2026 Recruitment And Retention

Just look at our depth and think if we have longer term injuries to any forwards like this year, Elliot 4 games, Saf 16, Leo 16, Lucas 13, and think to ourselves that 4 starters go down at the same time we have, Croker, Jones, Hopwood and Cant or something along those lines coming in... Doesn't scream to me like we are getting far off the bottom if we run into some bad luck with injuries (which we seem to every year)
 
Junior said:
A runner up team cutting a player with experience both internationally and in the NRL... Crazy that I would suggest him, he's an enforcer, shorten his minutes, increase his impact and watch the likes of Brown Ponga and Sharpe on the back of it
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My point is storm have been culture setters for a very long time. They can turn average or undervalued players into very good players in their system. They obviously see him as a liability. He has missed two of the most important games in the past few years for the club, the GF because he did something dumb

Yes I can see the appeal but we don’t need liabilities, there is a reason he hasn’t been snapped up yet.
 
Tackleslikeagirl said:
My point is storm have been culture setters for a very long time. They can turn average or undervalued players into very good players in their system. They obviously see him as a liability. He has missed two of the most important games in the past few years for the club, the GF because he did something dumb

Yes I can see the appeal but we don’t need liabilities, there is a reason he hasn’t been snapped up yet.
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I think Storm are definitely trying to pinch their pennies so they can make a big play soon.

NAS on 850 to play 30 minutes a game doesn’t make sense. Coupled with him missing the clubs biggest games - I can see why they are a bit frustrated.


While I don’t think we are in a position to sign him…

Pro’s:
- big body bully
- alpha
- fierce competitor
- can actually put a bit of fear in opposition
- capable of bending the line to a degree we haven’t seen for a while

Cons :
- likely asking price not worth it
- as sure as Best will strain his hamstring in 2026, NAS will miss >4 weeks suspended or injured.

Unsure
- what his approach to training and the team will be
- he could be a fierce leader that could drive standards and be a good role model for the young guys
- he could come in unfit, overweight and collect his $$$.


TLDR; If the price is right, I’d consider it. But I don’t think the price will be right.
 
BTP said:
We’re max top 30. So I’m not sure we’ll be able to move anyone else to sign another front rower. Been tough enough moving someone on to officially sign Sandon.
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Has that happened yet? I know we keep asking! I was h der the impression Cogger moved on which allowed Mooney a spot but I thought the last spot needed to have Annan moved on or Gamble. Gamble wasn’t budging. Is Annan?
 
Nightsondee said:
Has that happened yet? I know we keep asking! I was h der the impression Cogger moved on which allowed Mooney a spot but I thought the last spot needed to have Annan moved on or Gamble. Gamble wasn’t budging. Is Annan?
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We are still waiting for the official announcement of Sandon’s signing.

We don’t know what is happening with Annan and the talk about Gamble leaving stopped months ago.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
That Knights juniors guy put up a confirmed top 30 yesterday which didn't have Annan and did have Sandon.
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  1. Asu Kepaoa
  2. Bradman Best
  3. Brodie Jones
  4. Cody Hopwood
  5. Dane Gagai
  6. Dominic Young
  7. Dylan Brown
  8. Dylan Lucas
  9. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
  10. Fletcher Sharpe
  11. Francis Manuleleua
  12. Greg Marzhew
  13. Jacob Saifiti
  14. James Schiller
  15. Jermaine McEwen
  16. Kalyn Ponga
  17. Kyle McCarthy
  18. Lachlan Crouch
  19. Matthew Arthur
  20. Mat Croker
  21. Pasami Saulo
  22. Peter Hola
  23. Phoenix Crossland
  24. Sandon Smith
  25. Thomas Cant
  26. Trey Mooney
  27. Tyson Gamble
  28. Tyson Frizell
  29. Will Sullivan
  30. Wilson De Courcey

    Supplemental List:
    1. Connor Votano
    2. Fletcher Hunt
    3. Harrison Graham
    4. Matthew Hunter
    5. Marcus D'Acre
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
That Knights juniors guy put up a confirmed top 30 yesterday which didn't have Annan and did have Sandon.
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He’s pretty on it and really good to chat with, apparently Annan and Gamble were the I tail ones to go, but both dug heels in, then recently it sounds like Annan may have officially gone. Feel for Annan, young lad who made a jump and got moved around heaps, instead of being left in a position.

But does seems like Annan moving on opens the door for Sandon officially. I don’t think it was ever NOT going to happen, just had to be patient to find the spot.
 
Joel.M said:
  1. Asu Kepaoa
  2. Bradman Best
  3. Brodie Jones
  4. Cody Hopwood
  5. Dane Gagai
  6. Dominic Young
  7. Dylan Brown
  8. Dylan Lucas
  9. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
  10. Fletcher Sharpe
  11. Francis Manuleleua
  12. Greg Marzhew
  13. Jacob Saifiti
  14. James Schiller
  15. Jermaine McEwen
  16. Kalyn Ponga
  17. Kyle McCarthy
  18. Lachlan Crouch
  19. Matthew Arthur
  20. Mat Croker
  21. Pasami Saulo
  22. Peter Hola
  23. Phoenix Crossland
  24. Sandon Smith
  25. Thomas Cant
  26. Trey Mooney
  27. Tyson Gamble
  28. Tyson Frizell
  29. Will Sullivan
  30. Wilson De Courcey

    Supplemental List:
    1. Connor Votano
    2. Fletcher Hunt
    3. Harrison Graham
    4. Matthew Hunter
    5. Marcus D'Acre
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It’s a good squad. Well balanced in halves now and backline still looking good. Props look better with some good rookie depth needing to continued improvement. Confident in Elijah, Hopwood, Hola and Crouch being great backups when needed though.
Edge forwards is the sudden depth issue, but if Frizz moves back to starting edge, and Arthur is able to take up the 14 role and Crossy 9/13 then that allows Graham to cover an edge role, relieving the work rate and expectation on McEwen and Manulelua.
 
BTP said:
He’s pretty on it and really good to chat with, apparently Annan and Gamble were the I tail ones to go, but both dug heels in, then recently it sounds like Annan may have officially gone. Feel for Annan, young lad who made a jump and got moved around heaps, instead of being left in a position.

But does seems like Annan moving on opens the door for Sandon officially. I don’t think it was ever NOT going to happen, just had to be patient to find the spot.
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From what I read, they managed to convince Annan to sign a Reserve Grade contract instead which allow them to sign Sandon. So Annan is still staying on just not Top 30
 
Newygirl said:
From what I read, they managed to convince Annan to sign a Reserve Grade contract instead which allow them to sign Sandon. So Annan is still staying on just not Top 30
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Thanks for that, makes a lot of sense too as he is down the pecking order and probably wouldn’t be called upon next season for first grade
 
Annan hasn't even looked reserve grade level.
3 years for a Union convert coming off season ending injuries is a pretty poor deal.
Marcus Dacre looks a better bet already, and he looks 2 years off firstgrade.
 
Yeah I’m not that happy with Annan he looks some time off yet from first grade and to be honest I’d rate D’Arce a fair bit higher than Annan.

With the likes of D’Arce, Gow, Latu, De Coursey, Winter etc, I honestly don’t see a spot for Annan in the backs, now or in the future.

Maybe back row? But even than McEwen, Manu, Elijah are the best three up and comers at the moment for us all in early 20s, than you have Cant as well mixed in with the younger guys below.

I don’t see a world where we even try to keep him.
 
KPGreatness said:
Yeah I’m not that happy with Annan he looks some time off yet from first grade and to be honest I’d rate D’Arce a fair bit higher than Annan.

With the likes of D’Arce, Gow, Latu, De Coursey, Winter etc, I honestly don’t see a spot for Annan in the backs, now or in the future.

Maybe back row? But even than McEwen, Manu, Elijah are the best three up and comers at the moment for us all in early 20s, than you have Cant as well mixed in with the younger guys below.

I don’t see a world where we even try to keep him.
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Yeah I see - what happens there though, is they drop him back but have to pay him out his contract or at least some of that. I heard it was a decent coin too. Frees up a top 30 spot but that money comes under our cap! Badly managed though - I saw some games last year and saw him come off injured every single time and seemed well out of touch.
Speaking of which Will Sullivan - another one who seemed to hit the ground and forget to run! Still a few I think were over ambitious signings.
 
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