Recruitment Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment & Retention
- Thread starter WahsaurusRex
- Start date
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What do you reckon, edge forward or middle forward?
I expect AKP to get a lot of work under the high ball in the off season. If he can't take them, he won't be in first grade.
17th, 14th, 14th have been the Titans defensive rank for points scored the last 3 years. That's not because of one winger and if anything wingers and centres cop the short end of the stick trying to cover up for breakdowns in the middle. We'll see how he looks in our D line.
His upside makes him well worth the punt. A different environment, a different club, structure etc. Maybe it's fools gold, but he wouldn't be the first player given up on who finds a new lease on life at a different club either.
17th, 14th, 14th have been the Titans defensive rank for points scored the last 3 years. That's not because of one winger and if anything wingers and centres cop the short end of the stick trying to cover up for breakdowns in the middle. We'll see how he looks in our D line.
His upside makes him well worth the punt. A different environment, a different club, structure etc. Maybe it's fools gold, but he wouldn't be the first player given up on who finds a new lease on life at a different club either.
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Marcelo Montoya’s career had been albeit written off when he arrived at the club. We’ve pursued this guy so it feels like the club knows they can iron out some deficiencies but he has what they’re after
Yeah I know right. Having a long kicking or tactical kicking centre means if Metcalf or Chitty get rushed, they can pass it to not Barney or Sam Lisone. Erin is legal though.Woah now hang on there for a bit.
You want a centre with the capability to draw and pass, beat his man, maybe use the boot if needed.
Best I can give you is a hit up merchant with a good kick chase. You may also choose Leka if needed
If we were still the covid warriors or fighting over the wooden spoon could see an RTS release and promote AKP to his spot.
But they'll be expecting another playoff appearance so surely you'd hold on to Rog. What would we even do with his salary?
Maybe they were able to sell him on waiting a year for a clear wing berth. Because of how young the rest of them are, AKP would be named in the 23 every week at least, similar to Kosi this year.
At the start of the 2027 season some of the wingers around could be (assume next year is Rog last)
DWZ 31 (has a contract for that year)
AKP 25
Mellars 22
Kali 21
Pasikala 21
There will be more in that 20-21 age range as well.
But they'll be expecting another playoff appearance so surely you'd hold on to Rog. What would we even do with his salary?
Maybe they were able to sell him on waiting a year for a clear wing berth. Because of how young the rest of them are, AKP would be named in the 23 every week at least, similar to Kosi this year.
At the start of the 2027 season some of the wingers around could be (assume next year is Rog last)
DWZ 31 (has a contract for that year)
AKP 25
Mellars 22
Kali 21
Pasikala 21
There will be more in that 20-21 age range as well.
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We have desperately needed speed. But not just speed exclusively yeah? At least this kid has the base of speed and try scoring ability. Infusing defensive comprehension and the actual "want" to be defensively resilient is the variable. We need a finisher and a fast enough to burn others guy which he appears to be. And adding a more complete player is the task at hand. Cold Auckland winter night games might help him. Needs to come out of the GC and his comfort zone to grow.
He definitely starts off as an edge forward take advantage of athletic talent as he get’s older he will move into the middle. Similar to Ben Matulino who was the tallest forward we had until Neal.
After thinking about it I don't think he'll be on a development contract next year, I think they will let him finish school in christchurch (fly him up for the odd NSW cup/Jersey Flegg game)
Then straight into Top 30 in 2027 when he makes the permanent move up to Auckland.
Similar to how Makasini has gone straight into Top 30 for next year.
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His family are shifting to Auckland as per that article posted
What school's he going to? Would have to assume Kelston given the relationship
Not too sure, but this part talks about their shift. Feels like the club knows they’ve got someone special
Looking forward, the moving boxes piled up in the Neal house show a family that’s committed to supporting their youngest in his professional journey and ready to make the move from Christchurch to their new home in Auckland.
“It’s just cool seeing a kid doing what they love,” Betsy Neal says.
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Anyone else feel we are jumping the gun a bit with Inch? If hes got no league background 2026 seems a bit unrealistic for a teenage spine player. Surely he spends at least a season in age group/NSW cup teams before being looked at seriously for NRL. A development contract makes sense, but him actually being expected to play first grade feels like a bit much. if he's a first choice half for NSW cup at the end of 2026 then he's done incredibly well in my opinion.
Its been a long time coming, inevitable we would one day sign a hyped union playmaker type, we don’t really have any precedent to go off, how long it might take him to transition. We’ve had the hard running union backs like Ngani Laumape, but no one in a skill position.
Super rugby academy players get paid fuck all, would be surprised if he was in line to be in the crusaders top squad, the youngest players in a super rugby squad are 21/22 not 19/20. Barring the odd freakish player.
This was the problem aussie union had, NRL clubs would pay school leavers real money, the super teams would tell them to wait for a couple of years.
A top 30 contract for next year is $140,000 that’s a pretty big carrot, the same page has a development/supplementary contract as $80,000, would seem more realistic.
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he's year 13 this year so out of school next. A development contract would make sense as we want him here full time.
Awesome that we were able to retain him despite other clubs getting in there, even Wayne Bennett. Must be hard to turn him down. THe power of fan engagement bleeding into recruitment. A bit like Laban when he signed till '29. Doesn't want to be anywhere else!
100%, as exciting as it is you just never know how union 9s, 10s & 12s will transition, especially ones who've barely played. 1st XV player ratings are bullshit too, the whole system is extremely flawed.
There's been a couple, people on here had Fukofuka pencilled in as a surefire gun league hooker based on being a gun union halfback at a big 1st XV.
Could possibly still happen but at this stage Fukofuka has been transitioned into a 13 and the much less fancied Tafua is the Cup 9 behind Healy and is just a much better league player with better league instincts. Which isn't suprising as Tafua played so much rep league.
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I think Inch development will be similar to Jett. He will probably start in Flegg play 11, 12 games and then finish the year in Cup. Pushing for NRL spot in 27, with Martin unlikely to be signed after 26.
I think basing our opinion on AKP based on fans is pretty silly. Fans, whether they are reddit, fb, or whatever, aren't strategic experts of the game. If webby and cappy have decided to bring him over here, they clearly see something in him that our current backs (NRL and pathways) lack. So we need to give him a chance before judging him thoroughly.
Right now, AKP is probably like a Sloane. Awesome speed and general attacking ability (hence why he's scoring like one try a game or something ridiculous). But defense is probably why he hasn't been able to become a permanent starting fixture, even at a struggling club at GC. But if Webby has one superpower, it's his ability to get GC rejects to massively up their game. Give him a full pre-season under Webby and place him in a competitive club that is only looking to get better. If he has the work ethic, then he might be the speedster we've been lacking this year.
Worst case scenario is he fucks around and webby won't pick him next year and he gets cut quickly. We are a strike winger/center short of being a contender. He could be part of the solution which is why he's worth the punt imo.
Right now, AKP is probably like a Sloane. Awesome speed and general attacking ability (hence why he's scoring like one try a game or something ridiculous). But defense is probably why he hasn't been able to become a permanent starting fixture, even at a struggling club at GC. But if Webby has one superpower, it's his ability to get GC rejects to massively up their game. Give him a full pre-season under Webby and place him in a competitive club that is only looking to get better. If he has the work ethic, then he might be the speedster we've been lacking this year.
Worst case scenario is he fucks around and webby won't pick him next year and he gets cut quickly. We are a strike winger/center short of being a contender. He could be part of the solution which is why he's worth the punt imo.
