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2025 Squad, Signings and Rumours Thread

H

Hail Sezer

Moderator
Hi All,

Feel like I'm making these slightly sooner every year, but seeing as we're actively chatting 2025 roster I think it makes sense to get this going.

Will again attempt to keep page 1 updated.


2025 Squad:

Top 30

Fullback:
AJ Brimson
Keano Kini
Jaylan De Groot

Wing:
Jojo Fifita
Phil Sami
Lofi Khan-Pereira
Tony Francis

Centre:
Brian Kelly
Harley Smith-Shields

Halves:
Kieran Foran
Jayden Campbell
Carter Gordon
Tom Weaver

Hooker:
Sam Verrills
Chris Randall

Middles:
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Moeaki Fotuaika
Jamin Joliffe
Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
Josiah Pahulu
Ben Liyou

Back Row:
David Fifita
Beau Fermor
Ryan Foran
Klese Haas
Jacob Alick

Total: 26 or 27/30 depending on Weavers contract level

2025 NRL Development Players (full-time with NRL):
Zane Harrison (half)
Sam Stephenson (centre)
Tuki Simpkins (middle)
Arama Hau (Middle/edge)

Total: 4

Other:
Cooper Bai (lock) - full time t&t
Josh Patston (edge backrow) - full time t&t
Brock Gray (middle/edge) - full time t&t
Sean Mullany (hooker/lock) - full time t&t
Allan Fitzgibbon - full time t&t
 
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Thanks HS!, always look forward to these!,

Looking at the squad this way is a little rough lol, so many issues on paper;

- No NRL-quality starting centre
- No real good halves hierarchy to start rd 1 (kinda good for us CG lovers)
- Pretty serious drop off after Moe as far as props go (excl. Jolliffe & the hope Pahulu takes another step)
- Way too many young guys. Jesus it’s like a daycare centre in here
- No edge back-row option after Fermor

The good news is that we are stacked for FB depth, and our hooker rotation is pretty solid. Wings-wise we look good there too, but everything else is pretty meh.
 
Think it's all but publicly official on Nikotemo Willy, I'm guessing they'll do an announcement on the site for all the players leaving at the same time and not just Clark and Liu.

The reason I'm keen for CG at centre for now is not just because of BK, well basically all due to not seeing Bk on a footy field but CG did the physical stuff really well and if Des loves BKs attack which I have to assume is the only thing, CG has those skills as well and better I'm guessing. It's the same with Jojo as much as he is killing it on the wing, I think he's the best centre prospect we have right now and would like to see him go there because I think he's reading the game so much better then previous times, If it doesn't work out then chuck him back on the wing and he's officially a winger.

If we were going to spend decent coin on a 3rd prop, I'd be getting Welch up here on a 3 and if we had to 4 year deal and just cop the last 1 or 2 years like Sharks/Dale Finacune. He still has 3 years in him I reckon despite the injuries, He looks after himself and only 150ish NRL games on him for his age so not that beaten up. We need to get Tino some help to lead and I actually trust him not to take the piss up here. Good offload and passing, can hit but his leadership is the big thing.
 
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Just on Klese and I'd be fine if has re-signed but probably in the minority from what it sounds like lately (He should purely be a middle). He's still 22 year old and showed enough in his early part of the season to get a contract IMO, It's only his 3rd season but his form only dipped when he got injured on top of some pretty extreme life circumstances, Same as last year he wasn't right at the start of the year but got better as it went on.

The Panthers game earlier in the week despite being all time bad IMO maybe needs a bit of context.

His dad was back in the news on the 5th because his extradition is coming up and there's been talk of an exchange with Indonesia for a political spy who was in an Indonesian jail back in the Phillipines already who it sounds like will be on death row.... He's being sent to Indonesia to potentially be made an example of with the death penalty where as Phillipines he'd just be in jail for a long time but it'd be somewhat OK with his citizenship, Bribery those things.... With Bali and Indo being smashed with ice especially by Aussies/World gangs/cartels, They're going to make an example of him or at the very best he's life in jail.

www.abc.net.au

Father of NRL star accused of drug trafficking could be sent to Indonesia in exchange for accused Chinese spy

Indonesia has already sent Alice Guo to the Philippines, with officials saying the negotiation over sending Gregor Haas on drug trafficking charges is ongoing.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au

This whole thing is absolutely insane for a 22 year old yet alone anyone to deal with and yet when he had a tad of stability in his life for the first half of the season he was really solid. I think there's a very good middle in him, Good offload skills (raw still), Quick ptb and athletic and will only figure it out more. He has his issues but those errors can be cut out and nearly all of his come off him trying to do to much IMO when we're down and it makes everything look worse.
 
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Thanks Cow. Always value.

Agree with jojo at centre and get Tony on the wing and sure, if it doesn't work, back to wing but surely Des has got that sorted before Round 1.

I also like the possibility of signing Welch. Although, I'd only offer him two or three at the absolute max for a much lower price. Speed is the issue for me. He's slowed up by the looks and even at prop that's a sign.

I hope CG can play centre well by round 1. He would add a lot that Brian Explosion lacks but also give him time in the top grade to adjust to the speed of the game for a future halves birth. The only thing that might be a barrier is the mental resilience of getting run over and bashed by menacing 2Rs or even wingers (I remember Vunavalu stopping Bradman Best's career in its tracks for a couple of years). The contact is unforgiving. NZT might have a view on how he's handled this before? I know it sounds like I'm talking about an amateur (see what I did there) but seriously, it happens to the best of them in all sports, especially boxing.

The Haas family thing needs a 4 Corners to explain the situation. It sounds like some diplomatic trading (which as a country, we're traditionally diabolical at). Only DFAT and possibly the Haas family lawyer are likely to know what's really going on (until well after it happens). Even then, we may never find out. That's how we roll these days.
On Klese, even when he played his best footy this year, he was still a secondary tackler. If you're a half, do you want him defending you? I'd lose my energy yelling at him for 80 minutes.
 
Crazy Clarks value MT.. 😎

I've been watching Welch pretty closely and I personally think he's come back really well this year and with another year, more confidence, He's not the old Welch but we don't need that, We need a 3rd/4th prop for 30/35 mins and more on injury/rep situations. At the end of the day we're paying Tino and Moe big bucks to be our 1-2.. We can't go spend 800k to a mill on Kaufausi or another prop around that price, We'll just end up losing players while still being down in the bottom half so you just have to cop it or buy smart with juniors coming through.

If CG can't handle it out there he won't in the halves, His big issue is tackle technique and not physicality, His positioning was really impressive but he always let players get around him for a legs tackle as if a maul was coming? If that makes sense, It was very union which he just needs to get rid of. At q cup level he was getting exposed by his last game, To me he looked more suited to centre right now if he was going to play NRL which IMO is what we need, He can learn being a half in the background and roam in games like BK is allowed, Centre is the best option by far to ease him in IMO.

There will 100% be something on the Haas family one day, They're dealing with the Sinaloan Cartel, Will probably be massive on netflix including Klese team talk will be in it, any publicity is good publicity right???????

There's a very good player in Klese in the middle Imo, just needs time and stability.... Maybe it's me being a sook cause of his situation but I reckon if we stick it out with Klese we have a solid prop/middle, just needs some love and work.
 
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Cowabunga said:
Crazy Clarks value MT.. 😎

I've been watching Welch pretty closely and I personally think he's come back really well this year and with another year, more confidence, He's not the old Welch but we don't need that, We need a 3rd/4th prop for 30/35 mins and more on injury/rep situations. At the end of the day we're paying Tino and Moe big bucks to be our 1-2.. We can't go spend 800k to a mill on Kaufausi or another prop around that price, We'll just end up losing players while still being down in the bottom half so you just have to cop it or buy smart with juniors coming through.

If CG can't handle it out there he won't in the halves, His big issue is tackle technique and not physicality, His positioning was really impressive but he always let players get around him for a legs tackle as if a maul was coming? If that makes sense, It was very union which he just needs to get rid of. At q cup level he was getting exposed by his last game, To me he looked more suited to centre right now if he was going to play NRL which IMO is what we need, He can learn being a half in the background and roam in games like BK is allowed, Centre is the best option by far to ease him in IMO.

There will 100% be something on the Haas family one day, They're dealing with the Sinaloan Cartel, Will probably be massive on netflix including Klese team talk will be in it, any publicity is good publicity right???????

There's a very good player in Klese in the middle Imo, just needs time and stability.... Maybe it's me being a sook cause of his situation but I reckon if we stick it out with Klese we have a solid prop/middle, just needs some love and work.
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Not sure how cheap Welch will be. Bronx are thinking the same, so we're in competition and likely to end up paying overs but I like your thinking. 2 years (+CO) would be perfect at the right price.

At the moment, I'll take CG over Brian as he is. Brian roaming always made me fear that giving away possession was imminent. I just shuddered when you mentioned it. A few of us might now have BKPTSD.

I hope I'm wrong but I just can't see it in Klese. There's a real lack of mongrel, his first contact isn't good, rarely wins the tackle and he always looks like he needs help. He's also dopey around the ruck and with the ball. If he continues in that fashion but there's potential for change over 12 months, pay him minimum and park him in Cup until he's up to standard. He doesn't make our best middles line up with everyone fit. The problem is that we don't have too many good options at 2R and he's taking up a spot. We'd probably have to sign someone early from a 2025 deal to get one, unless Arama has a massive preseason. It's a bit urgent.

Hope that makes sense.
 
Hail Sezer said:
Hi All,

Feel like I'm making these slightly sooner every year, but seeing as we're actively chatting 2025 roster I think it makes sense to get this going.

Will again attempt to keep page 1 updated.

Have made a few assumptions below such as Zane & Ryder being Dev, Arama going into the 30, and a few more. These details could be wrong, and i'll update as it's confirmed.

2025 Squad:

Top 30

Fullback:
AJ Brimson
Keano Kini
Jaylan De Groot

Wing:
Jojo Fifita
Phil Sami
Lofi Khan-Pereira
Tony Francis

Centre:
Brian Kelly
Harley Smith-Shields

Halves:
Kieran Foran
Jayden Campbell
Tanah Boyd
Carter Gordon

Hooker:
Sam Verrills
Chris Randall

Middles:
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Moeaki Fotuaika
Keenan Palasia
Jamin Joliffe
Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
Josiah Pahulu
Ben Liyou
Arama Hau

Back Row:
David Fifita
Beau Fermor
Ryan Foran
Seth Nikotemo

Total: 27/30

2025 NRL Development Players (full-time with NRL):
Ryder Williams (half)
Zane Harrison (half)
Sam Stephenson (centre)
Cooper Bai (lock)

Total: 4/6
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Well done HS. Is Maumalo not signed for 2025?
 
indoallstars said:
Watching sharks vs storm....sign Oregon Kaufusi, exactly what we need on both sides of the ball! Sign him Des
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With the shortage of props he’s going to have 2 or 3 clubs in Sydney offering him big money as well I reckon. Parra, Dogs, Dragons and Tigers off top of my head. Plus Cronulla will want to keep him. We’ll have a challenge to get him to relocate his young family.

Not to be negative. Just the reality of trying to sign guys out of Sydney
 
Hail Sezer said:
With the shortage of props he’s going to have 2 or 3 clubs in Sydney offering him big money as well I reckon. Parra, Dogs, Dragons and Tigers off top of my head. Plus Cronulla will want to keep him. We’ll have a challenge to get him to relocate his young family.

Not to be negative. Just the reality of trying to sign guys out of Sydney
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Agree it will be very difficult but we need to make a play at one of the NRL standard props available if we want to climb the ladder.
 
Look I agree it won't be easy, but it's not like he's from Sydney, he's from NZ. There will be lots of movement with Tigers trying to lock down all their emerging forwards (with Bateman saying hes not leaving his contract), Parra releasing all their forwards, Knights letting their players explore the market, Roosters needing to locking down their young forwards. Don't see how Cronulla can upgrade him after signing AFB on big $$.

We have to be in it if we want to land a key player, can't be placid and take the scraps.
 
Yeah I mean I’m assuming regardless if we’re in it or not, trying to recruit a young guy out of Sydney, who has young family there that is settled, is very difficult. He’s from NZ but has been in Sydney since he was pretty young. Did high school in Syd.

I think signing a middle is important. But it might not be easy regardless of our intent
 
Hail Sezer said:
Yeah I mean I’m assuming regardless if we’re in it or not, trying to recruit a young guy out of Sydney, who has young family there that is settled, is very difficult. He’s from NZ but has been in Sydney since he was pretty young. Did high school in Syd.

I think signing a middle is important. But it might not be easy regardless of our intent
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Didn't realise he has been in Sydney that long, fair point he would be pretty settled in Sydney.

I'm just hoping we don't go for a forward who is over the hill (or soon to be) or a green forward either.

Think we need someone who has experience, isn't going to command marquee money, but compliments our timeline for the playing group and addresses our flaws on both sides of the ball.

Still think a Horsburgh, Oregon or Josh Curran type would be perfect. But as we all know would be hard to land without destroying our salary cap. Hopefully the club has identified some key targets, Des has a history of bringing in who he needs...fingers crossed
 
Think we need someone who has experience, isn't going to command marquee money, but compliments our timeline for the playing group and addresses our flaws on both sides of the ball.
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That's not possible in the market right now tbh, Props are commanding marquee money if they're proven, Oregon will get 800k at least and we don't have that kind of cash.
 
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