Silly Season 2025/26

[Matua]

What do you find the most different since you've moved there? I find Sydney punches me in the face more than Melb whenever I visit.

Enjoy Brissy's more laid back vibe though, just a shame about their wanky football team.

Never been to Perth... want to, but haven't yet found a compelling enough reason to warrant the 8hr flight. Maybe the first Bears v Warriors game will do it though, like @Matua is thinking, with an east coast stop somewhere on the way.

For me personally, most of Oz is familiar, nothing really punches me in the face. I lived in the UK and US previously so Oz just feels like NZ.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

This looks so weird

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

RTS' move to R360 on the skids due to the lack of a long form agreement from the organisers.

And interestingly, Warriors are open to extending him if he stays.

Bears’ first big recruit confirmed; Dolphins flyer linked with exit: NRL Signings Wrap

Bears’ first big recruit confirmed; Dolphins flyer linked with exit: NRL Signings Wrap

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[One Warrior]

This looks so weird

View attachment 107933

Yes it does

 

[Izz]

And interestingly, Warriors are open to extending him if he stays.

One thing I worry about with our recruitment/retention is that we'll be too loyal. Good to be loyal, of course, but there has to be a balance otherwise we run the risk of continuing to lose most of the young talent coming through, except that we'll now have spent time & expense developing them along the way.

E.g. we gave Freddy Lussick a 2-year extension in 2024 for what basically felt like the fact he enjoyed being at the club. Now he's taking up a roster spot that we could've given to someone like Toby Crosby.

RTS is still very good, but so was Tohu and then next season his body packed up. And could say the same about SJ, too. Hopefully Cappy & Webby are bearing all that in mind.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Bears tabling 6m @ 1.2m over 5yrs for Jayden Campbell.... bloody hell.

Code sports reporting Campbell on the verge of rejecting the Bears to stay with the Titans.

Jayden Campbell shuns Perth Bears as star halfback signs monster deal with Titans​

The Titans have pulled off another retention coup with Jayden Campbell set to ink a $4.5 million extension in a crushing blow for the Perth Bears.

Code Sports can reveal Campbell has rejected a monster $6 million offer from the Bears and is on the verge of agreeing to terms to remain at the Titans.

In a stunning show of loyalty, the son of Titans legend Preston Campbell will be giving up around $1.5 million to commit to the Gold Coast.

The Titans are in the advanced stages of talks and plan to complete the mega upgrade over the next 24 hours.

The one certainty is Campbell will not be going to Perth, with the NRL’s new 18th franchise facing a recruitment crisis after the Bears also missed out on another Titans target, back-rower Beau Fermor.

The Queensland Origin forward inked a three-year extension on Thursday and Fermor’s decision has had a flow-on effect for Campbell, who is staying at the Titans.

It’s understood the 25-year-old, already contracted for 2026, will sign a five-year extension to remain at the Titans until the end of 2031.

The deal starts at around $800,000 and will rise to seven figures with the projected increase in the salary cap in line with the code’s next TV rights deal - ensuring Campbell joins the NRL’s $1 million club.

Campbell’s show of faith is a massive shot in the arm for the Titans under new coach Josh Hannay, who is determined to deliver the club’s maiden premiership.

Speaking to Code Sports on Wednesday, Titans football boss Scott Sattler was aware of Perth’s big-money poaching bid, but remained confident Campbell would buy into Hannay’s football program.

“It’s a live situation, but what’s important for us as a club is to ensure players like Jayden stay at the Titans and enjoy the environment that’s been created for them,” Sattler said.

“We want to show them the club is moving forward in a really positive direction.

“I’m confident Jayden will see that when he comes back into the building.

“He’s a Gold Coast kid. His dad made his debut with the Gold Coast in 1998 and I’d like to think Jayden can help bring the Titans’ very first premiership.

“We want him to create a legacy at a club that has been so close to him and his family.

“He’s a quality player and quality players do garner interest.

“It’s on us to create a culture that players will really enjoy and I’m positive that we will do that.”

Having ruled out Storm champion Cameron Munster, the Bears needed a quality scalp at the scrumbase and they threw mega bucks at Campbell to spearhead the NRL’s 18th team.

The Perth deal would have made Campbell the NRL’s newest millionaire and put him alongside the code’s highest-earning playmakers including Nathan Cleary ($1.3m), Mitchell Moses ($1.3m), Kalyn Ponga ($1.2m) and Jarome Luai ($1.2m).

Perth offered Campbell a five-year contract worth at least $1.2 million a season, but family was a crucial factor for the Titans ace, whose partner is pregnant with their first child, due in March.

Hannay has big plans for Campbell. The 78-game livewire started his career as a fullback, but Hannay says ‘JC’ has what it takes to emulate Storm champion Jahrome Hughes and become a long-term No.7.

“I’m really bullish that on the back of what Jayden showed this year, we can solidify his position as one of the better halfbacks in the game,” Hannay said.

“He is unique.

“Jayden will not be your traditional No.7, but if you look at the best spines in the game today, they are all ball runners.

“You look at the Melbourne Storm spine, (Cameron) Munster and Hughes came through playing fullback and they are the benchmark (in the halves).

“That’s where we want to get to with Jayden. We aren’t there yet, but I see Jayden’s path and trajectory in the halves as not too dissimilar to those guys.

“He is a gifted runner of the football and now it’s our job to mould him and shape him to become a halfback to go with that running game.”

 

[Penrose Warrior]

RTS' move to R360 on the skids due to the lack of a long form agreement from the organisers.

And interestingly, Warriors are open to extending him if he stays.

Bears’ first big recruit confirmed; Dolphins flyer linked with exit: NRL Signings Wrap

Bears’ first big recruit confirmed; Dolphins flyer linked with exit: NRL Signings Wrap

www.foxsports.com.au

I'd be open to it if he had another big year...but if his body is willing, and clearly he wants cash if he's considered R360, he'd be better going to Japan rugby or Europe

 

[SpaceMonkey]

RTS is still very good, but so was Tohu and then next season his body packed up. And could say the same about SJ, too. Hopefully Cappy & Webby are bearing all that in mind.

the problem is you just don’t know til they break down. How do you think Souths feel about deciding Adam Reynolds was used up?

 

[Matua]

the problem is you just don’t know til they break down. How do you think Souths feel about deciding Adam Reynolds was used up?

Yep, and RTS was pretty damn good out of position this year, and looked even better in his rightful position during the international season.

 

[Izz]

I guess there are less signs that RTS might break down as compared to all the injury issues SJ and Tohu had

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

RTS has lost a little pace but still very good. Keen for him to remain a Warrior until 2027.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Only potential concern are the hamstrings he’s done in each of the last couple seasons. Dunno what the gradings were or if they were to the same one, but he missed 6-7 weeks each time, so they weren’t minor.

Go so much respect for the guy I'd rather see him sign off on a strong note than have an injury riddled final season like SJ and Tohu did. Hopefully the hammies are solid.

 

[marlins2.0]

Anyone poppin over for the world cup at all? We bought our tickets last night - pumped!

 

[Matua]

Anyone poppin over for the world cup at all? We bought our tickets last night - pumped!

I didn't even know tickets were available - will have to look into where and when the Kiwis matches are now.

 

[Matua]

Also, I just looked at the clusterfudge of the pools system. What drunk AI came up with this structure?

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Kangaroos v Kiwis to open the WC
This is going to be massive

On a Thursday night!!!

 

[marlins2.0]

Also, I just looked at the clusterfudge of the pools system. What drunk AI came up with this structure?

It's rugby league, what more would you expect!

There's a pool game in Christchurch vs Kukis which is unbelievable value price wise!

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Anyone poppin over for the world cup at all? We bought our tickets last night - pumped!

Might book my tickets in for Warriors in the GF, then Kiwis v Kangaroos two weeks later

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Penrith have signed Freddy Lussick, too

Not sure why.

 

[Izz]

Penrith have signed Freddy Lussick, too

Not sure why.

So that gives us a top 30 spot. Hopefully not for Big Nelson, though