We should have $4M buy players

I get what you're saying Arnold. I don't agree with barley any of your targets but this is an intersesting discusion nevertheless. Let's say the rumours are true and Junior Paulo is retiring, he's on close to $1 million a season in addition to that Dylan Brown ($1.1 million) and Joe Ofahengaue (already departed 500K) won't be here in 2026, in those players alone we'd have $2.6 million, or arounf that figure. Conbtributing further to this figure the Eels lost Maika Sivo (550K), Clint Gutherson (900K) , Blaize Talagi (550k) and Reagan Campbell Gillard (850K) either at end of thw 2024 season or in the lead up to the 2025 season. Since that point the Eels have signed very little talent, Dean Hawkins, Josh Addo Carr, Joash Papali'i, Ronald Volkman and Dylan Walker are some of the names signed by JR so far.

(FYI: I'm grabbing player esitmated salaries from Zerotackle.com)

Doing some rough maths in my head that should still leave the Eels with roughly $4.4 MILLION!! $4.4 million for JR and his team to sign the players they want, and we are in a situation where we can make money talk here for the right players, that's going to help.

Never in my life have I seen an Eels team with so much cash to spend!

These would be my 5 signing targets for 2026.

(1 mill) Lachlan Galvin - With Brown gone we need a 6, I won't go into it but I doubt he's at the Tigers even beyond this season.

(500K) Blake Mozer - He's barley getting first grade in Brisbane and we defintley could use another 9 to aid Ryley Smith and keep him on his toes, both Smith and Mozer could be great in tandem.

(650k) Tof Sipley - Massive young prop, great potential that hasn't been realised yet. Manly won't want to let him go but I would love to sneak under their noses to get him to sign on with JR.

(450K) Ethan Bullemor - Actually agree with you there Arnold! Nice!

(300K) Davvy Moale - Good bench depth and I think he plays fairly hard when given the chance

Buying all those players would cost us around $2.9 Million, this would still leave us with more than $1 million to go after another star if we wanted but heading into 2026 I'd love to see our team looking something like this:

*If Jnr Paulo is retiring that is

Possible 2026 Team:

1. Isaiah Iongi

2. Zac Lomax

3. Will Penisini

4. Bailey Simonsson

5. Josh Addo Carr

6. Lachlan Galvin*

7. Mitchell Moses (C)

8. Tof Sipley*

9. Ryley Smith

10. Jack Williams

11. Ethan Bullemor*

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. J'maine Hopgood

14. Blake Mozer*

15. Sam Tuivaiti

16. Dylan Walker

17. Davvy Moale*

Could be wrong.. but what y'all think? I reckon this could well and truly be a strong team.

"We can afford both Cobbo and Galvin and have a couple million left to buy 2 or 3 fowards and let's go win that elusive premiership (what are they waiting for) go for it !!!"

"Hasn't Papalii been playing 5/8 in NSW cup? We might not need to look for one if he's being transitionied into the halves, leaves more $$ to find the game breaker we need "

Replies

- - Archie > Zip zip May 1, 2025 at 6:35pm
    
    Agreed Zip!
Jack Eelson April 30, 2025 at 8:55pm

I get what you're saying Arnold. I don't agree with barley any of your targets but this is an intersesting discusion nevertheless. Let's say the rumours are true and Junior Paulo is retiring, he's on close to $1 million a season in addition to that Dylan Brown ($1.1 million) and Joe Ofahengaue (already departed 500K) won't be here in 2026, in those players alone we'd have $2.6 million, or arounf that figure. Conbtributing further to this figure the Eels lost Maika Sivo (550K), Clint Gutherson (900K) , Blaize Talagi (550k) and Reagan Campbell Gillard (850K) either at end of thw 2024 season or in the lead up to the 2025 season. Since that point the Eels have signed very little talent, Dean Hawkins, Josh Addo Carr, Joash Papali'i, Ronald Volkman and Dylan Walker are some of the names signed by JR so far.

(FYI: I'm grabbing player esitmated salaries from Zerotackle.com)

Doing some rough maths in my head that should still leave the Eels with roughly $4.4 MILLION!! $4.4 million for JR and his team to sign the players they want, and we are in a situation where we can make money talk here for the right players, that's going to help.

Never in my life have I seen an Eels team with so much cash to spend!

These would be my 5 signing targets for 2026.

(1 mill) Lachlan Galvin - With Brown gone we need a 6, I won't go into it but I doubt he's at the Tigers even beyond this season.

(500K) Blake Mozer - He's barley getting first grade in Brisbane and we defintley could use another 9 to aid Ryley Smith and keep him on his toes, both Smith and Mozer could be great in tandem.

(650k) Tof Sipley - Massive young prop, great potential that hasn't been realised yet. Manly won't want to let him go but I would love to sneak under their noses to get him to sign on with JR.

(450K) Ethan Bullemor - Actually agree with you there Arnold! Nice!

(300K) Davvy Moale - Good bench depth and I think he plays fairly hard when given the chance

Buying all those players would cost us around $2.9 Million, this would still leave us with more than $1 million to go after another star if we wanted but heading into 2026 I'd love to see our team looking something like this:

*If Jnr Paulo is retiring that is

Possible 2026 Team:

1. Isaiah Iongi

2. Zac Lomax

3. Will Penisini

4. Bailey Simonsson

5. Josh Addo Carr

6. Lachlan Galvin*

7. Mitchell Moses (C)

8. Tof Sipley*

9. Ryley Smith

10. Jack Williams

11. Ethan Bullemor*

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. J'maine Hopgood

14. Blake Mozer*

15. Sam Tuivaiti

16. Dylan Walker

17. Davvy Moale*

Could be wrong.. but what y'all think? I reckon this could well and truly be a strong team.
- Joel K > Jack Eelson April 30, 2025 at 10:11pm
  
  Sipley is 30, and theres a reason manly fans hate him
  - Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him > Joel K May 1, 2025 at 3:31pm
    
    He drives a non European car ?
    - Randy Handlinger > Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him May 1, 2025 at 6:33pm
      
      Lies about his age?
- Clintorian > Jack Eelson May 1, 2025 at 9:06am
  
  Good list.
  
  Galvin - Obvs
  
  Mozer - Absolutely
  
  Sipley, Moale - Don't know anything about them.
  
  But I don't think Kotoga is a starting edge, he's a backup or bench, too unfit and slow to be an 80min starting back rower.
  
  Bullemor could be an option, but we'd need a solid backup (Katoga) behind him because of his inuury history, apparently his knees are fucked.
  
  After Galvin, we need an elite edge forward, a reliable prop, and fast winger.
  - Longfin Eel > Clintorian May 1, 2025 at 9:35am
    
    Agreed on Kotoga from what we have seen of him this season. He has some work to do to become a regular starting NRL player. That to me shows our lack of depth in the squad for back rowers, and I'm sure Ryles will look to fill those holes, along with some starting props - not sure if Williams can fit that mould, but he is certainly a versatile player.
    
    We have some good backs in the pipeline, but of course need a quality 6 to fill the void that Brown will leave.
    - Graham polkinghorne > Longfin Eel May 1, 2025 at 10:17am
      
      I think Ryles likes Kotoga and is playing him into a good edge forward. Let's see what Mitch can do with him.
- LB > Jack Eelson May 1, 2025 at 9:20am
  
  Mozer is re-signing with Brisbane.
- Bob mertens > Jack Eelson May 1, 2025 at 10:38am
  
  How will penis makes them team is baffling.