2024 Squad List

[steerlerbab]

The salary cap is a fantasy the NRL use to promote the idea that there is a level playing field.

Third party payments are recorded by the NRL, however certain clubs have managed to find ways to avoid detection.

The answer for me is scrap the cap.

It has never worked as intended.

Private equity! Private equity! Private equity! NRL knows it! NRL knows it! NRL knows it! It is legal! It is legal! It is legal! That is how big clubs with business connections get around it. Buzz Rothfield revealed one case early in the year with Bulldogs and some hotel group. But the deal did not go through.

In simplest form, so let's say a player is worth 1M. 800k is paid by the club, 200k is equity that player gets in some business. Don't forget that 200k earns interest and is compounding every year. Let's assume 10% interest. So if player made 5 year deal, he will get 5M. if player opted for 800k with 200k private equity, he will 4M from club but 1.5M at the end of his deal with private equity. So it is Win-Win for everybody.

1. Club takes 800k from Salary for that player instead 1M
2. Player makes 5.5M at the end of 5 year instead of 5M
3. Private equity firm get player's endorsement for their products.
4. The player has a shot at premiership.

That is why Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos South Sydney or Melbourne Storm have a team internationals and Dragons have a team of Journey men and Ben Hunt.

Penrith has shown the way to beat this for regional clubs like us, tigers, knights, raiders and cowboys. Develop your juniors and keep them.

 

[RedVee_8]

Private equity! Private equity! Private equity! NRL knows it! NRL knows it! NRL knows it! It is legal! It is legal! It is legal! That is how big clubs with business connections get around it. Buzz Rothfield revealed one case early in the year with Bulldogs and some hotel group. But the deal did not go through.

In simplest form, so let's say a player is worth 1M. 800k is paid by the club, 200k is equity that player gets in some business. Don't forget that 200k earns interest and is compounding every year. Let's assume 10% interest. So if player made 5 year deal, he will get 5M. if player opted for 800k with 200k private equity, he will 4M from club but 1.5M at the end of his deal with private equity. So it is Win-Win for everybody.

1. Club takes 800k from Salary for that player instead 1M
2. Player makes 5.5M at the end of 5 year instead of 5M
3. Private equity firm get player's endorsement for their products.
4. The player has a shot at premiership.

That is why Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos South Sydney or Melbourne Storm have a team internationals and Dragons have a team of Journey men and Ben Hunt.

Penrith has shown the way to beat this for regional clubs like us, tigers, knights, raiders and cowboys. Develop your juniors and keep them.

It didn’t go through because it was illegal under the Salary Cap laws. The Hotel group being the main sponsor of the dogs

 

[possm]

I agree Jeff. I am just jealous that the Bulldogs are all gung ho while we just have Sele and Flanagan jnr signed. What a joke. I'm wondering who the hell Flanno is going after as they must be under contract still as if not, they would have been signed and we would know just like how we got Sele and Flanno jnr.

The suspense is killing me hahaha!

If the target players are in teams still competing in the finals or negotiations still not completed, then that could be a good reason for the delay in announcement.

I'd like Flanno to insist that Hunt plays 9 and if he spits the dummy, then use his cap space to sign the ex-Raiders halfback (Williams) from the UK. Other than that, Holmes, Sualli, and two good props are players we need.

 

[possm]

Private equity! Private equity! Private equity! NRL knows it! NRL knows it! NRL knows it! It is legal! It is legal! It is legal! That is how big clubs with business connections get around it. Buzz Rothfield revealed one case early in the year with Bulldogs and some hotel group. But the deal did not go through.

In simplest form, so let's say a player is worth 1M. 800k is paid by the club, 200k is equity that player gets in some business. Don't forget that 200k earns interest and is compounding every year. Let's assume 10% interest. So if player made 5 year deal, he will get 5M. if player opted for 800k with 200k private equity, he will 4M from club but 1.5M at the end of his deal with private equity. So it is Win-Win for everybody.

1. Club takes 800k from Salary for that player instead 1M
2. Player makes 5.5M at the end of 5 year instead of 5M
3. Private equity firm get player's endorsement for their products.
4. The player has a shot at premiership.

That is why Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos South Sydney or Melbourne Storm have a team internationals and Dragons have a team of Journey men and Ben Hunt.

Penrith has shown the way to beat this for regional clubs like us, tigers, knights, raiders and cowboys. Develop your juniors and keep them.

Dragon's have the potential to develop juniors and keep them however, they do not have the pathways staff to do the job properly. To follow the Panther's example and buy up the junior clubs is the way to go. Then offer scholarships for secondary and tertiary education that tie them up for years. For example, have Wollongong Uni develop a sports science course that recognizes NRL selection as one of the criteria for this course.

 

[Slippery Morris]

The Bronco's, Storm, Panthers, Warriors are all there because a bulk of their team made their debuts for them. They only buy a few players to plug gaps. They replace a marquee for another marquee or develope one. They simply trust their pathways and give the juniors a run. Saints can easily be the same just poor management. Something Flanno will sort out. Having a team of all bought players will never cut it.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Having a team of all bought players will never cut it.

I dunno. Roosters seem to go OK buying a team.

 

[thebigredv]

Other than than Creighton the players the dogs have signed are back up first graders. Its not a squad that would win a comp, they lack descent front rowers and a quality half back.

They didn’t have a great year, but let’s not pretend like they didn’t recruit some big guns in Mahoney, Addo-Carr, Kikau and Burton before that. Now they have come in some quality depth who I think are astute signings and will see a fair bit of footy at the Dogs like Salmon, Xerri, Taafe and Mann. Add Crichton and, I’m sorry no matter how bitter one might be towards the Dogs - that is rigorous recruitment that will eventually get results.

Im envious. In the same time we’ve added the likes of Musgrove, Turner, BMM, Woods and Mbye. Already trying to offload the lot of them! That’s appalling and I don’t see Sele and Flanagan as a great start. Very ho-hum. Let’s not let our red and white glasses disillusion us.

 

[st.phil]

They didn’t have a great year, but let’s not pretend like they didn’t recruit some big guns in Mahoney, Addo-Carr, Kikau and Burton before that. Now they have come in some quality depth who I think are astute signings and will see a fair bit of footy at the Dogs like Salmon, Xerri, Taafe and Mann. Add Crichton and, I’m sorry no matter how bitter one might be towards the Dogs - that is rigorous recruitment that will eventually get results.

Im envious. In the same time we’ve added the likes of Musgrove, Turner, BMM, Woods and Mbye. Already trying to offload the lot of them! That’s appalling and I don’t see Sele and Flanagan as a great start. Very ho-hum. Let’s not let our red and white glasses disillusion us.

100% Drags recruitment has been diabolical - but I'm not so confident that the bulldogs recruitment blitz will yield results. Although Gould has done a decent job at hosing it down, Ciraldo lost a huge chunk of the dressing room in under 12 months... the same players who were showing great promise under Potter.

 

[Parko1310]

They didn’t have a great year, but let’s not pretend like they didn’t recruit some big guns in Mahoney, Addo-Carr, Kikau and Burton before that. Now they have come in some quality depth who I think are astute signings and will see a fair bit of footy at the Dogs like Salmon, Xerri, Taafe and Mann. Add Crichton and, I’m sorry no matter how bitter one might be towards the Dogs - that is rigorous recruitment that will eventually get results.

Im envious. In the same time we’ve added the likes of Musgrove, Turner, BMM, Woods and Mbye. Already trying to offload the lot of them! That’s appalling and I don’t see Sele and Flanagan as a great start. Very ho-hum. Let’s not let our red and white glasses disillusion us.

The Dogs' only good recruit for next year is Crichton. The rest I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, other than maybe Kurt Mann at best. Salmon is not great, and especially out of the penrith system won't do anything of note. Taafe in my opinion is laughably bad, he's been heavily overrated by a lot of pundits for whatever reason since he made his debut. He's never done anything good

 

[thebigredv]

100% Drags recruitment has been diabolical - but I'm not so confident that the bulldogs recruitment blitz will yield results. Although Gould has done a decent job at hosing it down, Ciraldo lost a huge chunk of the dressing room in under 12 months... the same players who were showing great promise under Potter.

I’m not commenting on Ciraldo but definitely seems a concern for their club. Hook had lost the dressing room during COVID. It took us a while to act on that by the time Carr stepped in it was evident the players are just as bad as the coaching.

We need as much fresh blood as possible. Get rid of those with poor attitudes, poor fitness and the inability to tackle and replace them with someone better.

Kudos to Dragons for bringing in a better coach.
Kudos to Dogs for bringing in better players.

 

[getsmarty]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/souths-bitter-rival-lurking-as-fourclub-race-set-to-ignite-in-900k-shootout/news-story/a958da1a773fcb98d6357f2794d1ee44

 

[Victoire]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/souths-bitter-rival-lurking-as-fourclub-race-set-to-ignite-in-900k-shootout/news-story/a958da1a773fcb98d6357f2794d1ee44

Not really relevant to the 2024 squad list though, he'll still be at Souths

 

[st.phil]

I’m not commenting on Ciraldo but definitely seems a concern for their club. Hook had lost the dressing room during COVID. It took us a while to act on that by the time Carr stepped in it was evident the players are just as bad as the coaching.

We need as much fresh blood as possible. Get rid of those with poor attitudes, poor fitness and the inability to tackle and replace them with someone better.

Kudos to Dragons for bringing in a better coach.
Kudos to Dogs for bringing in better players.

still not sold on doggies recruitment - it seems scatter gunned to me... 4 utilities signed recently for instance. I also think they have over capitalised in Burton who looks like a centre, paid 500k release for a rookie who look like he will now be a lock, paid JAC fullback money, Mahoney looks like he might be too slow for the modern hooker, Sexton not the answer at half and question marks on Crighton to FB vs favoured centre. Meanwhile - JMK and Averillo go out the door + Vaughn and Dufty who all look better than current options.

I have no idea what Flanno has cooking - we need a good 4-5 player injection for 24' and more again for 25

 

[KingFlanno7]

I personally hope we get Alex twal.. I would also have a look at Jordan mclean from the cows.. plenty of experience. Both are solid defenders. Looking at who is off contract i feel for flanno because there is no marquee players available until 25 the best we can do is add a few big bodys up front and hope lomax, sloan have breakout years or noone will want to join us. 8.Lawrie 9.Liddle 10.Mclean/Twal 11. Sele 12.Sua 13.Debelin thats not a terrible pack

 

[Victoire]

Frank Molo is a better prop than both McLean and Twal imo

 

[KingFlanno7]

Frank Molo is a better prop than both McLean and Twal imo

Not in defence..

 

[KingFlanno7]

F molo 445 tackles %94 , Mclean 574 tackles %96, Twal 692 tackles %98.. They both average more running metres and probably less suspensions

 

[BLM01]

I personally hope we get Alex twal.. I would also have a look at Jordan mclean from the cows.. plenty of experience. Both are solid defenders. Looking at who is off contract i feel for flanno because there is no marquee players available until 25 the best we can do is add a few big bodys up front and hope lomax, sloan have breakout years or noone will want to join us. 8.Lawrie 9.Liddle 10.Mclean/Twal 11. Sele 12.Sua 13.Debelin thats not a terrible pack

Too late. Strangely enough Gus who is not buying a premiership but buying the whole premiership & Manly are interested.

 

[BIG RIG]

Memebers Email from CEO has confirmed the development list for next year which can play from round 1
1. Josh Coric
2. Dylan Egan
3. Hamish Stewart
4. Jackson Shereb
5. Corey Ackers

Train and Trial list has also been confirmed which can play from RD 11
1. Jett Liu
2. Finau Latu
3. Loko Tonga
4. Jacob Webster
5. King - Togia Lyhkan Tinei
6. Nick Tsougranis
7. Hayden Buchanan
8. Kade Reed

 

[TheRev]

Memebers Email from CEO has confirmed the development list for next year which can play from round 1
1. Josh Coric
2. Dylan Egan
3. Hamish Stewart
4. Jackson Shereb
5. Corey Ackers

Train and Trial list has also been confirmed which can play from RD 11
1. Jett Liu
2. Finau Latu
3. Loko Tonga
4. Jacob Webster
5. King - Togia Lyhkan Tinei
6. Nick Tsougranis
7. Hayden Buchanan
8. Kade Reed

In terms of the development jigsaw, I think this is the change from last year:

Promoted into the Top 30 from the 2023 Dev Squad:
o RCouchman, SFinau, AlecTui, Tamale

New Dev Players for 2024:
o Ackers, Stewart, Egan

Not Offered a 2024 Contract:
o Lui-Toso, Fuimaono, Moga

Contracted players we hope get picked up elsewhere but we may get stuck with:
o Turner, BMM, Max Feagai, Musgrove (signed)

The one's I think we are still waiting on news about:
o Herring, Stewart, Burns, Mulheisen

The odd one out is Jackson Shereb, a 2023 Dev player who seems to be still a 2024 dev player despite all the other young 2nd rowers pushing.. it might have been an existing 2yr 2023+2024 Development contract.

NickT is the other confusing one, I thought we had him locked up until 2025, meaning he must have a dev contract not a train and trial (which is uncontracted right)?

Oh and Ben Rumble the other i thought we had signed.. dont recall where we discussed that, but I had a feeling we were expecting him to start in Cup next year.