2026 recruitment & retention

[SeaEagleRock8]

Circus acts are fine if we play like Lions and Tigers and not clowns and ponies.

Hmm. I don't think circuses have animals any more 🙁
Would you settle for acrobats and daredevils?

 

[eaglebuzz]

Wow we really are scraping the bottom. Swapping has been Brown for has been Bird and getting back an ex 2nd grader who couldn't make it at a club that was worse than us. Such a power house club we are these days. FMD.

Swapping a fringe first grader who plays prop (where our depth is fine) for a fringe first grader who plays edge (where we need more depth) seems like a good move to me. My guess is the tigers need middles, and we need edge players so the swap is mutually beneficial.

Viliami Fifita is probably going to be on a development contract so who cares. Very little risk there.

 

[Stewbojevic]

I’m reserving judgement until all the cards fall into place… we appear to be making a lot of moves

 

[Ohgeez]

Liam Henry to test the market November 1.

Lindsay Smith also to hit the open market but likely to extend at Penrith

(Brent Read)

Henry would be a good addition for 2027 but I’m not sure we would be focusing on props after our recent signings

 

[Cliffycomeback]

Liam Henry to test the market November 1.

Lindsay Smith also to hit the open market but likely to extend at Penrith

(Brent Read)

Henry would be a good addition for 2027 but I’m not sure we would be focusing on props after our recent signings

He is a very good player but would need to get his discipline under control. His indescretions go relatively unnoticed in the well oiled Penrith machine.

 

[Cliffycomeback]

I’m reserving judgement until all the cards fall into place… we appear to be making a lot of moves

Good moves no less.

 

[Disco]

Like Henry, good young player

 

[double hoops]

Will Kennedy staying put.

Kennedy signs on for 2026 | Sharks Kennedy signs on for 2026

Might be bad news for Turtle perhaps.

 

[Disco]

Will Kennedy staying put.

Kennedy signs on for 2026 | Sharks Kennedy signs on for 2026

Might be bad news for Turtle perhaps.

Turtle?

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Turtle?

The Cherry on top.

 

[double hoops]

Turtle?

DCE. The long necked one.

 

[Disco]

Oh yeah....slow day on my part

 

[TheEagle]

Doubt we go after Henry. I think we are confident on our props moving forward with Moale, Paseka, Laiafi and Bryan. I want a marquee back rower or hooker.

 

[Disco]

Doubt we go after Henry. I think we are confident on our props moving forward with Moale, Paseka, Laiafi and Bryan. I want a marquee back rower or hooker.

I think we are still a marquee prop short

 

[TheEagle]

I think we are still a marquee prop short

we definitely could be, and I would be stoked if we signed a big name prop. But I think we need a real presence and strike on our left edge, that's why I think we should spend big money on a back rower. We also need a crafty 9 that is dangerous around the ruck and can run the footy off the back of quick play the balls.

 

[Blowfly]

Doubt we go after Henry. I think we are confident on our props moving forward with Moale, Paseka, Laiafi and Bryan. I want a marquee back rower or hooker.

Has anyone seen this Paul Bryan play?

A lot seem to be anointing him as the next big thing in prop forwards but have not seen any evidence to support this optimism.

Would love to hear what I’ve missed.

 

[Ohgeez]

Has anyone seen this Paul Bryan play?

A lot seem to be anointing him as the next big thing in prop forwards but have not seen any evidence to support this optimism.

Would love to hear what I’ve missed.

I haven’t seen a single poster anoint him as the ‘next big thing’ on here. Where do you come up with this stuff? 🤣

Could he turn out to be a solid first grader & better option than Brown? Sure

Would Newcastle let go of a gun rookie prop for Jake Arthur? Answer is also no.

Maybe you are confusing him with Laiafi? People have spoke highly about him over the last few years.

 

[Stewbojevic]

I like some of the moves we’re making. The coaching staff seem to genuinely recognise where our weaknesses are and are trying to improve them. Unfortunately we still have some glaring holes to fill.

I can’t see us winning a comp with Fogarty and Brooks in the halves. Solid first graders that can get us to the finals but I think that’s it.

So while I agree our middle forwards are an issue (less so with Moale and Hetherington coming plus Navale on the up) and that we lack a dominant left edge backrower, and our hooker could be better… even if we strengthened all those areas I still think it moves us from 10th to 5th. That’s about it.

For us to be in premiership contention, someone like Walsh or Large would need to turn into a superstar half quickly.

Just my opinion.

 

[Disco]

Has anyone seen this Paul Bryan play?

A lot seem to be anointing him as the next big thing in prop forwards but have not seen any evidence to support this optimism.

Would love to hear what I’ve missed.

Are the lot in the room with you now?

 

[The Wheel]

I like some of the moves we’re making. The coaching staff seem to genuinely recognise where our weaknesses are and are trying to improve them. Unfortunately we still have some glaring holes to fill.

I can’t see us winning a comp with Fogarty and Brooks in the halves. Solid first graders that can get us to the finals but I think that’s it.

So while I agree our middle forwards are an issue (less so with Moale and Hetherington coming plus Navale on the up) and that we lack a dominant left edge backrower, and our hooker could be better… even if we strengthened all those areas I still think it moves us from 10th to 5th. That’s about it.

For us to be in premiership contention, someone like Walsh or Large would need to turn into a superstar half quickly.

Just my opinion.

Can’t argue with any of that. If Turbo can produce another season like 2021 we might get close or closer