The Rumours Thread

[BIG RIG]

I’m just very confused cause De Belin was the only off contract forward we should have kept

No way we are keeping any of either Fifita , Molo , RFM , BMM or Klemmer add that in with losing F Molo , Eisenhuth and Latu all mid year what forward recruits are on there way .

Yes we got a young good crop of kids coming thru but Toby Couchman and Hamish Stewart can’t be tasked with carrying our forward pack already

Add in the fact that Halangahu is yet to debut , Loko has already been dropped and both Dylan Egan and Ryan Couchman will be recovering from ACL’s I have no clue what this recruitment is trying to achieve

Add that in with the dud halves we have and our indecisive choice of wingers , our squad is a complete shambles right now and leading into 2026

 

[saintmar]

Could it be the board have let Flanagan recruit his way so if it turns to poo they can say nothing to do with us it’s what the coach demanded.

Spot on
And that’s how it should be
He is making all the decisions
He will then be assessed on where we end up
It’s the fairest way

 

[mattw5]

At what point do the media start question the board / management / coaching staff at our Club ?

Where are the real journos that investigate behind the scenes like they do other clubs?

With all of his baggage, JDB is always a 7/8 and is by far our best defender and long servant. Ilias has been sent to reggies only to win game after game, with no recall. Sloane, gone.

All of the above would be acceptable if we had ready made replacements, I dare say we don't. After Parra we play all the top teams in a horror stretch. Add all this mid season movement and the fricken spoon is now a real possibility.

This club is broken.

Agree especially the three that have openly declared they support the Dragons in Chammas, Carayannis & Webster

 

[raydragon]

Something has to give soon, or we won't have a club to support.

 

[carltonsouth79]

I’m just very confused cause De Belin was the only off contract forward we should have kept

No way we are keeping any of either Fifita , Molo , RFM , BMM or Klemmer add that in with losing F Molo , Eisenhuth and Latu all mid year what forward recruits are on there way .

Yes we got a young good crop of kids coming thru but Toby Couchman and Hamish Stewart can’t be tasked with carrying our forward pack already

Add in the fact that Halangahu is yet to debut , Loko has already been dropped and both Dylan Egan and Ryan Couchman will be recovering from ACL’s I have no clue what this recruitment is trying to achieve

Add that in with the dud halves we have and our indecisive choice of wingers , our squad is a complete shambles right now and leading into 2026

A spot on analysis for mine. JDB the cornerstone of our efforts in recent years. Watching our games this year, when he goes off, our forwards struggle. Given a fine crop of youngsters hard edge experience like his is difficult to replace. I fear that without an alpha prop signing we are consigned to similar ordinary fair in 2026…

 

[mattw5]

I wonder if we are after David Fifita?

 

[denis preston]

I wonder if we are after David Fifita?

I hope for a structured grand plan in all these player losses but suspect replacements to be the normal B grade. Hope I’m wrong but the last decade is getting to me.

 

[mattw5]

I hope for a structured grand plan in all these player losses but suspect replacements to be the normal B grade. Hope I’m wrong but the last decade is getting to me.

Me too fed up.

We have plenty of cap space go for Cobbo hard & Fifita.

For what its worth albeit he is aging the Raiders won’t re-sign Papali I would make a play for him because lets be honest we are next to no chance for Haas.

 

[St Tangles]

We will end up with Adam Elliot

 

[mattw5]

We will end up with Adam Elliot

Yeah i reckon you could be right he wants to head back to Sydney only upside is he is younger.

 

[mattw5]

Kobe Hethrington could be an option

 

[blacksafake]

Wrong

Please do tell

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Guys we finished 11th last year, we are 11th currently and will finish lower than that this year.
If we dont beat the Eels, we might not win again for 6 weeks…
Sloane and JDB won’t be the last ones out the door, as we are 5-6 players away from being a competitive finals team and it’s time to clean out and put some more quality players around those 6-7 young forwards we have coming through.
Couchmen x 2
Egan
LPT
Stewart
Tsougranis
Halangahu

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Respectfully, King isn't what we need. Not a player that's going to dominate a game or an opposition pack. Should not have been in the origin side either. For what he offers vs what you'd have to pay for him considering he's played origin now he'd be no where near worth it. Seems like a great guy though

Appreciate your opinion and you are correct that we really could do with that alpha prop who can dominate. The problem is that when those players become available, every other club, especially the top clubs, are also keen. We lose every time.

Recruiting such a prop, even if he plays to potential, is no Guarantee - just ask the Sharks (AFB)

I believe we really need to recruit above average solid middles from clubs under cap pressure or talented fringe players who can't get a regular 1st grade spot being behind a super talented pack.

So a Max King (Nostalgia aside) or a Kobe Hetherington would support our juniors with both attitude and minutes. Then we could also go hard for Josh Papalii, even though he's 33 (Imagine being able to let him go due to the emerging talent in your team)

I just think we need to be realistic with our forward recruitment because I'm gunna puke if one more poster mentions Payne Haas.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Parra sounds desperate !!!!!

35yrs old in March and. Two year contract

wow weeeee

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Liam Henry available

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Liam Henry available

Has Liam been given a release from his 2026 contract at the Panthers ?

 

[mattw5]

Liam Henry available

No he isn’t he is contracted for 2026.

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Panthers under cap pressure for 2026....likely to let a few go. Henry was one mentioned, as well as Lindsay Smith. Henry has much more mongrel than Smith

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

If we are looking at a player to keep going with us beyond 2026 then there a few middles

Wouldn’t be surprised though if we are making a play for big Pappa who is only 18months younger than JDB but what we need for 2026

Josh Papalli
Fletcher Baker
Adam Elliot
Bunty Afoa
Kobe Hetherington
Saluka Fafita
Valeepu
Greig

Fa'asuamaleaui​