NRL NRL 2025 General Recruitment Thread

[Wahs_Ultras]

View attachment 14831

Would be nice, but we rarely get nice things

 

[kos]

Small, Carney boost Titans pathways​

Gold Coast’s Future Titans pathways system has been bolstered by the appointment of two full-time coaches to help foster the transition of critical age groups to the NRL.

Spearheaded by elite pathways head coach Matt Keating, the Titans will welcome highly respected local mentor Nathan Small alongside current specialist coach Todd Carney, who joins the club permanently from the 2026 pre-season.

Small brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Titans’ junior program with an extensive football network and expertise in Queensland’s pathways systems, most recently as the pathways and performance coach at Queensland Rugby League.

Prior to this role, he served at Keebra Park State High School for over 15 years as head of department for their successful physical education and sports academy programs, focussing heavily on cultivating their elite rugby league academies.

Carney expands his role following a stint at Keebra Park, helping them to recent Queensland and National Schoolboy Cup success alongside his work with the Future Titans as a specialist coach.

Having developed a strong passion to share his knowledge and guidance to young players both on and off the field, Carney will continue to bring his strong football mindset and exceptional IQ to the program in an expanded role.

“All successful pathways programs have an influential focus on coaching and identification of talent," Director of Football, Scott Sattler said.

"To have the ability to secure both Nathan and Todd sends a strong message to our Future Titans contracted players, as well as our wider community surrounding the level of specific coaching player's will receive.

"Nathan and Todd's strong connections to Queensland and northern New South Wales schools and clubs gives the club a significant insight into what players we recruit into the organisation.

"Our ability as a club to transition pathway players into potential NRL players wearing a Titans jersey has increased with the recruitment of both of these elite coaches."

Alongside the new coaching staff appointments, Keebra Park spine duo Justus Lowndes and Cooper Murphy will also join the Titans’ elite pathways program after guiding their school to state and national success.


Lowndes played a pivotal playmaking role for Keebra Park’s Allan Langer Trophy campaign as their points linchpin, finishing as the top half for try assists across the season.

Murphy’s season was just as strong with the crafty No. 9 skippering his side to their first silverware since 2017, consistently guaranteeing good service and strong defence up front.

Todd Carney rise from his earlier demise continues

 

[WahsaurusRex]

"Papenhuyzen, who has a year to run on his current contract, has decided to take a break away from the game to consider his future."

Sooo.. thats 360 then hey

 

[Noitall]

View: https://omny.fm/shows/triple-m-breakfast-with-beau-cat-and-woodsy/whisper-perth-bears-set-to-announce-panthers-premiership-winner-as-one-of-first-signings

Apparently Scott Sorenson will be announced as one of the bears first signings

 

[Noitall]

"Papenhuyzen, who has a year to run on his current contract, has decided to take a break away from the game to consider his future."

Sooo.. thats 360 then hey

Must be a good chance this is all to get Tino to storm

 

[snake77]

"Papenhuyzen, who has a year to run on his current contract, has decided to take a break away from the game to consider his future."

Sooo.. thats 360 then hey

LOL I was literally just righting the “consider his future” part from the Fox Sports article.

Was trying to find a could 180/360 joke.


View: https://youtu.be/nnWDdbXH3DM

 

[snake77]

Apparently Scott Sorenson will be announced as one of the bears first signings

He's had quite a later career turn around after being picked up by the Panthers. Been with them since 2021. Involved with multiple premierships, makes the Kiwis.

Good on him if he can get a pay day with the Bears to finish off his career.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Must be a good chance this is all to get Tino to storm

Exactly. Immediate releases to Pezet and Papenhuyzen frees up a mil easily

 

[juju]

Exactly. Immediate releases to Pezet and Papenhuyzen frees up a mil easily

And then NAS walking away from his deal.

Some creative contract machinations going down at that club.

 

[Noitall]

Storm linked to Purdue at cowboys with Papenhuyzen gone. Would imagine Fa’alogo gets to trigger his clause if they pick another fullback? Perhaps Fa’alogo first choice and Purdue backup?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Has there been any time during the history of the game (or at least the last 20 years) where a team has somehow managed to clear 2x 900k contracts by 'releasing' the players when it's extremely likely that no other team will pay that much for them? (Maybe Papz gets 900k from someone else I guess)

I dunno, it seems super fucking fishy that Storm get out of two massive contracts without having to pay anything

 

[tajhay]

Has there been any time during the history of the game (or at least the last 20 years) where a team has somehow managed to clear 2x 900k contracts by 'releasing' the players when it's extremely likely that no other team will pay that much for them? (Maybe Papz gets 900k from someone else I guess)

I dunno, it seems super fucking fishy that Storm get out of two massive contracts without having to pay anything

Fishy or ruthless. I consider them the latter. If a player is going to r360(both players rumoured to have signed), i would think storm would have told them they can go now rather than have r360 on their mind for the coming year, so they can prioritise on keeping players who want to be there. Their culture is different to other clubs and very much have a strong focus on upkeeping that.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Their culture is different to other clubs and very much have a strong focus on criminality.

Fixed that for you

 

[Noitall]

Titans sign 7 up and coming players (not established nrl players)


Five of the players signed were mostly seen in the reserve grades this year while two more other new additions to the club are schoolboy stars in Cooper Murphy and Justus Lowndes from rugby league nursery Keebra Park.

Both Lowndes and Murphy were led to the club by Carney, who worked closely with Keebra Park this year.

Panthers hooker Luke Sommerton, 2025 Queensland Cup player of the year Oliver Pascoe, Raiders flyer Jensen Taumoepeau, Dragons prop Jett Liu and another former Panther in Siale Faeamani are the new faces on the glitter strip.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Fishy or ruthless. I consider them the latter. If a player is going to r360(both players rumoured to have signed), i would think storm would have told them they can go now rather than have r360 on their mind for the coming year, so they can prioritise on keeping players who want to be there. Their culture is different to other clubs and very much have a strong focus on upkeeping that.

Deffo the latter, don't get me wrong.

But what would you say to your employer, who tells you to leave your 900k salary at the door and leave a year early?

In the politest way possible I would tell them to go choke on a bag of dicks. 900k is a ridiculous amount of money for someone to simply walk away from, with nothing else lined up.

 

[juju]

Deffo the latter, don't get me wrong.

But what would you say to your employer, who tells you to leave your 900k salary at the door and leave a year early?

In the politest way possible I would tell them to go choke on a bag of dicks. 900k is a ridiculous amount of money for someone to simply walk away from, with nothing else lined up.

It's unprecedented really. Two massive long term contacts walking out the door.
r360 either paid the players to do that or the Melbourne Storm are a cult with insane sway over their players.

 

[CWC]

Deffo the latter, don't get me wrong.

But what would you say to your employer, who tells you to leave your 900k salary at the door and leave a year early?

In the politest way possible I would tell them to go choke on a bag of dicks. 900k is a ridiculous amount of money for someone to simply walk away from, with nothing else lined up.

An ex-con employer…if it looks like a duck…..

 

[Horriors2013]

And then NAS walking away from his deal.

Some creative contract machinations going down at that club.

How do you think a Melbourne team could possibly be so dominant from day 1 without creative backdoor shenanigans. Likewise Roosters.

 

[Worried2Death]

It's unprecedented really. Two massive long term contacts walking out the door.
r360 either paid the players to do that or the Melbourne Storm are a cult with insane sway over their players.

If it's not r360 paying out these contracts, then who? The Storm can't just excommunicate them like Leaving Gloriavale can they? Unless they're being rescued, and NAS and Paps are the first to break the programming. It's all very odd.

 

[Horriors2013]

Must be a good chance this is all to get Tino to storm

I think you nailed it! Purdue replaces Pappy, Tino replaces NAS. Purdue is an up and comer, so a lot less than Pappy. Tino would ask for over a million, the numbers stack up. It has been whispered a lot as you guys know that Tino has been hovering over his out clause lately.