NRL NRL 2025 General Recruitment Thread

[UpTheWahs]

lowball him how? To renegotiate a different contract to what he had? Thats assuming he would have intetest above his reported 900-950k existing contract to even goto that step.

And I thought the NRL won't register contracts lower than the one currently on if breaking it to go to another team.

 

[tajhay]

And I thought the NRL won't register contracts lower than the one currently on if breaking it to go to another team.

The inference was to "lowball" him from the 1.2m asking price i believe. He could sign a higher contract with eels if he declines the player option, "lower" then the 1.2m hes seeking.

The whole show is about throwing as many lines in the water seeing which fish is most desperate for the rotten bait.

 

[Inruin]

The inference was to "lowball" him from the 1.2m asking price i believe. He could sign a higher contract with eels if he declines the player option, "lower" then the 1.2m hes seeking.

The whole show is about throwing as many lines in the water seeing which fish is most desperate for the rotten bait.

If it's a player option and he doesn't take it he becomes a free agent and can sign for whatever can't he? He won't though because this is about trying to drive his salary up, whether that's the Eels or someone else.

 

[Noitall]

Bennett toying with round one selection stunner

'Little-known' player in line for first crack at halfback

www.nine.com.au

Interesting piece in here regarding Maiu’u and why they think he was let go. Seems we’re concerned about outside back depth and speed and content with the forward pack, so that’s why a forward made way. Talks about freeing up salary, but wouldn’t imagine Maiu’u adds a heap to the cap other than freeing a top 30 spot?

 

[Noitall]

CONTRACT UPDATE FOR MOSES​

Posted by Mick aka Nortius Maximus on February 5, 2025 at 7:02am
Just listening to SEN radio, Michael carayannis has confirmed eels HQ are in negotiations with the Moses camp to remove the options for 27/28 and extend his contract for another year

This is great news and gives Jason Ryles, the club some certainty and the ability to plan salary cap wise for next 3/4 years







Will be interesting to see if the Dylan Brown camp follows suit

 

[Inruin]

Bennett toying with round one selection stunner

'Little-known' player in line for first crack at halfback

www.nine.com.au

Interesting piece in here regarding Maiu’u and why they think he was let go. Seems we’re concerned about outside back depth and speed and content with the forward pack, so that’s why a forward made way. Talks about freeing up salary, but wouldn’t imagine Maiu’u adds a heap to the cap other than freeing a top 30 spot?

Be interesting to see how the Berry injury is coming along. I don't know if it was the same injury but Thomas Flegler was out for basically the whole season last year. Regardless of that, I think our squad is unbalanced towards the forwards anyway

 

[Noitall]

Be interesting to see how the Berry injury is coming along. I don't know if it was the same injury but Thomas Flegler was out for basically the whole season last year. Regardless of that, I think our squad is unbalanced towards the forwards anyway

Flegler has had good news and will return this season I’ve seen, but a long lay off. Berry’s future could very well be up in air? But in saying that, none are what you’d call speedy. Interesting we’re talking about outside backs, and recently Kotoni Staggs was spotted over here

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Flegler has had good news and will return this season I’ve seen, but a long lay off. Berry’s future could very well be up in air? But in saying that, none are what you’d call speedy. Interesting we’re talking about outside backs, and recently Kotoni Staggs was spotted over here

I'm a big Rocco Berry fan, but I'm wondering if things are coming to a head with him.

Has played 43 games in 4 seasons, and looks to be starting this season injured too. Apparently he's on a decent wicket for a young, inexperienced fulla (about 400k I think I heard), which is pretty mad to put someone like Staggs in comparison - for around 300k more youve got a massive attacking threat and probably played about 60 games more than Rocco, which is excellent value imo.

Rocco's still young so he has age on his side, but at what point do you start to consider his value to the team?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Katoni Staggs anyone?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Katoni Staggs anyone?

that would be so hot

 

[Noitall]

I'm a big Rocco Berry fan, but I'm wondering if things are coming to a head with him.

Has played 43 games in 4 seasons, and looks to be starting this season injured too. Apparently he's on a decent wicket for a young, inexperienced fulla (about 400k I think I heard), which is pretty mad to put someone like Staggs in comparison - for around 300k more youve got a massive attacking threat and probably played about 60 games more than Rocco, which is excellent value imo.

Rocco's still young so he has age on his side, but at what point do you start to consider his value to the team?

He’s got huge potential, but it was the kick chase that he and DWZ had in 2023 to get down and trap an attacker that was viewed so favourably. I think getting him fit and over his injury would be first and foremost, but just like Pompey probably has the size to become a second rower

 

[Bevosa]

Tommy Talau, I believe is off contract end of year, would be a nice pick up.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

but it was the kick chase that he and DWZ had in 2023 to get down and trap an attacker that was viewed so favourably

If thats all you have going for you as a centre I think your career is going to be short lived.

 

[Noitall]

If thats all you have going for you as a centre I think your career is going to be short lived.

Not to say he wasn’t adding to his game. Some of his tries were great and he has the ability to hold the ball in heavy impact close to the line that the best edges do

 

[Tookey 2.0]

He’s got huge potential, but it was the kick chase that he and DWZ had in 2023 to get down and trap an attacker that was viewed so favourably. I think getting him fit and over his injury would be first and foremost, but just like Pompey probably has the size to become a second rower

Yeah it's that age old question of where does potential stop and where do runs on the board count.

He's played 43 games with 6 of those injury effected, which means that we needed a reshuffle in 6 of those games, and then of course the rest of the games he probably should have played over 4 years (likely 50-70 games).

Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but I wonder if we had a less talented player, say a Jessie Arthur's instead who goes on to play 90 games in that 4 year period, likely on less money. Would that have been more valuable to the club, having a player on less money, but holding a spot consistently over 4 years with minimal fuss?

I dunno, but something that the club probably has to consider because another 4 years of similar results injury wise etc would be crazy

 

[Blain]

Tommy Talau, I believe is off contract end of year, would be a nice pick up.

Could be Wighty's favourite player Starford Toa? On the outer at the Tigers and offers versatility. Talau is a buy high guy, has been poor in NRL up until last season.

 

[Inruin]

Not to say he wasn’t adding to his game. Some of his tries were great and he has the ability to hold the ball in heavy impact close to the line that the best edges do

I thought we started to see more of what he had to offer when he came back for that Cowboys game last season and we weren't focused on the monotonous robotic play that saw him utilised as basically just a kick chase option. We saw a bit more balanced offering from him and actually a few other players as well.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Bennett toying with round one selection stunner

'Little-known' player in line for first crack at halfback

www.nine.com.au

Interesting piece in here regarding Maiu’u and why they think he was let go. Seems we’re concerned about outside back depth and speed and content with the forward pack, so that’s why a forward made way. Talks about freeing up salary, but wouldn’t imagine Maiu’u adds a heap to the cap other than freeing a top 30 spot?

And we already had three spots available before maiuu left no?

 

[Noitall]

I thought we started to see more of what he had to offer when he came back for that Cowboys game last season and we weren't focused on the monotonous robotic play that saw him utilised as basically just a kick chase option. We saw a bit more balanced offering from him and actually a few other players as well.

Realistically Leiataua has ownership of one centre spot. Given RTS’ standing in the game, perhaps they do want another high profile or strong experienced centre on the other side and RTS didn’t work out as hoped it might? MGT got an opportunity too. You’d think an option would be to have Tuaupiki fullback and put CNK centre? Berry did look good in the period you mentioned, but anyone’s guess how he returns after a long layoff?

 

[Noitall]

And we already had three spots available before maiuu left no?

Think we had two spaces and releasing Maiu’u made the third? If there’s truth to Sipley coming over and we pick up an outside back, that would leave the one space that we often like to keep open