Squad succession

[the phantom menace]

But well after the press turned them into a scandal.

*player-managers

 

[Poupou Escobar]

*player-managers

These options have been ongoing for many years. They were never a problem until the media recently made them an issue, now we have clubs and the RLPA coming out with public statements in response to this.

 

[the phantom menace]

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Walker's on:

* = player option
¢ = club option
" = mutual option
^ = development contract

2025
Utility: Brown, Hands, Papalii, Walker
Fullback: Iongi, Miller-Stephen (22)^
W/C: Addo-Carr, Dunster (26), Lomax, Renisini, Wenisini, Russell, Samrani^, Simonsson, Tago (26)^
Half: Hawkins, Moses
Hooker: Lussick (30), Smith^
Edge forward: Cartwright (31), Doorey, Guymer, Kautoga, Keir (27)^, Lane, Mataele (23), Matterson, Tuilagi, Williams
Middle: Greig (26), Hopgood, Moretti, Ofahengaue (30), Paulo, Pryke^, Tuivati (20)

2026
Utility: Hands (27), Papalii (22), Walker (32)
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Addo-Carr (31)¢, Lomax, Renisini (21), Wenisini (24)*, Russell (24), Samrani (24), Simonsson
Half: Hawkins (27), Moses
Hooker: Smith (23)^
Edge forward: Doorey (26), Guymer (22), Kautoga (24), Lane (32)", Matterson (32)*, Tuilagi (27), Williams
Middle: Hopgood, Moretti, Paulo (33), Pryke (22)^

2027
Utility: -
Fullback: Iongi (24)
W/C: Lomax, Simonsson (29)
Half: Moses
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Williams (31)
Middle: Hopgood (28), Moretti (27)

2028
Utility: -
Fullback: -
W/C: Lomax (29)
Half: Moses
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2029
Utility: -
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: Moses (35)
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

So we (somewhat officially) have 30 merkins in this year's top 30, and 23 in the 2026 squad.