2026 recruitment & retention

[Bringbackcliffy]

The Nein commentator said Easts have debuted eight players in First Grade this season. Eight!
We have debuted none (if my memory is correct)
What a damning endictment of a safety-first coach with no vision. Surely we can do better.
There is no joy in following a club that accepts mediocracy. With nothing to look forward to, no new faces to be excited by, then why should we care?

The difference is the roosters lower grades are full of players who will play 1st grade or have serious potential. Manly’s lower grades a full of players who will only ever play lower grades. A few exceptions but our talent pool just doesn’t compare

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

The Nein commentator said Easts have debuted eight players in First Grade this season. Eight!
We have debuted none (if my memory is correct)
What a damning endictment of a safety-first coach with no vision. Surely we can do better.
There is no joy in following a club that accepts mediocracy. With nothing to look forward to, no new faces to be excited by, then why should we care?

But .... Do you think we have the likes of Toia Savala and Foketi languishing in reserve grade?!!

Chooks talent across the board is highly impressive, starting to understand how they didn't need May or Cheese (nor probably DCE!!)

Out with the old guns last year, Golden Boot winner see ya later, next big thing (forgotten hisname, went to union) forward intimidator, Churchill medallist, piss off the lot of you. This year we've got better guys coming through now

Sheesh, it's a decent model, Manly could do worse than try to emulate

 

[Stewbojevic]

But .... Do you think we have the likes of Toia Savala and Foketi languishing in reserve grade?!!

Chooks talent across the board is highly impressive, starting to understand how they didn't need May or Cheese (nor probably DCE!!)

Out with the old guns last year, Golden Boot winner see ya later, next big thing (forgotten hisname, went to union) forward intimidator, Churchill medallist, piss off the lot of you. This year we've got better guys coming through now

Sheesh, it's a decent model, Manly could do worse than try to emulate

Or we could steal some of their forwards…

 

[double hoops]

Or we could steal some of their forwards…

Yeah if we have a top 30 spot and game time to offer. We can go a hunting

 

[Top End Eagle]

The Nein commentator said Easts have debuted eight players in First Grade this season. Eight!
We have debuted none (if my memory is correct)
What a damning endictment of a safety-first coach with no vision. Surely we can do better.
There is no joy in following a club that accepts mediocracy. With nothing to look forward to, no new faces to be excited by, then why should we care?

This is why it's becoming boring to watch be it a capitulation to one of the 13-14 clearly better coached teams, a flukey win against them or a loss or a win to the bottom of the barrel...the team stays the same.

Iits ho him mediocre mundaniy.

 

[Nordburg]

Jack Bird free to leave the Tigers,here comes the “recruitment gurus” of ST’s suggesting “he’d be a good pickup,at the right price”

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

The Nein commentator said Easts have debuted eight players in First Grade this season. Eight!
We have debuted none (if my memory is correct)
What a damning endictment of a safety-first coach with no vision. Surely we can do better.
There is no joy in following a club that accepts mediocracy. With nothing to look forward to, no new faces to be excited by, then why should we care?

Some posters think its a great idea to sign cheapies who have been around the tracks for a while because its a low risk option. The same dummies can't work out that they were cheap for a reason. Mainly being theyre:
a) injury prone
b) on the wrong side of 30
c) couldn't cut the mustard in 1st grade for a long time, so they're a known quantity and there is little upside to them.

Same dummies who judge our juniors after 2 or so games and thrown them under the bus for these 'cheapie's that are supposedly better. It's been a long time since we thrown a bunch of youngsters and let them have a full season under their belt to see if they work out.

But no we try to win games against teams on how it looks on paper even if it was 10 years past the use by date.

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

Jack Bird free to leave the Tigers,here comes the “recruitment gurus” of ST’s suggesting “he’d be a good pickup,at the right price”

Maybe bring back Jesse Bromwich while we are it...him and TKO could form our first ever historic 36 year old front row pairing.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

View attachment 30974

No mention of Lodge being off-contract. Maybe he doesn't even have a contract for this year(!)
Injury outcomes for Aloiai & Croker (and Jake) still unknown, could have a big bearing on even more changes for 2026

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I think Tommy Talau was re-signed this week so that’s incorrect.

 

[Cliffycomeback]

Some posters think its a great idea to sign cheapies who have been around the tracks for a while because its a low risk option. The same dummies can't work out that they were cheap for a reason. Mainly being theyre:
a) injury prone
b) on the wrong side of 30
c) couldn't cut the mustard in 1st grade for a long time, so they're a known quantity and there is little upside to them.

Same dummies who judge our juniors after 2 or so games and thrown them under the bus for these 'cheapie's that are supposedly better. It's been a long time since we thrown a bunch of youngsters and let them have a full season under their belt to see if they work out.

But no we try to win games against teams on how it looks on paper even if it was 10 years past the use by date.

But, we need cheapies to fill out the top 30 and we can't sign anyone else because of Jake, Tom and Cherry's contracts. C'mon man get with the times and try to keep up. We are still in contention to play finals.

 

[Cliffy's Jockstrap]

I have certainly read there is ESL interest in Lodge. I think he will take a $$ offer over there.

 

[aidan]

View attachment 30974
1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Reuben Garrick
3. Tom Trbojevic
4. Tolutau Koula
5. Jason Saab
6. Luke Brooks
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Aloiai
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Taniela Paseka
11. Ben Trbojevic
12. Haumole Olakau'atu
13. Jake Trbojevic


14. Jake Simpkin
15. Corey Waddell
16. Nathan Brown
17. Ethan Bullemor

18. Simione Laiafi
19. Joey Walsh
20. Paul Bryan
21. Caleb Navale
22. Clayon Faulalo

23. No player signed.
24. No player signed.
25. No player signed.
26. No player signed.
27. No player signed.
28. No player signed.
29. No player signed.
30. No player signed.

2026 development list
1. Zaidas Muagututia
2. D'Jazirhae Pua'Avase
3. Hugo Hart
4. Onitoni Large

Looking more and more likely that Croker will be medically retired at the end of this season – I doubt we see him play again. Lodge also looks set to re-sign on a Top 30 deal for next year. Based on a Manly article earlier this season, it sounds like Zaidas will be upgraded to Top 30 for 2026, alongside other young blokes like Laiafi, Navale, and Willett.

Still unsure whether Bryan will be on Top 30 or development next year, but I’m assuming Top 30 considering he’s replacing Arthur. Wilson and possibly Turpin could be added to that list as well. By my count, we’ve got around five Top 30 spots remaining for next year – potentially four if Talau ends up re-signing.

 

[Cliffycomeback]

Looking more and more likely that Croker will be medically retired at the end of this season – I doubt we see him play again. Lodge also looks set to re-sign on a Top 30 deal for next year. Based on a Manly article earlier this season, it sounds like Zaidas will be upgraded to Top 30 for 2026, alongside other young blokes like Laiafi, Navale, and Willett.

Still unsure whether Bryan will be on Top 30 or development next year, but I’m assuming Top 30 considering he’s replacing Arthur. Wilson and possibly Turpin could be added to that list as well. By my count, we’ve got around five Top 30 spots remaining for next year – potentially four if Talau ends up re-signing.

Zaidus is going to be good.

 

[Eagledare2dream]

H

Yeah if we have a top 30 spot and game time to offer. We can go a hunting

Hunting with what weapon, a spoon?

 

[Brookie1973]

Jack Bird free to leave the Tigers,here comes the “recruitment gurus” of ST’s suggesting “he’d be a good pickup,at the right price”

I’m more concerned about the recruitment gurus at Manly seeing this.

 

[Peter C]

The difference is the roosters lower grades are full of players who will play 1st grade or have serious potential. Manly’s lower grades a full of players who will only ever play lower grades. A few exceptions but our talent pool just doesn’t compare

100%,we've had Ray Vaega and Dean Matterson on our books for years and there's bugger all prospect of them playing more than a few first grade games.

 

[Peter C]

Jack Bird free to leave the Tigers,here comes the “recruitment gurus” of ST’s suggesting “he’d be a good pickup,at the right price”

Jack Bird has stopped looking like a first grader for well over five years, Sharks, Broncos, Dragons and then to Tigers, having said that he seems like a perfect fit for us.

 

[Cliffycomeback]

Jack Bird has stopped looking like a first grader for well over five years

He never recovered from those Broncos leg injuries. He is a shadow of the player he was at Cronulla.

 

[double hoops]

What other club is going to pick up Jack Bird if Manly don't?