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Squad succession

TheCrowe

Juniors
Messages
1,501
I see a lot of potential in Moretti.

He can be that Liam Martin type player for mine a bull/wrecking ball like he has had 10 cans of red bull that Martin looks like he has before every game.
Ive seen team mates talk about him on podcasts. They say he is very strong for his size but also a little crazy and extra hyped up even without the red bull when he hits the field. Im glad he has been extended.
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
91,929
Nice two year extension for Moretti. He could double his NRL games tally by the end of the year:

* = player option
¢ = club option
" = mutual option
^ = development contract

2025
Utility: Brown, Hands, Papalii
Fullback: Iongi, Miller-Stephen (22)^
W/C: Addo-Carr, Dunster (26)", Lomax, Renisini^, Wenisini, Russell, Samrani, Simonsson, Tago (26)^
Half: Hawkins, Moses
Hooker: Lussick (30)
Edge forward: Cartwright (31), Doorey, Guymer, Kautoga^, Keir (27)^, Lane, Mataele (23), Matterson, Tuilagi, Williams
Middle: Greig (26), Hopgood, Moretti, Ofahengaue (30), Paulo, Pryke^, Tuivati (20)

2026
Utility: Brown*, Hands (27), Papalii (22)
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Addo-Carr (31)¢, Lomax, Renisini (21), Wenisini (24)*, Russell (24), Samrani (24), Simonsson
Half: Hawkins (27), Moses
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Doorey (26), Guymer (22), Kautoga (24), Lane (32)", Matterson (32)*, Tuilagi (27), Williams
Middle: Hopgood, Moretti, Paulo (33), Pryke (22)^

2027
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: Iongi (24)
W/C: Lomax, Simonsson (29)
Half: Moses*
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Williams (31)
Middle: Hopgood (28), Moretti (27)

2028
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: Lomax (29)
Half: Moses (34)*
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2029
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2030
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2031
Utility: Brown (31)*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

So we (somewhat officially) have 28 merkins in next year's top 30, and 23 in the 2026 squad.
 

Avenger

Immortal
Messages
34,146
Nice two year extension for Moretti. He could double his NRL games tally by the end of the year:

* = player option
¢ = club option
" = mutual option
^ = development contract

2025
Utility: Brown, Hands, Papalii
Fullback: Iongi, Miller-Stephen (22)^
W/C: Addo-Carr, Dunster (26)", Lomax, Renisini^, Wenisini, Russell, Samrani, Simonsson, Tago (26)^
Half: Hawkins, Moses
Hooker: Lussick (30)
Edge forward: Cartwright (31), Doorey, Guymer, Kautoga^, Keir (27)^, Lane, Mataele (23), Matterson, Tuilagi, Williams
Middle: Greig (26), Hopgood, Moretti, Ofahengaue (30), Paulo, Pryke^, Tuivati (20)

2026
Utility: Brown*, Hands (27), Papalii (22)
Fullback: Iongi
W/C: Addo-Carr (31)¢, Lomax, Renisini (21), Wenisini (24)*, Russell (24), Samrani (24), Simonsson
Half: Hawkins (27), Moses
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Doorey (26), Guymer (22), Kautoga (24), Lane (32)", Matterson (32)*, Tuilagi (27), Williams
Middle: Hopgood, Moretti, Paulo (33), Pryke (22)^

2027
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: Iongi (24)
W/C: Lomax, Simonsson (29)
Half: Moses*
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Williams (31)
Middle: Hopgood (28), Moretti (27)

2028
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: Lomax (29)
Half: Moses (34)*
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2029
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2030
Utility: Brown*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

2031
Utility: Brown (31)*
Fullback: -
W/C: -
Half: -
Hooker: -
Edge forward: -
Middle: -

So we (somewhat officially) have 28 merkins in next year's top 30, and 23 in the 2026 squad.
Miller-Stephen is utility FFS.
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
91,929
His knee injury certainly set him back. This year will be the make or break year for him I think same as Martyn.
I hate to shitcan Ethyn Martin, but he is well behind his peers for the level of his development. As an example, he is the same age as Sean Russell. Hopefully he turns out to be a late bloomer. But it’s quite rare for outside backs to debut this late and still become first graders. Rich Penisini’s trajectory is what a future first grader looks like, even with the knee injury.
 

JokerEel

Coach
Messages
13,682
I hate to shitcan Ethyn Martin, but he is well behind his peers for the level of his development. As an example, he is the same age as Sean Russell. Hopefully he turns out to be a late bloomer. But it’s quite rare for outside backs to debut this late and still become first graders. Rich Penisini’s trajectory is what a future first grader looks like, even with the knee injury.


100% !

Both AMS and EM are training with the NRL side by looking at pics and vids though.
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
91,929
100% !

Both AMS and EM are training with the NRL side by looking at pics and vids though.
And good on them, but how many merkins who never made it spent one or more preseasons with an NRL squad? I remember Mick Doolan did an NRL preseason a few years ago, and I believe JJBM did one last year with Melbourne. From the perspective of the NRL clubs it’s a small cost to potentially find a diamond in the rough.
 

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