Recruitment & Retention 2027

[TheRev]

re: Halangahu/Basham, if they are split up, more realistically Basham leaving is a good thing for our chances.. probably means she wasn't enjoying being at work every day with her ex. Still doesnt mean we keep him tho.. I think the answer to that lies with our coaching choice + any more recruitments we make over the next 6 months.

 

[TheRev]

News from Weidler "Bulldogs out of the race, wont be offering a deal" if thats true then we have our man.. if its true I can only assume the Dogs arent offering remotely close to us and Lukes not going for unders..

Also rumour that the Watson deal is done for 1yr, noting that he is visiting PNG this weekend.

actually rumours that metcalf is literally done now, which makes sense the offer was on the table, but still for us thats a quick close... glad we have so much positivity ahead of these next few games coming... rly offsets it.

Do we wish we had Holbrook or similar to weave all these pieces together.. this is a an entirely new squad.. its not just plug and play.

 

[jodragon40]

Plus - https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-penrith-panthers-coach-ivan-cleary-to-make-massive-call-on-future-set-to-depart-at-end-of-2027-p

If we had a veteran but still good halfback but we don't. So sign one, costing a lot, for a few years and say goodbye to Reed or stick with Reed. That's all there is to it. Unless a good halfback will sign for only a year or two but I very much doubt that.

Minimum contract would be 2 yrs most would want 3 plus

 

[jodragon40]

re: Halangahu/Basham, if they are split up, more realistically Basham leaving is a good thing for our chances.. probably means she wasn't enjoying being at work every day with her ex. Still doesnt mean we keep him tho.. I think the answer to that lies with our coaching choice + any more recruitments we make over the next 6 months.

Pretty important we get the coach right

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Metcalf knows we’re desperate for a half, bulldogs pulling out of the race is helpful though

I think 900k is probably what it takes to get him

You’ll see Gus’ lapdog Weidler peddling the ‘massive salary demands’ narrative

I am wary with Metcalf’s injuries but gheez he’s good when he’s fit

The spine has so much athleticism and running threat if he’s in it next year. Just need good coaching and there’s a much improved side there

 

[jodragon40]

Metcalf knows we’re desperate for a half, bulldogs pulling out of the race is helpful though

I think 900k is probably what it takes to get him

You’ll see Gus’ lapdog Weidler peddling the ‘massive salary demands’ narrative

I am wary with Metcalf’s injuries but gheez he’s good when he’s fit

The spine has so much athleticism and running threat if he’s in it next year. Just need good coaching and there’s a much improved side there

I think the stumbling block will be the contract period. He is a Sharks junior just got married last year has a child, before his extension was on about $600k a year. He would be looking for between $900k - $1m a season

 

[blacksafake]

Metcalf knows we’re desperate for a half, bulldogs pulling out of the race is helpful though

I think 900k is probably what it takes to get him

You’ll see Gus’ lapdog Weidler peddling the ‘massive salary demands’ narrative

I am wary with Metcalf’s injuries but gheez he’s good when he’s fit

The spine has so much athleticism and running threat if he’s in it next year. Just need good coaching and there’s a much improved side there

Coach is the big key

 

[Dave03]

Finally a quality top 8 half but with obvious risk. Imo if he didn't have the injury concerns then more teams would be after him & we wouldn't be a legit option. Silver lining but just like Liddle, I hope his injury dramas are behind him. I'm aware Liddle is currently injured but for the most part he's been pretty durable.

 

[Dave03]

We've become a more desirable coaching option through securing Metcalf, I won't get too excited until the official announcement.

 

[jodragon40]

Finally a quality top 8 half but with obvious risk. Imo if he didn't have the injury concerns then more teams would be after him & we wouldn't be a legit option. Silver lining but just like Liddle, I hope his injury dramas are behind him. I'm aware Liddle is currently injured but for the most part he's been pretty durable.

Injuries are a concern hasn't played too much recently and I am concerned with Liddle injury im not sure with that injury he will be as dynamic as he once was we may need another 9

 

[puff]

Metcalf knows we’re desperate for a half, bulldogs pulling out of the race is helpful though

I think 900k is probably what it takes to get him

You’ll see Gus’ lapdog Weidler peddling the ‘massive salary demands’ narrative

I am wary with Metcalf’s injuries but gheez he’s good when he’s fit

The spine has so much athleticism and running threat if he’s in it next year. Just need good coaching and there’s a much improved side there

Yes, hamstrings are a worry!
You are also right about the run threat. Suddenly (+ Drinkwater, Metcalf) we have attack coming out of our ears.
However, more than just good coaching is needed. We need a stable of decent, reliable OBs.

 

[Dave03]

1. Drinky
6. Atko
7. Metcalf
9. Liddle

Suddenly we've got points galore & speed in the spine haha. We need a Talau type NSW cup gameplan where our spine plays close to the line & support plays because that's what suits these players.

Additionally on Metcalf, reading & listening to journos, he wants to play as 1st receiver & both sides of the field. He's pretty set on his role & that suits us. I love that style of halfback. I hope we've got enough organisation & game management in the spine.

 

[Dave03]

Injuries are a concern hasn't played too much recently and I am concerned with Liddle injury im not sure with that injury he will be as dynamic as he once was we may need another 9

Yep, regardless we need a long term 9 & hopefully getting Watson gives us some breathing room to find one throughout next year. Watson also reduces the drop off in hooker quality if Liddle misses games next year.

 

[puff]

Yep, regardless we need a long term 9 & hopefully getting Watson gives us some breathing room to find one throughout next year. Watson also reduces the drop off in hooker quality if Liddle misses games next year.

Watson is not a 9 in my opinion. His best position is 13. We don't need him and he'll cost too much.

 

[Dave03]

Watson is not a 9 in my opinion. His best position is 13. We don't need him and he'll cost too much.

He's a better 9 than any other options for next year, agreed his best position is 13 but his signing means we don't need to rush into getting a 9. We have some time to make a good long term decision re our hooker. I think it also depends on the coach, what do they value in the no.9? is it a running threat like liddle? is it service like cook? is it defence like robson.

They way the game is trending, I personally would love a running hooker that can also roll the ruck but those guys are elite. They're your grants, braileys, api etc.

 

[jodragon40]

He's a better 9 than any other options for next year, agreed his best position is 13 but his signing means we don't need to rush into getting a 9. We have some time to make a good long term decision re our hooker. I think it also depends on the coach, what do they value in the no.9? is it a running threat like liddle? is it service like cook? is it defence like robson.

They way the game is trending, I personally would love a running hooker that can also roll the ruck but those guys are elite. They're your grants, braileys, api etc.

Now with Ivan pulling the plug shortly to be followed by his son, I believe that we should be looking at the Panthers 9s available and unless im wrong Lussick I would take him especially coming from that team environment and professionalism

 

[redv4life]

hope metcalf doesn’t cost us the couchies

 

[puff]

He's a better 9 than any other options for next year, agreed his best position is 13 but his signing means we don't need to rush into getting a 9. We have some time to make a good long term decision re our hooker. I think it also depends on the coach, what do they value in the no.9? is it a running threat like liddle? is it service like cook? is it defence like robson.

They way the game is trending, I personally would love a running hooker that can also roll the ruck but those guys are elite. They're your grants, braileys, api etc.

Liddle is elite when healthy. He is a much better 9 than Watson. So paying Watson a shit load to be Liddle's back up is crazy.

I don't know who is available for next year, but there is bound to be a better and cheaper 9 than Watson.

 

[jodragon40]

Liddle is elite when healthy. He is a much better 9 than Watson. So paying Watson a shit load to be Liddle's back up is crazy.

I don't know who is available for next year, but there is bound to be a better and cheaper 9 than Watson.

I believe the Panthers back up hooker, Lussick

 

[TheRev]

hope metcalf doesn’t cost us the couchies

Naa.... if anything the way we keep the couchies (and LPT/Halangahu potentially) are literally these backline signings + the head coach.. there needs to be a real air of change and excitement they want to hang around for.. I keep referring back to Hannay and Holbrook during last off-season, and how all those players who wanted to leave stayed put instead.

I also think we would prioritise Couchies over LPT/Halangahu if it came to a choice.. the only gamble is whether some other club is chasing them.. also if LPT/Halangahu are insisting on leaving.. maybe we could do an early swap for an outside back...