2025 Pre-season discussion. The Madge dynasty begins.

YeahNahMate said:
On a side note, Bailey Trew is a goddam giant
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Over 200cm and carrying 110kg. He's been rehabbing so hasn't run for a while. Instead of staying in rehab they pulled him in to the main group so he doesn't start behind the others. Immediately after the hard training session they did a 2km time trial, he consequently got lapped by some and came last but it was to be expected. Whether he needs to drop some weight, or that's how much his body is going to carry, we'll see. He doesn't seem to be carrying excess though.

Two other points from today's conversations:

* Willison is on a mission. Glad they locked him up.

* Karapani from what I had heard (mostly on here) had left. But he's still there. There is a lot of depth in the outside backs, especially with the train & trials.
 
Johnny92 said:
We're going to have to cut some people loose though.
Between Madden, Rogers, Paix, Walters and Smoothy we need to move on at least 2.
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I think Madden is probably the easiest to move on... not saying that he would deserve to be moved on, but he was probably going to be a bridging halfback between Reynolds and Coby, and Bhunt would be coming in to play that role... so it would be in his interest to move to a club where he can get minutes anyway. He's still young enough for teams to take a punt on and he's contracted to 2026 as well, which helps the broncos.

Paix is probably the next easiest to move on... still young and just won Qcup hooker of the year so his manager can work with that. He's always looked serviceable in first grade and there are a lot of teams that could do with a hooker, so I'd say he has interest given he's only got 12 months left. Mozer is the future here and Bukowski is likely on a development deal for 2025 so that's another young guy coming through to compete with.

Smoothy is probably reasonably easy to move on as well, but I would really want to retain him because of the versatility he provides. I've stated a few times that I liked him as that ball playing lock and he is probably the only hooker we have that could consistently play 80mins if required for a few weeks in a dire situation... but if we assume Mozer is the future and Bukowski is on development deal, with Bhunt on the books and Billy probably not moveable... then he reluctantly becomes surplus to requirements with potentially 4 hookers available.

Him and Paix are both off contract at the end of 2025 so it's not desperation to move them on, unless you have someone lined up to better use that roster spot

I don't think Rogers is someone that we can move on, but is surplus to requirements if Bhunt signs... he's a good cup player, but he's got a two year deal and I don't think he'll get enough exposure to the rest of the NRL for a team to take him on (unlike what happened with Gamble). The deal has always looked odd to me... sure sign him for 2025, but how has 2026 slipped into the contract as well.

I don't think Billy can be moved on either, but he can at least cover halves on top of hooker... I would also be interested to see what he might be able to do as a pure ball playing lock off the bench, like Salmon and Hayward do for the dogs... If Bhunt comes in then he drops to 4th or 5th in the halves (pending on where Coby and Rogers get ranked) and he'd be 3rd in the hooker rotation, but playing whenever Bhunt is in the halves.

Assuming Madden, Paix and Smoothy are moved on then the depth chart is below, but would still be taking up 7 roster spots in the Top 30 (Bukowski on Dev Deal). I'd probably keep Smoothy though, because hooker looks a little dire if Bhunt doesn't want to play there regularly.

Hooker
1. Mozer (future at hooker so don't want him going anywhere)
2. Bhunt (but he doesn't really want to play hooker apparently)
3. Billy (can play halves if injuries become dire as well... might be needed as a bridging hooker until Bukowski is up to first grade)
4. Bukowski (likely on a development deal this year based on how things usually play out... but would mean he can play whenever we want given the Rd 11 rule is only on T&T players now)

Halves
1. Reynolds
2/3. Bhunt / Ezra
4. Rogers (probably the one the club would need to move on if Bhunt came... Billy could cover this spot in the squad and we have Perham now as well)
5. Black
 
Morkel said:
Over 200cm and carrying 110kg. He's been rehabbing so hasn't run for a while. Instead of staying in rehab they pulled him in to the main group so he doesn't start behind the others. Immediately after the hard training session they did a 2km time trial, he consequently got lapped by some and came last but it was to be expected. Whether he needs to drop some weight, or that's how much his body is going to carry, we'll see. He doesn't seem to be carrying excess though.

Two other points from today's conversations:

* Willison is on a mission. Glad they locked him up.

* Karapani from what I had heard (mostly on here) had left. But he's still there. There is a lot of depth in the outside backs, especially with the train & trials.
Click to expand...
Interesting that Karapani is still there... thought he had something lined up, but would like to see us give him another deal.

Noticed Willison pop up in the training videos... was surprised given he was selected for Cook Islands and thought he would be in their camp, but it's like they let him leave camp early. Maybe he requested to leave early, because it's odd that he would be picked for the squad and then not play.
 
BroncsFan said:
I think Madden is probably the easiest to move on... not saying that he would deserve to be moved on, but he was probably going to be a bridging halfback between Reynolds and Coby, and Bhunt would be coming in to play that role... so it would be in his interest to move to a club where he can get minutes anyway. He's still young enough for teams to take a punt on and he's contracted to 2026 as well, which helps the broncos.

Paix is probably the next easiest to move on... still young and just won Qcup hooker of the year so his manager can work with that. He's always looked serviceable in first grade and there are a lot of teams that could do with a hooker, so I'd say he has interest given he's only got 12 months left. Mozer is the future here and Bukowski is likely on a development deal for 2025 so that's another young guy coming through to compete with.

Smoothy is probably reasonably easy to move on as well, but I would really want to retain him because of the versatility he provides. I've stated a few times that I liked him as that ball playing lock and he is probably the only hooker we have that could consistently play 80mins if required for a few weeks in a dire situation... but if we assume Mozer is the future and Bukowski is on development deal, with Bhunt on the books and Billy probably not moveable... then he reluctantly becomes surplus to requirements with potentially 4 hookers available.

Him and Paix are both off contract at the end of 2025 so it's not desperation to move them on, unless you have someone lined up to better use that roster spot

I don't think Rogers is someone that we can move on, but is surplus to requirements if Bhunt signs... he's a good cup player, but he's got a two year deal and I don't think he'll get enough exposure to the rest of the NRL for a team to take him on (unlike what happened with Gamble). The deal has always looked odd to me... sure sign him for 2025, but how has 2026 slipped into the contract as well.

I don't think Billy can be moved on either, but he can at least cover halves on top of hooker... I would also be interested to see what he might be able to do as a pure ball playing lock off the bench, like Salmon and Hayward do for the dogs... If Bhunt comes in then he drops to 4th or 5th in the halves (pending on where Coby and Rogers get ranked) and he'd be 3rd in the hooker rotation, but playing whenever Bhunt is in the halves.

Assuming Madden, Paix and Smoothy are moved on then the depth chart is below, but would still be taking up 7 roster spots in the Top 30 (Bukowski on Dev Deal). I'd probably keep Smoothy though, because hooker looks a little dire if Bhunt doesn't want to play there regularly.

Hooker
1. Mozer (future at hooker so don't want him going anywhere)
2. Bhunt (but he doesn't really want to play hooker apparently)
3. Billy (can play halves if injuries become dire as well... might be needed as a bridging hooker until Bukowski is up to first grade)
4. Bukowski (likely on a development deal this year based on how things usually play out... but would mean he can play whenever we want given the Rd 11 rule is only on T&T players now)

Halves
1. Reynolds
2/3. Bhunt / Ezra
4. Rogers (probably the one the club would need to move on if Bhunt came... Billy could cover this spot in the squad and we have Perham now as well)
5. Black
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I'm happy keeping Billy around as he can cover 2 positions so that adds value to the roster.
Madden could pick up a good deal in super league and would probably do well over there.

I think we could see some movement in this area the next few weeks, as I think there has already been some talks with Hunt.
 
Scorchie said:
2025:

6. Hunt
7. Reynolds

swapping to 2026

6. Mam
7. Hunt transitioning to Coby

swapping to 2027

6. Mam
7. C.Black

Looks nice on paper!
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We kind of deserve to have something go out way like this after the year we just had
 
I'll tell you one thing though - I bet the guys who are away in this glorified rep camps are actually stressing they're missing out on the start of this preseason..

If I were an elite player and wanted in my bones to be the best in my position at the club, I'd be desperate to get back and get involved as to not miss the boat.

Some of these guys will be tested for the first time in their careers and it takes the rest of your teammates to help pull you through it - excited as **** for what this group can achieve.

Madge is 100% the right coach to give these boys what they need - up to them now to make it happen.
 
Sproj said:
We could always do what the Roosters did with Crichton, claim we can't sign him due to cap space and then sign him and pretend like nothing happened.
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Starting a Roosters reference counter now .
Just for shits and giggles .

That`s # 1 .
 
Foordy said:
If you guys can you should really read Robert Craddock's article about day one.

I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to post, but it gives us a good idea of what's ahead for the team ... and it's beautiful

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I'm just relieved the club is finally having a rebuild: we've been due one ever since Alf retired.
 
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