Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
key: T = Team option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract

Confirmed Top 30 2024: 28/30
Confirmed Development 2024: 5/6

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 25/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 1/6

2025 Gains: Nil
2025 Losses: Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)
 
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And let me add a third question that if you read it twice and read in between the lines I think might answer your first two questions

"Why aren't the Cowboys screaming blue murder to the NRL front office over the Dragons approaching their guy when the Dragons or anybody else is not allowed to?"
Because they are allowed to talk… just can’t make an offer until 1 Nov the year before his contract ends
 
Because they are allowed to talk… just can’t make an offer until 1 Nov the year before his contract ends
We are both right. According to this article you can talk whenever but you can't discuss them jumping ship and breaking a contract. And it seems like that is what Flanno was doing as the article said Dragons wanted JT for 2024

Anyway here is a clarification article

NRL transfers: Why Dolphins are free to target Cameron Munster
The Melbourne Storm may not like it, but the Dolphins have broken no rules in their pursuit of Cameron Munster reveals Travis Meyn.

Travis Meyn
and
Peter Badel
6 min read
April 6, 2022 - 3:59PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

The NRL has given the Dolphins the green light to target Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster – on one condition.

After years of confusion, News Corp can reveal exactly what the NRL’s polarising November 1 contracting rule actually is and what it means for the Dolphins’ pursuit of Munster.

The Redcliffe-based Dolphins, who will enter the NRL in 2023, are breaking no rules by pursuing Munster now for the 2024 season – when he comes off-contract with Melbourne – and beyond.

However they are not allowed to try and coax him out of his 2023 contract, the final year of his Melbourne deal, for their foundation season unless he receives approval from the Storm to explore options with rival clubs.

As it stands, NRL players are not allowed to formally sign a contract with a rival club until November 1 of the contracting year prior to their proposed move. The NRL’s contracting year runs from November 1 to October 31.

That means a player that comes off-contract at the end of the 2023 season cannot sign a contract with a rival club for the 2024 season until November 1, 2022.

However there are no rules or regulations preventing them, or their managers, from talking to or negotiating with rival clubs for any period they are off-contract.

A player is allowed to agree-in-principle with a rival club to a contract at any point in their future, provided they will not be contracted to their current club during the proposed term.

Despite ill-informed cries from pro-Melbourne media about the Dolphins pursuing Munster, the expansion club is breaking no rules as long as their discussions are only for 2024 and beyond.

“A lot of people don’t realise what the rules are,” said Dolphins CEO Terry Reader.

“You can only sign from November 1 the year before, but you can talk and negotiate whenever you like.

“We are really conscious of the rules. We have spoken to the NRL to make sure we are across what can and can’t happen.
 
Is Flanno an interesting recruiter? There could be entertainment watching him go about his business.
 
Is Flanno an interesting recruiter? There could be entertainment watching him go about his business.
He put together that sharks team that won it in 2016. Interesting him pretty much writing 2024, he could have what he sees as making them a threat for 2025 already set up. Dragons will definitely be worth keeping an eye on, but Flanagan’s moral compass is questionable at best.
 
He put together that sharks team that won it in 2016. Interesting him pretty much writing 2024, he could have what he sees as making them a threat for 2025 already set up. Dragons will definitely be worth keeping an eye on, but Flanagan’s moral compass is questionable at best.
Sounds like at this stage of affairs as though there is more reason to hope if you are a Dragons fan than if you are a Dogs fan given the respective coaches. Still having said that Ciraldo was plagued and cursed with injuries so lets see how he goes this year.
 
Joey Manu is set to leave the roosters at the end of this season to sign a lucrative deal with French rugby.
Could get up to 1.1M a year they reckon.
Could easily make that in the nrl too but not if he wants to stay at the roosters.
Can’t blame him- he’s done everything in the game- I’d probably do the same- would be an amazing experience over there.
 

Sport Confidential: Jason Taumalolo knocks back poaching raid by Dragons | Daily Telegraph​

The Dragons have made a secret bid for Jason Taumalolo as the Cowboys superstar comes to terms with his axing as North Queensland co-captain.
Sport Confidential can reveal St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has made inquiries with Taumalolo’s management in a bold bid to deliver the former Dally M winner to the Dragons’ den this season.

But the Taumalolo camp made it clear the Cowboys champion is happy in Townsville and has no intention of walking out on his $10 million contract.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten dropped a bombshell a fortnight when he removed Taumalolo and Chad Townsend as co-captains, handing the leadership reins to Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter.

It is understood Taumalolo was shocked by the decision, especially given his status at the club after inking a record 10-year, $1 million deal with the Cowboys in 2017.

(L-R) Dragons coaching brains trust Dean Young (assistant coach) and Shane Flanagan (head coach). Credit: Supplied.

(L-R) Dragons coaching brains trust Dean Young (assistant coach) and Shane Flanagan (head coach). Credit: Supplied.
New Dragons coach Flanagan is desperate to add firepower to his pack and believed the 30-year-old Taumalolo would have been the perfect leader and midfield X-factor for the embattled club.

The Payten decision will only fuel suggestions the Cowboys coach and Taumalolo have a strained relationship, but the pair both insist there is no bad blood in the tropics.

Once the most feared running forward in the game, the Tongan Test star has battled injury in recent seasons, but remains a destructive force when fully fit.

Taumalolo was relegated to the bench for six games last season, raising fears he was on the outer in Townsville.

But the 252-game Cowboys legend remains contracted until the end of 2027 and North Queensland chiefs have every intention of honouring the deal, as does Taumalolo, who wants to finish his career at the club.

Jason Taumalolo would be a huge get for the Dragons - but he’s staying put at North Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

Jason Taumalolo would be a huge get for the Dragons - but he’s staying put at North Queensland. Picture: Getty Images
The Cowboys are under siege from southern rivals the Dragons, who are also targeting Taumalolo’s younger teammates, boom back-rowers Heilum Luki and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

The powerful Finefeuiaki is off-contract this season, while Queensland Origin hopeful Luki is contracted until the end of 2025, but has an option in his favour - making him a free agent this year.

Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck is aware of interest in Taumalolo, Luki and Finefeuiaki but remains confident of retaining the trio.

“We have a high opinion of our young back-rowers Heilum Luki and Kulikefu. Those two have commanded a bit of interest,” Luck said.

“We think our offers to both of them are very competitive and this club was set up to keep our local juniors in this North Queensland region.

“We’re confident of keeping both guys.

“We would love to keep our young group together. Heilum and Kulikefu have had another good off-season and those guys will grow as players and young men and it would be good to see them do something special at our club.”
Of course you will knock back the Dragons! They can't afford 1 mill a year for the next six years!🤣
 

Here are some high school rugby highlights from a couple years ago. Looks like he played first five for school.

Looks to be fast, strong in the tackle, with ball playing and kicking skills. Nice prospect.
Could be a good five eight for the future. Get him and Soric repping together through the grades.

Cleary luai 2.0 😂
 
That's not my understanding. Am I wrong. My understanding is you can't approach at all. Is this not correct?
I've always understood it that agents and clubs can wine and dine and discuss terms whenever, wherever. They just can't do a Beyonce and put a ring on it until November 1 of the player's last year of his current deal. That's why you'll here so many deals done in early November. The discussions all happened prior, it's just nobody was allowed to declare their new beau...

Still not sure how I feel about the whole thing. I think on balance I'd prefer players sign and move immediately to avoid the "Well, of course AFB playing like a busted arse for us, signed up with the Dragons for '25 so however he plays he's fine!" allegations.
 
He put together that sharks team that won it in 2016. Interesting him pretty much writing 2024, he could have what he sees as making them a threat for 2025 already set up. Dragons will definitely be worth keeping an eye on, but Flanagan’s moral compass is questionable at best.
He cheated the cap and they were drug cheats, he has no moral compass.
 
its always interested me that apparently the only year they didn't cheat was in that period was the year they won. Isn't that a happy coincidence
I think we're going to have to cheat like this to get a prem tbh, and if we do we better get the same fucking treatment they did with that absolute BS.
 
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