NRL NRL 2025 General Recruitment Thread

[Noitall]

SIX potential landing spots for Scott Drinkwater

He has been linked with a shock exit from the Cowboys.

www.zerotackle.com

Warriors viewed as a team that could be interested in Scott Drinkwater

 

[Noitall]

Leeds Rhinos star Harry Newman set for sensational NRL transfer

Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman is reportedly set to sign a long-term deal in the NRL and make the switch to Australia.

www.loverugbyleague.com

Bears have made a signing with Englishman Harry Newman

 

[Worried2Death]

Leeds Rhinos star Harry Newman set for sensational NRL transfer

Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman is reportedly set to sign a long-term deal in the NRL and make the switch to Australia.

www.loverugbyleague.com

Bears have made a signing with Englishman Harry Newman

 

[Noitall]

Storm forum reckons Tyran Wishart as good as gone to Perth bears

 

[Noitall]

Rabbits and bears have met the eels offer to Koloamatangi of $900k for 4 years. He’s expected to stay at rabbits now

 

[Noitall]

Panthers Inc.​

The 2025 Panthers Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year prop Talmage Brown is training with the Panthers top squad throughout the preseason and he’s not even 18 years old yet.
Penrith have a high opinion of the youngster and Talmage is definitely a player to watch over the next few years.
#pantherpride

NEWS: A Star Blossoms in Pantherland: Young Talmage Brown Trains With the Big Boys Before Turning 18!

When a young athlete carries both the strength of a prop and the softness of a dreamer, something magical begins to grow. And at Penrith, that magic now has a name — Talmage Brown, the 2025 Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year, whose journey is already warming hearts across the rugby league...

soccershakers.com

Must be pretty decent if they rate him highly, anyone seen him play?

 

[Viking]

Panthers Inc.​

The 2025 Panthers Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year prop Talmage Brown is training with the Panthers top squad throughout the preseason and he’s not even 18 years old yet.
Penrith have a high opinion of the youngster and Talmage is definitely a player to watch over the next few years.
#pantherpride

NEWS: A Star Blossoms in Pantherland: Young Talmage Brown Trains With the Big Boys Before Turning 18!

When a young athlete carries both the strength of a prop and the softness of a dreamer, something magical begins to grow. And at Penrith, that magic now has a name — Talmage Brown, the 2025 Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year, whose journey is already warming hearts across the rugby league...

soccershakers.com

Must be pretty decent if they rate him highly, anyone seen him play?

He played against the Warriors Matts team in the 2nd round in Sydney. His work rates good but nothing special and not overly big either. He should be around Leota's height and weight in his 20s. If they hadn't lost Heinz Lemoto to Toulon, Telmage might not of got this opportunity yet.

Charlie Xeurub was the standout in that side and went on to play Wallaby u16s this year. He'd be a swap for Liam Martin before he hits 20.

Every NRL team has their top 2 or 3 u18s training with the top side in the school holidays and pre season. It gives the club a chance to see if they can handle the step up and instill some loyalty as other clubs promise them dev deals etc.

 

[Worried2Death]

Panthers Inc.​

The 2025 Panthers Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year prop Talmage Brown is training with the Panthers top squad throughout the preseason and he’s not even 18 years old yet.
Penrith have a high opinion of the youngster and Talmage is definitely a player to watch over the next few years.
#pantherpride

NEWS: A Star Blossoms in Pantherland: Young Talmage Brown Trains With the Big Boys Before Turning 18!

When a young athlete carries both the strength of a prop and the softness of a dreamer, something magical begins to grow. And at Penrith, that magic now has a name — Talmage Brown, the 2025 Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year, whose journey is already warming hearts across the rugby league...

soccershakers.com

Must be pretty decent if they rate him highly, anyone seen him play?

What a bizarre article, sounds like it's written by a romance novelist

 

[Falcon]

As the continued whispers of potential player movement continues , the current Bye Round podcast - the panel briefly touched on finding the extra players to fill the roster spots of the expansion sides for 27, 28 and possibly a side in 2030.
One aspect that was suggested were clubs moving from a 30 man roster to a 25 player roster under the same salary cap, therefore improving salaries, and extending the number of development contracts.
…. As you were.

 

[Wrighty]

Here is my understanding - please correct if you know better - of how the top 30 works

30 dudes are in the top 30. This means they get NRL salaries and benefits and get at least NRL minimum wage
These are full time professionals
Approx 6 dudes are on development contracts where they train and play full time. Their pay is lower than NRL minimum wage
The club may pick anyone to play first grade who is 18 or older unless dispensation is given. So players outside the top 30 can play so long as they are in the warriors system including NSW cup players and Flegg players.
NSW cup and Flegg players all get a feeder system contract that isn't much. I am not clear if some dudes take a part time job to help make ends meet.
At one point Gus Gould in round 27 rested his entire first grade 17 and played the entire NSW cup side (some years ago) so there is no limit to how far you can go outside your top 30 to fill your first grade roster and injury doesn't need to be the trigger.

As for younger grades like Harold Matts where the boys should still be in school someone else will have to answer if they get a stipend.

Essentially the top 30 means you are on NRL dollars - the club is not limited to using top 30 players in first grade.

 

[Naynay]

Here is my understanding - please correct if you know better - of how the top 30 works

30 dudes are in the top 30. This means they get NRL salaries and benefits and get at least NRL minimum wage
These are full time professionals
Approx 6 dudes are on development contracts where they train and play full time. Their pay is lower than NRL minimum wage
The club may pick anyone to play first grade who is 18 or older unless dispensation is given. So players outside the top 30 can play so long as they are in the warriors system including NSW cup players and Flegg players.
NSW cup and Flegg players all get a feeder system contract that isn't much. I am not clear if some dudes take a part time job to help make ends meet.
At one point Gus Gould in round 27 rested his entire first grade 17 and played the entire NSW cup side (some years ago) so there is no limit to how far you can go outside your top 30 to fill your first grade roster and injury doesn't need to be the trigger.

As for younger grades like Harold Matts where the boys should still be in school someone else will have to answer if they get a stipend.

Essentially the top 30 means you are on NRL dollars - the club is not limited to using top 30 players in first grade.

It might have changed by my understanding is that a player needs to be on a top 30 or supplementary / developmental contract to play nrl, only time this doesn’t apply is if the team is so short it can’t field 17 players and the nrl needs to sign off on the other players

You may rest 17 players but the replacements would be players 18-30 and 5 supplementary contracted players.

 

[Wrighty]

It might have changed by my understanding is that a player needs to be on a top 30 or supplementary / developmental contract to play nrl, only time this doesn’t apply is if the team is so short it can’t field 17 players and the nrl needs to sign off on the other players

You may rest 17 players but the replacements would be players 18-30 and 5 supplementary contracted players.

Interesting that is the opposite of my understanding. Was Kalani Going in our top 30 or on any of our development contracts when he played in round 27 for the warriors 2023 when we rested our gun players before playoffs?

And how did Panthers get away with resting most of their starters in round 26 this year to rest their team? One of the promoted players who played for the Panthers was Zac Lipowicz and he is nowhere to be found on their top 30 list or development list.

 

[Naynay]

Interesting that is the opposite of my understanding. Was Kalani Going in our top 30 or on any of our development contracts when he played in round 27 for the warriors 2023 when we rested our gun players before playoffs?

And how did Panthers get away with resting most of their starters in round 26 this year to rest their team? One of the promoted players who played for the Panthers was Zac Lipowicz and he is nowhere to be found on their top 30 list or development list.

Going, I believe was supplementary in 2023, as basically the full time NSW cup players are.

The Zac one I'm not covered on completely but assume he had either one of the mentioned or a train and trial (altho not sure if they maintain that long), in my understanding that would still have left 19 eligible players atleast to field the team.

But totally honest i could be misreading how the contract system works and wont die on this hill.

 

[Wrighty]

Going, I believe was supplementary in 2023, as basically the full time NSW cup players are.

The Zac one I'm not covered on completely but assume he had either one of the mentioned or a train and trial (altho not sure if they maintain that long), in my understanding that would still have left 19 eligible players atleast to field the team.

But totally honest i could be misreading how the contract system works and wont die on this hill.

Yeah I don't want to die on my hill either. You could be right. I don't know for sure about my answer but it is what I believe.

I don't know what you mean by this though: "Going, I believe was supplementary in 2023, as basically the full time NSW cup players are." We are talking about the NRL top 30 list and the development lists. I have never heard of a supplementary list?

Anyway maybe we leave it there I am just connecting dots from what have heard. Chat GPT doesn't know, which means it is nowhere on the Internet, so both of us are to be forgiven for not being sure.

 

[Naynay]

I don't know what you mean by this though: "Going, I believe was supplementary in 2023, as basically the full time NSW cup players are." We are talking about the NRL top 30 list and the development lists. I have never heard of a supplementary list?

Im sure it’s probably a different name, thats just what they are called on the forum table so I went with it, but it’s basically the contracts less then the nrl minimum included in the salary cap but not top 30 so can be payed less.

*upon reflection, We are talking about the same thing, basically the 6 development slots.

 

[Noitall]

What a bizarre article, sounds like it's written by a romance novelist

Mills and boon article

 

[kos]

Max Feagai confirmed to Titans (ex Dolphins) for 26 and 27
Source Titans members release
As said by Noitall day or two ago as well

 

[Noitall]

Parramatta have signed Union convert Dru Faletolu from Wellington College. He was a part of the Melbourne Rebels and Hurricans junior systems. He plays as a Flanker or No.8 in Union

 

[Boston Boy]

Assuming you're right and he is a backrower. Which of our current NSW cup backrowers would you put him infront of? Because personally i see more out of Fatialofa, EIT and Laban. 2 of which are 2+ years younger than him and the other being 1 year younger. Plus now we have another one with Gannon. IMO if he was to be a great backrower and a alright middle then we moved on the right guy.

EIT, LABAN are middles for mine. I just think he is a rare athlete but hey I understand your view.

 

[roguei]

EIT, LABAN are middles for mine. I just think he is a rare athlete but hey I understand your view.

Feels like Eddie could slot into a few positions given enough time in them. When it comes to Laban I just wish he'd run into the line at a lean instead of fully upright. Fix that plus add on some weight and at 1cm taller than Niukore I agree he could become a really good enforcer. Except be one with a level head.

But yeah was just going by what positions they are in currently and what it looks like the coaching staff want.