2026 recruitment & retention

[Phobia]

I’m not sold on him as our left second row either, to balance out pack probably need a Martin/Preston/Crichton style player, but for a solid forward worker I think Ben is developing fine

Yep we just need one of the best second rowers in the comp to partner our other world-class second rower… Then we’ll win the comp.

Paying your starting second rowers close to $2 million is not the way to win the comp. You can get away with some workhorses there. Cheaping out on the spine, and our depth in various positions has, and will be, more detrimental to us.

 

[Pete W]

Yep, Garner would have been good had we of signed him when he left the tigers, but yes we need an edge that can shift out. With the speed of the game, mobile edges are paramount, especially one with lateral movement who can provide backline cover, like Simi, Preston, Lucas, Lecka, Burns, we need to find emerging talent, shift away from the recycling approach.

I think the club are banking on Schoupp and, possibly later in the season, Hart to be that bench edge forward who are mobile enough to shift to centre when an outside back goes down mid-game.

Schoupp's place in the 30 was reconsidered when no other viable options in the market became available. Hart had a pretty meteoric rise last season, and if his trend continues, should be knocking down the door by season's end.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Burbo "s defensive ; [ or harder ] contact was probably the most improved part of his overall game input this season . .

If Bull whacked in defence the way Burbo does he’d be in line for Origin

Yep we just need one of the best second rowers in the comp to partner our other world-class second rower… Then we’ll win the comp.

Paying your starting second rowers close to $2 million is not the way to win the comp. You can get away with some workhorses there. Cheaping out on the spine, and our depth in various positions has, and will be, more detrimental to us.

I just mean that style of player, ie, not a giant but a tough tackling hole runner type with a bit of leg speed
Most clubs have someone like that

 

[madmax]

Siosifa Talakai…..available. Can play Middle, 2nd row & Center. He & Ola would make a terrifying back row!!
Paseka
Simpkin
TKO
Talakai
Olakau’atu
Navale
Res: Walsh, Bullemore, Moale, Hetherington

 

[TheEagle]

Manly offered Souths Nathan Brown in a player swap to try and sign Moale for next year. Souths declined it. Looks like we are pushing hard to get Davvy for next year.

 

[Eagles4Life]

Siosifa Talakai…..available. Can play Middle, 2nd row & Center. He & Ola would make a terrifying back row!!
Paseka
Simpkin
TKO
Talakai
Olakau’atu
Navale
Res: Walsh, Bullemore, Moale, Hetherington

He cant play 80 minutes at backrow though. We would need to rotate him after 20 minutes or so.

Jake will be our starting lock for 2026. His form doesnt justify him having a mortgage on that spot, but it will happen regardless.

Paseka
Simpkin
TKO
Hetherington
Olakau’atu
Jake

Res: Navale, Bullemore, Talakai, Moale

 

[Seagles68]

Siosifa Talakai…..available. Can play Middle, 2nd row & Center. He & Ola would make a terrifying back row!!
Paseka
Simpkin
TKO
Talakai
Olakau’atu
Navale
Res: Walsh, Bullemore, Moale, Hetherington

How would you use Walsh off the bench?

I do think Burbo still has some more improvement in him but Talakai would add some spice.

 

[Seagles68]

Manly offered Souths Nathan Brown in a player swap to try and sign Moale for next year. Souths declined it. Looks like we are pushing hard to get Davvy for next year.

As much as I admire Brown's heart, he really should retire. I can't see any other team taking him.

 

[Ben]

Surly if we want Brown off the books we would just offer him to the super league.

 

[Disco]

Hethrington aint an edge

 

[Eagles4Life]

Hethrington aint an edge

No he isn’t. He’s a middle that used to be a hooker. In fact it was Seibold that Hetherington credits for turning him into a middle.

I wouldn’t suggest playing him on an edge (for the first 20 minutes only), except for the Jake conundrum we will have next season. Jake will be our starting lock. He will not give us any metres or momentum in the middle.

If Hetherington can defend on the edge, but takes Jake’s runs in the middle, that option could partly solve the Jake conundrum. It’s far from ideal, but unless we go back to starting Burbo and Jurbo, we don’t have many other options.

 

[Darren]

What a mess is the Jake contract. Look how we are talking about him, and he is on 950k next season.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

I wonder if Big John T is still working with one of the sponsors? Someone mentioned that was part of the deal during their last contract negotiation.

 

[double hoops]

Geez Navale brought so much more than Jake to this team at lock.

The games getting quicker and quicker. Jakes getting slower and slower.

 

[Eagle 1]

What a mess is the Jake contract. Look how we are talking about him, and he is on 950k next season.

Love the guy, but it's the elephant 🐘 in the room that we don't want to talk about.

 

[Stewbojevic]

Are we getting the 10-year salary exemption for Jake? Must be close. I believe it was around $350k

 

[XV-1]

Are we getting the 10-year salary exemption for Jake? Must be close. I believe it was around $350k

It's 300k total for the club.

Season
Base Salary Cap
Motor Vehicle
Allowance
Veteran & Developed
Player Allowance
Total Top 30
Salary Cap
2025 $11,400,000 $100,000 $300,000 $11,800,000
2026 $11,550,000 $100,000 $300,000 $11,950,000
2027 $11,700,000 $100,000 $300,000 $12,100,000

 

[Nordburg]

Are we getting the 10-year salary exemption for Jake? Must be close. I believe it was around $350k

It’s 8 years in the top 30 squad and the club have had that allowance for a few years with DCE,Jake and Tom.10 yrs is for a player that have been in the comp for that long at multiple clubs

 

[double hoops]

Love the guy, but it's the elephant 🐘 in the room that we don't want to talk about.

I don't think Sticking your head in the sand, is some how going to make it a non problem. Either.

Credit to Seibs for moving Turbo to centre. He was struggling in the 1 at the time, Turbo wasn't winning us anything at 1 at the time.

Is that the reason the Turbo is said to be unhappy at Man? I'm sure when uve always been the star and your moved from your position. You feel a lack of trust in your coach.

Was Tom really happy to play centre, didn't seemed stoked to be honest.

The challenge for Seibs at Manly is, his leadership duo are quickly aging. The opportunity that awaits, he needs both brothers to bring more to this team through their influence on others and bringing the best out in the team. Less about what they do themselves.