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Rumours and Stuff

hindy111

Post Whore
Messages
67,680
No way we let Samrani go. No way.

I totally get the concern re Barnett but I’ll say this. If we get Barnett (this year) and and Someone like a Tago, we are a better, much better looking side. I’d love 2, Tago and a Bostock/Isaako/Mariner type player.

Tago is a risk. Especially if he does get sick or injured. He wont take medicine for treatment. Might be part of the reason Penrith are happy to let him go.
 

Trifili13

Juniors
Messages
2,455
It's like I am on the Dragon's forum reading your comments about not buying an experienced or over-aged player as they will bloke some gun junior coming through. We had Sloan, Sullivan, Amone and the Feagai's coming through who won SG Ball and were guns supposedly but turned out to be very average 1st graders. If you can get 1 or 2 come through each age group each year you are probably ahead.

As for salary cap management, the good teams seem to get players for unders, say 10% less, while the crap sides pay overs, say 10% more. Over the salary cap of $11.5m, that can represent a difference of 1 to 2 million and allows the better sides to fit another gun and a good 1st grader in their squad while the struggling sides fill their cap with plodders. And given no one wants the plodders you can't get rid of them when a good player comes on the market to buy them. Every side is basically paying the same cap money, yet look at the quality across the teams. It can't simply be some clubs are better managed.

You have to bend your cap out of shape and hope it works to compete with the top sides. Or pray you have a crop of gun juniors that graduate at around the same time to 1st grade and want to stay together.
 

Stevie

Bench
Messages
4,825
I'd be playing Samrani on the wing right now. He could fill Lomax's void. I'd be starting him over Bailey. Gives us some size when coming off our own line
Or bring Samrani in to replace Penisini FFS. merkin is absolutely shithouse.

I like Samrani centre.
 

Johnny88

Juniors
Messages
1,704

NRL cracks down on slow rucks and arguing with referees in latest club warning​

NRL officials have cracked down on player behaviour after Round 1 controversies, warning coaches that ruck infractions and referee arguments will face stricter penalties.

The NRL has warned players to stop getting in the face of match officials and declared the ruck will be a “high focus” area in round two of the 2026 season.
Fans already faced double the number of set restarts in Round 1 compared to last year, but could face even more penalties or ruck restarts if players do not adhere to the fresh cautions issued on Wednesday.
This masthead has obtained the email sent to NRL coaches following a referee round review meeting. It highlighted nine key areas of concern for coaches, including the threat of sin binning players who repeatedly baulk when feeding scrums.
The NRL has warned teams about harassing match officials. Picture: IAN HITCHCOCK / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

The NRL has warned teams about harassing match officials. Picture: IAN HITCHCOCK / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
The email hit the inboxes of all 17 clubs with a list of issues 36 hours out from the kick-off of Round 2, including:
– Doubling down on their disrupter edict, warning that a penalty will be called if a player does not genuinely contest the ball but instead jumps in the air to bat the ball back with one hand, interfering with an opponent’s chance to catch the ball;
– Penalties for contact on kickers if it is deemed late, high or dangerous;
– Several incidents in Round 1 where players were hit after passing the ball went unpunished but will be a focus area going forward;
– Players are reminded to make a genuine attempt to play the ball;
– A greater focus on players not clearing the play-the-ball area at the completion of a tackle;
– Collisions, take-outs, and escorts will be closely monitored;
– Acceptable standards of communication with referees; and
– Players baulking at feeding scrums will face greater scrutiny.
The NRL will be monitoring play the balls in Round 2. Picture: NRL Imagery

The NRL will be monitoring play the balls in Round 2. Picture: NRL Imagery
The NRL widened the set restart parameters from the 40m line to outside the 20-metre zone this season, which resulted in an average of eight restarts per game across the opening round. That was double the amount compared to 2024 and 2025.
However, the corresponding average penalty count did not decline, and actually remained the same.
Now, teams could be in for more pain.
“The referees have reviewed several slow rucks in round one that, upon reflection, should have been a penalty or set restart depending on field position,” the email read.
“You can expect a high focus in this area.”
The NRL will also take a tougher stance on players arguing with the match officials during the game. The Sydney Roosters, in particular, were criticised given the amount of players who got in the face of referee Wyatt Raymond in their 42-18 loss to the Warriors in New Zealand.
“In round one, some players approached the referee at the wrong time and repeatedly questioned the referee’s decision,” the email read. “There is an appropriate time for the captain to speak with the referee. Please ensure that when the captain speaks with the referee, it is to clarify the decision, not to dispute it.”
The NRL doesn’t want players arguing referee’s decisions. Picture: NRL Imagery

The NRL doesn’t want players arguing referee’s decisions. Picture: NRL Imagery
It goes on to suggest the best times for the captain to speak with the referee are after a try has been confirmed, at halftime or when time has been called off for an injury.
Players will also face admonishment, or worse, if they baulk when feeding the scrum, in an effort to catch the opposition off-side.
“You will be asked to feed the scrum again correctly. If you continue to do this, it may be seen as a repeated cynical act and be penalised or sin binned, depending on the circumstances,” the email said.
The NRL will also keep a close eye on incidents in back play, with a focus on players contacted after passing.
“I understand the need to apply pressure on the halves; however, there were several incidents in Round 1 where a half was contacted (late) after he had passed the ball and should have been penalised, but weren’t. This will be a focus area,” the email said.
The NRL sent a similar document out before the start of the season which highlighted the disrupter change and a greater focus on the defenders actions when it comes to a loose ball.

 

Eelementary

Post Whore
Messages
58,859

Mitch Barnett player transfer: The four rival players on Warriors’ radar​

Four clubs, four players. As the bidding war for Mitch Barnett soars into the millions, the Warriors are exploring prospective recruits to complete a transfer deal for the departing prop.

The Eels have tabled a $2.6 million deal for Mitch Barnett in a last-ditch bid to ambush the Broncos in the battle for the NSW Origin enforcer.
This masthead can reveal Parramatta have tabled a beefed-up, three-year deal for Barnett, while the Warriors are exploring four prospective recruits to complete a transfer deal for the departing prop.

It’s understood Broncos teenage sensation Antonio Verhoeven, Eels utility Jordan Samrani, Dragons flyer Tyrell Sloan and Manly speed demon Jason Saab have been discussed as possible Warriors transfer signings.

Barnett is being targeted by four clubs, with the Dragons, Parramatta, Manly and the Broncos locked in a bidding war for his signature after lodging preliminary expressions of interest.

The Broncos were regarded as the favourites to secure Barnett’s signature given the prop’s relationship with coach Michael Maguire, who gave the 31-year-old his NSW Origin debut in 2024.

Maguire flew to Sydney last week to meet with Barnett after the Broncos tabled a two-year offer worth $1.5 million, plus the provision for an option for a third season in 2029.

But Parramatta have emerged as a genuine threat. The Eels originally discussed a two-year arrangement, but have increased their offer to three years, just south of $900,000 a season, in a bid to secure the hard-running Blues bookend.

Barnett is expected to make a definitive call over the next 48 hours and sources close to negotiations believe the Broncos and Eels are now front-runners to snare the hard-running bookend.

Brisbane’s $750,000-a-season offer is not the most lucrative on the table, but Barnett is mindful of several factors, including family and the appeal of winning a premiership ring in his twilight years.

The 177-game veteran knows he would be a genuine chance of a maiden premiership ring at the Broncos, who boast a star-studded squad that broke their 19-year title drought last season.

There are concerns about Barnett’s long-term future after he snapped his ACL last year, but the Origin and Test hardman says he is itching for a comeback in his farewell season at the Warriors.

“I’m just ready to go,” Barnett said on Monday on a New Zealand league show hosted by his former Warriors teammate Shaun Johnson.

A key factor in the transfer could be which prospective recruit is palatable to the Warriors, who are seeking compensation in the form of a player - not money - to formalise Bennett’s return to Australia.

These are the players who shape as key pawns in the Barnett trade:

ANTONIO VERHOEVEN

An explosive outside back who could be one of the future superstars of the code. The Warriors like the look of the strapping 19-year-old, who was born in New Zealand and spotted by Broncos scouts representing St Bede’s at a Sevens tournament two years ago.

Verhoeven is training with Brisbane’s NRL full-time squad and Michael Maguire has huge wraps on the well-built three-quarter, so it’s hard to see the Broncos letting him go.

TYRELL SLOAN

The Dragons are outsiders to snare Barnett but if they are successful, Sloan could be part of the transfer. There is no doubting Sloan’s talent. On his day, the speedy fullback or winger is a match-winner who can produce some freakish moments of tryscoring magic. But Sloan can be inconsistent and there’s been constant chatter about his future at the Red V, where he is currently off-contract. The Warriors may prefer a forward option.

JORDAN SAMRANI

Zac Lomax was originally flagged as a possible swap for Barnett but the Eels flyer has since signed with the Western Force after his protracted court battle.

Samrani made his NRL debut for the Eels last year, chalking up 13 appearances with stints on the bench, wing and centre.

The 24-year-old is off-contract at the end of next season and his utility value may have some appeal for the Warriors.

JASON SAAB

Manly are also in the hunt and Saab’s name has been thrown up as a possible player transfer. But it’s hard to see this swap coming off. Two years ago, the Sea Eagles extended the 25-year-old’s contract until the end of 2029, so he is locked in at Brookvale for the long haul. Contracts can be rubbery in the NRL but Barnett is unlikely to choose the Sea Eagles as his club of choice.


If we sign a 33-year old coming off an ACL reconstruction, that'll do me.

I will stop defending the club.

I will not renew my membership.

Seriously?

I think he was a very good player, but not at this present point in time....


What are we thinking?
 

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
19,177
– Doubling down on their disrupter edict, warning that a penalty will be called if a player does not genuinely contest the ball but instead jumps in the air to bat the ball back with one hand, interfering with an opponent’s chance to catch the ball;

I did not realise that was illegal.

I know it is if they are really just taking the fullback out.
 

eels_fan

First Grade
Messages
8,943
Funny thing is we'll likely miss out on Barnett despite offering him an extra year and an extra $200k each year - so a guaranteed extra $1.3m to what Broncos are offering.

And whilst I don't mind that we will miss out in this instance because its stupid money - it just further shows how unattractive we are to elite players - and how poorly the combination of Ryles, MON and Sarantinos (and the other bloke who i always forget) are at promoting our club as a viable option for players wanting success.

We have the best stadium outside of Brisbane, the best training facilities in the code, the largest membership base in Sydney, a top 2-3 halfback in the game and an exciting bunch of young forwards coming through - the club should sell itself yet players are choosing elsewhere simply because our recruitment team couldn't sell hand warmers to an Eskimo
 

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