2026 recruitment & retention

[Smokin Joe]

That’s a pretty weak squad at the time mate. It looks good seeing Carrigan, Dearden, Farnworth, Fifita, Coates, Haas, Flegler etc until you realise they were all 18, 19, 20 year olds. Whoever had that squad for the next couple years was always going to look good. Kevvie Walters benefited from Siebold development I think

Agree,his mistake in hindsight was thinking he would be given some leeway.
He stuck with those kids and let go the vets so as to not lose them,thinking he would develop that squad.
They had a **** year and that gave the old boys the chance to get into him.
Seems he learnt this time and is blending the vets in with the kids.

 

[Eagle 1]

That’s a pretty weak squad at the time mate. It looks good seeing Carrigan, Dearden, Farnworth, Fifita, Coates, Haas, Flegler etc until you realise they were all 18, 19, 20 year olds. Whoever had that squad for the next couple years was always going to look good. Kevvie Walters benefited from Siebold development I think

Kevvie was a poor coach, top 4 team every day. Missing the 8 was the final straw. He had all his brothers, Carty and Matty B plus others as assistants, maybe that was the problem.

 

[SeaEagleSI1]

Into next year top 30
Navale
Laiafi
Muagututia
Willett

Off contract:
Aaron Schoupp 2025
Aitasi James 2025
Clayton Faulalo 2025
Daly Cherry-Evans 2025 (leaving)
Dean Matterson 2025
Ethan Bullemor 2025
Gordon Chan Kum Tong 2025
Jake Arthur 2025
Jazz Tevaga 2025
Michael Chee Kam 2025 (not in top 30)
Raymond Vaega 2025
Siua Taukei'aho 2025
Toafofoa Sipley 2025
Tommy Talau 2025

A few players off contract:

Backs
Grant Anderson
Mawene Hiroti
Zac Laybutt
Kotoni Staggs
Viliami Vailea
Selwyn Cobbo
Sam Stonestreet
Blake Wilson
Albert Hopoate
Semi Valemei

Half:
Adam Doueihi
Kieran Foran
Te Maire Martin
Brad Schneider
Jamal Fogarty (CO)
Wishart and Pezert (if Hughes resigns one or both can leave)

Hooker:
Jayden Berrell
Bronson Garlick
Cory Paix
Tom Starling

Lock:
Kobe Hetherington
Kurtis Morrin
Adam Elliott

Prop:
Bunty Afoa
Jack Hetherington
Corey Jensen
Davvy Moale
Josiah Papalii
Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Second row:
Jacob Alick-Wiencke
Fletcher Baker
Kai Pearce-Paul
Billy Burns

 

[madmax]

Into next year top 30
Navale
Laiafi
Muagututia
Willett

Off contract:
Aaron Schoupp 2025
Aitasi James 2025
Clayton Faulalo 2025
Daly Cherry-Evans 2025 (leaving)
Dean Matterson 2025
Ethan Bullemor 2025
Gordon Chan Kum Tong 2025
Jake Arthur 2025
Jazz Tevaga 2025
Michael Chee Kam 2025 (not in top 30)
Raymond Vaega 2025
Siua Taukei'aho 2025
Toafofoa Sipley 2025
Tommy Talau 2025

A few players off contract:

Backs
Grant Anderson
Mawene Hiroti
Zac Laybutt
Kotoni Staggs
Viliami Vailea
Selwyn Cobbo
Sam Stonestreet
Blake Wilson
Albert Hopoate
Semi Valemei

Half:
Adam Doueihi
Kieran Foran
Te Maire Martin
Brad Schneider
Jamal Fogarty (CO)
Wishart and Pezert (if Hughes resigns one or both can leave)

Hooker:
Jayden Berrell
Bronson Garlick
Cory Paix
Tom Starling

Lock:
Kobe Hetherington
Kurtis Morrin
Adam Elliott

Prop:
Bunty Afoa
Jack Hetherington
Corey Jensen
Davvy Moale
Josiah Papalii
Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Second row:
Jacob Alick-Wiencke
Fletcher Baker
Kai Pearce-Paul
Billy Burns

Informative mate. I’d be holding onto
Bully, TKO, Toff & TT & get Kobe Hetherington, Tyran Wishart & a solid back rower to complement Olakau’atu!!!
2026 team
Trbo
Saab
Garrick
Koula
Lehi
Brooks
Fogarty
Paseka
Simpkin
TKO
Olakau’atu
Kobe Hetherington
Talau
Res: Wishart, Bully, Aloiai, Brown

 

[Dion Johnson]

The Dragons have some very good younger forwards that looks impossible for them to keep them all and bring them into first grade in the same time frame.

Finau Latu and Nick Tsougranis off contract at the end of season, and would have a clearer path to first grade at Manly, competing with Egan, Stewart, Halangahu, Pasifiki Tonga and the Couchman brothers who are signed on for next season and beyond.

Latu and Tsougranis would be good value.

 

[spider]

The 3 i'd go for are Kai Pearce Paul, Tom Starling, Bunty Afoa

 

[Seagles68]

Into next year top 30
Navale
Laiafi
Muagututia
Willett

Off contract:
Aaron Schoupp 2025
Aitasi James 2025
Clayton Faulalo 2025
Daly Cherry-Evans 2025 (leaving)
Dean Matterson 2025
Ethan Bullemor 2025
Gordon Chan Kum Tong 2025
Jake Arthur 2025
Jazz Tevaga 2025
Michael Chee Kam 2025 (not in top 30)
Raymond Vaega 2025
Siua Taukei'aho 2025
Toafofoa Sipley 2025
Tommy Talau 2025

A few players off contract:

Backs
Grant Anderson
Mawene Hiroti
Zac Laybutt
Kotoni Staggs
Viliami Vailea
Selwyn Cobbo
Sam Stonestreet
Blake Wilson
Albert Hopoate
Semi Valemei

Half:
Adam Doueihi
Kieran Foran
Te Maire Martin
Brad Schneider
Jamal Fogarty (CO)
Wishart and Pezert (if Hughes resigns one or both can leave)

Hooker:
Jayden Berrell
Bronson Garlick
Cory Paix
Tom Starling

Lock:
Kobe Hetherington
Kurtis Morrin
Adam Elliott

Prop:
Bunty Afoa
Jack Hetherington
Corey Jensen
Davvy Moale
Josiah Papalii
Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Second row:
Jacob Alick-Wiencke
Fletcher Baker
Kai Pearce-Paul
Billy Burns

Is it just me or is that list some really slim pickings??

 

[eaglebuzz]

Is it just me or is that list some really slim pickings??

Players that are worth keeping get extended on longer deals long before their contracts are up, with the exception of players who want to test the open market

 

[maxta]

Looking at "value" signings...
Only a lightweight but I like the energy of Plath from Dolphins as a lock
Duncan Tallis from Bunnies only young but has ability.....the Knight backrower Kai pearce would be ideal left edge and the backrower we up against this weekend Tieg Wilton is a real goer too

 

[349]

Adam Elliot would be a good lock option with Jake to Prop. He is a senior player who plays hard and has good stats. Would not be paying overs to pick him up for a two year contract either.

 

[Brookie1973]

Adam Elliot would be a good lock option with Jake to Prop. He is a senior player who plays hard and has good stats. Would not be paying overs to pick him up for a two year contract either.

And we could get his girlfriend to come too and replace one of our front rowers.

 

[349]

Interestingly Adam Elliott’s wife is Milly Boyle who is Morgan Boyles sister and he played for the sea eagles. Using daily telegraph logic that means he would certainly sign for us for 3 years.

 

[Ohgeez]

The Dragons have some very good younger forwards that looks impossible for them to keep them all and bring them into first grade in the same time frame.

Finau Latu and Nick Tsougranis off contract at the end of season, and would have a clearer path to first grade at Manly, competing with Egan, Stewart, Halangahu, Pasifiki Tonga and the Couchman brothers who are signed on for next season and beyond.

Latu and Tsougranis would be good value.

Have you seen Finau Latu play? If so hopefully he is some potential. Seen an article saying he is officially allowed to talk to clubs after this round, his manager saying a few clubs are lining up for him & id guess we would be 1 sniffing around

 

[Dion Johnson]

Have you seen Finau Latu play? If so hopefully he is some potential. Seen an article saying he is officially allowed to talk to clubs after this round, his manager saying a few clubs are lining up for him & id guess we would be 1 sniffing around

Yes I seen him play in round one against the Bulldogs and last week against the Eels, good ball runner who bends the line, solid enough in defence and has a good offload, the Dragons are stacked with young edge and middle forwards, the pick is probably Halangahu but he is signed longer term.

The other forward is Ethan Robert’s from the Rorters he is behind a bunch of younger forwards there, he is off contract and is a good footballer just the Rorters have a few getting a chance first grade before him.

 

[robbiea]

Hearing more whispers that Galvin is coming .

 

[Ohgeez]

Hearing more whispers that Galvin is coming .

This would be a huge signing if it happened. Wonder if he would be seen as a long term lock option, played a lot of juniors in the back row too.

 

[Stewbojevic]

Adam Elliot would be a good lock option with Jake to Prop. He is a senior player who plays hard and has good stats. Would not be paying overs to pick him up for a two year contract either.

He’s injured more than Turbo

 

[47MVEagle]

Hearing more whispers that Galvin is coming .

That would be very interesting, considering we essentially snuck in & got Large while rumours were around that a few clubs (including us) were after Galvin then.

 

[Phobia]

Hearing more whispers that Galvin is coming .

Is your source in the know?

Would seem very strange to me why we would sign him, it would undoubtedly put Onitoni Large off, as Galvin (who at that time was likely to stay) was the reason he left the Tigers in the first place.

I don't know why he'd want to come here to play second-row or lock, either, unless he seriously rates us as a place to win a comp.

 

[robbiea]

Is your source in the know?

Would seem very strange to me why we would sign him, it would undoubtedly put Onitoni Large off, as Galvin (who at that time was likely to stay) was the reason he left the Tigers in the first place.

I don't know why he'd want to come here to play second-row or lock, either, unless he seriously rates us as a place to win a comp.

Just a rumour , don’t know if they are in the know , but they are involved in the game !