NRL NRL 2025 General Recruitment Thread

[Noitall]

Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Canterbury moving on Burton and apparently looking to sign Brimson or Kini…. Two guys I like a lot … They are always looking to work that squad to improve… you simply cannot rest on your laurels … Unfortunately our unwanted guys are hard to move on …

weststigersforum.com

Interesting post here on tigers forum saying bulldogs are moving Burton and looking to sign Brimson or Kini. There were links between Ponga and bulldogs recently so I wonder if bulldogs are putting their feelers out for a top fullback? Kini was signed to a big contract before Hannay got there, they could be gauging the interest between Brimson and Kini still having too many fullbacks and prepared to let one go?

 

[Blain]

Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Canterbury moving on Burton and apparently looking to sign Brimson or Kini…. Two guys I like a lot … They are always looking to work that squad to improve… you simply cannot rest on your laurels … Unfortunately our unwanted guys are hard to move on …

weststigersforum.com

Interesting post here on tigers forum saying bulldogs are moving Burton and looking to sign Brimson or Kini. There were links between Ponga and bulldogs recently so I wonder if bulldogs are putting their feelers out for a top fullback? Kini was signed to a big contract before Hannay got there, they could be gauging the interest between Brimson and Kini still having too many fullbacks and prepared to let one go?

Have another read - The guy is guessing and didn't even know they were contracted.. Wishful fans rather that actual rumours there.

No way Kini or Brimson are going anywhere. Campbell is the guy without a long contract, Hannay hasn't even moved in yet. Plenty of water to go under the bridge.

Ponga rumors won't go away, Dogs the latest in a long list, no substance yet. If he moves, I think it will be 2027. He's such a prima dona that guy, he's not delivering for his team on and off the park.

 

[CWC]

Is Connor Tracey contracted or are they moving him on? He'd be a good get. Saw rumors of Crighton to FB

 

[snake77]

Is Connor Tracey contracted or are they moving him on? He'd be a good get. Saw rumors of Crighton to FB

I wouldn't mind him I know he's not the best ball player but not all fullbacks are going to be Ponga or Walsh in that regard. Tracey has done some nice ball work when needed.

He would be nice even to provide some pace from the back.

Cleary did have to work hard to get a 40/20 as Tracey was positioning himself well. Which is pretty high praise.


I was watching Paul Kents Kenty Blitz** podcast and his co-host mentioned the Cowboys cap was a mess and one player potentially moving on could be Drinkwater. You'd expect he'd be on of their non negotiables that they need to keep and build the team around.
**Pretty sure it was from this.

 

[CWC]

I wouldn't mind him I know he's not the best ball player but not all fullbacks are going to be Ponga or Walsh in that regard. Tracey has done some nice ball work when needed.

He would be nice even to provide some pace from the back.

Cleary did have to work hard to get a 40/20 as Tracey was positioning himself well. Which is pretty high praise.


I was watching Paul Kents Kenty Blitz** podcast and his co-host mentioned the Cowboys cap was a mess and one player potentially moving on could be Drinkwater. You'd expect he'd be on of their non negotiables that they need to keep and build the team around.
**Pretty sure it was from this.

We'd be amazing with Drinkwater at the back lol

 

[Noitall]

We'd be amazing with Drinkwater at the back lol

Think we’ve offered him a contract in the past?

 

[Noitall]

Dolphins have signed George Williams from 2027

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Dolphins have signed George Williams from 2027

Will be 32 when the season starts, but I guess these days older halves seem to be the norm. Will be about a month or two off 34 when he finishes up tho...

 

[Noitall]

Will be 32 when the season starts, but I guess these days older halves seem to be the norm. Will be about a month or two off 34 when he finishes up tho...

View: https://x.com/MCarayannis/status/1971033146016870665

They wanted a swap deal with Nikorima to get him next year but it was rejected. Was reading earlier that Jahrome Hughes salary apparently goes to somewhere around $1.25 million, that contract seems crazier and crazier

 

[CWC]

View: https://x.com/MCarayannis/status/1971033146016870665

They wanted a swap deal with Nikorima to get him next year but it was rejected. Was reading earlier that Jahrome Hughes salary apparently goes to somewhere around $1.25 million, that contract seems crazier and crazier

$1.25M for a halfback who doesn't play big games Why aren't they doing more to keep Munster instead? He can play 1, 6 and 7.

 

[Noitall]

$1.25M for a halfback who doesn't play big games Why aren't they doing more to keep Munster instead? He can play 1, 6 and 7.

• Today at 11:36 AM
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• #6,350

Bellamy has been trying to offload NAS for ages now and he’s on 900k. They don’t get everything right. A lot more than the Knights definitely but not everything

Crazy the between the spine and NAS they’re essentially spending $5million. How are they balancing squeezing 25 players into the other $7million?

And no thank you to Burton, we need to raise the average IQ of this group, not drag it to the floor
Click to expand...

It's about to balloon, too.

Munny has been reported to be on about $1.25 million and that's what I heard Hughes agreed to. Pappy's extension was $1 million. I think they'll surely have to beat a million to keep Grant. I don't think anyone will be near them in terms of what they spend on their spine soon and they already spent the most.

And then yeah NAS is on big coin and they paid up to get Stefano.

A lot of guys who play regular footy for them must be among the lowest earners relative to game time in the NRL. I think it's all above board and the thing I'd point to is how they do demonstrably have a way worse record when they're down to only two of their four spine guys... them being so great is built on elite key players and everyone else just holding the gloves up. They've been on struggle street with when Hughes and especially Grant have been out this year









This is where I saw it today on knights forum. A bit speculative though I think

 

[Noitall]

The Bulldogs have opened talks with former Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien as they consider making changes off the field in their bid to go deep into the finals next year.

O’Brien, having walked away from the Knights at the end of the season, was linked with a move to Manly but this masthead understands that the ‘Dogs have moved into pole position as they look to restructure their coaching ranks.

The ‘Dogs are coming off an outstanding season that finished on a sombre note when they suffered consecutive losses in the finals series.

O’Brien spent six years at Newcastle and led the Knights to the finals series on four occasions. Before that, he was a highly-regarded assistant coach at the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters.

His time at the Knights finished with a wooden spoon but O’Brien has been a man in demand after confirming he would walk away from head coaching.

It is understood that Dogs officials spoke to O’Brien on Thursday and they look to have the inside running to secure his signature as a flurry of activity unfolds in the NRL’s assistant coaching ranks.

North Queensland, the Gold Coast and Newcastle are also looking at changes to their coaching ranks as they look to rebound from disappointing seasons for their respective clubs