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

HarVeeGee13 said:
Isaiya Katoa could pan out to be the best halfback in the NRL though. He’s got all the tools and looks to have good vision.
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Exceptional talent but not ready to run the show without support especially in a squad that lacks a specialist fullback. I think his better at six with an organising seven next to him.

They get linked to Sam walker all the time but I think Keary would be a great buy for them, if the opportunity presented itself.
 
I think they stopped thinking about anything more than being respectable now when they missed out on KP and Munster, and pivoted to thinking about the future. They focused on a mix of older culture guys and young talents early on and every big signing they’ve made since is also very young. Jeremy Marshall-King their only signing who’s in his absolute prime, but he’s a bit of a late bloomer and should have many years left yet. They’re not gonna make any noise now but as I think I said in another thread, in 3-5 years they could conceivably have a starting middle of Flegler, Fotuaika and Gilbert in their primes, a very good 9 in JMK, Katoa at 22-24 years old emerging as a top 5 halfback, and elite strike weapons in Hammer and Herbie Farnworth in their mid-20’s. That’s the core of a contending roster and I reckon a lot of clubs would tear up what they have and swap with the Fins in an instant atm.
 
Danny Weidler again reporting that we’re trying to shop D Saf as part of a cap restructure.

If it’s true we’re basically telling AOB we’re gonna punt on next season rather than push for top 4 IMO.
 
Weidler stops short of actually reporting that he’s being shopped, but says several clubs are watching with few quality props currently available.

As also noted in the article - it becomes more complicated when you factor in the club wanting to re-sign Jsaf. How motivated would he be to stay at the club that just shafted his brother? At the very least I’d say any “loyalty” discount would be out the window. It would be playing with fire so they better have a good backup plan.
 
Yeah that’s it for mine. In theory you could move him now to stop the bleeding with the cap, maybe trade him for Max King given I’m pretty sure Gus covets a rep calibre prop, then reload with some smart 2025-6 signings and take a crack at winning the comp then, with Penrith’s middles a bit older, Brisbane hit by a cap squeeze etc. But you don’t know what’s gonna happen. Maybe another team comes together then which is as good as the current top 2.

We do know D Saf has in the recent past been the best prop in an Origin series, and he had a rough trot with injuries this year. We also know Souths were pretty consistently the 3rd best team in the NRL from about 2018-2022, the cards really fell their way once in 2021, and they were a bad intercept pass away from winning the comp with a prop rotation of Nicholls, Tatola, Turgess and Arrow (all playing short impact minutes, just quietly). Fine players all, Turgess for mine a good D Saf comparison, but nowhere near Haas or Fisher-Harris. But yeah the best team doesn’t always win the comp, sometimes it’s just the team which is in good nick at the right time.

Push for repeated trips to the top 4 for the next few seasons, even if we can’t finish any higher than 3rd, then hopefully jag a week 1 win in one of those seasons. That’s the most likely path atm and we’ve got a way better shot with Daniel.
 
Speaking of Jackson Ford. Has he resigned with the Warriors yet? Could fill a void for the similar money that Fitz was on surely.
 
Grug said:
Speaking of Jackson Ford. Has he resigned with the Warriors yet? Could fill a void for the similar money that Fitz was on surely.
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between Lucas and KPP back row is covered very nicely. still think we need a experienced fwd. but apparently just looking at backs for last two, or at least one spot before pre season.
 
Players/managers can be spoken to anytime but not “officially” offered anything until they’re free agents. Obviously still happens though, usually through a mysterious third party who’s not officially part of the club.

I think if you can get out of Brailey’s deal you do it.
 
I know it's a tonne of money but after the Safs and Leo our front row stocks are **** poor.

Seriously doubt we signed off on $880k I'd say more like $600k.
 
I know our front row stocks are dire. Take everything the journos say with a grain of salt . If it's 600k fair. 880k see you latter. No wonder we got rid of Zammit
 
Is Leo's twin available?
Wouldn't replace D.Saf but would hopefully be a good back up and hopefully eventually get a feel for the game and get as good as his twin.
 
I honestly think Journo's add for expensive players - 30% on top for theatrics.

Honestly cap would have to be $20 million for teams to fit in all their players if what was reported was close to true.
 
Losing D.Saf and Brailey at the same time is a lot of experience walking out the door.
I know D.Saf hasn't lived up to his potential and Brailey gets injured a lot but can we afford to lose them?
 
krustykraz said:
hopefully eventually get a feel for the game and get as good as his twin.
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Doesn't always work out, remember David Fifita sucked whilst Andrew in his prime was among the great props of the game - reminded me of a runaway donkey!

Edit: Not to pick but how much experience does Brailey have? Surely 50 games max, not a big loss for mine. My only comment is we probably should have kept Mann if we let him go.
 
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