NRL NRL 2026 General Recruitment Thread
- Thread starter 1995warriorsfan
- Start date
I think we will find he pulls up lame about a week before the flight
Noitall
👤
If trump’s making the decision Lodge might fit the profile and they’ll try recruit him for iceI think we will find he pulls up lame about a week before the flight
Lodgey
Do we really care
Where would he picked
Position 19?
Do we really care
Where would he picked
Position 19?
Ref
🦋
Never the same since those early Sharks years yet still managed to get paid decently for several years.
Noitall
👤
The Wests Tigers’ ‘Crash Bros’ who stripped 15kgs between them
These two Wests Tigers props have slimmed down but will be impossible to miss when launching off the back fence this year.
Bunty trimmed down a bit
snake77
🛡️
I did misread the Jack Bird one you posted initially as Jail Bird. Looks like I was a day late.
snake77
🛡️
Good seeing Bunty strip the weight. Having to change clubs could be just what he needed.
Hunt's stamina wasn't great. Wasn't there talk the Tigers were wanting to offload him? Or was that posted somewhere from a hopeful fan? He needed to increase his stamina, the game has quickened up and the ball is in play for longer. I know they are looking at the bench with the focus on HIA's. A lot of that has been covering injuries. It is still likely there will be situation middles need to play longer minutes.
There a likely quite a few big guys getting their weight down over the off season. AFB looked a bit slimmer than he was with us.
Some of them may be less effective. Time will tell.
Hunt's stamina wasn't great. Wasn't there talk the Tigers were wanting to offload him? Or was that posted somewhere from a hopeful fan? He needed to increase his stamina, the game has quickened up and the ball is in play for longer. I know they are looking at the bench with the focus on HIA's. A lot of that has been covering injuries. It is still likely there will be situation middles need to play longer minutes.
There a likely quite a few big guys getting their weight down over the off season. AFB looked a bit slimmer than he was with us.
Some of them may be less effective. Time will tell.
Noitall
👤
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Tana Umaga🇼🇸🇳🇿 Could've Been a Newcastle Knight⚔️🤯 | From Wainuiomata To All Blacks Captain And Great!! #rugby #rugbyunion #polynesian #samoa #samoans #wainuiomata #RugbyLeague
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Was set to go to the knights Umaga. Would have been a great Kiwi in the centres
snake77
🛡️
Regarding the Lomax situation and the Storm offering $200k. I wonder if it is related to Lomax's release agreement from the Eels.
According to this article, he had no desire to play rugby league again and would pay the Eels $200k when he signs his R360 deal. The Storm then come back with the same amount a few months later.
If he signed with R360 I doubt Lomax was going to pay $200k. More likely R360 would pay it. Now he wants to play rugby league again the Storm are looking to pay not Lomax.
www.foxsports.com.au
According to this article, he had no desire to play rugby league again and would pay the Eels $200k when he signs his R360 deal. The Storm then come back with the same amount a few months later.
If he signed with R360 I doubt Lomax was going to pay $200k. More likely R360 would pay it. Now he wants to play rugby league again the Storm are looking to pay not Lomax.
Fresh details emerge in Lomax’s ugly Eels split as star flyer’s shock admission exposed
Fresh details emerge in Lomax’s ugly Eels split as star flyer’s shock admission exposed
www.foxsports.com.au
Noitall
👤
Operation Keep Clearys’: Panthers start talks to tie down captain and coach
By Christian Nicolussi - Sydney Morning Herald.
February 3, 2026 — 3.40pm
Penrith are plotting “Operation Keep Clearys” in the hope they can re-sign the game’s premier halfback and coach before they are free to negotiate with NRL rivals at the end of the season.
Nathan and Ivan Cleary are off contract at the end of 2027, and will become the hottest commodities in rugby league if they hit the open market come November 1.
The Panthers are keen to ensure speculation about the Clearys’ next move does not become a distraction this season. The father and son are four-time premiership winners, and will attract huge interest if they are genuinely open to moving.
It has already been reported the Clearys are in the sights of the game’s 19th franchise, the PNG Chiefs, who will have the advantage of tabling tax concessions in contract negotiations.
The Panthers have said previously they want Nathan to become a Panther for life, and are prepared to offer him a deal that reflects his value to the club and community.
The NRL have commenced preliminary discussions about the next TV broadcast deal. Should it eclipse the $1.7 billion, five-year arrangement that runs until the end of 2027, Cleary stands to become rugby league’s first $2 million-a-season player.
A new deal with the Panthers would be likely to include ratchet clauses increasing the value of the contract in line with the salary cap.
Panthers rugby league chief Matt Cameron confirmed internal discussions with the Clearys had been held.
“What Ivan and Nathan do next is going to become a hot topic of discussion as we move through the 2026 season,” Cameron said.
“The pair are both contracted until the end of 2027. There is a rhythm that exists once the season starts, and when we feel the time is right our chairman, Peter Graham, will engage with Ivan and Nathan to get the conversation started.
“With Nathan, the way sports science is these days and the way he prepares, he could play on another 10 years – who knows, he could set all sorts of new records for most games played and points scored.
“We’d love Ivan and Nathan to stay. They have already played a huge role in our success and we want that to continue.”
The Panthers announced contract extensions for the Clearys in April 2022, more than 18 months before Ivan was off contract and two-and-a-half years before Nathan’s deal expired.
Complicating matters for the Panthers is that they have a host of other stars off contract at the end of 2027, including co-captain Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o, Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny and young playmaker Blaize Talagi.
The Panthers have been forced to farewell many players from their premiership run since 2021, having been unable to match the bigger paydays on offer elsewhere. On average, they have lost about $1m a year in talent.
There has been speculation Cleary might finish his career in the Super League to be closer to his partner, Matildas and Manchester City striker Mary Fowler, in England.
The more immediate threat to the Panthers would be the PNG Chiefs, due to enter the competition in 2028, largely because of the mooted tax benefits. A bumper contract at the league newcomers would effectively be worth double what they could make elsewhere.
“We’d love Nathan to stay, we want Ivan to stay, and those other players you’ve just mentioned who are off contract at the end of 2027, your ‘Isaahs’, your ‘Liams’, your ‘Bizzas’ [To’o] and ‘Leotas’, your ‘Mitch Kennys’, all I can say is we’ll be doing everything we can to keep them,” Cameron said.
The Clearys won four straight premierships and arguably should have had a fifth last year, only to lose the preliminary final against the Broncos after leading 14-0 at half-time
By Christian Nicolussi - Sydney Morning Herald.
February 3, 2026 — 3.40pm
Penrith are plotting “Operation Keep Clearys” in the hope they can re-sign the game’s premier halfback and coach before they are free to negotiate with NRL rivals at the end of the season.
Nathan and Ivan Cleary are off contract at the end of 2027, and will become the hottest commodities in rugby league if they hit the open market come November 1.
The Panthers are keen to ensure speculation about the Clearys’ next move does not become a distraction this season. The father and son are four-time premiership winners, and will attract huge interest if they are genuinely open to moving.
It has already been reported the Clearys are in the sights of the game’s 19th franchise, the PNG Chiefs, who will have the advantage of tabling tax concessions in contract negotiations.
The Panthers have said previously they want Nathan to become a Panther for life, and are prepared to offer him a deal that reflects his value to the club and community.
The NRL have commenced preliminary discussions about the next TV broadcast deal. Should it eclipse the $1.7 billion, five-year arrangement that runs until the end of 2027, Cleary stands to become rugby league’s first $2 million-a-season player.
A new deal with the Panthers would be likely to include ratchet clauses increasing the value of the contract in line with the salary cap.
Panthers rugby league chief Matt Cameron confirmed internal discussions with the Clearys had been held.
“What Ivan and Nathan do next is going to become a hot topic of discussion as we move through the 2026 season,” Cameron said.
“The pair are both contracted until the end of 2027. There is a rhythm that exists once the season starts, and when we feel the time is right our chairman, Peter Graham, will engage with Ivan and Nathan to get the conversation started.
“With Nathan, the way sports science is these days and the way he prepares, he could play on another 10 years – who knows, he could set all sorts of new records for most games played and points scored.
“We’d love Ivan and Nathan to stay. They have already played a huge role in our success and we want that to continue.”
The Panthers announced contract extensions for the Clearys in April 2022, more than 18 months before Ivan was off contract and two-and-a-half years before Nathan’s deal expired.
Complicating matters for the Panthers is that they have a host of other stars off contract at the end of 2027, including co-captain Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o, Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny and young playmaker Blaize Talagi.
The Panthers have been forced to farewell many players from their premiership run since 2021, having been unable to match the bigger paydays on offer elsewhere. On average, they have lost about $1m a year in talent.
There has been speculation Cleary might finish his career in the Super League to be closer to his partner, Matildas and Manchester City striker Mary Fowler, in England.
The more immediate threat to the Panthers would be the PNG Chiefs, due to enter the competition in 2028, largely because of the mooted tax benefits. A bumper contract at the league newcomers would effectively be worth double what they could make elsewhere.
“We’d love Nathan to stay, we want Ivan to stay, and those other players you’ve just mentioned who are off contract at the end of 2027, your ‘Isaahs’, your ‘Liams’, your ‘Bizzas’ [To’o] and ‘Leotas’, your ‘Mitch Kennys’, all I can say is we’ll be doing everything we can to keep them,” Cameron said.
The Clearys won four straight premierships and arguably should have had a fifth last year, only to lose the preliminary final against the Broncos after leading 14-0 at half-time
snake77
🛡️
I saw that posted somewhere on social media with a quote from the Eels lawyer. Lawyers can imbelish things when talking on behalf of their clients to the media.
The questions would be:
Are the R360 discussions covered under the anti-tampering rules in an NRL contract? It is a different sport and a different competition.
When did the Storm discussions start? Before or after his release. It is likely, as I assume from what I have read, that his release requires permission to talk with other clubs. In normal circumstances, NRL clubs can talk with players but can't make an offer.
The judge is likely going to have to untangle the various contracts and determine which contract overrides the others.
Tino resigned to Gc Titans till 2030
Source Gct presser
Source Gct presser
