Current forward pack next year

[Grandpa Joe]

What's actually signed is looking disastrous so far.

I am putting down legitimate first graders, not guys who have just played a handful of games.

8. Jacob Safiti.
9. Crosslands.
10. Frizzell (Almost looking like a year too many already.)
11. Lucas.
12. Jones.
13. Croker.

14. Arthurs. (Being generous.)
15. Cant. (Being generous.)
16. ???
17. ???

No BS'ing we are literally.

2 Good props and 1 fringe first grader to have any sort of depth.
Same with the back rowers.
No locks.

If POS doesn't solve these gaps before next year. We are screwed.

Hetherington is injury prone, good for a suspension and worth $300k at the most.

No way Elliot stays with his personal situation and is overpaid.

Frizzell is probably on $700k minimum if not $850k so at his age and impact overpaid by $200k.

KPP gone.

And 2 blokes who give their all but are NSW cup at best in Croker and Jones likely to be playing each week and Cant who is probably a downgrade from them.

Crossland is bog average, Arthurs is unproven.

Legit are we almost back to being as bad as were in the Brown years?

No young forwards are ready for next year, and the ones I didn't mention we debuted are doubtful at best.

Best thing is our halves are just as bad lol.

 

[Joel.M]

We have the worst forward pack in 2026 currently

If Brown doesn’t develop how we like (even if he does you can’t do much with a mediocre pack) I think we get the spoon

 

[mozza]

Hope our hooker options add some skills during preseason in addition to the ‘S’ in their surnames.

 

[KPGreatness]

We are screwed next year Dyl, Sharpe, Ponga are going to get monstered.

Not going to lie I thought Brodie turned a corner but he shouldn’t be in the 17.

Even if we grab Pahulu (I don’t think we have a chance) we need another another prop and lock.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

We are screwed next year Dyl, Sharpe, Ponga are going to get monstered.

Not going to lie I thought Brodie turned a corner but he shouldn’t be in the 17.

Even if we grab Pahulu (I don’t think we have a chance) we need another another prop and lock.

What about edge backrowers, unless we recycle frizz there for another year.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Don't panic. Stick to whatever valuations have been decided on. If we miss out on young high potential guys like Pahulu on long term deals, plug the gap with reasonable cost veterans on short term deals and go again next year.

At some stage some team will decide they need to clear cap space for something and the opportunity to pick up a decent player on a discount will pop up. Happens every year and we're never in position to capitalise.

 

[KPGreatness]

What about edge backrowers, unless we recycle frizz there for another year.

I think we can squeeze one more good year from Frizz and that will allow us to bring either Greacen, McEwen or Manuleleua slowly and on the bench so we don’t just throw them to the wolves.

One year coming on in that 50-60 minute frame from the bench and by 2027 hopefully they will be ready to take over full time

 

[slotmachine]

I think you will just have to accept the pack is going to be no better than this year and maybe even worse in 2026.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

They expect Manulelua to be ready to be a regular bench forward next year so you can pencil him in now.

 

[EASBay17]

ESL also spent time in the middle in cup last week, may see him as a middle option moving forward, unless ive got it wrong i thought he played exclusively on an edge.

 

[Billy]

Tyrone Thompson has been using his enforced 3 week break to work on his tackling with brother Leo and Adam Blair I hear.
He'll come back next week - fitter and stronger in contact I expect.

 

[Owey]

We have little idea what the pack will look like next year yet. JSaf, Crossland and Lucas the only ones you can write down in pen.

 

[Brad tighe]

ESL also spent time in the middle in cup last week, may see him as a middle option moving forward, unless ive got it wrong i thought he played exclusively on an edge.

They’re planning to turn him into a prop it’s the biggest waste his a devastating backrow forward

 

[Billy]

I thought ESL was at lock. He has a good passing game and can put on a step, so maybe they have a plan for him to be a ballplaying lock.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

McEwen looks like the best edge prospect, the other guys should be training to play both. You only get to be a one position player if you’re the best at it.

 

[Brad tighe]

I thought ESL was at lock. He has a good passing game and can put on a step, so maybe they have a plan for him to be a ballplaying lock.

Have you seen him play on an edge his fantastic

 

[slotmachine]

This is all very good but they're not going to find players as good as Leo or KPP for 2026.

 

[Billy]

Have you seen him play on an edge his fantastic

His first few games last year had me thinking we had found a superstar, but his form dropped off and he went back to Flegg.
He is starting this year like he's learnt to pace himself a bit.

 

[Seano]

It looks to me like building a young team towards a premiership window...the worst part of that timeline is where we're at now.

 

[Chaister]

This is all very good but they're not going to find players as good as Leo or KPP for 2026.

Yeah. They have the potential to be better than both but I worry about McEwan in contact and nothing to suggest ESL will be different when he debuts. Unfortunately the only way for them to get there is experience against men.