
When I say bravery I don’t mean Corey Norman for 700-800k or whatever that was which was an absolutely outrageous decision and everybody knew it was before he kicked a ball for us
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
This is my view as a lounge-chair-expert.. I always felt like we needed to go overs on 1-2 marquee type signings (atleast 1 of them a prop) to build around.. we couldnt afford to miss them...
Flanno might well prove himself right ofcourse.. but I think his approach is riskier in its own way, because hes going to have to coach the pants off his squad to keep his job in the meantime.
We also narrowly missed 3 critical staff appointments in Rush (CEO), POS (Recruitment) & Richardson (GM), ok maybe we werent that close.. but that matters also.. might have fostered a very different environment to manage recruitment.
We are also facing decisions on whether to throw overs at some of the juniors... Bostock for example.. the big forwards coming thru.. I dont think Flanno is a guy who overpays juniors on principle.. and I get it completely.. but.. its all a gamble, and u have to bet on something.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Agree, no one ever won a comp playing it safe, Cronulla sacked Morris when he had sharks flirting with the top 8 simply because Fitzgibbon was available and he’s proven to be an elite coach.
If we keep making safe cookie cutter decisions then we’ll float around 10-14th and stay in NRL purgatory.
I respect Newcastle’s ambition to get brown on the 10 year deal. While 1.3 mil is an overpay. In 5 years it might be good value and with the lack of halves they had to do something special to attract brown. It probably will blow up in their face but I can see why they’re doing it.
Roosters have almost ‘blown it up’ and gone full rebuild this year. They’ll flirt with the 8 and may/may not make it but I can guarantee with their investment in pathways recruitment + development of current young guns that they’ll be a top 4 side again next year.
Hopefully our GM of footy who’s way over his ski’s and doesn’t have a clue about what it takes to put together a successful team and plan ahead gets the boot and we get Michael Luck (Cowboys GM looks like he’s about to leave) or someone that’s an improvement (shouldn’t be too hard to find)
If we keep making safe cookie cutter decisions then we’ll float around 10-14th and stay in NRL purgatory.
I respect Newcastle’s ambition to get brown on the 10 year deal. While 1.3 mil is an overpay. In 5 years it might be good value and with the lack of halves they had to do something special to attract brown. It probably will blow up in their face but I can see why they’re doing it.
Roosters have almost ‘blown it up’ and gone full rebuild this year. They’ll flirt with the 8 and may/may not make it but I can guarantee with their investment in pathways recruitment + development of current young guns that they’ll be a top 4 side again next year.
Hopefully our GM of footy who’s way over his ski’s and doesn’t have a clue about what it takes to put together a successful team and plan ahead gets the boot and we get Michael Luck (Cowboys GM looks like he’s about to leave) or someone that’s an improvement (shouldn’t be too hard to find)
jodragon40
Staff
And that has been our problem for I'd say the last 7 yrs unable to attract those quality forwards and the blame lies squarely with our poor culture, poor discipline and lack of communication and working relationships with the player managers. As I have said before, money is a big motivator but joing a club that could be competitive in semi finals football with the ability to deliver that player a premiership ring is also a very big incentive. Something we have not be in a position to do for many many years
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
I don't know about Rorters top 4 next year but 100% they aren't screwing around signing multiple journeymen for cheap. They are recruiting young players who are going to be good next year or the year after.
jodragon40
Staff
I've been a punter all my life ever since my Dad gave me 50c pocket money back in 1972 and I put it on a horse whose name I liked. For my 50c I received a return of $50 yep a 100 - 1 outsider. I used my punting analogy many a time as a coach. Life can be as safe as you want it to be or you can take a punt and go outside your comfort zone. Unfortunately for our club post 2010 those in positions of authority rested on the laurels of that win and so far we have paid a heavy price in the last 15 yrs . Unless something changes in recruitment and retention, our board becomes more rl minded than business minded then it could be another 3yrs before we have a competitive top 8 squad
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Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Daly Cherry-Evans you would look very nice in red and white.
Hand him a blank cheque and say write what u want for the next 1-2 years.
An Atkinson/DCE halves pairing is a sight for sore eyes + who better to mentor the young halves we have coming through?
Hand him a blank cheque and say write what u want for the next 1-2 years.
An Atkinson/DCE halves pairing is a sight for sore eyes + who better to mentor the young halves we have coming through?
Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
Atkinson? He's 23 or 24, isn't he? From what I've seen, he is a good player but a far inferior 5/8 to our own LKT.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Was fascinating watching it play out across 360 and 100% Footy last night.. Daley is a real politician with his scripted answers... but reading between the lines, he wants a last payday and is not happy with the initial manly offer... nor with the 750k x 2yrs offer that came 'after' he announced he was leaving... too little too late.
Which means were a chance, but I dont think a very good one unless were really willing to blow the other clubs out of the water with our $$$.. not sure Roosters or Dogs would pay insane money which may rule them out.. Dolphins and us would be the obvious next 2.. but if he actually does want to go home to QLD though.. were no chance...
Thing is I dont see Flanno capable of proactively 'paying overs'.. but I also cant argue that if Dylan Brown is worth 1.3m, how the hell is Daley not worth 1.5m p.a. or more.. there are only a handful of guys in his calibre in the game.. whether he falls off in 12-18mths dunno.. either way it is fascinating stuff.. perhaps we have money we have no way to spend.. and we go for it..
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Why would the club even consider signing DCE? Nothing against him as a player. Very good halfback but we signed Cook for one last payday, signed Gutho for one last payday. What is the goal here? Have a competitive team for a year before the the entire spine retires and back to square one? If Reed isn't the answer, have to look who is behind Moses at Parra, Cleary at Penrith and etc.
No, no. Have you been hiding under a rock for the last 10 years? Imports are always better than our locals or juniors recruited.
Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
Main differences between DCE and Brown:
- DCE is one of the best halfbacks. Brown is an average 5/8. Maybe upgraded to a good 5/8 if he has an excellent halfback calling the shots.
- DCE is 13 years older.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
I'd really like to know what the issue is with Latu and LKT not being re-signed yet is. Seems inconceivable club has salary cap space to sign all these aging journeymen but not very promising young players. Even if they have to pay overs.
Before anyone flips out on me, I'm not saying the old journeymen signings are bad. Only that surely promising young players are the priority.
Maybe top 30 spot or future opportunities? Would like them signed asap tbh.
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
Latu is already top 30. With the halves situation at the club, god knows why LKT wasn't offered a top 30 spot.
It might be they simply don't want to stay. LKT is from QLD and Latu from Penrith. Maybe they want to play for a club closer to home. It's the only explanation I have.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Dylan Egan extended and making debut according to clubs instagram post. Wonder how long for?
I’m guessing til 2027
I’m guessing til 2027
AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
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