2026 recruitment & retention

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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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 this year. He was struggling in the 1 at the time, it was the right call at that time.

Is that the reason the Turbo is said to be unhappy at Man? I'm sure when u've always been the star and your moved away from your position. I could be hard to swallow. Youd feel a lack of trust in your coach. If your for yourself as an individual that is.

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

We've all seen Jake being a little bitch about being taken off the field for 10 minutes.

Can only imagine the carry on if told he's playing 20 min stints.

Concerning signs if that's your leaders. Really. And the Captain needs to be in sinc with the coach.

The challenge for Seibs at Manly next year. Correction Seibs will correctly call it an opportunity, for both brothers if made leaders, to bring more to his team through their influence on others, in managing moments.

Less in terms of what they actually do themselves.

If you want the two brothers to just do what they do. I just think Guac is the one who I'd go myself. Younger can grow into that role. He's already more of a leader of men in this side than Jake for mine. Jakes good for a rant, but not sure I've ever seen a players look interested or follow him on the field.

I can picture a Guac lead pack, actually hunting.

Then a new external voice, one used to controlling the team and steering the ship like the FOG seems a logical choice as well.

**** I hope the stands aren't burnt down at brooky next year. There is a lot to play out this off season. A lot.
 
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