Rumours and Stuff

[Twizzle]

Nice stuff from TCT

 

[Parrapat]

deleted - uncool and classless

Story of my life

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Sorry to hear you're in the hospital, mate, I hope all is well for you and yours.

Thanks for the list, out of them all I'd absolutely love to see us snag Angus Crichton. With him on board, de Belin and NAS in the pack, Pezet at 5/8 we're on for jagging a premiership in 2026!

Crichton (and everyone else on Stevie’s list) isn’t available until 2027. But we can make (offical) offers to them starting Saturday.

 

[Glenneel]

Players that anre available on Saturday id love to go after for 2027….

Sam Stonestreet Sharks
Beau Fermor Titans
Viliami Kikau Dogs
Siua Wong Chooks
Angus Crighton Chooks
Jesse Arthars Broncos
Jake Averillo Dolphins
Jamayne Isako Dolphins
Tolu Koula Manly
Nick Meaney Storm
Will Warbrick Storm
Jason Purdue Cows
Jackson Paulo Cows
Murray Taulagi Cows
Lyndsey Smith Panthers
Luke Garner Panthers
Scott Sorensen Panthers
Keon Koloamatangi Souths

Why did I go ahead and put this list together? Partially as I’m back in hospital waiting to see a doctor. Partially because I feel like as fans we’ve waited for ages to get to this moment and it’s almost here.

Ryles has played this perfectly by making tough decisions early. 26 we still have some restrictions but we’ve probably never been in this good a cap position, with this clear a strategy for the club and roster, like ever!

I think 28/29 we have a genuine shot at a premiership.

Those are only SOME of the names available that popped up to me as regular, decent first grade players that improve us.

Imagine we sign an Isaako and Crighton or and number of centre/backrower/middle, we become an outstanding roster (I think).

With Ryles at the helm and 2nd and 3rd season under his systems and a roster he puts on the park I think we have a seriously bright few years ahead.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we go hard on centres/wingers and Penisini isn’t here in 27.

Unfortunately most of those players signed up long term but Crichton and Meaney are available I believe. Crichton would be a good get as still at top of powers but maybe only for 2 years. There is a reason Chooks shopping him and none know the reason yet.

 

[Stevie]

Unfortunately most of those players signed up long term but Crichton and Meaney are available I believe. Crichton would be a good get as still at top of powers but maybe only for 2 years. There is a reason Chooks shopping him and none know the reason yet.

Mate. These players are quite literally unsigned for 2027, meaning we can negotiate from Saturday.

These are not signed long term so effectively they are available to negotiate from the 1st.

I’m simply trying to highlight there are a lot of players as options.

 

[Stevie]

Just read that Canberra are in negotiations with Hastings for 26.

Geez they are not confident with Sanders which isn’t a good sign.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Just read that Canberra are in negotiations with Hastings for 26.

Geez they are not confident with Sanders which isn’t a good sign.

Could be case of Ricky being impatient.

Ricky strikes me as a bloke though that is very patient and never gets angry at anything.

 

[Cloeel]

Could be case of Ricky being impatient.

Ricky strikes me as a bloke though that is very patient and never gets angry at anything.

If you have the salary cap space, great way to create some competition anxiety within the halves.

Bringing in Hastings could be the difference between Sanders pulling his finger out or not.

 

[King-Gutho94]

If you have the salary cap space, great way to create some competition anxiety within the halves.

Bringing in Hastings could be the difference between Sanders pulling his finger out or not.

Yeah and Hastings is awesome for team culture.

How many clubs have flicked him off because of attitude.

 

[Pazza]

Ethan sanders from memory is a left foot kicker. Same side strange plays, gotta present a problem for ricky.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Ethan sanders from memory is a left foot kicker. Same side strange plays, gotta present a problem for ricky.

It’s an interesting conundrum. If Sanders becomes the starter, does he play on the left because he’s the better kicker, with Strange moving to the right? Then what if the backup halfback is a right footer? Does he just slot into the left so as not to disrupt the team too much, or does Strange just shift back to the left?

 

[Stagger eel]

Mate. These players are quite literally unsigned for 2027, meaning we can negotiate from Saturday.

These are not signed long term so effectively they are available to negotiate from the 1st.

I’m simply trying to highlight there are a lot of players as options.

there were also a lot of players available last year from November 1 and unlike last year we're not only competing with other clubs who have plenty of room but a new franchise with a a clean sheet to fill.

I'm expecting us to focus mainly on our pathways and development program...we're not the club who are able to fill a hole with an elite player with the click of the fingers.

 

[Pazza]

It’s an interesting conundrum. If Sanders becomes the starter, does he play on the left because he’s the better kicker, with Strange moving to the right? Then what if the backup halfback is a right footer? Does he just slot into the left so as not to disrupt the team too much, or does Strange just shift back to the left?

It an interesting siuation, surely ricky knew about the potential of Strange when he signed Sanders??

I just cant see Strange being shifted from hes spot atm, hes a freakish talent.

 

[Pazza]

I'm expecting us to focus mainly on our pathways and development program...we're not the club who are able to fill a hole with an elite player with the click of the fingers.

If we're looking to the market to deliver us a premiership we will be waiting another 40 years.

We got to get back to those days when we were developing guys like hayne, inu, mateo, cayless, hindmarsh bros, lyon etc

 

[Stevie]

there were also a lot of players available last year from November 1 and unlike last year we're not only competing with other clubs who have plenty of room but a new franchise with a a clean sheet to fill.

I'm expecting us to focus mainly on our pathways and development program...we're not the club who are able to fill a hole with an elite player with the click of the fingers.

 

[Stevie]

It’s an interesting conundrum. If Sanders becomes the starter, does he play on the left because he’s the better kicker, with Strange moving to the right? Then what if the backup halfback is a right footer? Does he just slot into the left so as not to disrupt the team too much, or does Strange just shift back to the left?

Surely you don’t mess with how good Strange is going.

 

[Stevie]

If we're looking to the market to deliver us a premiership we will be waiting another 40 years.

We got to get back to those days when we were developing guys like hayne, inu, mateo, cayless, hindmarsh bros, lyon etc

That’s all warm and fuzzy but the fact of the matter is you need to recruit players well.
Ionghi, Williams, JAC all seem ok to me…

Of course we need to develop our own and that’s how our clear focus but some astute recruits are key.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

there were also a lot of players available last year from November 1 and unlike last year we're not only competing with other clubs who have plenty of room but a new franchise with a a clean sheet to fill.

Unlike last November, we have a lot of cap space available. We are now one year further on from our 4-peat finals contender squad (yes lame, but this is the Parramatta Eels) and those contracts have all finished their life cycles. These merkins will be off the books in 2027, if we don't extend them:

De Belin (35 years old next year, and with a club option)
Paulo (33)
Matterson (32)
Walker (32)
Addo-Carr (31)
Tuilagi (27)
Doorey (26)
Mataele (24)
Wenisini (24)
Russell (24)
Volkman (24)
Pezet (age is irrelevant here because we won't be extending him)
Guymer (22)
Renisini (21)

Yes we will certainly keep some of these guys. No Doorey's extension isn't yet official, nor is Pezet's signing. The reason Pezet is relevant here is because whatever he gets paid in 2026 will be available in 2027.

I'm expecting us to focus mainly on our pathways and development program...we're not the club who are able to fill a hole with an elite player with the click of the fingers.

If the Tigers can keep signing big names, anybody can. What's required is cap space, not magical staff members 'selling the vision', and we should have plenty available for 2027. I wasn't expecting any big signings for 2026, but I am for 2027.

Edit: JDB is only 35 next year ffs

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It an interesting siuation, surely ricky knew about the potential of Strange when he signed Sanders??

I just cant see Strange being shifted from hes spot atm, hes a freakish talent.

Strange and Sanders play two very different roles, and no doubt Stuart knew how good Strange was. At the time they signed Sanders, Ethan Strange was still a teenager and playing first grade every week, to a pretty good standard. But he's not a good kicker while Sanders is. Sanders is actually half a year older than Strange.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Surely you don’t mess with how good Strange is going.

There's no reason he can't do what he does on the other side of the field. Kicking is a special case whereas running is running no matter where you are. I suppose he might have a preferred hand for carrying the ball, but kicking is a precision activity, which is why it's so rare in NRL players.