Rumoured Targets 3

[Old dog]

Not at all, have strong line up with Leo still here and opportunity for them to play quite a few games during 2025 just don’t need to buy new player if not so good as who he would replace, yes get him if the current players such as Su’a and Hetherington are failing or going but we should be looking at a Leo equivalent or better

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Not at all, have strong line up with Leo still here and opportunity for them to play quite a few games during 2025 just don’t need to buy new player if not so good as who he would replace, yes get him if the current players such as Su’a and Hetherington are failing or going but we should be looking at a Leo equivalent or better

The whole reason Leo was getting offers as big as he did was because he was probably the “best” front row option available on the market for 2026, at least according to the media. Anyone else who is supposedly the same level or better is going to attract big offers too, and it sounds like the club doesn’t want to pay $800K for a front rower right now, which is smart imo.

Getting another guy like Hazelton (who I think can deliver not far off what Leo does) for around $500K would be good business.

At least there’s a number of front rowers off contract so I’d expect us to land a decent replacement without having to over-pay.

 

[Yosh]

Really?? Are guys like Hazel ton worth 500k now? Seems like overs to me. Surely no one is offering more than 350k right?

 

[Apey]

Yosh, 350k is below average wage for a top 30 player. Nobody is paying under 500k for an established first grader prop.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Yeah most players who are making the 17 each week would be on that or higher. Wingers probably being the exception aside from the elite ones.

$500K for a front rower who’s likely to start each week isn’t bad.

 

[aqua_duck]

Really?? Are guys like Hazel ton worth 500k now? Seems like overs to me. Surely no one is offering more than 350k right?

I think you’re probably stuck in a bygone era with player valuations. The average NRL wage will be probably be around $400k a year by 2026, a genuine first grade front rower in his prime is worth at least $450k a year.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I'd be very happy with Hazelton. I've been impressed with him ever since I saw him for the first time in the trials against us in Gosford a couple of years back

 

[aqua_duck]

Not at all, have strong line up with Leo still here and opportunity for them to play quite a few games during 2025 just don’t need to buy new player if not so good as who he would replace, yes get him if the current players such as Su’a and Hetherington are failing or going but we should be looking at a Leo equivalent or better

There is no Leo equivalent hence why he was such a hot commodity. The only young front rower who’ll likely get decent game time this year is Su’a, it’s a big ask for him to go from what he is right now to starting front rower in 12 months, beyond that Hethrington is off contract and never been more than a bench player for short spells and Croker has never been more than a fringe first grader who’s also off contract. The other young front rower in the squad is Cody Hopwood who’s not even played NSW cup yet so still a fair way off and Tyrone Thompson who’s never played league before and also off contract next year.
I’m not sure about you but I’ve never heard a coach complain about having too many front rower options in the squad

 

[Knight Tales]

Hazleton seems to offer enough to be worth the investment at the right price. He is a big unit and pretty mobile. Close to the line he can be a real handful.

 

[macavity]

The young bloke from the titans should be priority 1.
I would keep Heatho I think he has a big year, wants to stay.

 

[Loose Cannon]

The young bloke from the titans should be priority 1.
I would keep Heatho I think he has a big year, wants to stay.

Agree part 1.
Jack has a season ahead before I would commit part 2, and then only a year at a time, in my opinion.

 

[Yosh]

Yosh, 350k is below average wage for a top 30 player. Nobody is paying under 500k for an established first grader prop.

Is it? Pretty crazy. How much is the cap in 2025/26????

 

[Woody90]

We definitely need to buy another prop for 2026. We have a few young props coming through who look very good but they’re still extremely far off being regular NRL picks.

Don’t need to spend crazy in that position though. Someone like Hazleton would be absolutely fine.

Im predicting a big year in 2025 from Hetherington. He’s had a sick child requiring round the clock care since being at the club who’s now apparently doing better.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Hazelton would be a great acquisition at <500k.

Yes we need a ball breaker up front, and he will never be that, but he is capable of being the glue which holds our pack together. We’ve also been short of that factor for a decade.

 

[Rod]

If we're smart and keep our powder dry I think an opportunity for a 'moneyball' style prop should present itself at some stage. Perhaps a bench prop who is looking for a starting gig, or a young one stuck behind a stacked pack etc.

The idea should be to get a prop that can provide say 80% of what Leo does, but for 65% of the price. And I think prop is one of the positions where that is most doable.

 

[macavity]

If we're smart and keep our powder dry I think an opportunity for a 'moneyball' style prop should present itself at some stage. Perhaps a bench prop who is looking for a starting gig, or a young one stuck behind a stacked pack etc.

The idea should be to get a prop that can provide say 80% of what Leo does, but for 65% of the price. And I think prop is one of the positions where that is most doable.

Leo isn’t a huge work rate prop. I don’t get the hype justifying the pay packet but apparently much better judges than me do.

For mine he isn’t much above a Royce Hunt or Oregon Kaufusi (for example) level prop.

 

[Knight Tales]

The young bloke from the titans should be priority 1.
I would keep Heatho I think he has a big year, wants to stay.

Would be great to see Jack take the initiative and become our pack leader. No reason he cannot.

 

[mozza91]

The young bloke from the titans should be priority 1.
I would keep Heatho I think he has a big year, wants to stay.

Agreed. I reckon he’s in for a big season, will be our starting prop before too long plus he is very well liked among the playing group.

 

[perverse]

Leo isn’t a huge work rate prop. I don’t get the hype justifying the pay packet but apparently much better judges than me do.

For mine he isn’t much above a Royce Hunt or Oregon Kaufusi (for example) level prop.

It's on potential for mine. He was selected for NZ on the same potential. Personally, I'm just not sure if he'll ever be particularly physically imposing... and without that key attribute i'm not sure you're ever going to be a truly world class prop. I can't think of any top tier props that can't impose themselves and dominate a match physically - past or present.

So for mine given the above, at best he'll be a high quality role player in your pack - and that's at his peak. Honestly i think he'll go fine at the dogs anyway. Their recruitment has been completely out of this world the past few seasons. He'll have a team around him.

 

[Rod]

Leo isn’t a huge work rate prop. I don’t get the hype justifying the pay packet but apparently much better judges than me do.

For mine he isn’t much above a Royce Hunt or Oregon Kaufusi (for example) level prop.

Yeah those are the kind of guys I'm thinking of.