Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

A lot of bodies on the left and a lot of $$$ on the right

Thanks for clearing that up

Lot of dollars on the left too. Moses, Addo-Carr (two extensions since joining the club), Williams, Walker, Tuilagi, Iongi, JDB, Kelly, even TDS. None of them signed for the chance to play in the NRL. They didn’t come here (or remain) because no other club wanted them. They didn’t take unders to learn from a rookie coach. We signed them because we want them to play first grade every week. There could be $6M (about half our cap) tied up in those nine players.

 

[Glenneel]

Nobody changes clubs for ‘little more than minimum wage’. They all want big upgrades.

These guys would have been in high demand. Nobody would have gotten them for peanuts:

JAC
Lomax
Williams
Walker
TDS

A pay increase goes hand in hand with an improved squad status. If a player is expected to play first grade every week, he will expect to be paid accordingly. From the club’s perspective, they need to spend their entire cap (97.5% of it at least) on thirty players, so there’s no reason to try to screw players on their salary.

Definitely 2026, especially for the mid-season signings (Walker and TDS), who might’ve had to sign on the cheap for 2025 when most of our cap was already committed.

Drown left because the Knights offered a significant upgrade. Now you’re suggesting he was on nearly as much at our club?

JAC was cheap because sacked and no demand from other clubs. Say $300k originally but now prob upgraded to $500k.
Lomax here for $650k its been reported.
Williams not resigned by Sharks and was always a backup so prob $300k.
Walker came mid season but prob on $400k full year.
TDS come here on $650k per year but came mid season.
No Drown on about $1m.
If you looked at who we lost in 2026 just in Cartwright, Lane and Offa they alone would be on over $1m between them and Samrani , Kautoga, Papalii would be well under $1m between them imo.

 

[Glenneel]

Drown wasn’t contacted for 2026 and any we were holding back in case he activated his PO were spent after round one last year when he announced he was leaving.

We should have some of Lomax’s money still free for this year but Kelly would’ve taken at least half of it. We’re paying him at least what he was on at the Titans, and they’d have to be overpaying merkins given their results. With the leftover cap space from Lomax we will probably front load contract extensions. We might’ve already done that when we convinced Iongi not to go to market next November.

We would have plenty for 2027 but $1M for 2026? No chance. Pezet, Iongi and Kelly would’ve chewed up most of whatever was available. These are 80 minute top 17 players. Pezet and Kelly would be on over $1M between them. Iongi’s upgrade could’ve been front loaded with another couple hundred grand. There aren’t enough players available to cover a large hole in the salary cap. We wouldn’t be able to spend it in time to use the required 97.5% of the cap this year.

I think your assumptions are a little wrong here. If a player has a contract for 2026-7 and they upgrade his contract to 2030 I would think the increased money would apply from 2028 onwards. In other words there is a new contract now applying from 2028-30 when the existing contract expires. Please correct me if I'm wrong if there is a person out there familiar with NRL contracts.

 

[Glenneel]

Meaney to the Bears so no player swap for him

Also rumoured that they going after Wishart. Hope so. Gee Storm getting gutted is good to see!

 

[Jake the snake]

Also rumoured that they going after Wishart. Hope so. Gee Storm getting gutted is good to see!

Storm don’t lose players they want to keep. They are both ok players no superstars. Average at best

 

[Soto]

With Kautoga, Kelma and Williams we certainly have tackle busting backrowers.
Kautoga has the ability to also slip a ball. Kelma and Williams also have the smarts and speed to run good lines and hit the holes.
Potent backrow if all firing.
Plus we have quite a few good young backrowers coming through in Jeziah, Petrus and Latu.
Good signs.
I know people have bagged the crap out Samrani but im a fan.
He's had 2-3 yrs of injuries.
I saw enough last yr to know there is a player there and there were games where his commitment, dedication, effort, hitups showed his versatility and team first approach. Dont forget he filled in at winger, centre and 2nd row.
He wont be a starter but he will always be in and around the 19.
Let's go Eels

 

[Glenneel]

New Zealand Warriors 2026 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, contract statuses, rookie watch​

Boasting some of the best young talent in the game, the strength of the Warriors’ title charge will come down to a number of key roster decisions from Andrew Webster, including a possible fullback shake-up.

Take me there

Is this the Warriors' best 17?

Free agency wrap & rating​

The priority from the moment the 2025 season curtain came down was the re-signing of starting half Luke Metcalf. A new deal takes the strike weapon out to 2028. The Warriors also identified speed out wide as an issue, resulting in the acquisition of former Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira. While the Warriors do boast plenty of talent coming through their ranks, they have let go plenty of depth players that are capable of NRL including Freddy Lussick (Panthers), Ed Kosi (Rabbitohs), Bunty Afoa (Tigers), Morgan Harper (released) and Tom Ale (Panthers).
Rating: B-

Coach status & safety rating​

Two finals appearances in the past three years for head coach Andrew Webster puts the 43-year-old on safe ground, so too, his contract through until the end of 2028. However, there’s no denying that after missing the finals in 2023, the Warriors faded badly when it mattered most last season, winning just two of their last eight games. Injuries absolutely played their role, but any coach can’t afford consistent seasons of making up the numbers.
Rating: B

ZIP ZIP MAN
The timing of the return from a torn ACL of the man they call ‘Zippy’, Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf, is critical to the Warriors fortunes. It’s hoped that he can be back by May. You would then concede that it may take Metcalf several weeks to rediscover his timing and combination with his fellow spine members, particularly five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita.

TAINE OR CHARNZE
Few Warriors players play with more energy and enthusiasm than fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. He has been a constant in the Warriors backline, but would be aware that the young and fleet-footed Taine Tuaupiki is forever biting at his heels.

Crystal ball​

Stay healthy, play finals. That’s the equation for the Wahs. The recovery from a torn ACL of starting half Luke Metcalf is pivotal to the Warriors chances in 2026. Metcalf’s return around May makes it paramount that the Warriors find early season wins before he returns. The same can also be said about representative prop Mitchell Barnett (returning mid-June), who managed just 11 games before he suffered a torn ACL last season.

2026 odds​

Premiership: $26
Minor premiership: $26
To make grand final: $12
Top four: $5.50
Top eight: $2.40
Most losses: $17

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-2026-nrl-season-scouting-report-best-17-contract-statuses-rookie-watch/news-story/e6ad3e68bd83783d47a3e98dd02a002b?amp

Like the look of their pack with some aggressive players there, imo a much needed attribute needed to win premierships along with a good spine. JFH, Barnett, Niukore, Clark and Halasima are some very good forwards.

 

[Glenneel]

Why would you think we have a $2M hole to start with? We signed or extended all these merkins since the end of the 2024 season:

Date	Player signed/extended	Player released
10-Sep		Campbell-Gillard
26-Sep	Guymer, Renisini
27-Sep	Hawkins
3-Oct	Williams
23-Oct	Papalii, Samrani, Doorey	Sivo
7-Nov		Gutherson
18-Nov	Addo-Carr
27-Nov	Hands, Russell
3-Dec	Tuilagi
13-Dec	Kautoga
17-Jan	Moretti
28-Feb	Moses
1-Mar	Renisini (again)
14-Mar		Drown
25-Mar	Walker
17-Apr		Ofahengaue
21-May	Tuivaiti, Penisini, Mataele, Volkman
29-May	Addo-Carr
27-Jun	Kautoga (again)
30-Jun	Da Silva
1-Jul	Smith
2-Jul	Samrani (again)
11-Jul	Papalii (again)
15-Jul	De Belin
14-Aug		Lane
22-Oct		Hands
23-Oct		Hawkins
29-Oct	Pezet
30-Oct	Doorey
16-Nov		Lomax
22-Nov	Addo-Carr
10-Dec	Iongi
5-Jan	Kelly

There's a lot more activity in the left hand column than the right.

Big money right, smaller money left. Also you're wrong again, there should be the same number of players in each column. We must have 30 players each year so you can't have 9 players leaving and more than that joining!!! The numbers must be the same.

 

[Jake the snake]

With Kautoga, Kelma and Williams we certainly have tackle busting backrowers.
Kautoga has the ability to also slip a ball. Kelma and Williams also have the smarts and speed to run good lines and hit the holes.
Potent backrow if all firing.
Plus we have quite a few good young backrowers coming through in Jeziah, Petrus and Latu.
Good signs.
I know people have bagged the crap out Samrani but im a fan.
He's had 2-3 yrs of injuries.
I saw enough last yr to know there is a player there and there were games where his commitment, dedication, effort, hitups showed his versatility and team first approach. Dont forget he filled in at winger, centre and 2nd row.
He wont be a starter but he will always be in and around the 19.
Let's go Eels

Jeziah offers nothing. Don’t get the hype. Then again the TCT rated him so he just be shit. Same as Simrani just average reserve graders

Petrus is one to watch.

Latu I haven’t seen play but the TCT guys seem to rate him which I hope they haven’t killed off another career.

 

[Eelementary]

Koutoga may break out and be a gun. But I agree he may be overtaken and flushed out of system. Sample size is just so small at this stage. People are talking him up like he is Kikau

I don't think he will get to Kikau levels, but he could be mkII Manu Ma'u, imo.

 

[JokerEel]

I don’t think anyone has ever argued that stats tell the whole story. They are an important indicator though.

I'll like to introduce you to my friend Pou

 

[Gary Gutful]

I'll like to introduce you to my friend Pou

Nah. Read his posts more clearly.

 

[JokerEel]

Jeziah offers nothing. Don’t get the hype. Then again the TCT rated him so he just be shit. Same as Simrani just average reserve graders

Petrus is one to watch.

Latu I haven’t seen play but the TCT guys seem to rate him which I hope they haven’t killed off another career.

I agree with this.. I don't see why he was given a chance to train with the first grade side last year.

Looked lazy compared to a few of the other Ball guys and also when he played for the NSW side.

Petrus is a goer still not a huge body yet but still gives 100%. Should have been given time with the NRL team during this pre season..

Latu I rated 2 seasons ago now I don't have him kicking on.

 

[JokerEel]

Nah. Read his posts more clearly.

Nah I do hence the comment. Unless he was trolling but he stated he doesn't do that.

 

[Avenger]

Could we do with someone like Wishart ?

 

[Avenger]

Storm don’t lose players they want to keep. They are both ok players no superstars. Average at best

Wishart is better than any player in our backline besides Moses and Iongi.

 

[JokerEel]

Could we do with someone like Wishart ?

Talk is he is off to the Bears.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Nah I do hence the comment. Unless he was trolling but he stated he doesn't do that.

Can you quote it for me? You could be right but I have my doubts.

 

[eels_fan]

Could we do with someone like Wishart ?

Why do we need another bench utility? That’s all he’s good for, decent at many positions, but a master of none (and not an NRL starting player in any either)

 

[JokerEel]

Can you quote it for me? You could be right but I have my doubts.

Search function works pretty good on this forum.

I really don't care enough to do it.