2024 Recruitment and Retention Thread - Rebuild 2: This Time It’ll Work For Sure (Unironically)

[Lefty]

Fletcher Myles is joining South’s before 30 June.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1805936451747504372

 

[Billy]

Barry has said he is hearing that Connor Votano is getting elevated to the Top 30 effective today.

If we need to pay him top 30 money to keep him, fair enough, but it's too soon for him to play.

 

[Brad tighe]

If we need to pay him top 30 money to keep him, fair enough, but it's too soon for him to play.

I’d assume his going to be debuting in nsw cup very soon. I heard the club talking about it over the weekend.

 

[waynesworld]

Baz has updated himself said Votano and McKewn to development deals and Hopwood potentially top 30.

 

[Billy]

I’d assume his going to be debuting in nsw cup very soon. I heard the club talking about it over the weekend.

Sharpe is 2 years older and didn't play nsw cup till this year, but on the other hand, Votano is a much bigger guy than Sharpe, so might be OK, even if he has never trained with the seniors.

 

[Billy]

Baz has updated himself said Votano and McKewn to development deals and Hopwood potentially top 30.

That seems more sensible - but Hopwood needs a firstgrade pre-season too. McKewn trained with Firstgrade and is a year older than Votano and Hopwood - I'd give him the top 30 spot and maybe a debut in the last round if we are out of the 8.

 

[MBQLD]

I see it as assurance to Votano that he’s valued here and in the long term plans and success of the club.

 

[mullenmagic]

Hopwood is the youngest and skinniest of them all relative to his position so a bit of a surprise. Probably has to do with wanting to lock him down longterm as Toohey had mentioned.

McEwen and Votano would still be eligible to debut at any time with their development deals.

 

[knights80]

Thought most logical would have been to move Seb Sua up as he is NRL top 30 next year, but maybe they see Hopwood as direct replacement for Martin next year as that no 13 back up.
Sua or McEwen or Elijah Salesa Leaumonoa definitely look more ready with all playing plenty of Flegg and Cup but it might be all about contract upgrade/extensions also
But would think that for players like Crokes might make his future less certain

 

[BTP]

Players on development deals only unable to play first 11weeks or has that been changed?

I too thought McEwen would be the top 30 spot, or even Elijah Leaumoana who has been toe to toe with Cup players all year.
Some on here have said we’re fighting to keep him as well with Parra chasing his sig.

It’s a hard juggle. Need to keep your best interested and clear line to FG whilst keeping experienced players around. If we lose Elliot and Hethro or just DSAF. Then we still need experience for the next 2 or so yrs before they are regular.

 

[knights80]

Players on development deals only unable to play first 11weeks or has that been changed?

I too thought McEwen would be the top 30 spot, or even Elijah Leaumoana who has been toe to toe with Cup players all year.
Some on here have said we’re fighting to keep him as well with Parra chasing his sig.

It’s a hard juggle. Need to keep your best interested and clear line to FG whilst keeping experienced players around. If we lose Elliot and Hethro or just DSAF. Then we still need experience for the next 2 or so yrs before they are regular.

In previous years Development was after round 11 unless injury crisis and got an exemption.

This year development could play from round 1 and then anybody from outside top 30 after round 11

 

[Billy]

O'Sullivan would have a lot to do with all these junior movements - Myers out, Davis and McKewn promoted, ESL back to Flegg, Bryan having a good game in Flegg and starting in reserves the next week over Sua.
I'd say he has watched the last few games closely and is liking what he sees in Votano, Hopwood, McKewn, Davis, Bryan.

 

[Frank McWilliams]

Walking that line again, need experience backup for 1st but don’t want to lose our younger ones.
We have plenty that have played many Cup games despite being eligible for Flegg and with right handling could be ready in 2025 for 1sts on a as needed basis. Those with very little or no Cup experience need time to be ready.
All for contracting, especially Development, if showing the talent but let them, Flegg age, play a mixture of Cup and Flegg with the aim being 2026.
The likes of Votano doesn’t need to play Cup or higher unless injury to Ponga and Sharpe, play him Flegg and develop his skills in positions other than f/b but let’s make sure we don’t lose the ones we want

 

[bremsstrahlung]

Not going to pretend I know much about our other grades, but seems like we are doing some good things in identifying talent and ensuring they feel rewarded and valued. (I guess the only way to know is to see where they are at in 5 years time)

 

[Billy]

So our best players 21 or under?

1 Fletcher Sharpe - Cessnock
2 Kyle McCarthy - South Coast
3 Wilson De Coursey - Penrith?
4 Connor Votano - Newcastle
5 Latu - New Zealand
6 Will Pryce - England
7 Liam Sutton - Cronulla?
8 Seb Sua - New Zealand
9 Jacob Davis - Newcastle
10 Paul Bryan - Queensland
11 Jermaine McKewn - Penrith
12 Elijah S/L - New Zealand
13 Jaxson Rahme - Sydney?

14 Cody Hopwood - Newcastle
15 Jack Cullen - North Coast I think
16 Jye Linnane - Kurri Kurri
17 Jack Hilliar - Cessnock

 

[Frank McWilliams]

That’s a good looking side with most likely to be Cup team 2025 and likely a few of the younger in Flegg, nice if we could keep them all

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as Aku'd]

So our best players 21 or under?

1 Fletcher Sharpe - Cessnock
2 Kyle McCarthy - South Coast
3 Wilson De Coursey - Penrith?
4 Connor Votano - Newcastle
5 Latu - New Zealand
6 Will Pryce - England
7 Liam Sutton - Cronulla?
8 Seb Sua - New Zealand
9 Jacob Davis - Newcastle
10 Paul Bryan - Queensland
11 Jermaine McKewn - Penrith
12 Elijah S/L - New Zealand
13 Jaxson Rahme - Sydney?

14 Cody Hopwood - Newcastle
15 Jack Cullen - North Coast I think
16 Jye Linnane - Kurri Kurri
17 Jack Hilliar - Cessnock

Which 3-4 of these players would you back to have long NRL FG careers Billy? From what I’ve read and seen looks like Sharpe, Votano, Bryan and De Coursey …….?

 

[Billy]

Which 3-4 of these players would you back to have long NRL FG careers Billy? From what I’ve read and seen looks like Sharpe, Votano, Bryan and De Coursey …….?

I've given up on trying to work out who will kick on.
Guys peak at different ages.
Guys like Dylan Lucas and Riley Jones were nothing special till they turned about 20, while guys like Brodie Jones and Jackson Hastings and even Matt Croker and many others who didn't even make firstgrade were absolute stars in under 16s and under 18s.
To me, all those guys look like they could be firstgraders, but only half of them will, and only maybe 3 or 4 will be longterm stars.

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as Aku'd]

Don’t know where else to post this but probably more a 2024 line up question so will stick it here……

Sharpe being included on the bench at 14 this week goes to show the coaching team want him in the 17. But when Phoenix is fit, I can’t see Sharpe being 14. So where does he go assuming we had a fully fit squad from next week. My line up would be:

1. Ponga
2. Marzhew
3. Gagai
4. Best
5. Sharpe
6. Gamble
7. Hastings
8. JSaf
9. Phoenix
10. Leo
11. Lucas
12. KPP
13. Elliot

14. Brailey
15. Frizz
16. DSaf
17. Jones

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as Aku'd]

I’ve been team Tuala all year and not a fan of Greg’s. But the latter has been hitting his straps past two weeks and the upside of a solid Marz performance is way better than a solid Tuala performance.

Sharpe needs to be in the team. Could be be a 5/8…..? I don’t know enough about him, plus, I think this team misses Gamble.