Rumours and Stuff

[Stevie]

Can I take a moment away from the bickering to say something?

I know we all barney on here a bit but why do we follow this sport so closely and passionately?

It’s the only sport that produces stories that you never see coming and absolutely bowl you over creating a touch of excitement in your normal routined week.

Well it does for me, anyway.

Thank god for the drama of our great game. God I love the soap opera of Rugby League!

 

[85 Baby]

There is a Patrick MoiMoi playing for panthers…Fui’s son ?

His transport to games is probably still against our salary cap!

 

[hindy111]

You need to make some assumptions to build models to try to understand the game. Otherwise your worldview is shattered when you hear Campbell Graham is on $800k or Kautoga is on $500k. It's possible to make a logical assessment based on known information (the salary cap of $12M, the average salary of $400k and the minimum salary of $140k).

Assuming your bottom 13 players average $160k, that's nearly $10M for your top 17 paid players, which is an average over $450k. If ten of those are on $4M ($400k each) that leaves $6M for the top seven players; an average of more than $850k.

If you don't like these assumptions, make your own salary cap distribution model. But post it here if you're going to shit on everyone else's. I think it's very plausible that Campbell Graham would be on $800k and I've explained how it might work. If you think it's unrealistic, show your logic. Where else could Souths' $12M have gone?

I doubt R.Smith is or was on 500k in 25. And I doubt he is on that in 26. Same goes for Russel,KK, Simmonson, Kelma, Kelly Morretti,Doorey,Joash......

 

[Rocket man]

News reporting Storm boss met with us today and upped their offer to 300k only to us to wave it away.

About f**king time we stood up for ourselves!

For them to do this has shown their hand. We hold all the power, love it!

I thought they'd offered that amount already.

 

[Noise]

I thought they'd offered that amount already.

Yep last week

 

[Twizzle]

I thought they'd offered that amount already.

Agree, cuz I recall saying, it's only a benefit to us if it comes off the cap.

 

[Jake the snake]

News reporting Storm boss met with us today and upped their offer to 300k only to us to wave it away.

About f**king time we stood up for ourselves!

For them to do this has shown their hand. We hold all the power, love it!

Are your newspapers delayed by 2 weeks ?

 

[Stevie]

Agree, cuz I recall saying, it's only a benefit to us if it comes off the cap.

They met today and upped the offer. Today. Tuesday.

Someone copy and paste it I’m tired and Code sports article doesn’t let you copy and paste.

Oh. I get why they do that now.

 

[Rocket man]

Agree, cuz I recall saying, it's only a benefit to us if it comes off the cap.

I think the NRL will have transfers and fees eventually.
The club paying the fee should have it subtracted from the salary cap and the club receiving the fee should have it added to their salary cap.

 

[Twizzle]

They met today and upped the offer. Today. Tuesday.

Someone copy and paste it I’m tired and Code sports article doesn’t let you copy and paste.

Oh. I get why they do that now.

Not doubting you Stevie.

I think Code Sports is a bit dodgy mate, so that may account for the different stories. I've seen them post some stories/articles that are nothing but clickbait.

Personally, I wouldn't use them as a source.

 

[I bleed blue & gold]

Harry is turning into a wanker.

Not at Cam Smith's level but unsportsmanlike shit in his game has crept in past couple of years.

His still yet to win a premiership hopefully it stays that way.

Turning???

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I doubt R.Smith is or was on 500k in 25. And I doubt he is on that in 26.

Yeah well he was never expected to play 80 minutes every week. We bought TDS for a reason.

Same goes for Russel,KK, Simmonson, Kelma, Morretti,Doorey,Joash......

Kautoga and Tuilagi would both be on $500k+. Both were 80 minute starters when they signed their current deals. Not elite (worth $800k+), but definitely NRL level starters.

I agree the rest would be on less. Moretti and Doorey are probably on less than $400k. Papalii might be on $300k. Another good data point is how much reserve grade they played after signing. Moretti signed in January 2025 and played one game after that. Papalii signed in July and played no reserve grade thereafter, and Doorey signed after the season ended but hasn't played reserve grade since June.

 

[hindy111]

Yeah well he was never expected to play 80 minutes every week. We bought TDS for a reason.

Kautoga and Tuilagi would both be on $500k+. Both were 80 minute starters when they signed their current deals. Not elite (worth $800k+), but definitely NRL level starters.

I agree the rest would be on less. Moretti and Doorey are probably on less than $400k. Papalii might be on $300k. Another good data point is how much reserve grade they played after signing. Moretti signed in January 2025 and played one game after that. Papalii signed in July and played no reserve grade thereafter, and Doorey signed after the season ended but hasn't played reserve grade since June.

Lol

 

[Eelementary]

Lol ever the altruist....

You can go, and get f**ked, like your mate, Merkinmax, Harold.

 

[Lemon Squash]

Yeah well he was never expected to play 80 minutes every week. We bought TDS for a reason.

Kautoga and Tuilagi would both be on $500k+. Both were 80 minute starters when they signed their current deals. Not elite (worth $800k+), but definitely NRL level starters.

I agree the rest would be on less. Moretti and Doorey are probably on less than $400k. Papalii might be on $300k. Another good data point is how much reserve grade they played after signing. Moretti signed in January 2025 and played one game after that. Papalii signed in July and played no reserve grade thereafter, and Doorey signed after the season ended but hasn't played reserve grade since June.

KitKat was a reserve grader at the dogs no way he’s on anywhere near 500k… for the record i think he has the potential to be a 500k+ player though.

Kelma wasn’t wanted at Manly… I’d say he’d be 400-450

 

[Tiger5150]

Mid-August

I heard it was mid-tibia

 

[lucablight]

In all fairness Moses was concerned about Galvin as well. Then he barely acknowledged him after the game against the Bulldogs.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

KitKat was a reserve grader at the dogs no way he’s on anywhere near 500k…

Not when we first signed him. He wasn't even in the top 30. But then we upgraded him into the top 30 in June after starting 12 straight games (he missed the first and came off the bench in round two). We had freed up a lot of cap space too. Gutherson and RCG in the off season and Ofahengaue in April. The money wasn't going to just sit there until 2027. We spent it on Walker, TDS and a bunch of upgrades. Kautoga would've been one for sure. He came out of nowhere.

for the record i think he has the potential to be a 500k+ player though.

Me too, and we surely aren't the only ones. We upgraded and extended him within seven months.

Kelma wasn’t wanted at Manly… I’d say he’d be 400-450

Maybe when we first signed him but we extended him after 12 months, and he finished 2024 in good form, probably our most dangerous forward. That's the context in which he signed his current contract, not as a Manly reject, but as someone playing well and free to negotiate with rivals.

 

[LyonHeart]

Yeah well he was never expected to play 80 minutes every week. We bought TDS for a reason.

Kautoga and Tuilagi would both be on $500k+. Both were 80 minute starters when they signed their current deals. Not elite (worth $800k+), but definitely NRL level starters.

I agree the rest would be on less. Moretti and Doorey are probably on less than $400k. Papalii might be on $300k. Another good data point is how much reserve grade they played after signing. Moretti signed in January 2025 and played one game after that. Papalii signed in July and played no reserve grade thereafter, and Doorey signed after the season ended but hasn't played reserve grade since June.

Kautoga was signed from NSW Cup and you think he's on $500k a season? What on earth are you smoking?
Tuilagi won't be on $500k either

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Kautoga was signed from NSW Cup and you think he's on $500k a season? What on earth are you smoking?

His first contract with us was on the development list. Of course he wasn’t on anything like $500k. But then he was upgraded and extended seven months later (as an 80 minute starter), which was four months before he went on the open market.

Tuilagi won't be on $500k either

The salary cap forces clubs to spend their whole cap. This is why every top 17 player is on such big contracts. You can’t just lowball every merkin and come in $2M under the cap. 97.5% of it needs to be spent.