Rumoured Targets 3

[nick87]

If he goes to Canberra (honestly they’re the only ones I could see offering that type of money) wondering if they’re keen to get him early if we could get someone like a Trey Mooney.

The club is insanely high on Trey Mooney and only this year fended off interest from Penrith and others to re-sign him. Dreams are free but you're not getting Trey Mooney

Get ready to learn Emre Guler, buddy

 

[Woody90]

Get ready to learn Emre Guler, buddy

Cool , you can send him over while you blokes severely overpay Leo

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Oh god, were going to end up with Lodge aren't we?

Door slammed shut for Lodge at Sydney club

The prop is still without a contract for 2025.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[nick87]

Cool , you can send him over while you blokes severely overpay Leo

Yes. Absolutely we'll send you Guler to get Leo
The feeder system works!

 

[Rod]

If Canberra or anyone else wants to throw 850k at him then they're welcome to, as that is crazy. I imagine even Gus will have turned his nose up at that.

There are roughly 4 props in the game that are worth that money and are actual game-changers - and then a pretty reasonable dropoff to a whole bunch of guys that are a dime a dozen. I imagine it actually makes the decision for Sullivan and co a whole lot easier.

 

[aqua_duck]

How can any club offer that much money to Leo? That’s crazy if true. Tapine would be on that sort of money and honestly, he’s twice the player. Even $600,000 would be making me feel a bit uncomfortable.

When you look at his output, are there any stats that stand out as elite?

Statically nothing stands out as elite especially not for $850k a year.
To put things into comparison Terrell May signed on for the tigers for $650k a year reportedly, they’re similar age and experience, this year May averaged more run metres, more 4 times as many offloads, twice as many tackle breaks, and less missed tackles.
Another guy who’s similar age is Moeaki Fotuaika from the titans who’s reportedly on $750k a year, Fotuaika has averaged over 115m per game every year for the past 6 years, Leo averaged 104m per game this year which was his best year.
No doubt alot of Leo’s contract value is based on potential and the fact he was abit of a late comer to league but as a knights fan I’ve seen us overpay for potential many times an its almost always not paid off

 

[Nuke]

Yeah, for us.

Some other clubs seem to find a way to realise that potential. It's not often we do.
I do wonder from time-to-time who or what it takes for us to become one of those clubs that can help a player realise his potential.

 

[PhilGould]

Going to trust my common sense and assume no one is actually offering him $900k, but anything even approaching $800k seems extremely generous/desperate based on what we've seen. He should be giving JFH a cut because simply having a somewhat similar playstyle has somehow convinced some people that Leo is (or soon will be) as good/valuable as him too.

 

[aqua_duck]

Going to trust my common sense and assume no one is actually offering him $900k, but anything even approaching $800k seems extremely generous/desperate based on what we've seen. He should be giving JFH a cut because simply having a somewhat similar playstyle has somehow convinced some people that Leo is (or soon will be) as good/valuable as him too.

I think being able to do a mean Haka alongside JFH has earned him atleast an extra 10% on to his contract value

 

[perverse]

900k or anything close to it is crazy. I don't like losing good players, but that absolutely is too much for him. Bonkers if true.

 

[slotmachine]

I doubt the 900k is true, but one of the earlier reports was Raiders had offered 4 years $3.4m which I can definitely see being in the ballpark with bonuses etc.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Lol if the Raiders are offering him that then good luck to them. I guess when you're a club in a shithole town and haven't had any success for 30 years then you have to fork out big $ for even a hint of talent to consider going there.

Would be absolute madness for us to offer anything near that for, as others have stated, a player with pretty average output

 

[Woody90]

I actually do believe the numbers if it’s the Raiders for a few reasons:
- All the reports we’ve gotten since Nov 1st are around that point so I’d say it would end being somewhere around the middle like most end up being.
- Sticky has an obsession with props and Knights players so a Knights prop is very on brand.
- They historically have to pay more to get players there (like us but worse).
- The media have created a narrative of Leo being the most in demand off market player in the game, so to recruitment teams 850-900k probably doesn’t sound that bad for the most in demand player. Not saying he deserves that tag at all but it just shows how the media can completely change the narrative/a players worth.
- Opposition fans buying into it and being happy of their club signs the most “in demand player in the game” - we would be too, but it’s just Leo doesn’t deserve that title.

We do need to consider it might still be the Dogs with the big offer (Gus signed TPJ on a huge contract after all), but this screams Raiders tbh.

Oh well, either way he’s going so doesn’t matter where to for us. It is what it is. Seriously I can’t even be shitty with him as his manager has managed to get him one of the most overpaid contracts I’ve ever heard of if the numbers are even close to being true.

 

[Wizardman]

I read the Raiders offered him 800k. If that is true, that is "goodbye and good luck" money are far as the Raiders are concerned. He is not worth that at all.

 

[Woody90]

The more I think about it the more I’m ok with him leaving.

We’ve still got him next year on an absolute bargain contract and will give some of the younger forwards time to come through. For the first time in a long time I’m actually pretty confident we can fill the gap from within. If the club that signs him is desperate to get him a year early we might even be able to pick up someone else.

DSaf’s money was also going to topping up Leo’s contract so with Leo leaving we genuinely have more money to put towards halves. Issue is obviously there’s nobody available but there’s always movement and we want to be in a good position to jump when there is.

edit - seriously though the Raiders need to start paying us for developing all their players - that will be what, 10 on their roster if Leo signs?

 

[Alex28]

Max Bradbury still a free agent? Time to come home?

 

[HarVeeGee]

I’d look at Oregon Kaufusi as his replacement. Probably someone else too since I suspect Hetho is not going to be re-signed.

 

[Yosh]

Seeing reports of Leo going for 900k a season makes Ponga's 1.4m a year look like a steal.

Im happy we aren't going to be paying that sort of money for Leo but worried about the paper thin squad we will have for 2026. Gagai and Frizz are getting on. Hastings and Brailey gone in 2026. Elliot also off contract?

Not against it but we might line up with like 10 new faces in the 17 who didn't play for us in 2024.

 

[mozza91]

I’d look at Oregon Kaufusi as his replacement. Probably someone else too since I suspect Hetho is not going to be re-signed.

He’s a an underrated player. Has improved a lot in his few years at Cronulla. Would be a good pick up.

 

[ryan.a87]

Current 2026 team with first grade experience


1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Greg Marzhew
3. Bradman Best
4. Dane Gagai
5. Fletcher Sharpe
6. Tyson Gamble
7. Jack Cogger
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10.
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Tyson Frizell
13.


Interchange
14. Thomas Cant
15.
16.
17.




Current 2027 team with first grade experience


1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Schiller?
3. Bradman Best
4. Dane Gagai
5.
6. Tyson Gamble
7.
8. Jacob Saifiti
9.
10.
11. Dylan Lucas
12.
13.


Interchange
14.
15.
16.
17.