Wingers beyond 2026?

[Rooster_Mark]

Warbrick is off contract at the end of next season.

Great timing!

When was the last time the Storm lost someone they really wanted to keep? Generally the players they let go are damaged goods.

[Bates]

When was the last time the Storm lost someone they really wanted to keep? Generally the players they let go are damaged goods.

They don't tend to pay their backs big bucks. Spine players are the priority then forwards followed by their backs which makes players like Warbrick ripe for the picking. Coates is on $450k. Market value imo $700/$800k a year. Warbrick would be on less than $300k.

We should throw our hat in the ring and offer him $500k as he ticks all the boxes. It's definitely a players market when it come to quality wingers so he's in the box seat.

[Bates]

Bit of a let down that we had to release Tyreece Tait to Redcliffe and we ended up with Junior Tupou who I don't think has shown much promise but other than that we're probably going to need to buy a player or two. Rodwell did an "ok" job but didn't come out and show anything spectacular especially for a first-grade standard.

Some players in the winger position that are off contract at the end of 2026 are:

• Reuben Garrick
• Sione Katoa
• Selwyn Cobbo
• Will Warbrick
• Moala Grahan-Taufa

Katoa is quite small for a modern day winger.

Katoa - Weight 88 kg
Height - 5'11"

Toops - 105 kg
6'5"

Marky Mark - 100 kg
6'3"

[Mickie Lane]

It has me in stitches on here when I read things like yeah we'll get Coates or Warbrick who both play for a team that is close to the best team in the comp year after year.
The Roosters would have to pay them double to get them & guess what the Roosters dont do that anymore.
Silly of people to think we can just walk in & take players from a rival powerhouse clubs.
The scenario this year was how are we going to replace Manu & Suaalii then all of a sudden Toia & Smith step up to the plate.
We wont be buying high profile wingers from other clubs mark my words.

[Mickie Lane]

People on here also have to realise that the Roosters are not a club that every top line player all of a sudden wants to leave the club theyre at to come to us.
For example Teddy retires at the end of 2027 so you think we just go & get Reece Walsh, stop kidding yourselves & have faith in the pathways & our academies.
The Roosters would have already identified unknowns to us to take over when Toups, Marky & Teddy are gone.

[ism22]

When was the last time the Storm lost someone they really wanted to keep? Generally the players they let go are damaged goods.

Yeah Cronk, Inglis and Folau are the only ones I can really think of and even then it's all very circumstantial...

[Bates]

People on here also have to realise that the Roosters are not a club that every top line player all of a sudden wants to leave the club theyre at to come to us.
For example Teddy retires at the end of 2027 so you think we just go & get Reece Walsh, stop kidding yourselves & have faith in the pathways & our academies.
The Roosters would have already identified unknowns to us to take over when Toups, Marky & Teddy are gone.

There wasn't 1 Roosters junior playing on the wing in our last 3 premiership wins.

2013

Toops - Eels
RTS - New Zealand School Boy RL

2018

Toops - Eels
Fergo - Raiders

2019

Toops - Eels
Morris - Dragons

History under Robbo suggests that we'll look externally for our new wingers to replace Toops and Marky when they're done.

[Mickie Lane]

There wasn't 1 Roosters junior playing on the wing in our last 3 premiership wins.

2013

Toops - Eels
RTS - New Zealand School Boy RL

2018

Toops - Eels
Fergo - Raiders

2019

Toops - Eels
Morris - Dragons

History under Robbo suggests that we'll look externally for our new wingers to replace Toops and Marky when they're done.

Yes correct because that was before we became a pathways/academy club.
Im not saying we will never buy players but we wont be buying players who's value is at the top end.
Look at someone like Paul Alamoti he is more of someone the Chooks would look at if we didnt have someone from our pathways or academy ready to step up.
We wouldnt be interested in Paul Alamoti now because his value is now at a premium but I use him as an example that he was in & out of FG at the Dogs when they were sh!t but all of a sudden in a champion team he has become nearly as good as To'o & Penrith pay fark all for him.
There are other blokes out there like him that we would go after if we didnt have someone from our pathways or academy
Trust me Batesy we aint buying wingers from other powerhouse clubs that there value is at the top end.

[Bates]

Yeah Cronk, Inglis and Folau are the only ones I can really think of and even then it's all very circumstantial...

JAC left the Storm and signed with the Bulldogs. It was reported at the time that the Storm couldn't match the $500k a year 4 year deal.

[Bates]

Yes correct because that was before we became a pathways/academy club.
Im not saying we will never buy players but we wont be buying players who's value is at the top end.
Look at someone like Paul Alamoti he is more of someone the Chooks would look at if we didnt have someone from our pathways or academy ready to step up.
We wouldnt be interested in Paul Alamoti now because his value is now at a premium but I use him as an example that he was in & out of FG at the Dogs when they were sh!t but all of a sudden in a champion team he has become nearly as good as To'o & Penrith pay fark all for him.
There are other blokes out there like him that we would go after if we didnt have someone from our pathways or academy
Trust me Batesy we aint buying wingers from other powerhouse clubs that there value is at the top end.

So our Bill Turner Cup, Harold Matts and SG Ball teams all play with no wingers? lol

We've had pathways in place for the longest time however, we can't seem to produce any quality homegrown wingers. The other important factor is that the team should be ripe to win a premiership in the near future! Our best option could well be to have an open mind and look externally for an experienced winger or 2. With Toops potentially retiring and Marky playing RU World Cup the money should be there to go shopping.

And don't forget - We play for premierships!!! We set the bar high and we do whatever it takes to be successful. It's in our DNA.

[Mickie Lane]

So our Bill Turner Cup, Harold Matts and SG Ball teams all play with no wingers? lol

We've had pathways in place for the longest time however, we can't seem to produce any quality homegrown wingers. The other important factor is that the team should be ripe to win a premiership in the near future! Our best option could well be to have an open mind and look externally for an experienced winger or 2. With Toops potentially retiring and Marky playing RU World Cup the money should be there to go shopping.

And don't forget - We play for premierships!!! We set the bar high and we do whatever it takes to be successful. It's in our DNA.

Okay then Batesy welcome Warbrick & Coates.

[Bates]

Okay then Batesy welcome Warbrick & Coates.

Hehehehe.

Landing Warbrick is doable as he's off contract, on peanuts and every Kiwi on this planet want's to live in Bondi.

[Mickie Lane]

JAC left the Storm and signed with the Bulldogs. It was reported at the time that the Storm couldn't match the $500k a year 4 year deal.

Yes because the Storm are too shrewd to pay a winger premium money when they can be smart enough to identify unknowns (Warbrick) or a Coates who was in & out of FG at the Broncos.
Anyway if you think the Roosters will buy Coates, Warbrick or To'o for top dollar Im happy for you..

[Steakface]

People on here also have to realise that the Roosters are not a club that every top line player all of a sudden wants to leave the club theyre at to come to us.
For example Teddy retires at the end of 2027 so you think we just go & get Reece Walsh, stop kidding yourselves & have faith in the pathways & our academies.
The Roosters would have already identified unknowns to us to take over when Toups, Marky & Teddy are gone.

I think the younger Roosters fans are a bit spoilt. We had a great run of top quality signings incl Cronk, SBW, Teddy who came to join us. But it is not typical that any club (not just us) can manage that in a small space of time.

The last decade a lot of stars aligned that enabled us to pull that purple patch off. Robbo was (and remains) a big part of our attraction. Players want to play for him.

But the future is our young guns, complimented with bigger signings at the right time for the right reason. The Panthers and the Storm prove you don't need to go all knee-jerk with the cheque book if the right talent systems are in place.

[Bates]

The pathways discussion is an interesting one. It's worked for the Panthers yet failed drastically in recent times for clubs like the Eels and the Tigers who both have a healthy junior nursery.

The Storm have been quite successful since their inception yet have the smallest junior base. They rely on scouts to find the best young talent who are generally aged around 19/20.

Their current spine players are from. QLD, NZ, and NSW

Munster and Grant - QLD
Hughes - NZ then played SG ball with us.
Paps - NSW Tigers junior.

The Panthers imo were fortunate to have so many quality players come through their system together with Cleary a generational talent. The end result was a premiership winning team with up to 7 players that played together from the age of 13. Also how much of that 4 -peat comes down to the coach who hit the ground running when the 6 again rule was introduced.

imo there are many contributing factors when it comes to winning a comp.