NRL 2025 Pre-Season Thread

[Harry Sack]

Yeah, I can very much see them chasing Ponga and Brown for '26 tbh. I think Ponga will depend on how the Knights go this year...they don't look even remotely close to a premiership and he isn't getting any younger.

 

[Sproj]

1. Ponga
4. Manu
6. Brown

Yep I could see them pushing hard for that. Which middle and second-rower do you think they might try to shake free from other clubs? They tried hard for Haas and Fifita and missed both. Do they come for Haas again?

I'd love to see them go after Drinkwater, he's incredibly overrated in my opinion, so when they overpay for duds like they have with B.Smith, I'm happy.

 

[BroncsFan]

1. Ponga
4. Manu
6. Brown

Yep I could see them pushing hard for that. Which middle and second-rower do you think they might try to shake free from other clubs? They tried hard for Haas and Fifita and missed both. Do they come for Haas again?

I'd love to see them go after Drinkwater, he's incredibly overrated in my opinion, so when they overpay for duds like they have with B.Smith, I'm happy.

Not sure they will chase hard for middles... I think they let May go, because they have those young brothers coming through... is it Va'a?

On top of having White from last year looking promising.

I think they will see how those guys go this year before deciding on where to vulture the market i.e. proven stud or infinite potential.

Second row... not sure... they've got Angus, and Radley was playing some edge last year. Given they went after Fifita there is a chance they are actively looking at the market, but they may have some young studs coming through. There's so many edges that fit the rorters archetype though... probably just need to track whoever is getting hyped up for origin. Haumole would've been someone right up rorters list, but he's been locked down now. Cows always seem to have an abundance of edges so maybe one of them gets promised greener grass in Bondi.

Robbo does like the Butcher brothers though, so holding tight on them at a lower price (for Uncle Nick's expert property advice) might be where they go instead of near $800k on a strike edge when they've already got Angus.

Haas will be free to negotiate come Nov 1 2025, so expect the Haas contract circus to kick off again sometime this year.

Will be interesting to see what happens.. Madge should be able to get plenty out of Haas (potentially Mozer as well given what he does with BTK), but will he see him as a million dollar player

 

[mitch222]

Ponga is no hope of going to the Roosters. They sell the club to their players to take unders to play with the club and Ponga is never taking unders for anyone. That bloke is all about the money regardless of the success.