Season 2025 Prediction Thread

[Stevie]

Where will we finish?
8th.

If we don’t win it, who will?
Broncos.

Our best player?
Mitchell Moses

Our biggest disappointment?
Junior Paulo

The first rookie to make NRL debut?
Papalii

Surprise packet?
Ryan Matterson

Breakout year?
Isaah Ionghi

Best retention?
Hopgood?

The biggest name we let go?
Dylan Brown.

Biggest signing?
Lachie Galvin

Non-Eels, biggest controversy ?
The announcement of significant rule changes to take evasive legal action for the NRL on concussions.
Shoulders down tackles.
Short kickoff only.
Mandatory stand down periods etc.

Please re read my predictions for this of you playing at home…

 

[Gronk]

The PO really allows the player to explore the market, you'd be silly not to.

No different to being off contract for 2026. It's just a different window.

From our POV, he gets paid handsomely and maybe we can elect to meet offers of $1.3 or say no and hold at $1m. I'd say we are in a position to meet the best offer and it will be up to Dylan to stay.

One thing Dylan needs to understand is that he will not get rolling POs anywhere else. Cool, he can sign for $1.3m x 3 at the Roosters, but that does not guarantee him life career tenure like we can.

 

[Pazza]

No different to being off contract for 2026. It's just a different window.

It is different, that's why it's called a player option.

From our POV, he gets paid handsomely and maybe we can elect to meet offers of $1.3 or say no and hold at $1m. I'd say we are in a position to meet the best offer and it will be up to Dylan to stay.

One thing Dylan needs to understand is that he will not get rolling POs anywhere else. Cool, he can sign for $1.3m x 3 at the Roosters, but that does not guarantee him life career tenure like we can.

Dylan has had his Alan bond moment, is he dumb enough to walk away from it???

 

[Gronk]

It is different, that's why it's called a player option.

Yes it's called something else, but the fact that a player is still off contract is the same.

Dylan has had his Alan bond moment, is he dumb enough to walk away from it???

Actually going to the Roosters now would be his Alan Bond moment. Staying at the Eels means he can earn solid coin for the rest of his days. Leaving his comfort zone and backing himself at the Roosters could mean that he gets the Brandon Smith heave ho however.

 

[JokerEel]

So looks like these posters had Dylan Brown as biggest name we let go.

All will deserve a tick if Dylan does f**k off for there 2025 predictions.

Anyone else who says Dylan Brown moving forward it doesn't really count these posters put it on the line before the news today.

@Stevie
@eels_fan
@Noise
@Avenger
@Rhysa30
@Hindmarshisgod2

You missed me Merkin

 

[Pazza]

Yes it's called something else, but the fact that a player is still off contract is the same.

The option gives the player the ability to explore the market with the knowledge he still has an option to stay at the club. Without the option, going to the market means the club might spend that money else where.

it's not the same for all parties

Actually going to the Roosters now would be his Alan Bond moment. Staying at the Eels means he can earn solid coin for the rest of his days. Leaving his comfort zone and backing himself at the Roosters could mean that he gets the Brandon Smith heave ho however.

Squeezing the eels for a 9 season contract is definitely an Alan bond moment, the Roosters aren't going to offer him a 6 year deal

 

[King-Gutho94]

You missed me Merkin

You had Paulo/Lussick

 

[Gronk]

The option gives the player the ability to explore the market with the knowledge he still has an option to stay at the club. Without the option, going to the market means the club might spend that money else where.

it's not the same for all parties



Squeezing the eels for a 9 season contract is definitely an Alan bond moment, the Roosters aren't going to offer him a 6 year deal

Well the alternative would have been that Brown's contract expired end 25 and he would have been a free agent last Nov. Then, he still may not have signed with anyone in Jan 25. As it stands, we want him to stay, so that's good.

If he goes, then we'll know soon enough.

I think people are making a lot out of this. He can get paid better outside the option price. Commercially, how is it his Alan Bond if he can earn more money elsewhere? The option just provides him a fallback option. For us, a low ball option ($1m is below market) is a bad deal if he is actually a bad player, which he's not.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Well the alternative would have been that Brown's contract expired end 25 and he would have been a free agent last Nov. Then, he still may not have signed with anyone in Jan 25. As it stands, we want him to stay, so that's good.

If he goes, then we'll know soon enough.

I think people are making a lot out of this. He can get paid better outside the option price. Commercially, how is it his Alan Bond if he can earn more money elsewhere? The option just provides him a fallback option. For us, a low ball option ($1m is below market) is a bad deal if he is actually a bad player, which he's not.

Can you open the batting for Australia in Sri Lanka your forward defence of these PO's is better then an over the hill Usman Khawaja and a slammin ramping Sammy Konstas.

 

[Gronk]

Can you open the batting for Australia in Sri Lanka your forward defence of these PO's is better then an over the hill Usman Khawaja and a slammin ramping Sammy Konstas.

If you wish to put up some sort of an adult position, then feel free.

 

[Pazza]

Well the alternative would have been that Brown's contract expired end 25 and he would have been a free agent last Nov. Then, he still may not have signed with anyone in Jan 25. As it stands, we want him to stay, so that's good.

If he goes, then we'll know soon enough.

The club still has to have the money aside for these POs until they're activated. Maybe the club doesn't want to keep these players. POs good bad or ugly are not the same thing as just being off contract. There's no incentive for a player to negotiate prior to hitting the market and the club has to wait until a option is activated or rejected. That's why it's called a player option.

I think people are making a lot out of this. He can get paid better outside the option price. Commercially, how is it his Alan Bond if he can earn more money elsewhere? The option just provides him a fallback option. For us, a low ball option ($1m is below market) is a bad deal if he is actually a bad player, which he's not.

He signed a contract for 3 years with 2 x 3 year POs..... how is that not his Alan bond moment????

 

[JokerEel]

You had Paulo/Lussick

Stfu Merkin don't correct me!

Don't you know who I am

 

[hindy111]

Gould gets bored of coaches. Ciraldo could still get sacked if the Dogs have a decent year again.

He doesn't want to tarnish himself and will throw whoever under bus I feel.

 

[Gronk]

He signed a contract for 3 years with 2 x 3 year POs..... how is that not his Alan bond moment????

Because he can earn more playing for other clubs.

 

[Pazza]

Because he can earn more playing for other clubs.

I don't think you understand what an Alan bond moment is....

 

[Incorrect]

I don't think you understand what an Alan bond moment is....

Ask him what a 1%'r is in footy terms....

 

[Gronk]

I don't think you understand what an Alan bond moment is....

I absolutely do. You’re ignoring that fact that the consideration on the option does not represent his best value in the market. Now if the option, with multiple windows to excercise, contained rachet clauses which increased his contract value to match market on each occasion, then that would be his Alan Bond moment.

 

[hindy111]

Back on track people. This thread is being derailed. Stick to predictions and not arguing

 

[Pazza]

I absolutely do. You’re ignoring that fact that the consideration on the option does not represent his best value in the market. Now if the option, with multiple windows to excercise, contained rachet clauses which increased his contract value on each occasion, then that would be his Alan Bond moment.

We don't know if he has ratcheting clauses, he could. A potential nine year contract on a high salary is about as good as it gets in the nrl. If he gets a better deal than that, I'll be stunned

 

[Gronk]

We don't know if he has ratcheting clauses, he could. A potential nine year contract on a high salary is about as good as it gets in the nrl. If he gets a better deal than that, I'll be stunned

It’s pretty clear that POs are a club’s way of saying we care. We care enough to want you at our club for your entire career. They are good for the players because they provide injury security. Career ending shit will mean they player gets a big payout from the insurance company. Dylan said this himself when he joked about his 20 year contract. They are good for us, because a player feels like he has a long term contract and it’s harder to break away.

I know you keep repeating this 9 year thing, but a lawyer or accountant getting a public service gig on OK money might provide you with job security, but there is better money to be earned with the top tier firms. Dylan’s deal with us is at OK money, but at 24 he could potentially earn 30 or 40% more elsewhere. Sorry, our deal might sound like an Alan Bond deal but its no 10 year Toumololo contract. False equivalence.