Apparently, Perth are likely to come into the NRL in 2027, followed by a PNG team in 2028.

It'll be interesting to see how the new NRL teams go. Flying long distances to play games is a real handicap. I remember John Monie saying in his biography how difficult it was for the Warriors and their flight time is 3hours 40 from Sydney. Perth is over 4 hours and Port Moresby just under 4 hours. Not ideal preparation or good for recovery.

A few of the better players in SL are likely to become targets for NRL clubs as they seek to make up the numbers but can't imagine the PNG team being a draw for anyone other than PNG players really.

I think there's talk about PNG getting cap exemptions to try to to convince players to sign. Although, I think they'll play a lot of their home games in northern Queensland.

Looks like Littlewood`s going to miss a couple of months of the season due to him having surgery on a hamstring injury he sustained in training.
Similar injury to Miller I believe.

On the bright side it looks like Miller is recovering well.

That is good news and I`m hoping for a better more consistent season this
year.

Always the risk with tough pre season training.

I see HKR have made an enquiry in to Sneyd`s availability.
Does seem surprising considering they have Lewis, May and Richardson at half back.
Maybe we should be doing the same and look to play Frawley as a ball playing LF?
Or pay him off.

There's rumours May won't be coming back.

I would take Sneyd on a 12 month contract but im not convinced Frawley would be a success at 13 and i doubt we have enough cap space to pay him off.

That probably explains it.

If they get sneyd maybe they can send Martin back....

PNG confirmed as the 18th NRL team from 2028, following an agreement that the Australian government will provide funding for 10 years.

An announcement confirming Perth as the 19th team expected in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see when they join. You wouldn't expect the NRL to introduce 2 expansion teams at the same time.

Not good news for Salford. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... e-30574633

Not good news for Salford. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... e-30574633

Depends on what the alternative was, i suppose.
Wonder how much carter will put behind the bar at the Christmas party..

The news of a PNG based side being allowed into the NRL competition for the 2028 season could be very interesting as they are offering tax free status for Australian players in order to entice them there. Could they cast the net wider and offer the same tax free status to other nations,Including British players too? If so, then SL clubs will certainly struggle to keep their prized home grown players if they come calling. It could also make it far harder for SL clubs to entice NRL players over to the UK https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/papua- ... a2738b19d9

The news of a PNG based side being allowed into the NRL competition for the 2028 season could be very interesting as they are offering tax free status for Australian players in order to entice them there. Could they cast the net wider and offer the same tax free status to other nations,Including British players too? If so, then SL clubs will certainly struggle to keep their prized home grown players if they come calling. It could also make it far harder for SL clubs to entice NRL players over to the UK https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/papua- ... a2738b19d9

All they'll get are some of the older players looking for a last payday, as with SL. I'd guess they'll probably have around half the side full of Aussies, so they'll compete round the edges. But a choice of more money to play out of PNG vs travelling to Europe is not a no-brainer at all. A lot will depend on how good the PNG side is, but its hard to see it not getting smashed on a regular basis, and once the novelty wears off no one will be interested. It will also disappear the moment Australian Government money dries up. Frankly its a stain on the actual competition, and it is only happening because of the huge subsidy from the government.

Perth is a more real threat to SL as that will require 30+ additional NRL players. If Arthur is the coach I'd expect him to tap a few SL players to reduce the need to grab players from other NRL sides.

Jock Madden is available for 2025. Possible Frawley replacement?

I bet you are a real joy to have at dinner parties

Personally I'd try to avoid having two overseas half backs in 26. It"s extremely expensive and doesn't seem to have worked for us. I'd be tempted to give Connor a go in the halves (if he can get past Frawley) and really push on with a fast path for Sinfield and the other young halves in the system. If Croft goes back, fair enough, I would imagine we might make a move for Hastings, but I'm not sure we need to gamble on another Queensland cup/ 2nd choice NRL option.

Either Jack Sinfield is the answer or he's not, but we won't find out without playing him...

Sinfield needs a season long loan to a decent championship team.

I'd rather pay as much as we can for one class half back like Croft and do our best either from juniors or around SL for the other than end up with two blah NRL halfbacks. The money spent on a bang average NRL halfback could get you a very decent forward instead.

Wigan and Sts have managed to produce halfbacks themselves who are as good or better than any NRL imports we're likely to get. That's the challenge for us to meet.

I'm also not convinced by Sinfield Jr, but he really hasn't had anything like a chance to prove himself in a side which isn't falling to bits around him. I'd like to see him play at least a few games when the rest of the team is firing, and ideally get a run of games. Otherwise he's got very little chance to develop, whatever his surname. I'm not sure Kevin would have looked that good at stand off in a side as bad as the ones Jack has generally played in with the same (lack of) experience as Jack.

Salford's stadium deal with the council has finally been agreed.