2025 recruitment & retention

[KNUCKLES]

None of those, is my guess.
Just been too inconsistent, so players would want top dollar (not Tigers level top dollar, but getting up there). As soon as the team is clearly a side on the rise (we're nearly there) it should become easier to recruit decent talent at reasonable rates.

Well I hope your right and we turn it around soon. It's been a long long time for us proud maroon and white

 

[Will on the hill]

Yeah its his attitude rather than his ball skills that concern me...

He sat out games and let his side down because he did not want to take a hit in his hip pocket... is that the attitude that we want to ingrain in our squad? I am thinking not...

Having said that, who knows what the conversations were behind closed doors at the time? Maybe he was being poorly treated and sitting out was a massive F*CK YOU to certain individuals in the coaching/management teams? Does a leopard change its spots though?

No for me...

Dont think it was an act of greed and selfishness, more an act of stupidity.

If you watch the crusher on DEdwards that resulted in the charge it was incredibly soft and I would argue initiated by Edwards himself. Matto was pissed (compounded by the bitterness of having lost the GF 2 days prior) and felt like not paying the fine was an act of defiance. 3 days later he realised how silly this was, asked to be allowed to pay the fine and was denied by the NRL.

As I said very stupid but he was mischaracterised by the media as greedy and selfish.

 

[frank stokes]

Dont think it was an act of greed and selfishness, more an act of stupidity.

If you watch the crusher on DEdwards that resulted in the charge it was incredibly soft and I would argue initiated by Edwards himself. Matto was pissed (compounded by the bitterness of having lost the GF 2 days prior) and felt like not paying the fine was an act of defiance. 3 days later he realised how silly this was, asked to be allowed to pay the fine and was denied by the NRL.

As I said very stupid but he was mischaracterised by the media as greedy and selfish.

Yeah, whether his change of mind was as a result of self reflection or the club coming down hard on him is unclear...

Regardless of whether it was soft or not I would like to think NOBODY in our squad would even contemplate sitting out games to save some cash...

However, on reflection, half our squad sat out a crucial game because the jersey had a rainbow on it so maybe he would fit right in??

 

[The Insomniac]

Valentine Holmes has just been told he can go to market to test his worth. Would look good in maroon and white. Out of our league price wise I'd say. Will probably end up on the golf course with Uncle Nick.

 

[Nordburg]

Valentine Holmes has just been told he can go to market to test his worth. Would look good in maroon and white. Out of our league price wise I'd say. Will probably end up on the golf course with Uncle Nick.

Outside backs are not the issue at Manly,especially one that is 30 next year

 

[The Insomniac]

Outside backs are not the issue at Manly,especially one that is 30 next year

Yes good point.

 

[manly al]

Valentine Holmes has just been told he can go to market to test his worth. Would look good in maroon and white. Out of our league price wise I'd say. Will probably end up on the golf course with Uncle Nick.

Heard the Saints interested but would still command a fairly high price tag no doubt

 

[Sheikheagle]

Valentine Holmes has just been told he can go to market to test his worth. Would look good in maroon and white. Out of our league price wise I'd say. Will probably end up on the golf course with Uncle Nick.

Really poor defender. We have plenty of those. 🫣

 

[NREagle]

Well I hope your right and we turn it around soon. It's been a long long time for us proud maroon and white

Every time I think that, I think of the eels.....and it makes me smile a little.

 

[Remy]

Need a young dynamic edge and a big-name pack leader.

 

[Jay Eagle]

Need a young dynamic edge and a big-name pack leader.

COLLINS and CRICHTON..And we win multiple Premierships

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Its funny only last week there was discussion on here about who we will have to let go in the backs because nobody will want to play Reggies next year, yet this week we didn't have enough of them. Depth is key and bench selections are becoming crucial. You really need a back on the bench, a utility forward that can play dummy half and two front rowers.

 

[ManlyGM]

Jack Bird given permission to leave the Dragons per Michael Carayannis, would you take him at Manly to play 2nd row opposite Haumole?

I think it would be interesting in terms of the versatility he would offer to the squad, but aging and has a pretty brutal injury record so not sure he’d be the 2nd rower I’d want the club targeting.

 

[Eagle 1]

If your talking about Finefeuiaki, he was signed by the dolphins for next year. Would of been a good get. I think we may be putting our eggs in the burbo basket unfortunately. There have been plenty of good options come available in the backrow recently, albeit I don't know if we were talking to any of them, I couldn't imagine all of them not wanting to come to manly. On a side note, I hear ppl say manly isn't an attractive place to come to.. I really don't see why, I get we haven't been the most successful side of the last decade, but we have both state Captains, arguably the best player in the game when fit, can put any team to the sword on our day, yet we're told any half decent player isn't interested lol.. am I missing something? are we just stubborn, cheap, stupid? Or are the club and characters at the club really that disliked?

Could be the cost of living on the Northern Beaches, renting or buying, it ain't cheap. Was here on the Northern Beaches 2mths ago and noticed a for sale in a Real estate shop Window in Manly, a 1 bedroom studio apartment 950k. I know its Manly but it's an indication on how dear it is living in gods country.

 

[KNUCKLES]

Could be the cost of living on the Northern Beaches, renting or buying, it ain't cheap. Was here on the Northern Beaches 2mths ago and noticed a for sale in a Real estate shop Window in Manly, a 1 bedroom studio apartment 950k. I know its Manly but it's an indication on how dear it is living in gods country.

Yeah I can understand that, but my argument will be, it would be no different in Bondi. If not worse. And if a player doesn't think Bondi or the northern beaches wouldn't be a good place to settle than I'm not sure where in Sydney is. And yes it may be expensive but if you plan to live there long term on these type of salaries it's affordable and worth the investment. If you don't for whatever reason.. rent while your here lol

 

[Frogz]

Outside backs are not the issue at Manly,especially one that is 30 next year

I think we still need some quality centres....as shown on Saturday night, we are really light on. Its a real weak spot(s) for the team. What we have is not premiership winning class. IMO. Experience would help with the young blokes development. Jack Bird could be a cheap option, that may beone of those buys of the year. Lets face it, we love buying old cheap players and its worked with Nathan Brown

 

[Rocky]

I think we still need some quality centres....as shown on Saturday night, we are really light on. Its a real weak spot(s) for the team. What we have is not premiership winning class. IMO. Experience would help with the young blokes development. Jack Bird could be a cheap option, that may beone of those buys of the year. Lets face it, we love buying old cheap players and its worked with Nathan Brown

Jack Bird is not a good centre...he would make Ben T look fast.

Happy to have him as forward depth if he comes cheap though.

 

[The Who]

Could be the cost of living on the Northern Beaches, renting or buying, it ain't cheap. Was here on the Northern Beaches 2mths ago and noticed a for sale in a Real estate shop Window in Manly, a 1 bedroom studio apartment 950k. I know its Manly but it's an indication on how dear it is living in gods country.

Check the prices in the Eastern Suburbs. You'll find property three times the cost of the Northern Beaches. Yet, somehow, Easts can attract any player they want...

 

[Eagle 1]

Check the prices in the Eastern Suburbs. You'll find property three times the cost of the Northern Beaches. Yet, somehow, Easts can attract any player they want...

Maybe most of them share a house.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Its funny only last week there was discussion on here about who we will have to let go in the backs because nobody will want to play Reggies next year, yet this week we didn't have enough of them.

I don’t see how necessity through injuries changes that? There’s a very real possibility that eventually the situation with Hoppa will come to a head because he won’t want to wait for someone to get injured to have an opportunity. Then there’s the fact that we won’t be able to pay him what he is worth without moving someone else on. Of course, in an ideal world, you’d keep quality first graders as depth but it doesn’t work like that unless you’re the Roosters. Everyone else has to ‘turn over’ their depth as players move around looking for regular game time.