With Moses set to re-sign, the off-contract list for 2023 is getting slim. Currently left on the off-contract list is: Maika Sivo, Bryce Cartwright, Wiremu Greig, Waqa Blake, Nathan Brown, Sam Loizou and Mitch Rein. Added are players with options for 2024 that could be off-contract for 2023, Bailey Simonsson, Ofahiki Ogden and Josh Hodgson.
Out of all these there are not many that i would be keeping at this stage. That can be a good thing. Sivo seems to be in deep discussions with the club, with a deal til 2025 on the cards. Other than that the only other player i reckon will be kept past 2023 who is off-contract could be Loizou if he improves in 2023. Greig has a big chance though if he has a decent start to the year he could be snapped up for a chance to start somewhere else in 2024.
In terms of the player options, of course i depends on how they go. Hodgson i believe will have his option picked up unless he has a career ending injury. Simonsson has a player option so it is all on him, if he has a season stifiled by injury he will take up his option for 2024 to regain form. If he has a big year and gets a better deal he might take it. Simonsson adds versitlity, had a good finish to 2022 and would be reletively cheap for a player on 65 NRL games. He could be one worth keeping around regardless. Ogden, well if he couldn't beat out Makatoa or Greig despite his experience then he might be let go for 2024. He has a club option so it is on us. He could be fine for depth if needed and would be on minimum but yeah depends if he can beat out everyone else and get on the bench.
Everyone else it is pretty much meh if they go or not at this point. The club have done a wonderful job retaining most of our squad for 2024.
In 2024 though, off contract list is a little bizurk. Jake Arthur, Daejarn Asi, Matt Doorey, J'Maine Hopgood, Makahesi Makatoa, Jirah Momoisea, Jack Murchie, Ky Rodwell and Sean Russell. With Toni Mataele signed til 2025, i think that could spell Momoisea and Doorey as expandable past 2024. JA should move elsewhere to prove himself, Asi i believe would go somewhere to get more playing time. The biggest name here is Hopgood, come November 1 he can sign anywhere he wants. If he plays Origin this year for Queensland, he could get a massive offer. We need to extend ASAP if his form continues. Players like Makatoa, Rodwell maybe even Momoisea if he doesn't take off might be happy to sign on for similar money in 2025 as depth. But in 2024 our juniors need to step up to be depth for 2025.
2024 not as big of deal of course atm, but Hopgood needs to be kept an eye on, if we wait and he plays Origin his price will balloon out.
Who would you all like to keep this year, or do you think our squad for next year is sweet as it is and no need to re-sign anyone?
Replies
Sivo, Greig if he steps up and Carty on nin contract for entertainemnt value.
Now that Mosses has taken a large chunk of the salary cap (I told y'all his uncle Benny said he's a greedy fck). I think we won't be able to retain any of those players. Sivo will attract big $ from separate clubs of European Rugby, the others are a average at best.
He hasn't taken a large chunk, he is on approximately 10% of the cap, like he was last year.
Not being able to afford Sivo is not a bad thing, if he goes on to make big coin in Europe than he is the second player to do so after coming from humble beginnings. Proud of our club for developing him and giving him an opportunity to do so.
there will be another Sivo, as he was the successor after Semi.
Moses is on of a handful of players in the halves that could win a comp. Deserves every cent.
Other players will take lower wages to play for Parra with him in the team. It's not as simple as how much money this person earns takes away from the talent the club can afford
Great post, Jed.
We also can't be sure its really 1.25m, the journo's have no idea & unless that number has come from the Eels, Moses or his manager, has to be taken with a grain of salt.
Only Grieg should be resigned. Should have a big year. Hopefully we resign him before he kicks on.
Happily let Sivo go and get big cash in rugby. Simonson and Dunster are first choice wingers with Russell welcome to slot in any where in the outside backs. Komolafe is the next king on the wing.
Waqa can't catch.
Ive always wanted to see it happen but I'm certain we would be asking about Frizell. He won't finish the year at the Knights. Would love to see us offload Waqa for him.
Blake needs to go, he is prime trade bait, will always have the allure of potential. Send him to Knights with N Brown for Frizeel!!
I understand the go forward returns argument. It's not worth 500k though.
Dunster and Simonson can finish really well, both super fast and great under high ball. They are probably on half as much as Sivo. Would take 2 for 1 on that any day.
Waqa is done done. He can't be trusted under the high ball. He is a winger and not a Centre. Gotta move him asap.
Russel needs to play regular first grade so happy for him to replace either Sivo or Waqa and move him into the Centres when we need cover there.
Asi Peni first choice Centres.
Cini a great hardworking back up.
Komolafe ready for firsts next year.
We are so fine without Sivo and better off without Waqa.
Sivo has his limitations but he scores tries. Has already built his family a house and helped out his village. I dont believe he wil be seeking a massive increase. Another year or 2 then he can go to rugby.
I like Russel but last week we saw him get in the clear and there were 5 knights running him down pretty easily so he is no speedster.
Dunster still has a big question mark on his recovery
Not convinced by Simmonson. Runs sideways.
Matt K may be ok but a year or 2 off NRL standard.
Cini is great but is a centre now.
If Blake and N Brown go that alone frees up just over 1 million bucks.
Both are replaceable.
Simonsson is a massive dud so let him go to.
Re-sign Sivo as he is a quality finisher.
After that we should still have enough coin to sign a couple of quality outside backs instead of relying on what we have now.
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