NRL NRL 2026 General Recruitment Thread
- Thread starter 1995warriorsfan
- Start date
Noitall
👤
Scott Drinkwater may not be the only high-profile Cowboys player headed for the exits in Townsville with Maroons winger Murray Taulagi offered to the Roosters.
Taulagi has been linked with a move to Bondi as the Tri-Colours prepare for the departure of both their wingers.
Wallabies convert Mark Nawaqanitawase is returning to rugby ahead of next year’s World Cup while try-scoring freak Daniel Tupou is off-contract and contemplating retirement as he approaches 35.
The Roosters’ outside backs stocks seem relatively healthy with the likes of Tommy Talau and Cody Ramsey waiting in the wings while Manly’s Reuben Garrick will join the club next year.
But Taulagi has piqued interest at the Sydney club given his representative pedigree.
Taulagi, 27, remains off-contract at North Queensland and has been garnering interest from rival clubs – albeit at a hefty price tag that he may find difficult to secure in the NRL.
A move to the Perth Bears seems unlikely to eventuate and the Cowboys aren’t rushing to re-sign Taulagi, parking contract talks until next month.
Whether the Roosters decide to enter genuine negotiations remains to be seen.
Interestingly, Taulagi has a rugby background, having been spotted by the Cowboys playing the 15-man code in high school.
His brother, JJ Taulagi, has also been a long-time overseas rugby player across the lucrative French and Japanese competitions.
Taulagi has been linked with a move to Bondi as the Tri-Colours prepare for the departure of both their wingers.
Wallabies convert Mark Nawaqanitawase is returning to rugby ahead of next year’s World Cup while try-scoring freak Daniel Tupou is off-contract and contemplating retirement as he approaches 35.
The Roosters’ outside backs stocks seem relatively healthy with the likes of Tommy Talau and Cody Ramsey waiting in the wings while Manly’s Reuben Garrick will join the club next year.
But Taulagi has piqued interest at the Sydney club given his representative pedigree.
Taulagi, 27, remains off-contract at North Queensland and has been garnering interest from rival clubs – albeit at a hefty price tag that he may find difficult to secure in the NRL.
A move to the Perth Bears seems unlikely to eventuate and the Cowboys aren’t rushing to re-sign Taulagi, parking contract talks until next month.
Whether the Roosters decide to enter genuine negotiations remains to be seen.
Interestingly, Taulagi has a rugby background, having been spotted by the Cowboys playing the 15-man code in high school.
His brother, JJ Taulagi, has also been a long-time overseas rugby player across the lucrative French and Japanese competitions.
juju
🔥
It was a huge mistake when Flanno said in the media during the preseason they dont have the team to make the 8. Bad juju for the players to read that.
Noitall
👤
Seems like he probably subscribes to the Bellamy philosophy of a hard taskmaster that doesn’t seem to be getting the results for storm currently. Some great young players coming through that we should be watching on if there’s discontent over there
Blain
📈
Liddle is top 10 player at the club, and can only get half a game off the bench. For Flanno to not work out how to get him in the starting team is crazy stuff. He is too old school clearly, he should be leaning into small ball with a Liddle and Cook 13 and 9 combo. I rate Stewart, but he's being used as a 3rd half instead of running hard and straight alongside Couchman. He simply has to change it up.
Noitall
👤
I’m not convinced it’s all on his son, but surely there’s a feeling of nepotism amongst the group after Flanagan was so dismissive of Ilias last year and dropped him without any consideration of trying him again. I could see them being really interested in a player like Tanah Boyd to lead them around
They're coming John! Ratcliffe, Lemana & Olsen! Will be a bit of a wait tho lol. But will be worth it.
All the things you guys have mentioned have contributed.
He hasn’t earned the right to be a hard taskmaster. He isn’t Ivan and Kyle isn’t Nathan. Poor development, poor leadership.
He hasn’t earned the right to be a hard taskmaster. He isn’t Ivan and Kyle isn’t Nathan. Poor development, poor leadership.
Noitall
👤
To be honest his coaching career revolves around getting a title against all odds and disgrace as overseeing a program seen as cheating regarding peptides
Almost feels like a decent strike full back, whose out of favour with his current team could help bridge that 2 year gap for us...
Tbh I feel that if we got Drinky and a decent centre, say Timoko - for 2027 and 2028 I would back us to win a premiership in one of those years....
CWC
🔍
Watching Bellamy go at Joe Chan, I think that type of hairsprayer coach is a dying breed in modern sport.
Joe didn’t look like he was listening to him, rather getting pissed off at being spoken to like that in the public forum.
Flanno is the same style of coach.
Bellyache I think is nearing the end and perhaps his sprays don’t carry the same intimidation factor.
It seems everything that can go wrong is going wrong for the Storm and thus, I suspect their era is coming to an end with a shift back to mid table. It’s like Alex Ferguson leaving Manchester United, or Bennett leaving the Broncos back in 2011.
NRL has shifted focus to PNG and Perth markets. Expect to see the storm slide.
Noitall
👤
If you get the chance, have a look at Hetherington in the background when Chan cops that. Apparently Chan spoke back to Bellamy so Cronk was saying on the panel whether in that exchange or another time?
