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.

It was interesting to hear Ash Handley say on his lotpod interview that Sinfield regularly rips the first team to shreds in training. There is no doubt that he has talent, it's just a question of whether he has the necessary physicality to mix it at top level. This next year or two will tell.

Aren't all our players superstars on the training field?

I would agree but I don’t think we have the capacity. Even when miller is fit there’s an argument he’s one injury from first choice.

could you have a recall clause?

Well of course training is one thing and playing is another, but it was interesting to hear Handley pick him out. It wasn't as if he was asked what he thought of Jack Sinfield, he was ask who impressed him most in training? He could have picked anyone. Was also interested to hear him speak about how seriously Croft takes things and how he prepares for clutch moments. It's a pretty good watch and far superior to the box2 stuff which JJB spoils by letting his ego get in the way, in my opinion.

We have one with Lachie ‘dropping’ (as the kids say) on Monday which is really good, glad you’re enjoying them!

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Looking forward to it. It was good to hear him (in the clip I saw) play down his stats and talk about his weaknesses. Hopeful that we'll see a much more rounded version of him this year.

Looks like Bateman has signed for the Cowboys

The Bateman deal with us was dead in the water a few weeks ago couldn’t come to an agreement with Tigers as Leeds didn’t want to pay his full salary and Tigers wanted him off their hands as much as possible hence why the deal with the Cowboys happened.

I’ve been told we have contacted Harvey Livett who has just been released by Huddersfield we were interested in him last year when Rohan Smith was still in charge I believe but nothing came of it. He’d add depth to our back row and would also add an option to play loose forward as well.

Thanks for your service. I assume Blease signed Livett when he was at Salford, so it'd make sense, but he'd just be holding back a youngster at this point. He was definitely a talent when he was younger, but not sure what he'd add to a team now, other than options. I'm not so sure we need anything right now. Keep the squad as settled as possible until the season starts, and see who's available at the midway point. Something might come up.

I agree.I don't want to sign anyone who isnt going to be in the 17.He would only block Littlewood a player that the club rate highly.

Livett sounds a bit too close to L. Rivett. Scars of 1999-2000 not quite healed.

Seriously though, he seemed to be a strong running forward who had a habit of cutting us up a few years ago. What happened to his development that saw him out of favour at a club like Huddersfield?

He would add speed to the second row