Will 2025 be 2016 all over again

[Easts75]

If we have our bad luck with injuries continue I fear it will be very poor. If not, I see us finishing between 7th-10th

[King Salvo]

The Roosters may well be like the other 15 teams in making up the numbers as the Penrith Juggernaut will be more than in the mix for 5 in a row

https://www.zerotackle.com/nrl-2025-...ers-209672/12/

[King Salvo]

Have to see which players are added to the Roosters top 30 squad - 22 confirmed for 2025 so up to 8 spots available and also 4 to 6 development contracts plus the extended bench

https://www.zerotackle.com/nrl-2025-...ers-209672/15/

[Bates]

You can't carry over any unspent cap - must spend 97.5% - the case of use it or lose it.

Do you have a link for the rules? I can't find it anywhere.

Cheers in advance.

[King Salvo]

Do you have a link for the rules? I can't find it anywhere.

Cheers in advance.

https://www.nrl.com/operations/integrity/salary-cap/

[Bates]

https://www.nrl.com/operations/integrity/salary-cap/

It doesn't mention what happens to the other 2.5% (295k) if you only spend 97.5% of your cap.

[King Salvo]

It doesn't mention what happens to the other 2.5% (295k) if you only spend 97.5% of your cap.

By that link they say most clubs spend 100% of the cap as you can't carryover any unspent cap

For those that may only spend 97.5 % of the cap there maybe a reason why they don't based on clauses in players contracts

I.E

Some players may have additional rep bonus payment clauses for if they play SOO or International Footy for an example
Some players on min contracts may have additional payment clauses for playing a certain number of NRL games in a season or a fixed payment for each NRL game they play

[Headless Chook]

The big difference between 2016 and next season is that we have a full off season to prepare for the loss of our number one half back. Add to that, we will still have a very experienced half back to guide us around unlike 2016 when we had Hastings and Nikorima. Can't see us finishing top 4, but don't think we will be bottom 4 either. If we get a decent draw and bank a few wins early, who knows what will play out when we get Cheese and Walker back.

[Schooner]

I can't decide how I think we will go but probably lucky to make the eight. I'm worried about a lack of toughness and resilience in both forwards and backs. We probably wont have any X factor. We still have plenty of skillful hard-working players but I can't see anything there that will trouble the best sides. For example, Dom Young struggled in defence with good players around him. He will probably have less help next year. We probably need to put all our effort into defence and limit points scored against us like we did in 1967 under Jack and build our attack off that until we get a more experienced backline.

[Bates]

Perhaps next season is the start of a 3 to 4 year plan.

The war chest will be used to front load a number of contracts which will eventually free up x amount of cap space to sign 1 or 2 elite players. Eg, SBW (2013) Cronk (2018/19).

[ism22]

I believe the Doggies were $1.6m under the cap and just front-end loaded everybody's contract?

(Paywalled article on the topic was posted to https://www.thekennel.net.au/forum/i...-spend.129468/).

Love how when they do shyte like this it's 'smart'. However if we did it, I swear we'd be called cheats.

[Bates]

By that link they say most clubs spend 100% of the cap as you can't carryover any unspent cap

For those that may only spend 97.5 % of the cap there maybe a reason why they don't based on clauses in players contracts

I.E

Some players may have additional rep bonus payment clauses for if they play SOO or International Footy for an example
Some players on min contracts may have additional payment clauses for playing a certain number of NRL games in a season or a fixed payment for each NRL game they play

I can't find any info on front loaded or back ended contracts so I'm sceptical about this practice.

I also can't see how the Tigers spent $11.7 million on their 2024 roster. Not 1 current rep player and the majority of the 30 man squad would struggle to get a spot elsewhere in the NRL. I reckon the NRL have given them permission to spend a portion of their cap allowance on running costs. They've been bailed out by the NRL in the past so it wouldn't surprise me.