2026 Team (Fill the Gaps)

[Stewbojevic]

With the rumours of Fogarty signing… what’s everyone’s 2026 team look like? I still think we have a few gaps but this is where I’m sitting.

1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Garrick
5. Hopoate
6. Brooks
7. Fogarty
8. Paseka
9. Croker/Simpkin
10. NEW PLAYER
11. Haumole
12. NEW PLAYER
13. Jurbo
14. Zaidas/Tevaga
15. Bullemor
16. Navale
17. NEW PLAYER

 

[Chunkytuna]

With the rumours of Fogarty signing… what’s everyone’s 2026 team look like? I still think we have a few gaps but this is where I’m sitting.

1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Garrick
5. Hopoate
6. Brooks
7. Fogarty
8. Paseka
9. Croker/Simpkin
10. NEW PLAYER
11. Haumole
12. NEW PLAYER
13. Jurbo
14. Zaidas/Tevaga
15. Bullemor
16. Navale
17. NEW PLAYER

I’d still have Simpkin in there. I reckon he’s a better dummy half than Tevaga. On the bench.

 

[The Who]

With the rumours of Fogarty signing… what’s everyone’s 2026 team look like? I still think we have a few gaps but this is where I’m sitting.

1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Garrick
5. Hopoate
6. Brooks
7. Fogarty
8. Paseka
9. Croker/Simpkin
10. NEW PLAYER
11. Haumole
12. NEW PLAYER
13. Jurbo
14. Zaidas/Tevaga
15. Bullemor
16. Navale
17. NEW PLAYER

TT2 and Clayton are both worthy of consideration in the top 17.

 

[DieHardManlyFan]

1. Lehi
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Talau
5. Garrick
6. Brooks
7. Fogarty
8. Taukeiaho
9. New player
10. Paseka
11. Haumole
12. Bully
13. New player

14. Turbo
15. Jurbo
16. Jazz
17. N. Brown/Lodge (don’t know how he will go)

18. Burbo
19. Navale

 

[Thewestisbest]

TT2 and Clayton are both worthy of consideration in the top 17.

Clayton should not be anything but depth. If he makes our best 17 then we are in big trouble.

 

[JakeyB789]

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.

 

[Phobia]

I genuinely think Croker will medically retire. Zaidas Muagututia has gone from S.G. Ball to starting NSW Cup Hooker in something like two months. I think he'll debut later this year. He's a good defender from what I've heard.

1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Garrick
5. Hopoate
6. Brooks
7. Fogarty
8. Paseka
9. Simpkin (until Muagututia is fit enough)
10. Lodge (Someone will become available at the end of the year though)
11. Olakau'atu
12. Whoever is available
13. Jake
14. Muagututia
15. Bullemor
16. Navale
17. Aloiai

Might even give Taukeiaho an extra year to help out Paseka. Apparently he's having a big positive influence on the playing group. Unfortunately DCE is counteracting that at the moment.

 

[Ohgeez]

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.

Really hoping we have enough for either Pahulu or Moale