Expansion confirmed, 60 more first graders needed!

[Gobsmacked]

With the competitions confirmation of expansion teams, the subject now turns to building a roster. So where are we getting these players.
I think a salary cap exemption window to attract union talent needs to be under serious consideration.

https://www.nospam47.com/au/rugby-l...emptions-rugby-union/3bc90fbb588ea78442f34475

 

[Perth Red]

So reality is around 45 experience first graders are needed. The other 15 will be fringe second tier players or young kids with future potential. Looking through the NRL squads you can see there are some decent pecking order 19-25 rated players who rarely get chance to play first grade unless their is an injury crisis. Players like Wishart, Faloogo etc. Likely make up for each intial squad will be:

5 quality established first graders
10 regular first graders
7 fringe first graders
8 young players and reserve graders

 

[Perth Red]

A shot at Perths first squad given Cap, difficulty prising stars away from clubs etc and leaning on getting an English contingent together to min impact on NRL squads

1. Faaloogo (Storm)
2. Cobbo (Broncos)
3. Farnworth (Dolphins) (UK)
4. Newman (Leeds) (UK)
5. Young (Roosters) (UK)
6. French (Wigan) or Lewis (HKR) (UK)
7. Tyrone May (HKR)
8. Thompson (Bulldogs)
9. Arthur (Knights)
10. King (Storm)
11. Nicholson (Raiders) (UK)
12. Chan (Storm)
13. Radley (Roosters)

14. Brandon Smith (Roosters)
15. Lees (St Helens) (UK)
16. Nsemba (Wigan) (UK)
17. Hunt (Tigers) (WA)
18. De Louis (B Bears) (WA)
19. Rodgers ( B Bears) (WA)
20. Riki (Broncos)

Then what ever talent is sitting in NS Bears NSW cup side by 2027.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Cobbo would be coming to play fullback only …would be a good get in that position… I think Hunt signed three years at the Tigers ( this is his first ) …is also going to be to old to go to Perth

 

[Perth Red]

Cobbo would be coming to play fullback only …would be a good get in that position… I think Hunt signed three years at the Tigers ( this is his first ) …is also going to be to old to go to Perth

Hunt could probably get a release you'd think if he wanted to come back. It would be good to have some WA players even if they are just fringe or past their very best. He'll be 31 start of 2027. Probably a season or two left in him.

Theres a stack of big name FB's off contract for 2027. If we could prise any of them West who knows.

Fullback​

Jahream Bula, Scott Drinkwater, Clinton Gutherson, Lehi Hopoate, Isaiah Iongi, Liam Ison, Latrell Mitchell, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Kalyn Ponga, Chevy Stewart, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Sunia Turuva
13 players off contract

 

[BuffaloRules]

Hunt could probably get a release you'd think if he wanted to come back. It would be good to have some WA players even if they are just fringe or past their very best. He'll be 31 start of 2027. Probably a season or two left in him.

Theres a stack of big name FB's off contract for 2027. If we could prise any of them West who knows.

I didn’t know he was from WA ..he might head back over then ..no doubt there will be plenty of money on offer .. there was rumours he was considering retiring last year but the Tigers obviously gave him enough to change that ….

 

[Canard]

Brandon Smith isn't free until 2028.

 

[Perth Red]

Brandon Smith isn't free until 2028.

Forgot he'd signed for Souths lol

Full list of 2027 off contracts here. Theres also players off contract 2026 that could sign a one year filler and come over in 2027.

NRL Players Off Contract 2027 – By Position - Zero Tackle

The following list tracks every NRL player off contract at the end of the 2027 season. These players will be able to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 under the NRL’s contracting rules, making them potential targets during the next transfer window. Use this page to see which players in...

www.zerotackle.com

NRL Players Off Contract 2026 – By Position - Zero Tackle

The following list tracks every NRL player off contract at the end of the 2026 season. These players will be able to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 under the NRL’s contracting rules, making them potential targets during the next transfer window. Use this page to see which players in...

www.zerotackle.com

 

[BuffaloRules]

Forgot he'd signed for Souths lol

Full list of 2027 off contracts here. Theres also players off contract 2026 that could sign a one year filler and come over in 2027.

NRL Players Off Contract 2027 – By Position - Zero Tackle

The following list tracks every NRL player off contract at the end of the 2027 season. These players will be able to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 under the NRL’s contracting rules, making them potential targets during the next transfer window. Use this page to see which players in...

www.zerotackle.com

NRL Players Off Contract 2026 – By Position - Zero Tackle

The following list tracks every NRL player off contract at the end of the 2026 season. These players will be able to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 under the NRL’s contracting rules, making them potential targets during the next transfer window. Use this page to see which players in...

www.zerotackle.com

Would you want Haas ? Probably would cost $1.5m + a year …

 

[Perth Red]

Would you want Haas ? Probably would cost $1.5m + a year …

No, if you look at forwards who’ve commanded massive contracts they haven’t delivered. Storm have shown you don’t need to blow your cap on forwards if you’ve got top talent in the spine.

 

[Bukowski]

Arthur had q lot to do with the parra junior system for a long time so he's probably looking to tap into that.
His son Matt, and Ethan Saunders could be realistic targets.

 

[Jonty]

Short-term probably super league, Queensland cup, NSW cup, super rugby, RU 7’s circuit and NPC(nzru domestic competition).

long-term PNG RL pathways, Aussie and nz schoolboy union as well as RL&RU schoolboys from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

long, long-term Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

 

[Jonty]

Also potentially NRL Europe i.e. London, Manchester and Birmingham etc.

 

[The Great Dane]

A shot at Perths first squad given Cap, difficulty prising stars away from clubs etc and leaning on getting an English contingent together to min impact on NRL squads

1. Faaloogo (Storm)
2. Cobbo (Broncos)
3. Farnworth (Dolphins) (UK)
4. Newman (Leeds) (UK)
5. Young (Roosters) (UK)
6. French (Wigan) or Lewis (HKR) (UK)
7. Tyrone May (HKR)
8. Thompson (Bulldogs)
9. Arthur (Knights)
10. King (Storm)
11. Nicholson (Raiders) (UK)
12. Chan (Storm)
13. Radley (Roosters)

14. Brandon Smith (Roosters)
15. Lees (St Helens) (UK)
16. Nsemba (Wigan) (UK)
17. Hunt (Tigers) (WA)
18. De Louis (B Bears) (WA)
19. Rodgers ( B Bears) (WA)
20. Riki (Broncos)

Then what ever talent is sitting in NS Bears NSW cup side by 2027.

Zero chance that the Bears will be able to form a roster that good for 2027.

Almost all those guys will resign with their current club or a safer bet, and Norths would have to be offering overs to get any look in at all in most cases.

 

[Perth Red]

Zero chance that the Bears will be able to form a roster that good for 2027.

Almost all those guys will resign with their current club or a safer bet, and Norths would have to be offering overs to get any look in at all in most cases.

Compared to people talking about Haas, Hughes and Pappa I thought I'd been pretty conservative lol

 

[SirPies&Beers]

A shot at Perths first squad given Cap, difficulty prising stars away from clubs etc and leaning on getting an English contingent together to min impact on NRL squads

1. Faaloogo (Storm)
2. Cobbo (Broncos)
3. Farnworth (Dolphins) (UK)
4. Newman (Leeds) (UK)
5. Young (Roosters) (UK)
6. French (Wigan) or Lewis (HKR) (UK)
7. Tyrone May (HKR)
8. Thompson (Bulldogs)
9. Arthur (Knights)
10. King (Storm)
11. Nicholson (Raiders) (UK)
12. Chan (Storm)
13. Radley (Roosters)

14. Brandon Smith (Roosters)
15. Lees (St Helens) (UK)
16. Nsemba (Wigan) (UK)
17. Hunt (Tigers) (WA)
18. De Louis (B Bears) (WA)
19. Rodgers ( B Bears) (WA)
20. Riki (Broncos)

Then what ever talent is sitting in NS Bears NSW cup side by 2027.

do you even watch footy? yeah riki is gonna move from starting broncos and international player to be surplus in perth.

yeah may is gonna be a 7. smith just signed to souths for a couple years. radley is a headknock away from retirement. thompsons signed long term in uk.

when is the last time you actually watched a footy game?

 

[siv]

250 players graduate from U20s every season

Thats 500 before the 2028 season begins

 

[Gobsmacked]

250 players graduate from U20s every season

Thats 500 before the 2028 season begins

We can't just suddenly decide that 60 players are ready for NRL a year early. That'll be a disaster for thier development and probably only put us at a greater deficit.

If each club takes 3 to 4 Union players for thier squad of 30 , doesn't matter what positions, fringe back rowers wingers or top talent. Those numbers alone bridge the gap of being 60 players short.
Or maybe it doesn't but wouldn't it be smart to try and lessen the burden?

 

[Canard]

We can't just suddenly decide that 60 players are ready for NRL a year early. That'll be a disaster for thier development and probably only put us at a greater deficit.

If each club takes 3 to 4 Union players for thier squad of 30 , doesn't matter what positions, fringe back rowers wingers or top talent. Those numbers alone bridge the gap of being 60 players short.
Or maybe it doesn't but wouldn't it be smart to try and lessen the burden?

Why are you so convinced that there is suddenly this huge talent pool of Union players in Australia that are NRL ready?

 

[T-Boon]

RL needs a local competition in Hawaii and LA/southern cal (or do they already have one in LA?).