2026 halves plan

[Mark from Brisbane]

Agree. If the club are smart they’ll sort out our forward pack instead

Even if we go makeshift and acknowledge we won’t ultra competitive , but we have to get the forwards right

 

[KNUCKLES]

Trent Toelau from penrith best on ground in a trial against us. Lot of upside.

Playing nrl this week as well

 

[KNUCKLES]

I think there are a few options we can look at. Dodd not being one of them! But even Martin at NZ isn't getting a run. I rate Pryce. Could try and bring humphreys back, with a move to 9 in the future. Go hard for Galvin. Then walsh replaces brooks, onotoni into the centres. Or we bolster our pack... Mooney from the raiders, pahulu from the titans, pearce paul from the knights, kobe from the bronx, plenty of young bucks at the warriors we could try and poach. The possibilities are endless, and quite exciting honestly. Whatever we do i just hope we make the right, smart moves

Onitoni Large.
Walsh is more a left side player,where Onitoni plays right.
With DCE leaving we may be able to keep Talau and move Turbo to the right side and Lehi at fullback.
Players worth bringing in are probably Sexton and Pryce,Pryce is a right side player who looked good last year and overlooked this year.
Kicking game might be a question if we move Turbo or Lehi into 6 though.

 

[Stewbojevic]

I heard a rumour that Humphries did something inappropriate off field. Main reason he got let go

 

[Eagles4Life]

I heard a rumour that Humphries did something inappropriate off field. Main reason he got let go

Yes he signed with Souths. You cant get more inappropriate then that.

 

[Phobia]

I heard a rumour that Humphries did something inappropriate off field. Main reason he got let go

Wouldn't think so. DCE described him to Justin Horo as "Jake Trbojevic in the halves" (before this circus).

I think Onitoni Large is probably the front runner. Injuries are a concern though from what I hear. Brooks given a licence to be a leader, without being at a house of cards like the Tigers, might go fine. Not spectacularly, but all he needs to do is be serviceable for a year until Walsh is physically ready. Then Walsh/Large.

@Smokin Joe interesting that you say that Large is predominantly a right-sided player, most of the highlights I saw from his time at the Tigers appeared to be on the left, and I thought he moved to the right to accommodate the (maybe) predominantly left-sided Beau Alexander. You would probably know more than me in this regard, but happy days if he's naturally right-sided.

I would suggest bringing in Andrew Johns to coach the halves, since DCE can't mentor them anymore. Johns coached DCE a year or two before he was the Dally M halfback of the year. Goes around basically all the clubs.

 

[Ohgeez]

Wouldn't think so. DCE described him to Justin Horo as "Jake Trbojevic in the halves" (before this circus).

I think Onitoni Large is probably the front runner. Injuries are a concern though from what I hear. Brooks given a licence to be a leader, without being at a house of cards like the Tigers, might go fine. Not spectacularly, but all he needs to do is be serviceable for a year until Walsh is physically ready. Then Walsh/Large.

@Smokin Joe interesting that you say that Large is predominantly a right-sided player, most of the highlights I saw from his time at the Tigers appeared to be on the left, and I thought he moved to the right to accommodate the (maybe) predominantly left-sided Beau Alexander. You would probably know more than me in this regard, but happy days if he's naturally right-sided.

I would suggest bringing in Andrew Johns to coach the halves, since DCE can't mentor them anymore. Johns coached DCE a year or two before he was the Dally M halfback of the year. Goes around basically all the clubs.

Id love to see Large get the opportunity too, probably the most excited I’ve been for a junior since Turbo. The only reason I think Walsh would be ahead is age. Not exactly sure of Large’s age but he has only played SG Ball so far this year while Walsh is in Flegg. Walsh turns 19 in May so he’d be playing most of his debut season as a 20 year old which isn’t out of the ordinary

 

[Mal Cochrane]

I have no personal knowledge of Joey Walsh’s professional development but I am gonna take any comments Choc makes on Chez with a grain of salt…

Based on past experiences with young players, I think you will see Arthurs/Matterson in the halves this year during origin and (unless we drop out of contention altogether) they will give Walsh another off season before they start introducing him…

But yesterday I never thought I would see Chez play in another team’s jersey so wtf do I know?

Choc wasn't speaking poorly of dce in this article,

 

[frank stokes]

Choc wasn't speaking poorly of dce in this article,

Choc was basically saying “let him go the kids are ready”…

Is Choc more focused on the kids ability to step up and play NRL now (maybe) or is the statement driven by Choc’s well-publicised disdain for Chez and his desire to see him gone (also maybe)…

Given Choc’s form when it comes to pettiness and holding a grudge (which, full disclosure, I am also good at), I personally am not gonna give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to Chez… jmo but, as stated previously, what the f*ck do I know?

 

[Mal Cochrane]

Nah mate, i read it a few times looking for a negative choc angle, but It never came. Basically said? choc acknowledged it was a big hole to fill once dce left etc, even said "Losing someone like 'Cherry' is always going to hurt a club because he's a quality player. But what the club's done well with recruitment is they're fool-proofing for the future to make sure that fall is a little bit softer. He talks about these kids as the future, not the immediate, and is excited tobsee these kids in a few years when DCE finishes up All choc was doing was talking up the future halves of the club.
And he said this before DCE announcement.

To be honest frank, I've found a lot of your comments to be off the mark the last 2 days, but we are all allowed our own opinion.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Wouldn't think so. DCE described him to Justin Horo as "Jake Trbojevic in the halves" (before this circus).

I think Onitoni Large is probably the front runner. Injuries are a concern though from what I hear. Brooks given a licence to be a leader, without being at a house of cards like the Tigers, might go fine. Not spectacularly, but all he needs to do is be serviceable for a year until Walsh is physically ready. Then Walsh/Large.

@Smokin Joe interesting that you say that Large is predominantly a right-sided player, most of the highlights I saw from his time at the Tigers appeared to be on the left, and I thought he moved to the right to accommodate the (maybe) predominantly left-sided Beau Alexander. You would probably know more than me in this regard, but happy days if he's naturally right-sided.

I would suggest bringing in Andrew Johns to coach the halves, since DCE can't mentor them anymore. Johns coached DCE a year or two before he was the Dally M halfback of the year. Goes around basically all the clubs.

He can actually play both,we have been using him on the right,just my opinion but I think that is where we are going a bit with Walsh and Large.
Walsh is a left footer and Onitoni seems to be being groomed for the right,both can switch around which seems to be Seibolds game plan,but defense wise etc ..each will have a side to control(just my opinion)

 

[Disco]

Talk of Fogerty for a couple of years and I actually quite like it.

Not huge money. Organised, good kicking game. Will feed the Turbos, Olakau'atu, Garrick, Lehi and Brroks of this world with a lil extra money to go to a forward.

I'm on board

 

[Ohgeez]

Talk of Fogerty for a couple of years and I actually quite like it.

Not huge money. Organised, good kicking game. Will feed the Turbos, Olakau'atu, Garrick, Lehi and Brroks of this world with a lil extra money to go to a forward.

I'm on board

If it gives us enough money to sign a top young forward I would be for it as well. If he doesn’t perform then so be it & give 1 of the young guys a chance

 

[Saabnaldo]

I think there are a few options we can look at. Dodd not being one of them! But even Martin at NZ isn't getting a run. I rate Pryce. Could try and bring humphreys back, with a move to 9 in the future. Go hard for Galvin. Then walsh replaces brooks, onotoni into the centres. Or we bolster our pack... Mooney from the raiders, pahulu from the titans, pearce paul from the knights, kobe from the bronx, plenty of young bucks at the warriors we could try and poach. The possibilities are endless, and quite exciting honestly. Whatever we do i just hope we make the right, smart moves

I honestly would rather give turbo a go at 6 and brooks at 7 if it ment we upgrade our pack. I’m happy with our backline options

 

[Bomb Voyage]

Fogarty would be fantastic, not on huge coin, reliable and safe, providing us money to bring in some higher quality players.. excellent

 

[King]

Apparently Fogarty has an option for another year but the clause states that it needs to be activated by round 6 of this year.

 

[Stewbojevic]

Fogarty would be fantastic, not on huge coin, reliable and safe, providing us money to bring in some higher quality players.. excellent

Don’t mind this in theory, but if we were offering DCE $750k because it maxed our cap then Fogarty may essentially be a straight swap.

As a swap it’s a downgrade. But if we also add a quality forward then it’s a win

 

[Disco]

Don’t mind this in theory, but if we were offering DCE $750k because it maxed our cap then Fogarty may essentially be a straight swap.

As a swap it’s a downgrade. But if we also add a quality forward then it’s a win

I think Fogarty would be 600k max.

A downgrade as of this second, perhaps, but in 12 months, 18th months or 24 months who knows.

Father time is of course undefeated.

 

[Wombat64]

PREMIERSHIP WINDOW ANALYSIS: SEA EAGLES​

The big call: Daly Cherry-Evans has thrown a spanner into Manly’s plans beyond the end of this season and how they respond will determine the next decade.

The upside: Joey Walsh shunned a promising rugby career to follow in Cherry-Evans’ footsteps, and could be the next man up eventually.

Priority position: Halfback has to be the immediate priority with so few No.7s available, let alone anyone of DCE’s calibre.

Analysis: Huge salary cap money is tied up in the Trbojevic brothers and DCE. Now that the skipper has announced his plans to move on at the end of 2025, there’s some money available to plan, but those decisions need to be made quickly. As for the Trbojevics, there’s some huge decisions to be made about the future of the club, leadership, and what the future looks like.

Premiership window: Open this year, but doesn’t look good beyond DCE.

 

[Dion Johnson]

Get another look at Trent Toelau, did well in the trial against us, he is still on a development deal at the Panthers with an upgrade next season into their 30 man squad, would be free to negotiate come November if the Panthers don’t extend him before hand.