2024 - How are we shaping up?

[Papenhuyzen23]

POTENTIAL Round 1 line-up

1. Ryan PAPENHUYZEN
2. Xavier COATES
3. Reimis SMITH
4. Will WARBRICK
5. Sua FA’ALOGO
6. Cameron MUNSTER
7. Jahrome HUGHES
8. Christian WELCH (c)
9. Harry GRANT
10. Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA
11. Jack HOWARTH
12. Eli KATOA
13. Josh KING

14. Nick MEANEY
15. Tui KAMIKAMIKA
16. Tepai MOEROA
17. Alec MACDONALD

18th Man - Tyran WISHART

Squad Players

19. Trent LOIERO
20. Bronson GARLICK
21. Kane BRADLEY
22. Justin OLAM
23. Marion SEVE
24. Jonah PEZET
25. Aaron PENE
26. Chris LEWIS
27. Young TONUMAIPEA
28. Dean IEREMIA
29. Grant ANDERSON
30. Joe CHAN

Development Players

Lazarus VAALEPU
Cole GEYER
Tristan POWELL
Keagan RUSSELL-SMITH


Players released:

Jordan GRANT
George JENNINGS
Tom EISENHUTH
Jayden NIKORIMA
Tariq SIMS


Potential Uncontracted Targets/Signings


- Shawn Blore (Tigers)
- Corey Waddell (Bulldogs)
- Jordan Pereira (Broncos)
- Bayley Sironen (Warriors)
- Jordan McLean (Cowboys)
- Billy Smith (Roosters)


There isn’t a whole lot on the market but there are some definite Craig Bellamy hidden gem types there, I think Billy Smith especially could be a great pick up if the Roosters can’t retain him, I think we need a solid centre and a few powerful forwards too. What’s everyone’s thoughts on the offseason strategy?

Also how do we integrate Sua Fa’alogo into the top team? He is too good to play reserves again, do we give him a wing spot? Maybe the bench impact player? CB has his work cut out, we have already released 5 players and honestly I hope there are still a few more to come, still way too many average players in the 30 man squad.

[Papenhuyzen23]

Supposedly Saifiti is also being shopped around with the Knights willing to pay a large chunk of his salary, he would be a nice pick up for the engine room also.

[The Black Dot]

Although there is a lot of love for Sua for his attack, I still think there are the issues are his defence and his size. He's do doubt faster than someone like To'o , he's much lighter and more of a target.

This said and presuming Paps stays on the field, Imho the only place he could slot in is as the bench strike player when there's tiring forwards.

[sheet_ed]

Keep an eye on Kane Bradley - he is big, but lacks confidence. He could be a standout next season if he gets the right coaching.

Re Sua, agree with his defence. He could be better than Reese Walsh if he learns how to defend. His field positioning lacks polish.

[Scooter]

Keep an eye on Kane Bradley - he is big, but lacks confidence. He could be a standout next season if he gets the right coaching.

Re Sua, agree with his defence. He could be better than Reese Walsh if he learns how to defend. His field positioning lacks polish.

Sheet_ed I agree re: Kane Bradley. Could be good at centre, provides a great contest for high ball. During Qld Cup he won a number of contests for attacking bombs, short kick off's and short line drop outs. He could even be handy on the bench as could play second row too.

[Scooter]

Joel Selwood is leaving the Storm after a year as our leadership coach.

[The Black Dot]

Keep an eye on Kane Bradley - he is big, but lacks confidence. He could be a standout next season if he gets the right coaching.

Re Sua, agree with his defence. He could be better than Reese Walsh if he learns how to defend. His field positioning lacks polish.

Sheet_ed I agree re: Kane Bradley. Could be good at centre, provides a great contest for high ball. During Qld Cup he won a number of contests for attacking bombs, short kick off's and short line drop outs. He could even be handy on the bench as could play second row too.

Could Bradley play as a ball playing lock similar to Yeo?

[glennb]

2024 looking very slim especially during origin. What happens if we have injuries?

[Mattpoet]

Keep an eye on Kane Bradley - he is big, but lacks confidence. He could be a standout next season if he gets the right coaching.

Re Sua, agree with his defence. He could be better than Reese Walsh if he learns how to defend. His field positioning lacks polish.

Sheet_ed I agree re: Kane Bradley. Could be good at centre, provides a great contest for high ball. During Qld Cup he won a number of contests for attacking bombs, short kick off's and short line drop outs. He could even be handy on the bench as could play second row too.

Could Bradley play as a ball playing lock similar to Yeo?

This is a very good question. Has anyone seen if he has a passing game?

[Papenhuyzen23]

Let’s say for arguments sake the locked up spots are

1. Papenhuyzen
2. Coates
3.
4.
5. Warbrick
6. Munster
7. Hughes
8. Asofa-Solomona
9. Grant
10.
11. Katoa
12.
13. King

14.
15.
16.
17.

What are the options?

2 centre spots to share between

- Reimis Smith
- Justin Olam
- Kane Bradley
- Marion Seve
- Young Tonumaipea
- Nick Meaney
- Sua Fa’alogo
- Dean Ieremia
- Grant Anderson

A starting prop position between

- Christian Welch
- Tepai Moeroa
- Lazarus Vaalepu
- Tristan Powell
- Tui Kamikamika
- Aaron Pene
- Alec MacDonald

And a starting Back row spot between

- Trent Loiero
- Jack Howarth
- Joe Chan
- Chris Lewis
- Bronson Garlick
- Kane Bradley

And then the bench can be made up of what’s left over.

What’s the best combination? I agree that Bradley is a likely type and will more than likely get some game time in 2024, I also think Howarth is due and with his wages won’t be playing reserves much longer, and obviously Sua is way too good for reserves again, there are definitely some hard decisions to be made, but I feel like we may have seen the last of some regulars from this season like Olam, Loiero and possibly Welch, they just weren’t good enough and it wasn’t just for a game or 2, it was consistently the whole season. Very interested to see what CB comes up with.

[The Black Dot]

Let’s say for arguments sake the locked up spots are

1. Papenhuyzen
2. Coates
3.
4.
5. Warbrick
6. Munster
7. Hughes
8. Asofa-Solomona
9. Grant
10.
11. Katoa
12.
13. King

14.
15.
16.
17.

What are the options?

2 centre spots to share between

- Reimis Smith
- Justin Olam
- Kane Bradley
- Marion Seve
- Young Tonumaipea
- Nick Meaney
- Sua Fa’alogo
- Dean Ieremia
- Grant Anderson

A starting prop position between

- Christian Welch
- Tepai Moeroa
- Lazarus Vaalepu
- Tristan Powell
- Tui Kamikamika
- Aaron Pene
- Alec MacDonald

And a starting Back row spot between

- Trent Loiero
- Jack Howarth
- Joe Chan
- Chris Lewis
- Bronson Garlick
- Kane Bradley

And then the bench can be made up of what’s left over.

What’s the best combination? I agree that Bradley is a likely type and will more than likely get some game time in 2024, I also think Howarth is due and with his wages won’t be playing reserves much longer, and obviously Sua is way too good for reserves again, there are definitely some hard decisions to be made, but I feel like we may have seen the last of some regulars from this season like Olam, Loiero and possibly Welch, they just weren’t good enough and it wasn’t just for a game or 2, it was consistently the whole season. Very interested to see what CB comes up with.

Id actually put Tui in the same basket as Welch. Somebody , most aptly, described him as "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane"

[Shuttlesworth99]

Next season is already giving me the chills.

[Stormhunter]

POTENTIAL Round 1 line-up

1. Ryan PAPENHUYZEN
2. Xavier COATES
3. Reimis SMITH
4. Will WARBRICK
5. Sua FA’ALOGO
6. Cameron MUNSTER
7. Jahrome HUGHES
8. Christian WELCH (c)
9. Harry GRANT
10. Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA
11. Jack HOWARTH
12. Eli KATOA
13. Josh KING

14. Nick MEANEY
15. Tui KAMIKAMIKA
16. Tepai MOEROA
17. Alec MACDONALD

18th Man - Tyran WISHART

Squad Players

19. Trent LOIERO
20. Bronson GARLICK
21. Kane BRADLEY
22. Justin OLAM
23. Marion SEVE
24. Jonah PEZET
25. Aaron PENE
26. Chris LEWIS
27. Young TONUMAIPEA
28. Dean IEREMIA
29. Grant ANDERSON
30. Joe CHAN

Development Players

Lazarus VAALEPU
Cole GEYER
Tristan POWELL
Keagan RUSSELL-SMITH


Players released:

Jordan GRANT
George JENNINGS
Tom EISENHUTH
Jayden NIKORIMA
Tariq SIMS

According to the NRL website we had 31 players in our top 30 this year, I assume the extra one was dispensation for Dean's injury. Neither Young or Chris Lewis was in the 31 so I doubt they'll be in the 30 for 2024. Sua is contracted as a development player for '24 but is free to negotiate from November. I would think if he signs he'll be top 30 next year, if he doesn't he'll stay development.

So if Bradley is taking Tom's spot and Sua George's, then we are still in the market for two middles to make 30. That's if no one else is released. I think.

[riders of the storm]

Let’s say for arguments sake the locked up spots are

1. Papenhuyzen
2. Coates
3.
4.
5. Warbrick
6. Munster
7. Hughes
8. Asofa-Solomona
9. Grant
10.
11. Katoa
12.
13. King

14.
15.
16.
17.

What are the options?

2 centre spots to share between

- Reimis Smith
- Justin Olam
- Kane Bradley
- Marion Seve
- Young Tonumaipea
- Nick Meaney
- Sua Fa’alogo
- Dean Ieremia
- Grant Anderson

A starting prop position between

- Christian Welch
- Tepai Moeroa
- Lazarus Vaalepu
- Tristan Powell
- Tui Kamikamika
- Aaron Pene
- Alec MacDonald

And a starting Back row spot between

- Trent Loiero
- Jack Howarth
- Joe Chan
- Chris Lewis
- Bronson Garlick
- Kane Bradley

And then the bench can be made up of what’s left over.

What’s the best combination? I agree that Bradley is a likely type and will more than likely get some game time in 2024, I also think Howarth is due and with his wages won’t be playing reserves much longer, and obviously Sua is way too good for reserves again, there are definitely some hard decisions to be made, but I feel like we may have seen the last of some regulars from this season like Olam, Loiero and possibly Welch, they just weren’t good enough and it wasn’t just for a game or 2, it was consistently the whole season. Very interested to see what CB comes up with.

Id actually put Tui in the same basket as Welch. Somebody , most aptly, described him as "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane"

Huge call but I think MacDonald needs to be starting at prop next year. He’s got the right attitude to make it as a consistent NRL forward: loves contact, has a bit of mongrel about him and seems to enjoy being a bit of a bully.

[Lucas]

Let’s say for arguments sake the locked up spots are

1. Papenhuyzen
2. Coates
3.
4.
5. Warbrick
6. Munster
7. Hughes
8. Asofa-Solomona
9. Grant
10.
11. Katoa
12.
13. King

14.
15.
16.
17.

What are the options?

2 centre spots to share between

- Reimis Smith
- Justin Olam
- Kane Bradley
- Marion Seve
- Young Tonumaipea
- Nick Meaney
- Sua Fa’alogo
- Dean Ieremia
- Grant Anderson

A starting prop position between

- Christian Welch
- Tepai Moeroa
- Lazarus Vaalepu
- Tristan Powell
- Tui Kamikamika
- Aaron Pene
- Alec MacDonald

And a starting Back row spot between

- Trent Loiero
- Jack Howarth
- Joe Chan
- Chris Lewis
- Bronson Garlick
- Kane Bradley

And then the bench can be made up of what’s left over.

What’s the best combination? I agree that Bradley is a likely type and will more than likely get some game time in 2024, I also think Howarth is due and with his wages won’t be playing reserves much longer, and obviously Sua is way too good for reserves again, there are definitely some hard decisions to be made, but I feel like we may have seen the last of some regulars from this season like Olam, Loiero and possibly Welch, they just weren’t good enough and it wasn’t just for a game or 2, it was consistently the whole season. Very interested to see what CB comes up with.

Id actually put Tui in the same basket as Welch. Somebody , most aptly, described him as "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane"

Huge call but I think MacDonald needs to be starting at prop next year. He’s got the right attitude to make it as a consistent NRL forward: loves contact, has a bit of mongrel about him and seems to enjoy being a bit of a bully.

I like MacDonald too, but we seemed reluctant to use him. He didn't get a lot of game time and spent most of the year behind Sims, Moeroa, Eisenhuth and Pene.