Parramatta’s ‘Elite 7’ Hit List was revealed on the weekend and The Tip Sheet is ready to put bounties on each individual based on who is the biggest priority for the Blue & Gold. Sixties and Forty20 discuss the latest recruitment and retention news before reviewing the weekend’s action and then turning their eyes to the Ken Thornett Medal and Team List Tuesday.
Injuries and suspensions have wrought havoc in the NRL ahead of the finals…who emerged unscathed and who is panicking? PVL wants to bring back a midweek cup in an already jam packed schedule while the code celebrated a hugely emotional moment for Jai Arrow as he took to the field in the first leg of a two-game stretch that will see him notch 100 games as a Bunny.
On the “Elite 7”.
I agree I think it is Stefano or Leniu. That said. If Jnr is only a 1 yr situation, then that changes because presumably Stefano is a 2028 signing.
I am wary of a team with premiership aspirations releasing a “Origin” player early if the Roosters let Leniu go.. But that sort of signing is par for the course for us.
The backs. Agree Farnsworth is no chance (unless he does something utterly horrific and has his contract torn up). Best – Too much injury history. Howarth. I thought he would be better but he hasn’t kicked on. I don’t think he is that big an upgrade on Penisini. Bostock surprises me. I like his determination and winning desire he seems to have and he is improving and young. Not sure what his ceiling is. Burton would be my first choice, then Bostock – but again, we’re talking 2028.
Nanai – again, an upgrade on what we have, but his trajectory isn’t great. I think Penisini is on route to being a backrower, so if we have nothing else in the wings and we are looking to sign centres, that might be an option.
Jim – I wouldn’t question his passion. I appreciate that. When your final home game you are practically giving away ($5) reserved tickets, that, I think, speaks to the poor state you have left the club in.
Ken Thornet – it might be recency form bias, but the way the players are getting around Volkman – he seems popular so that makes him favourite I think. Whether the Club give him the medal if they are not signing him – as it would be an ordinary look – who knows.
I have never been to the KTA, but I am going to an Awards Ceremony on the field at Commbank this Friday… It will be interesting how it scrubs up as a formal outdoor venue.
Oh to the point that the favourites for the Medal are all recruits: That would be a positive endorsement on Recruitment if we were a Top 4 team. … But we’re a bottom 4 team… again. So yes it is a reflection on Recruitment and Development… Just not a good one.
Fellas the issue with re-signing Volkman is price, as no doubt the contract cost would be higher now than it was in June for example.
Fletcher and Talataina in reggies and others too – does this then hinder them?
I like what he has done but if he was playing this well in May then its a no brainer. I am in two minds.
For me we need to sort our recruitment going forward and of course you need back up halves; and therein lies an issue as Fletcher and Talataina both have not had NRL experience.
Personally I cannot see us landing Herbie / Bostock etc as I cannot see them leaving for Parra….it is somewhat concerning that we have landed noone.
Personally, i think the price is pretty irrelevant. We still have about 8 roster spots to fill for 2027 and there are no players on the market that command an above average salary. It would only be if a club let a player go early (e.g. Roosters and Leniu) that someone of value might come along.
I agree he would have been much cheaper to re-sign a few months ago as Volkman has played better in the second half. But again, that in part comes back to the Football department having some vision and seeing what apparently his team mates could all see, and being good at recruitment and retention. Then we would have got Volkman cheaper, and wouldn’t have wasted money on Luai.
Fletcher and Talataina need to be playing together as often as possible. Coaches have let them down in that regard this year, with Fletcher not getting enough Cup time. Hopfeully they get the first half of the year in Cup, free of injury to themselves or the starting NRL halves (which i hope is Moses and Volkman), then they can be blooded in the second half of the year and ideally they are ready to go after at that, or if Volkman progresses significantly again, he’s only 24 turning 25, so roll with him.
Apparently it’s about $250k per season for Volkman. If that’s the case, I reckon that’s brilliant. $250k for arguably the best back up half in the comp, definitely the best anyway in his current form.
There is absolutely no way we are even getting a look in at farnworth. Him and Cleary are going to be the premier signings and Parra would absolutely need to break the bank in order to get Herbie to even consider an offer from us.
This is the art of realising talent potential you need to get someone like Herbie way before they reach the peak of there powers. His practically now a player who can demand ridiculous money for his services but can also break a cap if his form goes cold.
Bradman is an extremely good player yes he can be a bit injury prone but is also a realistic buy with somewhat of a link to the club. I’d be willing to take a risk with him his still very young
Why would the club release this information? Every player we have publicly expressed an interest in signing we have missed out on and looked poorly because of it. I hope we are not setting ourselves up for more of the same.
Given our recruitment teams record so far we will be lucky to get one of them.
I don’t believe the club has released this, but your thoughts, which I agree with, are an example of how clubs can never satisfy fans. There are countless fans who want to know exactly that and who complain that they want to know who the club is chasing. Me, I only want to know when it’s done.
Exactly Mannah Brow. Keep our thoughts to ourselves re signing. Penrith does – we learned they were interested in Blaize when they announced that they’d signed him.
The signing of Volkmann is excellent news. His partnership with Mitchell continues to improve spectacularly. All things being equal they would be my halves pairing for round 1 2027 with Luai playing in the centres. We need also to remember that Mitch will be 33 by the end of next season, 34 at the end of the following season when his contract runs out; by then Luai will be long gone and Volkmann will be approaching his peak. A perfect situation I would have thought.