2025 recruitment & retention

[Ohgeez]

Did that article seriously say Paulo is worth a bench spot & our number 1 target should be Forgarty? All of the most ridiculous articles I read are from zero tackle lol

 

[double hoops]

Did that article seriously say Paulo is worth a bench spot & our number 1 target should be Forgarty? All of the most ridiculous articles I read are from zero tackle lol

And the rookie halfback without one game of NRL under his belt starts in the 7 whilst the current Qld captains left right out;-)

I know turtle's hair may be thinning and getting lighter in colour. But I still thought he'd have the jump on Walsh;-).

Apparently there is weird people out there that don't support our Sea Eagles;-).

 

[The '47ers]

Yeah I wouldn't know the first thing about sports journalism but to me it's like being the weatherman "a slight chance of this, maybe some of that, and probably all the above"
Sort of just get paid to read tea leaves and if you're wrong, you're wrong if you're right you're right 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[The Who]

Yeah I wouldn't know the first thing about sports journalism but to me it's like being the weatherman "a slight chance of this, maybe some of that, and probably all the above"
Sort of just get paid to read tea leaves and if you're wrong, you're wrong if you're right you're right 🤷🏻‍♂️

As a former journalist, including stints covering sport, let me tell you that the most important word in reporting is "may". And I don't mean the month.

 

[double hoops]

Look Bateman isn't my first choice. But I guess the reason I was always expecting the media to make the connection, he's an obvious fit for what we need.

There was great signs in the England vs Samoa game. Just that niggle and fight we lack. Leulia not handing over the ball all push and shove, Bateman just did up in his face just not taking a backwards step, experienced, looking to niggle it into a penalty, Who runs a mile just to back his Samoan team mate. Jazz again showing he also favour taking forward steps.

If we do add both. The possibility to run a more mobile team, line speed, experienced, hotter heads.

I can't say I'd also be against some new found Zombrero and Lodge also being squeezed in. $150k. It's what the Roosters, Storm and Donkeys would do.

Depth. Variety. And pack with niggle. It's been forever since we've won a premiership.

 

[Disco]

People turned their nose up at suggestions of Connor Watson at one stage, Angus Crichton too.

Many cried blue murder at Talau, Brown, Brooks.

Fact is, players are rarely released at the peak of their powers, if a club is looking to move someone on there is generally some baggage.

Will Bateman bouce back to his absolute best....probably not but I do think he can be a valuable contributor for this team.

 

[Dion Johnson]

As a former journalist, including stints covering sport, let me tell you that the most important word in reporting is "may". And I don't mean the month.

The best work I have seen from a journalist has to be Nate Halverson, it was eventually turned into a documentary called “The Grab” one that everyone should watch to have an understanding of the global dynamics, having travelled with work in several of the locations it is very true.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Fact is, players are rarely released at the peak of their powers, if a club is looking to move soneone on their in generally some baggage.

I was just thinking that while watching the Aussie test ... Eels really struck the jackpot with Lomax.
7 Seasons of mostly unrealised potential at Saints, and bang, suddenly he's become a massive star and at the peak of his powers (or might even keep improving).

 

[Phobia]

Here's a massive hot take. Give me all you've got 😂

Taane Milne as a moneyball signing for a second row spot. He's unsigned, and wouldn't be getting beyond minimum wage.

Has actually played pretty well in the second row for Fiji vs both PNG and Cook Islands. Obviously below NRL level, but might be worth a gamble with a train and trial. He has about the brains of a toddler though.

I'll see myself out 😂


EDIT: I will say, this did sound a lot like something Manly would do...

SHOOSH II

Which club offered an international player a train and trial deal which was quickly rejected?

 

[Heckenberg]

Here's a massive hot take. Give me all you've got 😂

Taane Milne as a moneyball signing for a second row spot. He's unsigned, and wouldn't be getting beyond minimum wage.

Has actually played pretty well in the second row for Fiji vs both PNG and Cook Islands. Obviously below NRL level, but might be worth a gamble with a train and trial. He has about the brains of a toddler though.

I'll see myself out 😂


EDIT: I will say, this did sound a lot like something Manly would do...

SHOOSH II

Which club offered an international player a train and trial deal which was quickly rejected?

god no.

 

[ManlyTragic]

god no.

….,or Heck no!

Just sayin’

 

[Disco]

Milne does some very stupid things on the field.....brain snaps galore, no thank you

 

[Disco]

I was just thinking that while watching the Aussie test ... Eels really struck the jackpot with Lomax.
7 Seasons of mostly unrealised potential at Saints, and bang, suddenly he's become a massive star and at the peak of his powers (or might even keep improving).

Yeah but will be interesting if he plays centre as he is so adamant he will.

Like mate, you've been killing it at wing.....take the hint, you are a winger

 

[The Wheel]

Yeah but will be interesting if he plays centre as he is so adamant he will.

Like mate, you've been killing it at wing.....take the hint, you are a winger

For 6 seasons he was average at best playing centre and the coach had the stats to prove it.

Flanno puts him on the wing and bingo

 

[double hoops]

Milne does some very stupid things on the field.....brain snaps galore, no thank you

He was actually impressive on the weekend.

He was horrible in the forwards last year.

Commentator said on weekend he topped the NRL for offloads. Which seemed a ridiculous stat for a back to win.

And to my surprise playing in the Backrow sure enough he went and offloaded like a champion, often and controlled and low risk good balls.

One game against lessor opposition dosent make him awesome.

But playing for a contract can change people, and that was not a Milne I've seen play before.

If he puts another game on for 80 like that when they play PNG next. A club will pick him up.

 

[jbb/james]

I am a fan of the Jazz. A,though i dont watch too many wah games I regularly remember him as a grunt and effort man, smallish among plenty of islander boppers. His defence is staunch but im not up to its overall effectiveness,

I think he will be like brown and talau in that he will raise the level in the side from a competitive persoective

I am a big fan of adding the competitor, and I think Jazz is one, Brown is another , as is Talau ( little willy) think about it

While its money ball and cut throat we are seeing seibs add the type of players and qualities that our fortitude lacks

Only 2 weeks until someone posts we need another BK

If you invest in spine it has to drive the side and ours constantly has its hand up for help in spine roles. Great players, but if you keep doing what you have always done, you keep getting what you always had. and we do

While our forwards are indeed a work in progress, our system, our process, our fall back, discipline and control are not up to challenger status. We always crack

Even when the forwards go well, conversion into field position, pressure, points or a win is far but assured.

Big year from brooks. If they extend DCE beyond this season then we are in goat photo territory, so handing brooks the side this year so he can be at manly what he didnt want to be at the tigers is inevitable, so transitioning our game plan from throw it to Tom to playing an up tempo, front line half centric footy is both SEibs biggest test and Manlys “hail mary”for a big year IMO

If DCE plays declares origin availability, getting Arthur game time off the bench early season is a must for the end of season fatigue . Cliffy and Kosef shared the 6 role and i reckon Arthur and DCE should do the same. Its also the best way to give Arthur a run at 13

Surely even DCE mum can see he does SFA in the first 25, JA, is a goer, can kick and can defend, and just gives our attack a different starting point from that predictable inside or late balls to OKU or passing to tom out the back.

It’s killing us man. There is NO variation or run threat and it allows defence time to target our weapons

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I am a big fan of adding the competitor, and I think Jazz is one, Brown is another , as is Talau ( little willy) think about it

While its money ball and cut throat we are seeing seibs add the type of players and qualities that our fortitude lacks

Spot on.
No idea if we are really after Bateman but he is a competitor and a 'footy player' (as opposed to a champion athlete playing footy) so he could possibly add something.
As for DCE bowing out of SOO, I wish, but ...with Sam Walker injured ... I doubt it. If Slater calls, he'll say yes.

 

[Ryan]

Guys, think about this a second: We could potentially at times have this on the field:

09. Lachlan Croker (doesn't run the ball)
11. Haumole Olakau'atu (complete power player)
12. Jazz Tevaga (on par with Jake pace/shape wise)
13. Jake Trbojevic (likely the slowest player in the entire NRL)

You add say Nathan Brown and/or say Toff Sipley up front, that's the slowest group of forwards by SOME margin to any other team in the league, and completely in contrast to what the game has morphed into in 2024 / 2025.

There's a reason we don't beat top 4 teams (most of the time). They run us ragged. They enable quick play the balls, build momentum, and drive us miles backwards, through our lack of defensive line speed, and agility.

If this isn't addressed (now that we've become slower with Jazz), I promise you, we aren't improving on this year. Nathan Brown also competes and is aggressive. But he became completely ineffective towards the end of the season. These aging, slow as mud, pre-retirement type forwards (Lodge, Brown, Woods, Tevaga etc etc etc) aren't it.

 

[jbb/james]

Spot on.
No idea if we are really after Bateman but he is a competitor and a 'footy player' (as opposed to a champion athlete playing footy) so he could possibly add something.
As for DCE bowing out of SOO, I wish, but ...with Sam Walker injured ... I doubt it. If Slater calls, he'll say yes.

Front planning for DCE being absent , also his games after origin really lacked that competitive nature for far too many weeks. Its time to transition him gently from stating 7 every week.

Yeah i like bateman for the same reason, i can actually see him and benji being a poor match. Benji comes across as believing his own press , regularly sooked when his opinion was challenged when he did stints on 360 and well harsh realities are required with spoon bowl in the clubs major achievement

 

[manly al]

Guys, think about this a second: We could potentially at times have this on the field:

09. Lachlan Croker (doesn't run the ball)
11. Haumole Olakau'atu (complete power player)
12. Jazz Tevaga (on par with Jake pace/shape wise)
13. Jake Trbojevic (likely the slowest player in the entire NRL)

You add say Nathan Brown and/or say Toff Sipley up front, that's the slowest group of forwards by SOME margin to any other team in the league, and completely in contrast to what the game has morphed into in 2024 / 2025.

There's a reason we don't beat top 4 teams (most of the time). They run us ragged. They enable quick play the balls, build momentum, and drive us miles backwards, through our lack of defensive line speed, and agility.

If this isn't addressed (now that we've become slower with Jazz), I promise you, we aren't improving on this year. Nathan Brown also competes and is aggressive. But he became completely ineffective towards the end of the season. These aging, slow as mud, pre-retirement type forwards (Lodge, Brown, Woods, Tevaga etc etc etc) aren't it.

Just don 'tt have the cap space to land a real big fish in the forward line up .
Bearing in mind that the Shu will be diverting 200 K per season for a coupe of years yet .
Apparently had a crack at the Rooster's backrower Tupouniva some time ago but Dogs must have offered him some decent coin and would not really rate him in the general elite category .
Maybe some cap equilibrium if a deal and cap subsidy with Bateman can be worked out and he is worth the effort to recruit him .
Burbo is not slow , hardly dynamic but also may have to do and again hard when Jake , Haumole and Alioai are chewing up something like 2 , 2 [ or more ] mil in the cap .
No question Haumole can justify his value but obviously a major problem with Alioai and Jake .
Maybe the Cows and Dogs backrow recruits can measure up a bit and no idea with Tevaga
See where you are coming from but a few limitations recruiting and other circumstances not helping either