Rumoured / Confirmed Signings

[Go Nulla]

Huge loss. Hope our window hasn't closed

well obviously hers wasn’t

 

[Since 73]

OK.
Trout looks exciting.

Tough, rangy and nice footwork 10 out.
Love tall lean 2nd rowers.
Reddy.
Mark graham.
Geyer.
Yep very Burns like.

Opposition is weak however, doesn't mean he doesn't bring that in better company.

He's on the rise and with better coaching and in better company will improve. Can think of plenty of UK backrowers who have starred in the NRL and not any who havent. Its the position that has provided the best buys.

Most importantly he can hit in D.

 

[Foz]

It would be interesting I agree Brighton are experts in it.

But what they do is they sell you part of the data system, so if your a lower league team, you can buy part of it to scout obviously at cheaper value.
It's a great way to get players on the cheap, I am surprised it's not used a lot more in the NRL

The guy from Brighton does a pretty good job of letting people know how good they are.Im a Liverpool fan and I’m pretty sure we use a Silicon Valley outlet.
Probably the wrong thread for this but some clubs have the data capability to assess on the run if a player is carrying an injury and/or what treatment is required.
In my opinion the Sharks recruitment area does a pretty good job and they’d have a number of decisions to be made in regards to the cap going forward but I’m sure they’d love the budget to use some of this new technology.

 

[Stake Removed]

The guy from Brighton does a pretty good job of letting people know how good they are.Im a Liverpool fan and I’m pretty sure we use a Silicon Valley outlet.
Probably the wrong thread for this but some clubs have the data capability to assess on the run if a player is carrying an injury and/or what treatment is required.
In my opinion the Sharks recruitment area does a pretty good job and they’d have a number of decisions to be made in regards to the cap going forward but I’m sure they’d love the budget to use some of this new technology.

I am a Sunderland fan just promoted they use data driven and look in competitions are couple down, they spent converted around $360m so not that much and had only 2 player with premier league experience and mid table.
I think it's something NRL clubs could look into more data analytics

 

[DJDL]

Looks like Sifa’s off to the Bears.

 

[bad boy bubby]

Looks like Sifa’s off to the Bears.

The Perth Bears are set to sign their first State of Origin player, with Sifa Talakai confirming he was leaning towards taking up a three-year offer with the new NRL franchise.

Talakai said a move west appealed not only because it offered the chance to set up his family financially – he and his partner welcomed their fourth child last month – but also as Perth held sentimental appeal, since it was where he made his NRL debut and played his first Origin game for NSW.

The 28-year-old said he hoped to make a call by the end of the week, and there would be plenty of emotions if it was his final year in the Shire.

“It’s something my partner and I have been talking about, and we know it’s a great opportunity – why wouldn’t you want to go over there and be a founding member as well,” Talakai told this masthead.

“It’s going to be hard to get a deal done here at Cronulla. If I had the opportunity to stay, I would, but it’s not about me any more. It’s about what’s best for me, my partner and my family.

“I don’t want to stand in the way of any players coming through. I’m definitely entertaining the Perth deal.”


Bears coach Mal Meninga has long been a fan of Talakai’s versatility, but told the 28-year-old he would predominantly be used as a middle forward. Meninga has made it clear to Talakai and other signing targets a move to Perth is a “life decision”.

Being posted on the other side of the country with a young family was not a concern, said Talakai, and “my partner and I are at the stage we can hold our own”.

“I haven’t had the chance to go over there, but Perth holds a special place in my heart because it’s where I debuted for South Sydney in 2016, and I played my first Origin game with the Blues in 2022,” Talakai said.

“When I’ve had to think about the contract situation, and when going back and forth with my manager and partner, and looking back through the years, it kind of brought me to tears. Even speaking now, I feel like I’m getting emotional. This place gave me everything I’ve got now. They gave me a crack when nobody else did.

“I’m really grateful to the Sharks. If they wanted me to go to hell and back to help secure a premiership, I’d do it without thinking twice. I want to leave no stone unturned, whether this is my last season or not. I’ll be giving it a good crack.”

Talakai can play in the middle, an edge and even the centres, where he terrorised rivals with his leg speed and nuggety frame.

Perth Bears set to sign NSW Origin star; Bulldogs recruit to miss two months

The NRL expansion team is closing in on a key capture as it continues to build its roster for its debut season next year, while Canterbury have been dealt a massive blow.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Stake Removed]

Looks like Sifa’s off to the Bears.

If this is true, I hope that Uele and Rudolf are moved on, I don't see any improvement in them this year, and are on more then they would command open market

 

[R-15-3]

I don’t see him as an edge anymore, he is an out and out middle.

He has only played low minutes as a middle the past few years so the value for money isn’t there for us anymore.

Love the bloke but I’m not signing him on anything more than $400k and assuming the bears have probably an extra $500k+ over 3 years minimum good luck to him.

 

[Since 73]

If true good on him. Get some cash.
Players come and go and he's given plenty of great memories.
Bit of a Kurt sorenson.
Could easily kill someone on a footy field if he had the inkling.
Looking forward to what he brings this year as a goodbye.

 

[Chimp]

Ah gutted, I’ve a lotta love for Sifa, but we criminally underuse him.
He was one of the ones I really wanted to to keep, but with what he can get paid elsewhere, if we were to match that, we’d need to make sure he’s playing big minutes most weeks, which just won’t happen here.
Fair play to him, go and look after your family!

 

[Inferno]

It's no real surprise given he struggles to get selected in our run on side.

I would like to have seen him spend more time at left second row I think that's his best position.

 

[Weaponhead]

Talakai has been a top player and has had many standout games. At this stage of his career it's going to be diminishing returns and it's time to cash in to set up his family.

Sharks retained Jesse C who could be a 5 season + starting middle and lose Talakai who is a bench middle with a couple of ysars left. Good result for the Sharks.

 

[roboshark]

Nooooooooooo

Move on Rudolph and Uele. Duds

We are losing a few so hopefully some new signings in the way next year

 

[Cheese sandwich]

Agree with the sentiment here, I love him but we definitely don't use him for enough minutes. Cash in big fella, don't blame him for that. Gutted if he leaves but you don't get in bidding wars for older players.

 

[Ozzi_78]

Totally ok with this. Good on him. Won’t win a comp in his career but that’s his call. We bank some money on the trade with JC.

Ps it’s filling our cheque book for 2027

 

[Stake Removed]

Totally ok with this. Good on him. Won’t win a comp in his career but that’s his call. We bank some money on the trade with JC.

Ps it’s filling our cheque book for 2027

Are you saying we are making up the numbers this year and not good enough to win the comp, re Talakai won't win a comp in his career

 

[DJDL]

Are you saying we are making up the numbers this year and not good enough to win the comp, re Talakai won't win a comp in his career

Did you watch the trial on the weekend?
Yes, it's only a trial, but we showed nothing to suggest there is anyone coming through to provide the spark we are missing.

 

[shadowboxer]

Sad but not surprised to see Sifa move on.
Stoked he can go and live his days out in the West on hopefully some stupid Meninga money.
Been a loyal servant to both Newtown and the Sharks. Be nice for him to get a premiership with both sides, but we will see.
Morgan Harper still probally sees him in his dreams.

 

[Since 73]

What

Sad but not surprised to see Sifa move on.
Stoked he can go and live his days out in the West on hopefully some stupid Meninga money.
Been a loyal servant to both Newtown and the Sharks. Be nice for him to get a premiership with both sides, but we will see.
Morgan Harper still probally sees him in his dreams.

What a memorable game that was.

SF's advantage was as a juggernaut playing against centres or coming on as an impact.

Mal will start him and he will play long minutes in the middle for 26 weeks in a low tier side.
His workrate will skyrocket - his impact will reduce.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Nooooooooooo

Move on Rudolph and Uele. Duds

We are losing a few so hopefully some new signings in the way next year

Apart from the UK guy I would bet on it being promotion from within.

There’s a lot of young guys looking promising and we have to demonstrate there’s a pathway if you’re good enough.