Recruitment And Retention Discussion

HarVeeGee13

HarVeeGee13

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Rumours about November 1 targets have already started (eg the Roosters going after Kotoni Staggs). So why not contribute to the soap opera?

Currently signed team:

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Fletcher Sharpe
3. (James Schiller)
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6.
7. Jack Cogger
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell (MO)
12.
13. (Leo Thompson)

( ) = Reported/rumoured signing/extension
 
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He has a contract & I think if he ever leaves it’ll be to retire. Will specify that it’s an option though.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Fletcher Sharpe
3. (James Schiller)
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6.
7. Jack Cogger
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Daniel Saifiti
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I'll stick to the guys 100% with contracts.

Obviously KP and Best are very good players, no issue there they will still be great in 2026.

Then we have a decent but no longer elite prop going the wrong way, an OK bench utility, backup FB, backup halfback, an outside back with one good season and a few mediocre ones, an outside back with about ten games, and a salary cap thief.
 
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Paul Bryan is showing good signs. He has played a couple of impressive games in Cup and last week he got short minutes in cup and backed up 2 days later to play big minutes in Flegg. He missed all last year, but the 20 year old prop is making up for lost time.

Kyle McCarthy moved up from Flegg to cup after a couple of games and he now seems to be getting picked at centre over Fletcher Myers, who is on a development deal. McCarthy is 19 and will be 21 in 2026. He could also play wing and started out as a winger in Ball last year and played some wing in Flegg and cup last year. He would be our tallest back if selected in firstgrade and is fast enough to play wing.

Sebastien Sua is a big prop who needs to work on a lot of things, but he can already compete physically with firstgrade props for short minutes (if he can avoid getting sent off).

Half the Ball side playing in a qualifying final V Saints this evening (live on NSWRL TV) should progress to Flegg this year and some might get some games in cup. I expect a few will be close to firstgrade in 2026.

Our other young fringe and development players - Myers, Sharpe, Herring, Armstrong, Riley Jones and Mocredreke - are all guys who could step up to firstgrade this year
 
The article is about prop movement around the comp in the wake of Fisher-Harris moving, and it mentions both Saifiti's as possible targets for the Dragons as well.
 
First sign Leo then we can let Safs go, especially Dan but not so much Jacob. Would give us cash to spend on a strong front rower. We do have a few young prospects coming through that could be ready in a couple of years
 
Our 3 young middles in NSW Cup have been underwhelming to start the season for mine. Martin & Bryan just don't stand out in any way and Su'a is more likely to drop a ball or take someones head off than do something good at this stage.

Cody Hopwood & Jack Hilliar look like our most complete middle forward prospects but were both in Harold Matts last year so still very young.
 
mullenmagic said:
The article is about prop movement around the comp in the wake of Fisher-Harris moving, and it mentions both Saifiti's as possible targets for the Dragons as well.
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Unfortunately I think Flanno is a bit smart for that, but sure. And I’ll magnanimously take Ben Hunt back to ease the cap hit for them.
 
slotmachine said:
That's a very underwhelming core of signed players.

I read somewhere Hastings is on somewhere near DSaf $$$ this year and next so at least if his body doesn't come good they will have money to try and find a replacement somewhere.
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I just came in to say the same thing. Also need to put our multi grand final winning coach in there for the cherry on top.

Starting to think I’ll win lotto before I see a red and blue grand final win
 
13 players off contract at the end of 2025. Between Jacko, Brailey, Elliott, Hetho there’s around $2 million in salary, potentially more, + whatever KPP and Pryce are on (allegedly neither is a small deal).

I think once Leo is extended the next priority will be KPP. Beyond that, those initial four players would all be pretty silly to prioritise, I’m not imagining a massively competitive market for any of them.

Ideally Pryce emerges as that lethal running half like an Ezra Mam or Jahrome Hughes, he combines well with Hastings and Ponga, and the issue solves itself - upgrade Pryce, keep Hastings to steer us around. But if it’s not working out with those two (Jacko’s leg doesn’t improve/Pryce continues to be a bit of a spastic), this is the off season to go after a second marquee spine player to take pressure off KP, or at least heavily register interest in ones which are coming off contract in the next few years (which apparently you’re allowed to do?). If the Tigers can nab Api and Luai it shouldn’t be impossible.
 
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HarVeeGee13 said:
Ideally Pryce emerges as that lethal running half like an Ezra Mam or Jahrome Hughes, he combines well with Hastings and Ponga, and the issue solves itself - upgrade Pryce, keep Hastings to steer us around. But if it’s not working out with those two (Jacko’s leg doesn’t improve/Pryce continues to be a bit of a spastic), this is the off season to go after a second marquee spine player to take pressure off KP, or at least heavily register interest in ones which are coming off contract in the next few years (which apparently you’re allowed to do?). If the Tigers can nab Api and Luai it shouldn’t be impossible.
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yeah so this isn’t happening 😆
 
  • Haha
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I’ve only seen Pryce in the trials and liked what I saw. Is he that bad and is it bad enough that it warrants calling him in a spastic? What am I missing?
 
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