Recruitment and Retention for 2027

[Red]

I still think it is worth re-signing Herbie on 1.2m and Bostock on 800k or so assuming that is achievable with the cap going up

I agree we shouldn't be offering Hammer more than 1m a season or so maybe a little over after the cap goes up but definitely nowhere near 1.4

I think between offloading Flegler and Kaufusi retiring (and ideally offloading Knowles when his deal is up) as well as Lemuelu we can probably save enough cap space to make it work. It'll mean having to get some cheap forwards for a season or so and only pay Plath and Donoghoe as far as forwards go but if we can keep that much of the side together with the juniors we have coming through to fill the gaps. There are probably only three expensive players to re sign next year, Katoa, Donoghoe and Plath and Katoa won't demand overs out of loyalty to the club so i'm sure we can keep him on 1.2m a season or so even if he might get 1.4+ on the open market

Beyond that we just don't have any other marquee players to re sign and it's worth noting we've freed up a bit of cap space between Averillo, Isaako, Safiti, Keeley, Nikorima and Stone already and only signed Williams which is Nikorima money plus maybe 200k, and then Kain Anderson presumably is a min wage roster filler depth signing

The only players signed past 2028 are Cobbo, Finefuiaki, Lavender and Naufahu so we have full flexibility next year regarding who to prioritise keeping and who to let go.

I assume if we do lose one of Bostock or Herbie then Lavender is an obvious candidate to replace them by 2028 since both are with us for 2027

I think Bostock might want a bit more than that. Herbie for 1,2 mil? I guess that will be the new norm for the best centres and about 1.6 for the best halfbacks.

 

[mr_c]

Matt didn't suggest they will offer a centre the same as a halfback.

they leave it for mark, hes there new poster boy one season he be home sick n back from overseas can see it now

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

I think Bostock might want a bit more than that. Herbie for 1,2 mil? I guess that will be the new norm for the best centres and about 1.6 for the best halfbacks.

Im not sure,

However, we have an unusual situation with PNG's tax free bullshit, and them being able to go hell for leather this window.

I think its an artificial inflation at the moment, because of the unusual situation in the NRL contract economy.

Agents are smelling a good pay day, so their advice to their clients are to hold out for more money. If you give in as a whole, then the landscape changes. If you take a stand like some clubs, your essentially saying we arent having this inflation.

Id suggest, once PNG have a full squad, and there isnt double wages available, things will come back a little.

This is not a window to be trying to compete. Clubs will get themselves into cap trouble trying to do so.

As I have said, hold the line on your cap structure this window. There will be plenty of mistakes made mark my words.

If our guys want overs, let them go.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

The teams that go shit, year in year out, are the teams that overpay for talent, and have to surround the likes of Jerome with shit cunts, because they have no cap left.

Then you have everyone asking why haven't they improved, sack the coach. Or you have guys like Galvin seeing him get paid, and going to the club I want more too, and then they tell him to get fucked, so he packs a sad and leaves.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

In an ideal world, we shouldn't be recruiting elite players from other clubs.

We should be developing elite players from our juniors. That's the road to success.

And we have the base to do that.

Once those elite players want overs, we should have the next youngster ready to step in.

 

[SwoopAE]

Looks like a few sources are saying Bostock will be leaving in 2028, hopefully not but if he is hopefully we can send him out with a premiership

If we do lose him it's even more vital to retain Herbie now