2026 Team (Fill the Gaps)

[KNUCKLES]

Here we go...

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

14.Jake Simpkin
15.Ben Trbojevic
16.Jake Trbojevic
17. Ethan Bullemor

Not the best to be fair.. forward pack is lacking unless we can make 2 good signings. 1 backrower and 1 lock

 

[Chip and Chase]

Garrick was reportedly on $450-500k I’m fairly sure, paid overs because Newcastle were going to apparently offer him the fullback spot

And we promised him the centre spot to sweeten deal. Which has been a mistake, he's better on the wing

 

[Under the Sticks]

Of those in our top 30, off contract for next year:

Bullemor - keep and re-sign ASAP
Talau - keep, but only if price is right
Arthur - keep, but only if he puts on some size and moves into forwards. Don't want him in the way of Large and Walsh who should both be close to playing Cup by next year
Faulalo - keep as depth
Vaega/Schoupp - keep one or the other, don't need more outside backs
GCKT - needs to prove himself and will get his chance in the coming weeks, if not release
DCE - see ya
James - release, reserve grader
Matterson - release, reserve grader
Sipley - release, too big and slow
Taukeaiho - release, too big and slow but like his efforts
Tevaga - release, past it

That frees up at least 7 spots for next year. Aloiai, Brown, Croker, Burbo & Waddell are all on for at least another year but we should look to move them on sooner too. Obviously hard to see Burbo going anywhere but that's up to 10 spots we could have freed up. Add Fogarty, promote Navale, Muagututia, Laiafi & Large to the 30 and look to the player market to fill out the rest.

From a quick look at the ever-reliable Zero Tackle here's a few off-contract players we could target:

Hookers: Tom Starling, Cory Paix, Jayden Berrell
Forwards: Kai Pearce-Paul, Kurtis Morrin, Corey Jensen, Davvy Moale, Josiah Pahulu, Finau Latu, Mat Croker

We finally have a chance to get with the times and make our roster younger, fitter and faster, let's hope with DCE's contract finally off the books we no longer have to scrape the bottom of the barrel for new signings. I think the year after when the Trbojevic contracts are reduced will be the main one for us though.

Who turned the lights on? Pass the lemon juice.