Which players would you target as a value investment?

Which players in the NRL do you see as being a value investment that you would like to see Parramatta sign?

Often when we discuss player signings, we talk about a player's rumoured market price and their current form. Is that how we should be approaching player recruitment?

Or are we simply gambling and hoping we strike gold?

The way I'm running this little experiment, is to see if we can tie the investment frameworks of renowned investors Warren Buffett and Ben Graham into the NRL player market.

The approach is simple: Great players at a fair price.

That doesn't mean you can't target marquee players, or you're trying to sign Cleary on $500K/year.

It means you're identifying players who have a strong foundation to their game, with a track record that you can quantify.

If you bought them now, for a 4 year contract, would you be happy to have them at the end of that contract, or would you theoretically be able to sell them at a profit?

I had this discussion yesterday regarding Matt Burton.

The market probably rates him at $1m/year, but is that his underlying value to a club? What about his performances at Canterbury make him a million dollar player?

Or would he present an overvalued asset? Would you draw the line at $700k/year as his track record indicates that's where he tops out?

Could you compare him to Dylan Brown in that we saw $1.4m/year as beyond his actual value and that his track record indicated that remaining at Parramatta would represent a poor investment?

Criteria:

- Player of your choosing at any level

- What the market rate is

- What you would pay and why

- Which players you think would be overvalued/undervalued

- How would this align with our need to recruit outside backs?

Excellent stuff, Super.

I'd have a Hybrid, diversified system adapting to market conditions. Not purely Buffet, Turtle trading, or blue chip investment. Three categories to complement our juniors.

It's more the type of player that interests me and their role. Speed. Power. Skill. IQ. Market is overheated so overs for good players is a given. These are just some examples of players that come to mind that are generally available now or Nov 1st guys not signed beyond 2027. But you can't take this list too literal. It's whacked up fairly quickly.

Hit List

1. Confidence Marquees (a combination 2-3 say)
Throwing 750K-$1.3m long-term contracts and they'd attract solid TPAs. These guys can add confidence to the group and have all played at the highest level or are budding superstars.

Game changers
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (24, 2027) Speed. QLD Origin.
Herbie Farnworth (26, 2027). Class.
Casey Maclean (20, 2028 so unlikely): unlikely, but keep on watch list.
Middle IQ
Isaah Yeo (31, 2027). Three-year deal shorter than the others. Middle Glue, calm leadership, Origin Captain. 4-time premiership winner. Brains. Matt Cameron called him the essential water supply. Cleary the electricity supply. Offer him potential senior administrative role in the club post career or even potential coaching related roles, pending interest.
S'ua pretty much sorts out one back rower.
Long-term general IQ
Isaiya Katoa (22, 2028) to take over Moses but you still need to retain the likes of Flectcher who could also take the mantle. Go big. Go long contract.

2. Next-Tier down Momentum Movers
450-700K range

Back Five
Paul Alomati (22, 2027) Premiership winner. Power runner.
Josh Bostock (22, 2027) 6'4. Size and good potential.
Tom Jenkins (25, 2026).6'2.
Middles
Moeaki Fotuaika (26, 2027). 26. 11 Origins Tonga international. Could end up pricier than we want but still to be considered if a bit overs. Agressive. Jayd Sui'a his Origin team-mate last year.
Sam Hughes (25, 2026) 6'4'', 111kg. Tough. Help middle momentum. Bring him back home to Parra.
Edge Backrower
Hudson Young (27, 2027). Origin class. One of the most dangerous second-rowers in the game due to his unpredictabilty. Offer 650-700K for 4 years. CO for 5. Matto's money. He'd likely attract TPAs.

3. Upside Value
350-500K

Back Five/ Sorts Centre
Ali Leiataua (23, 2027?) playing reserves in the Warriors atm. 6'2'' 102kg. Has size of backrower. Power carries. Has some skill. Also can be a bit of a momentum mover.
Rocco Berry. (25, 2026) 6'3. intelligent player. Centre stabilizer. Played for Kiwis international. 25.
Jake Averillo (2026). lifeline. Could also play six back up.
Second Rowers/middles
Warriors have an abundance of power forwards I'd be looking to snare e.g.
Note: Demitric Vaimauga (2028) and Leka Halasima (2029) many of their top NRL ready prospects are signed up. So probably not really able to be Nov 1st guys. They'd be on a watchlist.
Kodi Nikorima (32, 2026). Lifeline. Still a talented play-maker. Could be a Mr Fix-It.
Briton Nikora (28, 2027). 2 year + MO. Origin player. Good communication. Runs good lines. Might potentially attract minor TPAs. Dark horse buy.
Buggery factor
As many from Coyrn's army of RU talent size, power and skill !
Young talent on the cusp on NRL with pathways blocked (haven't watched enough to comment).

The more I think about this, the more I'll start to edit this.

"Pops, I like your and Coryn's lateral thinking.
Talent and potential is the least of our worries with them though.
The thing is don't expect huge returns for a lot of investment: far less than Wildcat Drilling for Oil.
First, they need to want to…"

"please let him go before june 30 & take one of their centres in return rocco berry or even 5/6th Matin or CHT
no great loss Parra really need to chase 2 guns centres for next season
Xerri Tago & Herbie will do me fine "

Replies

Hell On Eels May 28, 2026 at 10:56am
Excellent stuff, Super.

I'd have a Hybrid, diversified system adapting to market conditions. Not purely Buffet, Turtle trading, or blue chip investment. Three categories to complement our juniors.

It's more the type of player that interests me and their role. Speed. Power. Skill. IQ. Market is overheated so overs for good players is a given. These are just some examples of players that come to mind that are generally available now or Nov 1st guys not signed beyond 2027. But you can't take this list too literal. It's whacked up fairly quickly.

Hit List

1. Confidence Marquees (a combination 2-3 say)
Throwing 750K-$1.3m long-term contracts and they'd attract solid TPAs. These guys can add confidence to the group and have all played at the highest level or are budding superstars.
- Game changers
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (24, 2027) Speed. QLD Origin.
- Herbie Farnworth (26, 2027). Class.
- Casey Maclean (20, 2028 so unlikely): unlikely, but keep on watch list.
  Middle IQ
- Isaah Yeo (31, 2027). Three-year deal shorter than the others. Middle Glue, calm leadership, Origin Captain. 4-time premiership winner. Brains. Matt Cameron called him the essential water supply. Cleary the electricity supply. Offer him potential senior administrative role in the club post career or even potential coaching related roles, pending interest.
- S'ua pretty much sorts out one back rower.
  Long-term general IQ
- Isaiya Katoa (22, 2028) to take over Moses but you still need to retain the likes of Flectcher who could also take the mantle. Go big. Go long contract.
2. Next-Tier down Momentum Movers
450-700K range
- Back Five
- Paul Alomati (22, 2027) Premiership winner. Power runner.
- Josh Bostock (22, 2027) 6'4. Size and good potential.
- Tom Jenkins (25, 2026).6'2.
- Middles
- Moeaki Fotuaika (26, 2027). 26. 11 Origins Tonga international. Could end up pricier than we want but still to be considered if a bit overs. Agressive. Jayd Sui'a his Origin team-mate last year.
- Sam Hughes (25, 2026) 6'4'', 111kg. Tough. Help middle momentum. Bring him back home to Parra.
- Edge Backrower
- Hudson Young (27, 2027). Origin class. One of the most dangerous second-rowers in the game due to his unpredictabilty. Offer 650-700K for 4 years. CO for 5. Matto's money. He'd likely attract TPAs.
3. Upside Value
350-500K
- Back Five/ Sorts Centre
- Ali Leiataua (23, 2027?) playing reserves in the Warriors atm. 6'2'' 102kg. Has size of backrower. Power carries. Has some skill. Also can be a bit of a momentum mover.
- Rocco Berry. (25, 2026) 6'3. intelligent player. Centre stabilizer. Played for Kiwis international. 25.
- Jake Averillo (2026). lifeline. Could also play six back up.
- Second Rowers/middles
- Warriors have an abundance of power forwards I'd be looking to snare e.g.
- Note: Demitric Vaimauga (2028) and Leka Halasima (2029) many of their top NRL ready prospects are signed up. So probably not really able to be Nov 1st guys. They'd be on a watchlist.
  Kodi Nikorima (32, 2026). Lifeline. Still a talented play-maker. Could be a Mr Fix-It.
- Briton Nikora (28, 2027). 2 year + MO. Origin player. Good communication. Runs good lines. Might potentially attract minor TPAs. Dark horse buy.
- Buggery factor
- As many from Coyrn's army of RU talent size, power and skill !
- Young talent on the cusp on NRL with pathways blocked (haven't watched enough to comment).
The more I think about this, the more I'll start to edit this.
- Coryn Hughes > Hell On Eels May 28, 2026 at 11:46am
  HoE
  
  Back Five
  
  Paul Alomati (22, 2027) Premiership winner. Power runner.
  
  Josh Bostock (22, 2027) 6'4. Size and good potential.
  
  Tom Jenkins (25, 2026).6'2.
  
  Any 2 those 3 guys in our back 5 next year are game changing for us.
Coryn Hughes May 28, 2026 at 11:44am

I think when your going for talent because the pool isn't that deep for what we are after we need to look definitely at the younger type with an athletic profile.We need to have a risk and take someone who hasn't necessarily cracked it but is on the periphery.

A guy I'm liking from what I've seen is Tevita Naufahu from the Dolphins 20 yrs old is signed for 27 but he's one I'd be looking at going after he's got huge potential.

I mean I mentioned Jojo Fifita about 2-3 years back and he's finally cracked an SoO squad.

I think we have to take a crack at these up n comers the guys that have cracked it already will cost to much and are just a bit out of our reach a guy like Naufahu isn't.

NoS if we landed a Naufahu White that's a unicorn type signing he'd cost us a mill per and to be honest I know you don't put that type of money in a prop but But I'd do it here purely because that's what it costs to get a player like that a way from the Roosters.It probably won't happen but I'd definitely have an offer on the table for a player like that.He's going to be the Kiwis lead Dawg after Tapines and JFH pass the mantle.
- Hell On Eels > Coryn Hughes May 28, 2026 at 11:53am
  
  Coryn, Good shout. I like Tevita Naufahu too. I read somewhere the Dolphins are keen on extending him past 2027 but they won't be able to keep all of them.
  
  Naufahu White would be an amazing signing as NOS said. Better than Keaon. But Roosters have him tied up to 2029 apparantly. They won't let him go. He's their future.

of 2

This reply was deleted.

Eels Blogs