NRL 2022: The burning issue that the Dragons, Sea Eagles, Knights and Titans must address
St George Illawarra are one of four NRL clubs facing a critical off-season after a season of disappointment. Read the full analysis.
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Manly stars Daly Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic brothers will have a decisive say in the future of the club as chief executive Tony Mestrov prepares to preside over one of the most significant off-seasons in the Sea Eagles’ recent history.
Manly are about to bring down the curtain on a season of bitter disappointment, the precursor to some serious soul-searching on Sydney’s northern beaches.
It shapes as a critical three months for not just Manly, but also St George Illawarra, Newcastle and the Gold Coast as they enter the off-season with instability and uncertainty surrounding the futures of their respective football departments.
Coaching and personnel changes are in the wind as all four clubs look to rebound from a year of underachievement. Hasler and Anthony Griffin are off contract at the end of 2023. Newcastle’s Adam O’Brien and Titans boss Justin Holbrook have deals until the end of 2024.
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At Manly, Mestrov has already foreshadowed changes as he looks to unify a club that was torn apart by the Pride jersey fiasco.
“It is significant from all points of view,” Mestrov said.
“We need to reset, we need to remember probably what Manly is about. I would like to see us regroup and be one club. I mean that.
“I know whatever problems that have been toted to be out there, we need to handle it internally and do it together.
“Des coaches the team and he understands …. that there needs to be some changes in strategy. I will leave that up to Des.
“My job is to unite the joint. To bring everyone as one.”
Manly were on target to play in the finals until they were brought undone by the Pride jersey debacle, when seven players stood down citing religious beliefs.
The Sea Eagles rapidly dropped out of finals contention in the weeks that followed, heaping pressure on Hasler to retain his job.
The two-time premiership winner had a clause in his contract that gave him an extra year if Manly finished in the top six and there were calls for the extension to be granted anyway given the Pride jersey disaster.
The Manly board declined and Hasler will head into next season with the spotlight on his position. He won’t be the only coach in the NRL under scrutiny.
The same applies to Griffin, O’Brien and Holbrook. All four need a fast start to remove the pressure. Mestrov insists Hasler still has the club’s support, although changes to the football department are expected to take place over the off-season.
Any changes will only happen after Mestrov has consulted key figures in the playing group, led by Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and Jake Trbojevic.
“Whatever problem you have had with individuals in the past, that is in the past,” Mestrov said.
“I am not interested. We have to unite. We have to unite for the club and the better good. We are not where we want to be – we have to get back to where Manly deserves to be and where Manly should be. It is quite simple in that way.
“I am not going to have those conversations in isolation. We have to have those conversations together and we have to have honest conversations.
“I don’t reckon we have had that at the club for a long time. That is part of the club uniting.”
DRAGONS
BURNING ISSUE:
The Dragons are playing a dangerous game of wait and see, dragging their fans into 2023 without any transparency or clear vision on how they overcame just two finals appearances since 2012. They have instability among the coaching staff with more key members of Anthony Griffin’s staff about to follow assistants Matt Head and Peter Gentle out the door. The Dragons hierarchy are also giving Griffin little confidence he will be retained beyond the 2023 season after making an approach to Cameron Ciraldo, only days before he committed to Canterbury. Dean Young, Shane Flanagan, Ben Hornby and Nathan Brown are all viewed as possible replacements should Saints make a call on Griffin. An out of shape salary cap with massive money tied-up in the forward pack also means the roster will remain largely unchanged next year.
COACH CONTACT STATUS:
Anthony Griffin (2023).
LOCKED IN:
Zac Lomax (2026), Jayden Sullivan (2025), Moses Suli (2024), Tyrell Sloan (2024), Junior Amone (2024), Jayd’n Sua (2024), Jack Bird (2024), Jack de Belin (2024), Cody Ramsey (2024), Francis Molo (2024), Moses Mbye (2023), Ben Hunt (2023).
UNSIGNED:
Poasa Faamausili, Jackson Ford, Jack Gosiewski, Tautau Moga
NRL RICH 100:
Ben Hunt (3, $1.1m), Moses Mbye (14, $900k), Jack de Belin (32 ($750k), 49 Zac Lomax (49, $700k), Tariq Sims (64, $650k), Jaydn Su’A (76, $600k), Jack Bird (79, $550k), Moses Suli (88, $550k), Josh McGuire (99, $500k), Francis Molo (101, $500k)
SEA EAGLES
BURNING ISSUE:
Trying to unite the playing group. Forget what the Sea Eagles players are saying publicly there is little doubt there is a split amongst the players who have fallen out following the decision by seven of them to boycott a match. The split in the ranks does not rest with the players, it has also filtered into the staff. If they cannot all get on the same page that would lead to a delicate situation for coach Des Hasler who is fighting for his own future. Hasler has 12 months left on his deal and will be angling for at least another season but that is unlikely at this stage.
COACH CONTACT STATUS:
Des Hasler (2023)
LOCKED IN:
Josh Aloiai (2025), Daly Cherry-Evans (2025), Lachlan Croker (2023), Reuben Garrick (2023), Morgan Harper (2023), Sean Keppie (2024), Tolutau Koula (2024), Karl Lawton (2024), Haumole Olakau’atu (2024), Taniela Paseka (2024), Jason Saab (2023), Josh Schuster (2024), Jake Trbojevic (2026), Tom Trbojevic (2026), Kelma Tuilagi (2025), Christian Tuipulotu (2024).
UNSIGNED:
Morgan Boyle, Andrew Davey, Manase Fainu, Zac Fulton, Pio Seci, Alfred Smalley, Martin Taupau
NRL RICH 100:
Daly Cherry-Evans (2, $1.2m), Tom Trbojevic (6, $1.1m), Jake Trbojevic (16, $900k), Marty Taupau (53, $700k)
KNIGHTS
BURNING ISSUE:
Newcastle have not recovered since allowing Mitchell Pearce to walk out on his contract. That left the club scrambling in the halves and has led to a massive rotation of key positions. They could possible shift Kalyn Ponga out of the fullback role and into five-eighth. The Knights have been circling Luke Brooks for more than 12 months now. If they can’t secure a star half it is going to be another long season for the Newcastle faithful and will have ramifications for coach Adam O’Brien’s future. O’Brien is expected to lead the Knights next season but a poor start will only see pressure build on his future.
COACH CONTACT STATUS:
Adam O’Brien (2024).
LOCKED IN:
Bradman Best (2024), Jayden Brailey (2025), Jake Clifford (2023), Adam Clune (2023), Adam Elliott (2025), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (2023), Tyson Frizell (2023), Dane Gagai (2024), Jack Hetherington (2025), David Klemmer (2023), Kurt Mann (2023), Kalyn Ponga (2027), Daniel Saifiti (2026), Jacob Saifiti (2024), Leo Thompson (2025), Dominic Young (2023).
UNSIGNED:
Phoenix Crossland, Brayden Musgrove, Pasami Saulo.
NRL RICH 100:
Kalyn Ponga (No. 4, $1.1m), David Klemmer (28, $800k), Tyson Frizell (48, $700k), Daniel Saifiti ($700k), Jayden Brailey (80, $550k), Dane Gagai (96, $500k)
TITANS
BURNING ISSUE:
Will veteran Kieran Foran’s arrival help steady the ship? The Titans blundered by allowing Jamal Fogarty to leave the club and take up a deal with the Raiders. It left them with the most inexperienced spine in the competition. They have gone a long way to fixing that by adding Foran and premiership winning hooker Sam Verrills. That is expected to allow AJ Brimson to return to his favoured fullback spot and hopefully ignite the Titans blundering attack. Coach Justin Holbrook will be in the hot seat if the club again finds itself slumped towards the bottom of the ladder.
COACH CONTACT STATUS:
Justin Holbrook (2024).
LOCKED IN:
Tanah Boyd (2024), AJ Brimson (2026), Jayden Campbell (2024), Erin Clark (2025), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (2026), Beau Fermor (2026), David Fifita (2023), Kieran Foran (2024), Moeaki Fotuaika (2024), Jaimin Joliffe (2024), Brian Kelly (2023), Isaac Liu (2024), Phillip Sami (2024), Toby Sexton (2024), Sam Verrills (2024).
UNSIGNED:
Herman Ese’ese, Esan Marsters
NRL RICH 100:
David Fifita (No. 8, $1m), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (26, $800k), Jarrod Wallace (56, $700k), Mo Fotuaika (71, $600k), Isaac Liu (86, $550k), AJ Brimson (81, $550k).
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