2025 recruitment & retention

[Under the Sticks]

JFH must be really compassionate for Andrew Webster!

I wonder how many more Panthers will follow? Ciraldo can’t snag them all.

Tigers are also looking like they are herding cats (API, Naden, Staines, Luai)

 

[double hoops]

Salary be starting to bite the Riff. 3 in a row is some achievement.

 

[Disco]

I just think there is stats and then there is the time and place and line they run.

He might be an edge. But dam he seems to hate taking a tough carry and hanging out wide.

He is taking 16 runs a game, that is equal first for an forwards in the game.

He is a strike edge, like Olakau'atu. His role is not to be tacking the muck runs, thats what we have middles for.

But each to their own.

I just think there is the warped perception on a whole to Fifita. He is a very good player.

 

[XV-1]

Don’t want to take away from the topic of this thread but you always want to have a dig. I see a lot of posts on here from you about Seibs not giving young kids in the club a go.

I would love for you to elaborate.

Is it all the Tartak managed boys your referring too that have been moved on? If so there is a completely different motive behind it as we are gaining control back over CSM.

The club seems to be in a real good place at the moment with lots of good discussions. Even when he didn’t win a lot of games at the Broncos he brought through a lot of the players that are killing it now.

Would love to hear your side of the storey as it might clear up where you are coming from.

The Fainu brothers are but two players.

Go through the young players we have let go in the past two years

I just feel Spoony is not putting enough effort into coaching for the mid term vs his current moneyball approach. Will this change if he is given an extension?

What is Manly’s 5 year staggered plan with our juniors and what coaching are they getting to ensure the develop to play first grade in 2024, 25 etc

 

[bob dylan]

Damien Cook - Playing NSW Cup off contract after 2025.

 

[Uk eagle]

Damien Cook - Playing NSW Cup off contract after 2025.

Dropped by the team running last

 

[Disco]

The Fainu brothers are but two players.

Go through the young players we have let go in the past two years

I just feel Spoony is not putting enough effort into coaching for the mid term vs his current moneyball approach. Will this change if he is given an extension?

What is Manly’s 5 year staggered plan with our juniors and what coaching are they getting to ensure the develop to play first grade in 2024, 25 etc

Beyond the Latu and Samuela who are the young players you are rueing that we let go the last two years?

Fifita and Tuitavake who are both 23 and cant make a struggling Dragons side?

Kaeo who is 22 and cant make the young Raiders side?

Feledy perhaps though he signed just outside of 2 years and wasnt really let go, he was poached and still, has only played a couple of first grade games and none this year.

Perhaps us fans collectively overrated some of our 'young stars'.

Direct question, would you prefer V Fifita and Tuitavake in our squad atm over Brown and Lodge and do you think the Team would be performing better with them?

 

[Darren]

Damien Cook - Playing NSW Cup off contract after 2025.

This is the guy we need!! we need a top class 9 and he is it. Perfect opportunity and him playing in ressies is madness. He would want out. Cook would see Brooks, Lodge and Brown and see the fresh start, redemption and opportunity at Manly.

 

[MW66]

This is the guy we need!! we need a top class 9 and he is it. Perfect opportunity and him playing in ressies is madness. He would want out. Cook would see Brooks, Lodge and Brown and see the fresh start, redemption and opportunity at Manly.

Like this but wouldn't come cheap. At least $500-$600k per season. Not sure we can afford it.

 

[Darren]

Beyond the Latu and Samuela who are the young players you are rueing that we let go the last two years?

Fifita and Tuitavake who are both 23 and cant make a struggling Dragons side?

Kaeo who is 22 and cant make the young Raiders side?

Feledy perhaps though he signed just outside of 2 years and wasnt really let go, he was poached and still, has only played a couple of first grade games and none this year.

Perhaps us fans collectively overrated some of our 'young stars'.

Direct question, would you prefer V Fifita and Tuitavake in our squad atm over Brown and Lodge and do you think the Team would be performing better with them?

You had to take Brooks to take the pressure off an aging DCE. Ben T has been given a go. Paulo came straight in. Lehi is talked up and I think managed well with his size at present. Gordon and Jamie could get a chance this week.

 

[Darren]

Like this but wouldn't come cheap. At least $500-$600k per season. Not sure we can afford it.

Josh gone, Aloili released to super league, a lot of money there.

 

[Ben]

Josh gone, Aloili released to super league, a lot of money there.

Was rumoured Aloiai was very close to be going heading over there just before the start of the season. He is on around 600k along with Schusters 625k. We are definitely in the market for an origin quality player.
That cash will also go towards Lodge and Brown upgrades but still plenty of money in the bank to play with

 

[bob dylan]

Lawton to Cows.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Just announced by the Telecrap

Lawton to Cowboys, behind paywall so not sure if immediate or in 25.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Lawton to Cows.

Are you a Telecrap subscriber, is it immediate or next year

 

[XV-1]

Beyond the Latu and Samuela who are the young players you are rueing that we let go the last two years?

Fifita and Tuitavake who are both 23 and cant make a struggling Dragons side?

Kaeo who is 22 and cant make the young Raiders side?

Feledy perhaps though he signed just outside of 2 years and wasnt really let go, he was poached and still, has only played a couple of first grade games and none this year.

Perhaps us fans collectively overrated some of our 'young stars'.

Direct question, would you prefer V Fifita and Tuitavake in our squad atm over Brown and Lodge and do you think the Team would be performing better with them?

Brown and Lodge are part of the moneyball approach. Short term options.

What are Manly's plans for local juniors in the next 1 - 5 years?

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Gordie 3 names will be happy he might finally get his crack OR will it be Jamie Humphreys???

Ie , without Lawton

 

[XV-1]

Are you a Telecrap subscriber, is it immediate or next year

Next year. 2 year deal

 

[JakeyB789]

That's a shame, good signing for the Cows and huge upgrade for them over Granville. Hopefully this means we are working GCKT and/or Humphries into the side

NRL market watch: Cowboys sign Manly’s Karl Lawton, no new deal for hooker Jake Granville​

Manly’s Karl Lawton has agreed terms on a two-year deal as the Cowboys look to bolster their hooking stocks, leaving North Queensland club favourite Jake Granville in limbo in Townsville.

Inspirational hooker Jake Granville’s career at the Cowboys is coming to an end after North Queensland have moved to poach Karl Lawton from title contenders Manly.
Lawton has agreed terms on a two-year deal as the Cowboys look to bolster their hooking stocks, leaving North Queensland’s club favourite Granville in limbo in Townsville.

The 35-year-old Granville has been a magnificent servant for the Cowboys, with the tough-as-nails rake having amassed 202 games for the club and playing a key role in North Queensland’s epic 2015 premiership win.

But with Granville approaching his 36th birthday, the Cowboys are planning for the future and believe Lawton can be a handy back-up hooker for NSW Origin star Reece Robson.

Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck declined to speculate on Granville’s future, but confirmed the signing of Lawton, who hopes to leave the Sea Eagles at season’s end with a premiership ring.


“We’re pleased to have Karl coming to us next year,” Luck said.

“We’ve already got Reece Robson who we think is a top-end hooker in the NRL and we have some good young kids coming through.

“Karl will fill that support role for Reece and also be a good mentor for our young players who will be NRL-ready in the coming years.

“We like Karl’s competitiveness.

“He does everything defensively that Todd (Payten, Cowboys coach) likes in a player so we’re looking forward to having him.”

The 28-year-old utility is one of the code’s most versatile players and is expected to slot into the Mr Fixit role the ultra-reliable Granville has handled with aplomb at the Cowboys.

A Murwillumbah junior, Lawton made his NRL debut at the Titans in 2016, playing 12 games for the club before moving to the Warriors, where he chalked up an additional 33 matches between 2018-20.

Lawton joined Manly in 2021 and plays his 87th NRL game this Saturday against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.

Granville is one of 11 Cowboys off-contract at season’s end and has yet to make a definitive call on retirement.

“He does everything defensively that Todd (Payten, Cowboys coach) likes in a player so we’re looking forward to having him.”

 

[Disco]

Brown and Lodge are part of the moneyball approach. Short term options.

What are Manly's plans for local juniors in the next 1 - 5 years?

It's not one or the other, you need to be bringing players through the grades and picking up players who are undervalued.

You say moneyball like its a bad thing all clubs should be looking to sign players who contribute at a greater rate then their salary.

You also say short term, Lodge is 28, if all went well he could be here half a decade.

As for Juniors we should do we some gold dust emerging but we are not without talent in Hopoate, Navale, Bunting, Alexander etc.

We only have 4 players in our squad over 30, we are hardly a retirement home.