General NSW Cup 2025

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Bog chance for Toeava to debut.

 

[Viking]

I doubt it’s true. He’s only 18 next year so he wouldn’t be shutting the door on any union future by playing SG ball next year (finishes pretty much before 1st XV season starts anyway)

Unless St Kents have drawn the line which I also doubt.

And if it was to another NRL club that would be big news reported everywhere

The comment was also deleted, so let’s just pretend nothing was said.

The other brother DAngelo is an interesting one because he’s definitely better at union than he is at league.

I’m sure the brothers are signed until the end of their sg ball eligibility, which would be Nov 2027. I don’t think the Warriors would play hardball to keep a player that doesn’t want to be there.

They won’t be picked for the NZ secondary schools rugby team if they’re still signed to the Warriors though. If they wanted to go pro after they finish school, French top 14 clubs sign on boys for their u20s comp for 70k plus all expenses paid. NSW cup would be half that or less probably.

 

[Dannevegas]

Good to see the Deon back

 

[Five&Last]

I’m sure the brothers are signed until the end of their sg ball eligibility, which would be Nov 2027. I don’t think the Warriors would play hardball to keep a player that doesn’t want to be there.

They won’t be picked for the NZ secondary schools rugby team if they’re still signed to the Warriors though. If they wanted to go pro after they finish school, French top 14 clubs sign on boys for their u20s comp for 70k plus all expenses paid. NSW cup would be half that or less probably.

Tbf 70k is what most of the train and trial contracts are. Like Geronimo Doyle, Deon Amituanai, Kalani Going etc would all be on 70k plus match payments. If you're in a Top 14 rugby squad you're def on more than 70k.

The NZ secondary schools team is what gets us.

Siale Pahulu was the last one to leave us for it (also St Kents kid)

Wouldn't shock me if we lost Lucian to that, but would be surprised if he didn't play SG ball next year first before making a decision.

I find D'Angelo Mikaele a more interesting one, he's almost a certainty to make NZ secondary schools next year as a prop (top 2 or 3 at his position in the counrty) but he couldn't even crack our Harold Matt's 17 man team. I think he's almost a certainty to leave. And if he leaves, then Lucian could very well follow.

I think the club just has to pull out all the stops and show the development pathway and vision to Lucian.

 

[Five&Last]

Tbf 70k is what most of the train and trial contracts are. Like Geronimo Doyle, Deon Amituanai, Kalani Going etc would all be on 70k plus match payments. If you're in a Top 14 rugby squad you're def on more than 70k.

The NZ secondary schools team is what gets us.

Siale Pahulu was the last one to leave us for it (also St Kents kid)

Wouldn't shock me if we lost Lucian to that, but would be surprised if he didn't play SG ball next year first before making a decision.

I find D'Angelo Mikaele a more interesting one, he's almost a certainty to make NZ secondary schools next year as a prop (top 2 or 3 at his position in the counrty) but he couldn't even crack our Harold Matt's 17 man team. I think he's almost a certainty to leave. And if he leaves, then Lucian could very well follow.

I think the club just has to pull out all the stops and show the development pathway and vision to Lucian.

Bit off topic now but we really need to find a way to get CHT's younger brother signed. He's a genuine gun. Signed with the Broncos so may be a case of he doesn't want to play in his brother's shadow

 

[Theking267]

The most likely to make the NZ Schools rugby team from this years Harold Matts team is Tusa Soagia. I think the issue for CHT the 2nd is the depth we have in the halves. Next year in cup we have Jett, Luke Hansen & Tanah Boyd. Flegg will have Thompson and Linnae, Ball will have Soagia and Hansen and HM will have Elia from this year’s team.

 

[Five&Last]

The most likely to make the NZ Schools rugby team from this years Harold Matts team is Tusa Soagia. I think the issue for CHT the 2nd is the depth we have in the halves. Next year in cup we have Jett, Luke Hansen & Tanah Boyd. Flegg will have Thompson and Linnae, Ball will have Soagia and Hansen and HM will have Elia from this year’s team.

Soane Ma’asi is the most likely.

Followed by the Mikaele brothers.

Then Tusa Soagia. There's 2 to 3 first fives better than him in the country. And I really rate him as one of our most promising future first grade halves.

Reserve grade halves will be Jett, Linnane and Boyd. (also Hanson if they re-sign him)
Jersey Flegg will be Jack Thompson and Tyson Hansen (with Winitana-Patelesio backing up)
SG Ball will be Jack Thompson, Tyson Hansen and Tusa Soagia (they may rest Thompson from this to get him to focus on Flegg with the odd NSW game)
Harold Matts will Christiano Elia and someone new.

 

[Viking]

Create your own team formation

Tbf 70k is what most of the train and trial contracts are. Like Geronimo Doyle, Deon Amituanai, Kalani Going etc would all be on 70k plus match payments. If you're in a Top 14 rugby squad you're def on more than 70k.

The NZ secondary schools team is what gets us.

Siale Pahulu was the last one to leave us for it (also St Kents kid)

Wouldn't shock me if we lost Lucian to that, but would be surprised if he didn't play SG ball next year first before making a decision.

I find D'Angelo Mikaele a more interesting one, he's almost a certainty to make NZ secondary schools next year as a prop (top 2 or 3 at his position in the counrty) but he couldn't even crack our Harold Matt's 17 man team. I think he's almost a certainty to leave. And if he leaves, then Lucian could very well follow.

I think the club just has to pull out all the stops and show the development pathway and vision to Lucian.

Top 14 academy players on 70k straight out of school. it would be equivalent to Flegg..

The NZ secondary schools team is a long shot and it isn’t a guarantee of a pro career. 1a would be lucky to get 5 boys selected. Tusa-Sugia is highly unlikely to make it or any other player from a non super 8 team. If you watch the Matt’s games back, check on how many try’s he created for the backs overall, it wasn’t many. Some of that is down to the power game plan but he’s a looong way off the development of a league half that’s been playing the game for a decade and has thousands of reps under their belt. He has all the physical attributes to be a success in either code, does he have the patience to bide his time with the goal of making his 1st grade debut in 3 or 4 years time when the Chiefs could have him playing NPC in 2027?

SG Ball to Flegg to Cup is already a bottle neck. Any agent worth his fee should be steering boys turning 18 towards a path that gets them playing pro quickly which in most cases won’t be here.

 

[Viking]

Bit off topic now but we really need to find a way to get CHT's younger brother signed. He's a genuine gun. Signed with the Broncos so may be a case of he doesn't want to play in his brother's shadow

That won’t happen. If we’re going after Broncos boys, my top target would be Toko Owen from Rotorua. He’d be ready for cup in the next few years.