2023 Recruitment & Retention Thread

Can’t go into next season with Clune and Clifford as the only specialist halves, Kurt Mann as the first choice backup. If the player market doesn’t spit out an established 7, have to take what we can get. Jock is the best off contract 7 atm.

He’s comfortably more talented than Clune.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Well for starters going into 2023 with just two contracted first grade halves is, you could say, a little bit of a risk…

… then on top of that the guys under contract are:

1. A guy who seems to be in the midst of an all time crisis of confidence and;

2. A guy who’s maybe looked to not quite have the skill or physical base needed for a full season of first grade, and whose performances have been inconsistent for this reason.
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I would really love to see AOB give clifford the rest of the year at 6 and say make it yours and let him try and build some confidence again.

Clear hes not a 7 and not gonna be a game manager but with his big body, athletism and running game he could make a great 6. Not saying he could be but has some physique as munster so as milford is bailing just stick him at 7 and let cliffo play 6 in the hopes we can pick up a decent 7 in the offseason.
 

Reports this fella will request a release once Ben Hunt signs a contract extension.

Definitely fits with the philosophy of targeting talented players stuck behind established rep stars.
 
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Frank McWilliams said:
Was he behind or in front of Clune, assume wanting was youth and his improvement this season
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Behind on a week to week basis, ahead long term. Dragons signed him till the end of 2025 and would only give Clune 1 year deals. Sullivan is still quite young.

They likely didn’t anticipate Hunt would hit career best form at 32 and be so essential to them being competitive.
 
I think Sullivan can be a really good player with the right coach/system, don't think that describes Newcastle unfortunately.
 
Yes, we can sign a bunch of talented young players but they need to nurtured properly. Essentially we would be destroying their careers unless we change our coach.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:

Reports this fella will request a release once Ben Hunt signs a contract extension.

Definitely fits with the philosophy of targeting talented players stuck behind established rep stars.
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Yeah I was just about to mention Sullivan.
Tbh a halves partnership of 6. Asi and 7. Sullivan is better than what we have now and they both have heaps of potential it’s just about whether they can be consistent from week to week.
 
nrl.com has put up the top 30 list for each team

Krys Mapapalangi is listed as top 30 for 2022, 23, 24 and Mat Croker is listed as Dev for 2022 and top 30 for 23 and 24
 
Mapapalangi moves well and breaks tackles but seems to catch a cold out there at right centre just like our first grade equivalent always does. Get him the fkn ball you dummies!
 
krustykraz said:
What can you tell us about Mapapalangi @Billy ?
I haven't seen much of him.
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Was a fullback up till 2020.
Played 5/8 for Manly under 19s in 2020 and had a great year from all reports.
In 2021 he played Flegg for us mostly, with some 5/8 and some centre, but also got a few games in reserves at centre and wing and looked right at home.
This year he started in Flegg, but has been a regular centre in reserves for most of the season, and is looking better and better.
He is a biggish centre - about the same size as Shibasaki - and has good passing skills and makes good decisions. He reads the game well enough to play 5/8, but I've not seen any sign of a kicking game - apart from being a fair goal kicker, but not a great one.
 
Billy said:
Was a fullback up till 2020.
Played 5/8 for Manly under 19s in 2020 and had a great year from all reports.
In 2021 he played Flegg for us mostly, with some 5/8 and some centre, but also got a few games in reserves at centre and wing and looked right at home.
This year he started in Flegg, but has been a regular centre in reserves for most of the season, and is looking better and better.
He is a biggish centre - about the same size as Shibasaki - and has good passing skills and makes good decisions. He reads the game well enough to play 5/8, but I've not seen any sign of a kicking game - apart from being a fair goal kicker, but not a great one.
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When he plays centre what side for he play on?
And do you think he is ready for firsts?
 
Reports we've signed Bevan French for the 2023 season, unlikely to be on any coin because he's wanted to get back to Australia for some time but I struggle to see the point in this a bit.

Possibly seen as a Hoy replacement/insurance for Hodgson having another injury riddled season.
 
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