The Rumours Thread

[possm]

I mean seems like a fit

given Ando knows Savala best we probably have a good chance

equally Savala may back himself in this fight for a spot in 2026 and then head to Perth year after on a big pay day ?

Why? Because Flanno wants his son in the halves and he has the say on team selections. Avala on a one-year deal with a one year option makes perfect sense to me. Reed will most likely be our long term halfback.

 

[possm]

Nor really as Savala is a big body and probably destined for the back row.

Savala may end up being our five-eighth when Reed comes into first grade. And yes, Atkinson my well be Gutherson's replacement at fullback.

 

[possm]

o We dont have a decent finishing winger in our squad.. but Sloans inability to finish is next level, you never want Suli to put him in a contest with the touchline.. always better to take the tackle.. you use Sloan in open space, speed is his skill, and pushing through contact has always been his weakness.

Note: We need to fix that asap, wing is the easiest position to recruit, its crazy we have guys like CT, Lawson, Sloan, Feagai as our best options.. I think Fale may be 1 winger.. Williams maybe debuts late in the year 'if' hes healthy.

o Suli brings physicality, you can work around him, but we also need to find someone better when we can, you can have more than just 'hits hard' in your outside backs.. and that man is Heidke btw, 'if' he can catch a break with injuries hes everything you want in a right ctr.. so many points come off him, pure class the way he cuts through the line... good in the air.. solid enough physically.. he doesnt have a contract currently however, we need to sort that... tbf though injuries 2yrs in a row are whats held him back.

o Savala, I think it depends how much Ando/Flanno rate him.. if were ready to go all in, we would surely be one of his only real options.. if we're on the fence.. then I dunno if hes taking a gamble on us.

Cook and Kyle are gumming up the works. If it was my decision, I''d recrut Savala and play him at 6 Atkinson a 7.

Kyle to 14 and Cook to reserve grade.

 

[mattw5]

What is Savala worth to get him over the line?

$500k?

 

[Dragsters]

What is Savala worth to get him over the line?

$500k?

500 for a decent half, I'd say yeah.

That would put him on par with Atko if I'm not mistaken...

 

[redandwhite4evr]

500 for a decent half, I'd say yeah.

That would put him on par with Atko if I'm not mistaken...

My reading of Savala's current thinking was that he intends to honour his 2026 contract with the Roosters and then move on in 2027-(Perth will no doubt be on his radar). No mention of asking for an early release due to DCE coming.

IMO, we need a proven game managing half now while Reed learns his craft in KOE. Atkinson may or may not be the man to do that but no one really knows. The other options -Boyd and Wishart, are also under contract for 2026 but Boyd is the more skillful and an experienced specialist half which SGI now lacks. With the Warriors plethora of halves, we should be able to negotiate an early release.

 

[Wolfgang90]

My reading of Savala's current thinking was that he intends to honour his 2026 contract with the Roosters and then move on in 2027-(Perth will no doubt be on his radar). No mention of asking for an early release due to DCE coming.

IMO, we need a proven game managing half now while Reed learns his craft in KOE. Atkinson may or may not be the man to do that but no one really knows. The other options -Boyd and Wishart, are also under contract for 2026 but Boyd is the more skillful and an experienced specialist half which SGI now lacks. With the Warriors plethora of halves, we should be able to negotiate an early release.

Boyd has some pressure related issues, for whatever reason he panics in 1st grade. Hard to overcome imo.

 

[SnowDragon]

Surely Savala saying he’s testing the open market is to drive up his value. Why not wait a year potential play 14 while DCE is there and walk straight back into the 6 jersey the following year when he would able to join another club anyways. Can’t see him leaving the roosters

Totally correct

that’s my opinion, though it’s worth a crack, even if just to make roosters cough up some more brown paper bags!

 

[mattw5]

Perth are very interested in Wishart and are set to announce Sexton in the coming days where does this leave Burton in all of this who knows.

Savala should be made an offer for 2027 with a bit of luck he is close with Anderson and an early release can be granted with our lack of middles we need a big boot.

 

[possm]

What is Savala worth to get him over the line?

$500k?

SAme as Kyle

 

[possm]

My reading of Savala's current thinking was that he intends to honour his 2026 contract with the Roosters and then move on in 2027-(Perth will no doubt be on his radar). No mention of asking for an early release due to DCE coming.

IMO, we need a proven game managing half now while Reed learns his craft in KOE. Atkinson may or may not be the man to do that but no one really knows. The other options -Boyd and Wishart, are also under contract for 2026 but Boyd is the more skillful and an experienced specialist half which SGI now lacks. With the Warriors plethora of halves, we should be able to negotiate an early release.

We needed DCE

 

[Gareth67]

We needed DCE

No poss, he would has taken half of our salary cap for the next 20 seasons plus the little merkin would had insisted upon his portrait hanging alongside of big Norm’s , the bloody scoundrel !

 

[TheRev]

Surely Savala saying he’s testing the open market is to drive up his value. Why not wait a year potential play 14 while DCE is there and walk straight back into the 6 jersey the following year when he would able to join another club anyways. Can’t see him leaving the roosters

That could be the case.. though I cant imagine hes going to hardball Nick Politis.

If he's actually going to leave, it has to be for 2026... if its 2027 he may aswell just stay put and back himself to beat out young Rodwell once DCE retires...

Like Hugo said though, he is 24 April next year, so his best footy is in front definitely.. but still...no point burning another 18mths at the rorters if hes going to fall behind in the pecking order like Sandon Smith did.. or indeed like Atkinson got used this year... Hugo's stocks are hot right now..

 

[possm]

ur 2026 forward pack reminds me of Bath's Babes in 1977:
1977 2026

REDDY Stewart
JANSEN Su'A
STONE Halangahu
YOUNG Tino
EDGE (c) Liddle
STARKEY T Couchman

 

[saints4ever]

Tino?

 

[redv13]

Tino?

The great fantasy along with Savala, Jayden Campbell and Keon Koloamatangi. That would be one neat trick from Mr Flanagan and Mr Anderson

 

[saints4ever]

Ah

 

[Desperate Dragon]

The great fantasy along with Savala, Jayden Campbell and Keon Koloamatangi. That would be one neat trick from Mr Flanagan and Mr Anderson

It really is pretty much a fantasy at the moment.
Plenty of forum posters saying who the Dragons should be chasing without knowing if we are actually talking to them.
Anderson and Flanagan playing their cards very close to the chest.
I haven't seen any reports so far saying we are talking to either Savala or Koloamatangi.

 

[TheRev]

It really is pretty much a fantasy at the moment.
Plenty of forum posters saying who the Dragons should be chasing without knowing if we are actually talking to them.
Anderson and Flanagan playing their cards very close to the chest.
I haven't seen any reports so far saying we are talking to either Savala or Koloamatangi.

Agree, though tbf what else can we do.. but definitely recommend noone go getting their hopes up on any of those targets.. even if we do speak to them.. we would have to go "all in" and overpay to land anyone who is in demand.. and thus far we have not been wired that way at all..

What is a bit frustrating is there such a gulf between these quality first graders and the average NSW Cup fellas we have picked up so far.. now a lot of them are likely just NSW Cup contracts, but in theory it shouldnt be that hard to pickup a bunch of upgrades for us, 2 wingers & a young fullback in particular.. so many out there not getting opportunity.

 

[Dragsters]

My reading of Savala's current thinking was that he intends to honour his 2026 contract with the Roosters and then move on in 2027-(Perth will no doubt be on his radar). No mention of asking for an early release due to DCE coming.

IMO, we need a proven game managing half now while Reed learns his craft in KOE. Atkinson may or may not be the man to do that but v one really knows. The other options -Boyd and Wishart, are also under contract for 2026 but Boyd is the more skillful and an experienced specialist half which SGI now lacks. With the Warriors plethora of halves, we should be able to negotiate an early release.

I think he's probably the most likely stop gap option and would do a job.