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Rumours and Stuff

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
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90,850
Brailey is a bridge player to a better option,2 year deal, take it or leave it. Doubt he has many suitors
If he doesn’t have many suitors we might get him for two years. It depends on his other options for 2026 and our other options for 2025. This will determine how much we pay, including the length of the deal. Other clubs might be offering two years starting in 2026. He might be better off taking that and staying in Newcastle for 2025 compared to a two year deal from Parra starting in 2025. In that case he would be off contract a year earlier and on the wrong side of thirty.
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
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90,850
Maybe he will thrive here but he is not worth his current $650k contract. Why would he move away from the beaches for a paycut unless he gets 3 years?
If a player has only one club interested, most would take a one year minimum salary offer, because they’d have to. But clubs are in competition for playing talent, and there would be plenty of clubs willing to sign Brailey. He is a genuine first grader and most clubs don’t even have 17 of those. They all know his injury history but first graders are in demand.

So whatever he’s worth, we might think he’s only worth that for two years, but another club might take the risk that he’s worth that much for three years. For Brailey it’s a no brainer.
 

The Colonel

Immortal
Messages
41,978
I'm not on the Brailey train thus far. Nobody on here is excited about the possibility of him becoming an Eel. Another example of shopping at Blacktown Drive-In Sunday Markets.

Not a lot of players available that other clubs are looking to release pr possibly release at the moment for 2025.

Brailey is the more experienced and established as the majority of the rest are fringe players at best other than Robson, Smith and McInnes who it’s unlikely would be released anyway.

I would be happy to see them chase Mozer but it’s unlikely the Broncos will release him either.
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
90,850
Think harder about it.

1. If he has a contract, then he can't move unless.....
2. His current club think he isn't worth the contract and....
3. They are willing to chip in/ organise a buyout/ whatever in order to move him along.

Given that Newcastle have given him the green light to move (or he backs up Crossland/ plays reserves)
Given that his contract is up in 2025
Given that he is 28
Given that the salary cap increases every year
Given that Parra has a starting hooker job

A 2 year deal with the Eels for (say) 350-400k per year (with the Knights paying 200k for him to leave - frees up 400k for them) gives him a chance to improve his value the next 2 years (as a starting hooker) and then sign one last contract under a higher salary cap.
He just played 23 games and his form was good. At 28 years old, his value will never be higher than right now.
 

Joshuatheeel

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
20,132
How many 'stars' do we actually have? Moses is one. Dylbags and Lomax are others. It's quite the sample size.
Yeah but 2 of those are spine players, we need quality in other positions too ....

Spine players handle the ball the most, so it's a waste have highly paid players in each spot....

with our halves, we are better off with a "cheapie" bit above average hooker and spending decent money on a second rower player....
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
90,850
How many 'stars' do we actually have? Moses is one. Dylbags and Lomax are others. It's quite the sample size.
Two of those are in the spine. We also have Paulo, who is a star in attack at least. We have plenty to spend but the only stars available will be for 2026 not 2025. Howe much do we need a hooker for 2025? How likely are we to steal a better one from elsewhere for 2026? It's all about risk.
 

TheCrowe

Juniors
Messages
1,317
All effort Crossland. Won back the starting hooking role and then took halfback.
My only point is that Brailey is no longer a $650k hooker. That's why he is being shopped.
I think he is a decent player and will bring some good qualities but he is not top tier.
 

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