Round 13 Team List v Newcastle Knights

1. Isaiah Iongi

2. Brian Kelly

3. Jordan Samrani

4. Sean Russell

5. Josh Addo-Carr

6. Joash Papaili

7. Ronald Volkman

8. Luca Moretti

9. Tallyn Da Silva

10. Jack Williams (c)

11. Kelma Tuilagi

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. Jack De Belin

Interchange:

14. Dylan Walker

15. Charlie Guymer

16. Toni Mataele

17. Harrison Edwards

18. Apa Twiddle

19. Teancum Brown

Reserves:

20. Sam Tuivati

21. Araz Nanva

22. Lorenzo Talataina

INs: Araz Nanva, Harrison Edwards, Isaiah Iongi, Kitione Kautoga, Lorenzo Talataina, Sam Tuivati

OUTs: Junior Paulo, Mitchell Moses, Saxon Pryke

Referee: Jarrod Cole

Fullback Isaiah Iongi returns from an ankle injury suffered in Round 4 so Joash Papalii moves to five-eighth alongside Ronald Volkman, who takes over from Mitch Moses (hamstring). Forward Kitione Kautoga (knee) is also back on deck and Sam Tuivaiti is listed among the reserves as he looks to return from a shoulder injury. Skipper Junior Paulo is set to miss eight weeks of footy after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure for his right knee due to chronic injury. Jack Williams lines up at prop and will also captain the side in the absence of Moses and Paulo.

Thing is there's very few of that quality on the market LB and the Cows didn't hesitate they pulled the trigger and landed both of them as they needed to move on quickly and they have.

Us on the other hand lost DB over 12 months ago

Lomax whenever we lost him

Russell's on the way out to Perth

Pezets off to the Broncs

Yet we've seen no real player movement to fill those holes.

This is the issue the longer you wait and don't act the harder it gets and as we've seen in the last attempts trying to sign elite talent we've come up short.Throw in PNG and Perth there's more options for players now.

Its a very repetitive sequence of events our recruitment.I still find it hard to understand why it's so hard for us to attract elite talent.What's missing because something is and no one seems to have the answers.

Replies

- - Coryn Hughes > LB May 26, 2026 at 6:39pm
    
    Thing is there's very few of that quality on the market LB and the Cows didn't hesitate they pulled the trigger and landed both of them as they needed to move on quickly and they have.
    
    Us on the other hand lost DB over 12 months ago
    
    Lomax whenever we lost him
    
    Russell's on the way out to Perth
    
    Pezets off to the Broncs
    
    Yet we've seen no real player movement to fill those holes.
    
    This is the issue the longer you wait and don't act the harder it gets and as we've seen in the last attempts trying to sign elite talent we've come up short.Throw in PNG and Perth there's more options for players now.
    
    Its a very repetitive sequence of events our recruitment.I still find it hard to understand why it's so hard for us to attract elite talent.What's missing because something is and no one seems to have the answers.
    - LB > Coryn Hughes May 26, 2026 at 6:55pm
      
      Taulagi is available. Jenkins is available. Xerri and Timoko are more likely available. I disagree with that. Backs I feel there is some value. Middles is where it is bare.
      
      Tell me Coryn, with them available, would you rather any of them over Ramien or Katoa? Both those are slightly better than what we have but the other options are younger and more effective. Now if they all go and end up elsewhere or stay where they are, then we can complain.
      - Coryn Hughes > LB May 26, 2026 at 7:31pm
        
        Cows obviously thought these guys were better fits as they have a young back line so they've plugged in experience.
        
        Forget those guys you mention LB why not check out this guy whose a ex leaguee making his debut for Moana Pasifika who are folding potentially is up for grabs.He had a good season for a team well beaten most weeks.
        
        https://www.facebook.com/reel/4513091929012283/?fs=e&fs=e
        
        Or this guy
        
        https://www.facebook.com/reel/1325535766421453/
        
        The latter is knocking on the door of the ABs both out of the MP super side basically a recruitment tool for NZ rugby but if a nrl team savvy enough to go looking guys like this can be unearthed.
        
        LB > Coryn Hughes May 26, 2026 at 8:06pm
        
        Don't have to convince me Coryn, i agree they should have scouts there and bring them into our system.
        
        Mitchy > Coryn Hughes May 26, 2026 at 8:21pm
        
        You would have to imagine with our support staff coming from Union and JR link with Union too, that we would have feelers out in various places; but we will see.
        
        Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst > Coryn Hughes May 26, 2026 at 8:27pm
        
        Coryn you and everyone on here know these players won't even get a mention at Parra. Stop teasing us with these giant human beings.
  - KENDOZA > LB May 26, 2026 at 8:27pm
    
    Not an improvement by any stretch. Purdue will be the 1. Ramien to centre katoa to wing. Both will do a job for the cows. Purdue will be a better 1 for the cows. Drinky is a big loss but at 29 the cows are looking to the future... keeping drinkwater would possibly of cost them chester or purdue.
- BEM > KENDOZA May 26, 2026 at 6:11pm
  
  We can only hope.
- LB > KENDOZA May 26, 2026 at 6:59pm
  
  Dragons? He declined them before coming to us. Melbourne is realistic.
  - KENDOZA > LB May 26, 2026 at 8:33pm
    
    He did lb, But things can change very quickly. Ryles did say he listened to other people and rejected the dragons and regretted it. He lives local and lets be honest saints have a good young pack and just got drinkwater and metcalf and by the looks of it conner watson. Oh and keon is there to...a lot of upside for ryles compared to parra. Also they have daniel anderson on board.