2026 ( the Nostradamus thread )

[Mark from Brisbane]

With 2025 already ****ed I thought I’d start a thread about 2026 and what we can expect to see ( based on what we know for sure & I guess a fair bit of speculation ).

Things we know

**The Chaser out , Fogarty in.

**Sipley to Super League

**Turbo & Jurbo on backended HUGE deals

**Jazz to Super League

Things we hope

**AoA & Croker medical retirement

**The end of the Schu contract ( or is there one more year)

Things to speculate

**A change in coach

**Those who won’t be re-signed

**Those who will be signed again but only because we are desperate.

**Those who will be elevated from reserves

**How many spots that might leave in the 30

**Where we might place in 2026

There’s a lot of items in here to discuss , lots have already been mentioned , but other than the 2026 recruitment / retention thread there’s not a lot about where all this might see us in what appears to be yet another year where we are stuck with some high value , but relatively low performing ( at this stage ) squad members, and an inability to be able to sign any forward of any note ( the critical area)

I’ll just post this up and add some of my own thoughts if and when the thread progresses.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

**The end of the Schu contract ( or is there one more year)

Still paying it off next year I think (the final 200k supposedly)

 

[eagle66]

If we have signed Wilson & Turpin from the Dogs, at least we bought from a club higher up than us not the Tigers. Maybe the Dogs will be our feeder club of lower grade players. That's a plus.
Our game will be different and I don't think Brooks will add anything. Maybe Turbo at 6 with Fogerty. It will give more space to Haumole, Koula and Hopoate.
We were short 2 props, a back rower and a lock for 2025, hopefully this will be addressed. Start with someone who has a desire to win and the effort to win the ruck. If there is no one time use the juniors. Simples

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I'll be happy to see some changes, obviously The Fog is a big one, also I want some younger forwards. If we end up with Klemmer & Lodge as well as Jake, Brown and TKO I will groan loudly.

 

[Not Paul Kent]

News.com.au reported after Manly confirmed the release on Apr 24, 2024 that the settlement would hit the Sea Eagles’ cap as $250k per year for the next three seasons (2025–2027)

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/manly-cut-josh-schuster-loose-after-worst-deal-ever-done/news-story/edf8b89f2fd38155d0097a17448d19b5

 

[XV-1]

News.com.au reported after Manly confirmed the release on Apr 24, 2024 that the settlement would hit the Sea Eagles’ cap as $250k per year for the next three seasons (2025–2027)

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/manly-cut-josh-schuster-loose-after-worst-deal-ever-done/news-story/edf8b89f2fd38155d0097a17448d19b5

In my dreams, Josh gets his head right, gets fit and comes back to play for Manly in 26 and 27 and starts to reach his potential.
After all, we are paying him.

Then I wake up.

 

[Ohgeez]

1 thing i’m interested to see is how much of a toll DCE’s decision actually took on the squad this year. If they dish up the same effort & lack of cohesion next year Penn & Mestrov are going to look like absolute fools for not sacking the coach.

 

[Not Paul Kent]

Top 30 & Upgraded Development Players (22 contracted)

• Ben Trbojevic – 2027
• Caleb Navale – 2027
• Clayton Faulalo – 2027
• Corey Waddell – 2027
• Ethan Bullemor – 2029
• Haumole Olakau’atu – 2030
• Jake Simpkin – 2026
• Jake Trbojevic – 2026
• Jamal Fogarty – 2028
• Jason Saab – 2029
• Joey Walsh – 2027
• Lachlan Croker – 2026
• Lehi Hopoate – 2027
• Luke Brooks – 2027
• Nathan Brown – 2026
• Paul Bryan – 2026
• Reuben Garrick – 2026
• Simione Laiafi – 2026
• Taniela Paseka – 2029
• Tom Trbojevic – 2026
• Tolutau Koula – 2026
• Zaidas Muagututia – 2026

Off-Contract/Gone

• Aaron Schoupp
• Aitasi James
• Daly Cherry-Evans
• Dean Matterson
• Gordon Chan Kum Tong
• Jazz Tevaga
• Josh Aloiai
• Michael Chee Kam
• Siua Taukei’aho
• Tommy Talau
• Toafofoa Sipley
• Ray Vaega

Development List

• D’Jazirhae ‘Mia’ Pua’avase – 2026

 

[mickqld]

2026 what should have been if we had a deep pockets owner, a decent coach, someone to shackle the Fainu boys and a decent recruitment team over the last 3 years. DCE should've been let go when he asked last year we could've kept Weekes and Humphries at least.
1. Weekes
2. Garrick
3. Koula
4. Turbo
5. Lehi. Hoppa
6. Humphries
7. L. Fainu
8. Paseka
9. M. Fainu
10. Jurbo
11. Olakuatu
12. Sam. Fainu
13. Sione Fainu

14. Simpkin/Talau
15. Bulle
16. Burbo
17. TKO

 

[Not Paul Kent]

Speculative added:
Blake Wilson
Jake Turpin

Speculative re-signings:
TKO
Lodge
Talau

Speculative train and trial:
Josh Feledy

By my count that leaves us with 3 spots and not a lot of cap space?

Fullback (2)
Tom Trbojevic; Lehi Hopoate

Winger (4)
Jason Saab; Reuben Garrick; Clayton Faulalo; Blake Wilson

Centre (2)
Tolutau Koula; Tommy Talau

Halves (3)
Jamal Fogarty (HB); Luke Brooks (FE); Joey Walsh (HB)

Hooker (4)
Lachlan Croker; Jake Simpkin; Jake Turpin; Zaidas Muagututia

Edge back-row (3)
Haumole Olakau’atu; Corey Waddell; Ben Trbojevic

Middle forwards / Prop-Lock (9)
Jake Trbojevic (Lock); Taniela Paseka (Prop); Ethan Bullemor (Prop/Lock); Nathan Brown (Lock/Prop); Matt Lodge (Prop); Siua Taukei’aho (Prop); Caleb Navale (Lock); Paul Bryan (Prop); Simione Laiafi (Prop)

 

[double hoops]

I think we might be discussing our halves for at least the first half of 26.

I may be wrong but I suspect Fogs control vs a running 7 will take a while to adjust.

 

[Eagle eye]

2026 what should have been if we had a deep pockets owner, a decent coach, someone to shackle the Fainu boys and a decent recruitment team over the last 3 years. DCE should've been let go when he asked last year we could've kept Weekes and Humphries at least.
1. Weekes
2. Garrick
3. Koula
4. Turbo
5. Lehi. Hoppa
6. Humphries
7. L. Fainu
8. Paseka
9. M. Fainu
10. Jurbo
11. Olakuatu
12. Sam. Fainu
13. Sione Fainu

14. Simpkin/Talau
15. Bulle
16. Burbo
17. TKO

Metcalfe over L. Fainu

 

[eaglebuzz]

In the realm of hope:

• Joey Walsh, Onitoni Large, Zaidas Maugututia and Hugo Heart to be First Graders by season's end.
• Siebold to be replaced either after or during the season
• Fogarty to be a massive improvement on DCE

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I thought Tommy Talau was announced with an extension a while ago , am I dreaming ???

 

[Pete W]

Top 30 & Upgraded Development Players (22 contracted)

• Ben Trbojevic – 2027
• Caleb Navale – 2027
• Clayton Faulalo – 2027
• Corey Waddell – 2027
• Ethan Bullemor – 2029
• Haumole Olakau’atu – 2030
• Jake Simpkin – 2026
• Jake Trbojevic – 2026
• Jamal Fogarty – 2028
• Jason Saab – 2029
• Joey Walsh – 2027
• Lachlan Croker – 2026
• Lehi Hopoate – 2027
• Luke Brooks – 2027
• Nathan Brown – 2026
• Paul Bryan – 2026
• Reuben Garrick – 2026
• Simione Laiafi – 2026
• Taniela Paseka – 2029
• Tom Trbojevic – 2026
• Tolutau Koula – 2026
• Zaidas Muagututia – 2026

Off-Contract/Gone

• Aaron Schoupp
• Aitasi James
• Daly Cherry-Evans
• Dean Matterson
• Gordon Chan Kum Tong
• Jazz Tevaga
• Josh Aloiai
• Michael Chee Kam
• Siua Taukei’aho
• Tommy Talau
• Toafofoa Sipley
• Ray Vaega

Development List

• D’Jazirhae ‘Mia’ Pua’avase – 2026

I think Muagututia is still on Development for 2026, not top 30.

He, Hart, Pua’avase, and possibly Baruani are the 4 Development Contracts so far for 2026

Also, Onitoni Large comes into our 30 next year. And Lodge has a 30 spot if he wants it.

If Croker, Aloiai play on, should be 24 confirmed top 30 contracts.

Assuming Talau, Taukeiaho are re-signed, that would be 26 plus an additional 3-4 development list

 

[Eagle 1]

News.com.au reported after Manly confirmed the release on Apr 24, 2024 that the settlement would hit the Sea Eagles’ cap as $250k per year for the next three seasons (2025–2027)

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/manly-cut-josh-schuster-loose-after-worst-deal-ever-done/news-story/edf8b89f2fd38155d0097a17448d19b5

Yeah, we ended up biding against our dumb selves. And to add the last straw on the cammels back we signed up Brooks before we did the calamitous Schuster signing. Just made no sense at all.

 

[Leighbra]

Turpin is deadest the worst signing the club has ever made or will make, even worse than Jye Mullane

 

[Wombat64]

Turpin is deadest the worst signing the club has ever made or will make, even worse than Jye Mullane

Nate Myles says hold my beer

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

So , at this point , 2026 we go from a C minus to a D minus , potentially an F.

F is our first ever wooden spoon.

Gee that just brightens your day doesn’t it.

 

[Not Paul Kent]

I think Muagututia is still on Development for 2026, not top 30.

He, Hart, Pua’avase, and possibly Baruani are the 4 Development Contracts so far for 2026

Also, Onitoni Large comes into our 30 next year. And Lodge has a 30 spot if he wants it.

If Croker, Aloiai play on, should be 24 confirmed top 30 contracts.

Assuming Talau, Taukeiaho are re-signed, that would be 26 plus an additional 3-4 development list

Per NRL contract registry Zaidas Muagututia is in the top 30 in 2026

Also can’t find anything confirming Large will be in the top 30?