2024 NRL teams: Who stands to benefit from player movements at every club
Retirements, delistings and good old fashioned axings we’ve seen plenty of those as NRL clubs finalise their rosters for 2024. Check out all the player movement across the league.
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The off-season may prove to be mana for heaven for SuperCoach NRL players in 2024, with some players poised to unlock their potential at new clubs and the retirement of others clearing the path for cheapies to become keepers.
We take a look at the significant arrivals and departures at every club.*
* Please note this article will be updated as new player moves become official
BRISBANE BRONCOS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Fletcher Baker (Roosters)
Departures: Herbie Farnworth (The Dolphins), Thomas Flegler (The Dolphins), Keenan Palasia (Gold Coast Titans), Logan Bayliss-Brow (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Herbie Farnworth: (Dolphins)
Pos: Centre
Regular season games: 23, 80MPG
Likely Replacement: The Broncos think so much of Deine Mariner that he is signed to the club all the way through to 2027. Has played six games for the Broncos; two in 2022 (both at centre) and four in 2023 (three wing and one interchange). Made 14 appearances in QCup in 2023 playing for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. All at centre. Scored 10 tries, two try assists, 13 linebreaks, 76 tackle busts, 90 tackles made (22 missed!)
Other options: Selwyn Cobbo could be shifted to centre, but this seems unlikely. Delouise Hoeter is a veteran specialist centre and is contracted to the club in 2024.
Tom Flegler: (Dolphins)
Pos: Starting prop
Regular season games: 19, 44MPG
Likely replacement: Corey Jensen (21 games, avg. 38MPG/41PPG). The former Cowboys rookie of the year joined Brisbane in 2022 and has made 39 appearances for the club including six starts in 2023. As a starter Jensen averaged 46MPG and 46PPG almost exclusively in base stats. A fine replacement in NRL terms, this move provides little value in SuperCoach.
Other options: An alternative for the Broncos is to move Pat Carrigan from lock to prop, this would create an opportunity for Kobe Hetherington to start at lock and make space for promising youngster Blake Mozer to play more minutes. New arrival Fletcher Baker is a fine player and could be in line for some minutes.
Keenan Palasia: (Titans)
Pos: FRF/middle/interchange
Regular season games: 17, 41MPG
Likely replacement:Fletcher Baker (13 games (Roosters) in 2023, avg. 29MPG/30PPG). A new recruit, Baker joins the Broncos after making 45 appearances for the Roosters over the past three seasons. With s sneaky offload and good feet for a big man Baker provides more SC interest than a base workhorse like Jensen, but while I anticipate he could see an uptick in minutes at the new club, he’ll need a great off-season to snag a starting spot.
Other options:Xavier Willison is a big man with a bright future – and a horrible history with injuries. If he can stay healthy then Willison should challenge Baker for the extra minutes.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Kaeo Weekes (Manly), Simi Sasagi (Knights), Morgan Smithies (Super League)
Departures: Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Jarrod Croker (Retired), Matt Frawley (Super League), Brad Schneider (Panthers via Super League), Clay Webb (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Jack Wighton: Five-eighth (Rabbitohs)
Position: Five-eighth
Regular season games: 21, 78MPG
Likely replacement: Appears to be a race in two at this stage. Ethan Strange has one NRL game to his name – and that was playing at centre. Strange caught plenty of eyes playing for NSW in the State of Origin Under-19s in 2023 and scoring a hat-trick, but it should be noted he played that game in the centres also. So why do I have him in the running for the job? Well, Strange played 16 games for Canberra in the NSW Cup, cementing himself as the starting five-eighth over the back end of the season. A strong ballrunner and willing defender he’s a cheapie to keep your eye on over the off-season. The Raiders now have another option after signing former Sea Eagle Kaeo Weekes – though in this case Canberra have a five-eighth option whose really more of a fullback. In 2023 Manly used Weekes in nine NRL games and he had three starts at fullback, one start at five-eighth and the rest were bench stints of around 20 minutes or less. Weekes also played 11 games in the NSW Cup for Blacktown Workers in 2023, 10 at fullback and one in the halves.
Jarrod Croker (Retired)
Position: Centre
Regular season games: 15, 75MPG
Likely replacement:Seb Kris would seem the best option to fill the left centre slot for the Raiders. Kris was very good at fullback in 2023, but Canberra has re-signed young gun Chevy Stewart for 2024 and beyond and all SuperCoaches would be hoping that a Kris to centre/Stewart to fullback switch is on the cards (see more on Stewart below). If Canberra opt to keep Kris at fullback then Harley Smith-Shields or Nick Cotric could fill the gap.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Stephen Crichton/Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs) Bronson Xerri (ban), Josh Curran (Warriors), Drew Hutchison/Jake Turpin (Roosters), Kurt Mann (Knights), Poasa Faamausili (Dolphins)
Departures: Jake Averillo (Dolphins), Paul Alamoti (Panthers), Tevita Pangai Jr (Boxing), Luke Thompson (Super League), Andrew Davey (mid-season Eels), Kyle Flanagan (Dragons), Franklin Pele (Super League), Jayden Okunbor (Super League), Corey Waddell (Manly), Bradon Burns (unsigned), Declan Casey (unisgned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Jake Averillo (Dolphins)/ Paul Alamoti (Panthers)
Position: 17 Centre | 7 Fullback/ Centre
Regular season games: 24, 80MPG/ 19, 80MPG
Likely replacement: Averillo started 17 games at centre in 2023, Alamoti 19. Their departures are offset by the arrival of arguably the best centre in the game in Stephen Crichton. Crichton can fill the left or right side holes at the Bulldogs, but there is a push for him to line up at fullback instead of centre. Wherever he does play, watch the pre-season to see if he become the Bulldog’s first-choice goalkicker because I feel he might and that’s an easy 10PPG bump should it happen. If Crichton does slot in at fullback then the man who spent the most time at fullback for the Bulldogs in 2023, Hayze Perham, could shift to centre to fill in for Averillo. On the other side of the park the Bulldogs may turn to Bronson Xerri. A former Shark, Xerri played 22 games at centre for Cronulla in 2019 before being kicked out of the game due to a failed doping test. His suspension has been served and no doubt we’ll be told he’s trained the house down over the summer. Jacob Kiraz is the remaining incumbent who must be mentioned here. Kiraz started the final five games of 2023 in the centres – but I would argue he’s better used on the wing and with the new arrivals I would hope he reverts to an edge. If Crichton is used at centre then fellow new recruit Blake Taaffe is a chance to play fullback.
Tevita Pangai Jr/Luke Thompson
Position: Prop(s)
Regular season games: 17 (11 starts), 41MPG/Four (one start), 39MPG
Likely replacements: Pangai Jr has left rugby league and is attempting to turn professional as a boxer and Thompson is heading back to the UK which means there are minutes up for grabs in the middle. Liam Knight joined late in the season from Souths and played five games for the Bulldogs, starting the last three. He’s the likely beneficiary of the above changes and looms as a moderate value pick if he does nail down a starting spot as he will be priced at a fair discount to the numbers he used to punch out as a starting prop. Ryan Sutton had a mixed year in 2023 and is the other experienced prop who may benefit – Max King is locked in as the first-choice prop at Belmore. The most likely mid-priced beneficiary appears to be Harrison Edwards who is a willing worker but profiles more as a 13 than an 8 or 10 (see below).
Kyle Flanagan
Position: Halfback/hooker
Regular season games: 17 (10 starts)
Likely replacements: After starting the first eight games of the season in the halves, Flanagan was dropped to NSW Cup where he was reinvented as a hooker/utility a position which he filled in the last nine games of the season. Flanagan is leaving to join the Dragons and there is no shortage of halves contenders to replace him. Mid-season recruit Toby Sexton would appear to have his nose in front in the race to partner Matt Burton in the halves (Karl Oloapu is out indefinitely with a neck injury). One to watch this summer is Alex Conti. The Bulldogs poached the young star off the Wests Tigers and the former Balmain Harold Matthews skipper is expected to challenge for a starting spot in 2024. Former Knight Kurt Mann and Rooster Drew Hutchison also add utility options for the Dogs. Hutchison has an edge forwards body and a playmaker’s soul, while Mann has the body of a half with the mind of a middle forward.
Corey Waddell/Jayden Okunbor
Position: 2RF/Interchange
Regular season games: 22 (13 starts) 59MPG/19 (six starts) 49MPG
Likely replacements: The departure of Corey Waddell and Jayden Okunbor leaves an odd-shaped hole at the Bulldogs. In an ideal world the Bulldogs have their edges covered with 2023 breakout star Jacob Preston playing 80 on one side and Viliame Kikau (who profiles as an ABSOLUTE bargain in 2024 thanks to injury limiting him in 2023) the other. So there’s no hole at all really except maybe the starting 13. Karl Oloapu was pencilled in there by many, but he will be unavailable to start 2024 (neck). His injury opens the door for new recruit Josh Curran to start at lock (and if he does he’s a strong SC watch) though I expect Edwards and to a lesser degree Kurtis Morrin to also be considered there. Kurt Mann, again, offers utility cover at 13.
CRONULLA SHARKS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: None
Departures:Wade Graham (retire), Jensen Taumoepeau (unsigned), Matt Moylan (Super League)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Wade Graham
Position: 2RF
Regular season games: 19 (6 starts) 46MPG
Likely replacements: Graham only took up a starting role as a result of injury to Teig Wilton. Provided he is healthy, Wilton should resume his 80-minute edge role in 2024 and so Graham’s retirement is not really SC relevant – but, you know, great career etc etc.
Matt Moylan
Position: Five-eighth
Regular season games: 20 (17 starts) 73MPG
Likely replacements: Braydon Trindall usurped Moylan as starting five-eighth in round 21 of 2023 and he retained his position from then until the end. Reading the tea leaves, Moylan opted to head to Super League rather than play second fiddle. Trindall averaged 43PPG and while I would expect a slight uptick with a full pre-season training on the left edge his only real appeal comes from injury to Nicho Hynes as Trindall would likely take over the goalkicking duties in that scenario.
DOLPHINS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Herbie Farnworth/Tom Flegler (Broncos), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Oryn Keeley (Knights)
Departures:Herman Ese-ese (Super League), Oliver Gildart (Super League), Brenko Lee, Poasa Faamausili (Bulldogs)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
The opportunities at the Dolphins are less about departures and more about arrivals. As mentioned above, two centres in Farnworth and Averillo are joining the club and there’s every chance those two start for the club. In 2023 Euan Aitken started 19 games at centre before playing his last two of the season at second row. The other side was filled in rotation by Brenko Lee (who will not be at the club in 2024), Valynce TeWhare, HamisoTabuai-Fidow, Kodi Nikorima, Robert Jennings, Jack Bostock … It’s a long list and no doubt the club would be far better with two locked in centres permitting Tabuai-Fidow to stay at fullback full time where he is at his best (for SuperCoach, as an actual centre HTF is improving every game). Flegler’s arrival is not tremendously SuperCoach relevant as he’s not likely to gain any larger role than he was filling at the Broncos.
GOLD COAST TITANS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Keenan Palasia (Broncos)
Departures: Kruise Leeming (Super League), Sam McIntyre (Cowboys), Thomas Mikaele (Released), Treymain Spry (released), Joe Vuna (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Kruise Leeming
Position: Hooker
Regular season games: 10 (all interchange) 34MPG
Nothing of huge note here. Leeming’s departure will be offset by Chris Randall and Sam Verrills – provided both are recovered from their respective shoulder injuries.
Keenan Palasia
Position: Prop/middle
Games: 17 (six starts) 41MPG
An arrival rather than a departure, Palasia is an intriguing addition by the Titans. The Gold Coast run rather deep in the middle with gun props Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Mo Fotuaika, much improved ball-playing lock Erin Clark and a couple of proper toilers in Isaac Liu and Jaimin Joliffe. Add the two exciting young props, Josiah Pahulu and Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, who were recently added to the club’s top-30, and you’ve a very solid middle. So where does Palasia fit and how many minutes does he get? I don’t know, but I do know a crowded middle where player’s battle for minutes is not what we want for SuperCoach so beware.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Tommy Talau (Wests Tigers), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Aitasi James (Wests Tigers), Corey Waddell (Bulldogs)
Departures: Samuela Fainu and Latu Fainu (Wests Tigers), Kelma Tuilagi (Eels), Kaeo Weekes (Raiders), Morgan Harper (Eels), Sean Keppie (Rabbitohs), Morgan Boyle (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Kelma Tuilagi/Samuela Fainu
Position: 2RF
Regular season games: 17 (15 starts) 58MPG/ Five (two starts) 53MPG
Likely replacements: Former Wests Tigers whipping boy Luke Brooks is joining the Sea Eagles and this is expected to see Josh Schuster move from the halves to 2RF. Schuster had a mixed season as a five-eighth in 2023 floating in and out of games all year and finishing with a season average of 45PPG. In 2021 Schuster averaged 61PPG playing 2RF. If he can return to those numbers than Schuster profiles as a bit of a bargain. But, Schuster was playing for a contract in 2021. In 2024 he’ll be in the middle of a fat contract and for a player whose commitment to doing the extras has often been questioned, that worries me.
Sean Keppie
Position: Prop/Lock
Regular season games: 20 (11 starts) 41MPG
Likely replacements: King Keppie may not be the sexiest of footballers, but he’s a solid worker. 2023 mid-season recruit Matt Lodge can fill a few of those minutes. But SuperCoaches will be hoping that it is former Tiger Aitasi James (who played five games averaging 24MPG off the bench late in 2023) who is the main beneficiary.
MELBOURNE STORM
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: None (yet)
Departures: Tariq Sims (Super League), Tom Eisenhuth (released), George Jennings (released), Jayden Nikorima (Super League), Jordan Grant (released)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Tom Eisenhuth
Position: 2RF/middle rotation
Regular season games: 15 (three starts) 39MPG
Likely replacements:
Provided they are fit and healthy, first choice edges Trent Loiero and Eliesa Katoa are both 80-minute 2RF. However, Katoa is not renowned for being able to play big minutes for long stretches of a season, Tariq Sims (12 games, two starts) has also left and the Storm have not made any new signings. So I’m going to call it friends – 2024 will (finally) be the year of Jack Howarth. Yes, yes, I know Howarth actually made his NRL debut in 2023 but I’ll have a word with Tom and make sure he’s not too expensive to start 2024. I doubt we’ll be able to keep him as a DPP though...
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Jack Cogger (Panthers), Jed Cartwright (Rabbitohs) Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors), Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants)
Departures: Dom Young (Roosters), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Super League), Kurt Mann (Bulldogs) Simi Sasagi (Raiders), Lachlan Miller (Leeds Rhinos) Fa’amanu Brown (Hull FC), Oryn Keeley (The Dolphins), Kurt Mann (Bulldogs), Hymel Hunt/Jack Johns/Dane Aukafolau (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Some big minutes up for grabs at the Knights!
Dominic Young
Position: Wing
Regular season games: 23
Likely replacements: The club has a very high opinion of young gun Krystian Mapapalangi who should be available in 2024 after spending pretty much all of 2023 in the rehabilitation squad (shoulder). However, Mapapalangi is more of a centre than a winger. The same can be said of Enari Tuala while Super League recruit Will Pryce is more of a fullback/five-eighth option. The club’s top-try scorer in NSW Cup was David Armstrong, and while he started on the wing he spent the majority of the year playing fullback – also at 184cm and 82kg he is not really a like-for-like replacement for the 200cm, 107kg Young. And so we turn to new recruit Tom Jenkins formerly of the Panthers. Jenkins played five regular season games in the NRL for Penrith in 2023 scoring five tries, busting 13 tackles and topping 100m carried each game; he also scored 14 tries from 17 NSW Cup appearances. I feel this might be a race in two between Mapapalangi and Jenkins.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Position: 2RF
Regular season games: 20, 74MPG
Likely replacements: If 2023 form counts for everything here, than Dylan Lucas should be the man who gets first shot at replacing Fitzgibbon on an edge. Lucas made his NRL debut via the bench in round three, then made six starts covering rounds 15-17 and 26-27 in the regular season and also starting in the semi-final against the Warriors. In his five regular season starts, Lucas punched out superb numbers averaging 62.4PPG of which 51PPG came in base. He won’t come cheap thanks to a 2023 season average of 55PPG but is one to watch. Of course, 2023 does not count for everything, and the other name that must be considered a chance to be penned into the 2RF to start 2024 is UK recruit Kai Pearce-Paul. A monster at 196cm and 105kg, Pearce-Paul can play centre or 2RF and has – stop me if you’ve heard this – been labelled ‘England’s Sonny Bill-Williams’. I’m not sure he’s the worker we want for SuperCoach but let’s see how he goes in Australian conditions before putting a line through him eh? Lastly,
Other notable departures: Utility Kurt Mann made 16 appearances for the Knights in 2023 (avg. 42MPG) and has reportedly (but not yet officially) joined the Bulldogs and Lachie Miller who started 2023 with such promise (12 starts at fullback) but ended up in the NSW Cup has gone to the UK.
Kurt Mann
Position: Utility/Lock
Regular season games: 16 (Four starts) 42MPG
Likely replacements: New recruit Jeb Cartwright offers a bit as an edge utility with his ability to cover 2RF and centre. Fellow new recruit Jack Cogger can play either side in the halves and if he does cement a starting spot I expect it would be at the expense of Tyson Gamble - a man who is skilled enough to cover the halves and feisty enough to play lock.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Viliami Vailea (Warriors)
Departures: Peta Hiku (Super League), Mitchell Dunn (released), James Tamou (Retired), Gehamat Shibasaki (released), Brendan Elliot (Released), Riley Price (Panthers), Jake Bourke (unsigned), Taniela Sadrugu (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Peta Hiku
Position: Centre
Regular season games: 22, 80MPG
Likely replacement: It looks like a race in two here between Zac Laybutt and 2024 recruit Viliami Vailea. Bundaberg junior and rather a large lump of a lad, Laybutt, made his NRL debut in round 13 of 2023, played again in round 16 and then played in the final two rounds scoring a double in round 26 and another try in round 27. Those late season tries did bump Laybutt’s average up to 57PPG – and that means he’ll start the season a little pricey. I wouldn’t pay that price, but Laybutt scored eight tries, made seven try assists and had 50 tackle busts from 15 appearances in the QCup in 2023. The other likely CTW for NQ is Vailea who played five games for the Warriors in 2023 (averaging 44PPG) before falling out of favour with the selectors and playing the remainder of the year in the NSW Cup. From 10 games for the Warriors in 2022 Vailea averaged 37PPG.
PARRAMATTA EELS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Morgan Harper (Manly), Kelma Tuilagi (Manly)
Departures: Jake Arthur (Manly), Andrew Davey (Retired), Josh Hodgson (retired), Jack Murchie (Super League), Waqa Blake (released), Samuel Loizou (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
No significant departures/opportunities arise here. The departure of Jack Murchie (five games, 28MPG) is adequately covered by the existing roster plus Kelma Tuilaga’s arrival from Manly; while Josh Hodgson (12 games, 56PMG) played his last game for the Eels in round 13 and his departure is covered by the progress of Brendan Hands and 2023 mid-season signing of Joey Lussick.. The most interesting thing might be seeing how the Eels fit Tuilagi into their pack rotation. The Eels already have 80-minute edges in Shaun Lane, Bryce Cartwright (who was much improved in 2023 IMO) and Ryan Matterson in the squad; at least one plus Tuilagi would have to start from the bench and would that leave Parra a middle short?
PENRITH PANTHERS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Paul Alamoti (Bulldogs), Daine Laurie (Tigers), Brad Schneider (Super League)
Departures: Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Spencer Leniu (Roosters), Jaeman Salmon (Bulldogs), Jack Cogger (Knights), Tom Jenkins (Knights), Chris Smith (unsigned), Eddie Blacker (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Stephen Crichton
Position: Centre
Regular season games: 21 games 80MPG
Likely replacement: No shortage of options for Penrith when it comes to trying to fill Crichton’s shoes. New signing Paul Alamoti had a mixed bag in his debut season last year scoring just the two tries from 19 games. To be fair to the young man most of the blame for that can lie with those inside him and he’d get far better service at Penrith (for reference Crichton scored 15 tries in 2023). Veteran Tyrone Peachey had a cracker of a season for Penrith last year playing 14 times in the regular season including 11 starts at centre and scoring 10 tries. You know what you’re going to get with Peachey, and it isn’t try assists (he had just one in 2023) but he is a very useful player to have in your 17 thanks to his ability to cover centre, edge or lock and that utility may see him edge out the likes of Alamoti or the young guns nipping at his heels. Speaking of young guns, the Penrith production line rolls on with Jesse McLean and Taylan May waiting in the wings. McLean is contracted at the club through 2026 so clearly the Panthers see a bright future for the Blacktown and Doonside junior. Arguably more of a fullback than a centre, McLean made his NRL debut in round 26 last year when Dylan Edwards was rested. However, McLean played nine games at centre for the Panthers in the NSW Cup last year and acquitted himself well scoring six tries, assisting four more and busting tackles all over the shop. And then there’s 2022 premiership winning winger May – remember him? May was superb on the wing for Penrith in 2022 then missed the entirety of the 2023 regular season after suffering an ACL injury in the World Club Challenge. May has only played wing in first grade but does have some NSW Cup games at centre to his name and on raw talent is hard to leave out of any side. What a problem to have eh?
Spencer Leniu
Position: Prop
Regular season games: 18 games 32MPG
Likely replacement(s): While Penrith are stacked in the outside backs the situation in the middle is not quite so verdant – but it’s pretty gosh-darned good. From within the 2023 top-30 the likes of Matt Eisenhuth and the increasingly impressive Lindsay Smith could step up to play bigger roles. Scott Sorensen was super impressive on an edge, but is more than capable of playing some middle if required. But waiting in the wings on a development contract which runs all the way through to 2026 is Penrith’s 2023 NSW Cup Player of the Year Liam Henry.
The Blayney-born big bopper already has three NRL appearances to his name (one in 2022, two in 2023) and 47 NSW Cup games. In 2023 he played 21 times in the NSW Cup often playing 60+ minutes in the middle and averaging over 150 metres and 40 tackles per game. Barring injury to the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Smith then Henry will be brought along too slowly to make a huge SuperCoach impact, but he clearly can given minutes.
Jack Cogger
Position: Halves
Regular season games: 10 (nine starts) 75MPG
Likely replacement(s): With starting halves of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai you’d be forgiven for thinking that the role of backup half was not a significant one at the club - but you’d be wrong. Injuries happen and Origin impacts and with Cleary a lock for the Blues and Leuai a regular selection threat the Penrith understudy will taste the limelight in 2024. Cogger played 10 regular season games (not to mention a huge cameo in the grand final) in 2023, Sean O’Sullivan 11 in 2022. Cogger is now at the Knights and the newly arrived backup half is former Raider Brad Schneider who joins the club after a brief stint with Hull KR in the UK. Schneider’s one decent run in the NRL was when he played ten games for the Raiders in 2022 in which he acquitted himself well averaging 46PPG and kicking 23 goals from 29 games. I think you can add a 10-20% Panthers Premium to those scores for when he gets a shot in 2024.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Kyle Flanagan (Bulldogs), Hame Sele (Rabbitohs), Tom Eisenhuth (Storm)
Departures: Jayden Sullivan (Wests Tigers), Zane Musgrove (Super League), Billy Burns (unsigned), Tyrell Fuimaono (unsigned), Jaiyden Hunt (Broncos), Nick Lui-Toso (unsigned), Tautau Moga (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Jayden Sullivan
Position: Halves
Regular season games: 12 (nine starts, three bench)
Likely replacement: Sullivan’s season ended when he injured his hamstring in round 19 so we had a good preview into how the Dragons might cover his departure (I’ll save you a click it was Talatau Amone at five-eighth and Ben Hunt at halfback). However:
1. That pairing won precisely one game over the final seven matches,
2. Mr Amone has some legal dramas to work through right now.
3. There’s a new coach at the club, and
4. That new coach shares a surname with fresh halves recruit Kyle Flanagan.
(Lawyer’s note – this organisation is not insinuating that nepotism will influence the selection of Kyle Flanagan – point one above suggests what the Dragons were doing wasn’t working – rather the author just thought it seemed a nifty way of introducing the new coach and player.)
Enough of the sophistry this is a SuperCoach article thus the real question is not why he might be picked, but rather, if he is picked is Flanagan of interest for SuperCoaches? The answer is no, with an asterisk. The asterisk is that Flanagan, priced at a 30PPG average thanks to playing seven games of limited interchange minutes in 2023, is worth a look if selected at hooker. He’s worth a very good look if he’s playing either position and taking the kicks at goal.
Billy Burns
Position: Second-row
Games: 10 78MPG
Likely replacement: When both are fit the dragons would likely field Jaydn Su’A and Jack Bird as their starting second-rows. But Su’A played just 13 games in 2023 and Bird managed 14. History suggests the Dragons will need a different edge forward to the two above and for some reason the Dragons don’t want that person to be Billy Burns despite his pretty impressive close to 2023in which he started the last eight games, scored three tries made plenty of tackles and - unlike others wearing the Red V - missed few. Former Storm edge/utility Tom Eisenhuth is reported to be joining the club and while he’s a fine player, aged 31, he’s hardly one to take the club into the future.
Zane Musgrove
Position: Prop
Games: 11 (One start) 29MPG
Likely replacement: The departure of Musgrove is offset by the arrival of South Sydney prop Hame Sele but there is precious little of SuperCoach relevance in either the hatching or the dispatching.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Jack Wighton (Raiders), Sean Keppie (Manly)
Departures: Blake Taaffe (Bulldogs), Hame Sele (Dragons), Jed Cartwright (Knights), Terrell Kalo Kalo (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
The real fresh interest in South Sydney for 2024 is not created by the departures – Sele’s (above and below) is probably the biggest of those – but rather how coach Jason Demetriou will use his big new recruit in Jack Wighton. At the Raiders Wighton was chief shot caller from the left hand side of the field standing at five-eighth. South Sydney have a pretty decent left side five-eighth in Cody Walker. The plan appears to be to play Wighton at left centre and if that eventuates then he’ll be very much on my radar. The left edge of the Rabbitohs is a productive place for SuperCoach as Isiah Tass showed averaging 57PPG there in 2023. I believe Wighton can score better if he wins the job. Strong watch.
Hame Sele
Position: Prop
Regular season games: 18 (10 starts) 39MPG
Likely replacement: Sele made the most appearances of any South Sydney prop in 2023 but his departure is not tremendously SuperCoach relevant. It may open the door for Shaq Mitchell to play more minutes though he’d still be the fourth best FRF in Souths rotation for mine behind Tevita Tatola/Jai Arrow as starters and Tom Burgess as the bench impact prop. That said, the Rabbitohs could play Arrow as a 2RF and Mitchell picks up minutes that way. The other potential beneficiary is new signing Sean Keppie.
Jed Cartwright
Position: Bench forward
Regular season games: 15 (all interchange) 27MPG
Likely replacement: Cartwright played a lot of games but not a lot of minutes in 2023 and so his departure does not create a tremendous opportunity. Tallis Duncan is an exciting youngster, if he gets a larger role as a result of the move that could be worth watching.
Blake Taaffe
Position: Fullback
Regular season games: 10 (seven starts at fullback) 59MPG
Likely replacement:Latrell Mitchell is obviously the first choice fullback for Souths but durable he is not, having played 16, 14, 17 and 14 regular season games in 2023-2020. Therefore the backup custodian at the Rabbitohs is one to watch. Terrel Kalo Kalo is without a contract at the time of writing but the Rabbitohs are working on a deal and the former junior NSW representative could be a cheapie to watch.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Dom Young (Knights), Spencer Leniu (Panthers), Lewis Murphy (Super League)
Departures: Jaxson Paulo (Manly), Fletcher Baker (Broncos), Paul Momirovski (Leeds Rhinos), Matt Lodge (Manly), Jake Turpin/Drew Hutchison (Bulldogs), Corey Allan (unsigned), Nathan Brown (unsigned), Paul Momirovski (unsigned), Ben Thomas (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Jaxson Paulo
Position: Wing
Regular season games: 11, 80MPG
Likely replacement: The departure of Paulo to the Sea Eagles is more than offset by the arrival of Dom Young from the Knights. Young had an absolutely cracker of a season on the right wing for Newcastle in 2023 scoring a season-best tally of 25 tries. He has to start there for the Roosters in 2024. Daniel Tupou has the left wing sewn up which leaves Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii as surplus. The Roosters did use Suaalii as a centre in the opening 13 games of 2023 before pushing him one spot wider for the remaining eight games he played. To my biased Rooster eye, Suaalii was far far better on the wing than he was at centre. And provided Billy Smith can sort out his contract extension, and Joey Manu is healthy the Roosters don’t need a centre. What they need is some cap space – so, while it pains me to see a star leave the club, the best thing for all concerned would be if Suaalii left to join Rugby Australia ahead of the 2024 season rather than going in 2025 as planned.
Fletcher Baker/Matt Lodge
Position: Prop
Regular season games: Baker 13 (three starts) 29MPG/Lodge Nine (all bench) 33MPG
Likely replacement: Former Penrith wrecking ball Spencer Leniu will slot straight into the front row rotation. I expect Leniu will be used off the bench at the Roosters as he was at the Panthers, though he may win a slight uptick in minutes at his new club.
Jake Turpin
Position: Hooker
Regular season games: 15 (eight starts) 41MPG
Likely replacement(s): The departure of Turpin should be well covered at the Roosters thanks the evolution of Sandon Smith. He may have started the season as a backup halfback option at the Roosters, but finished the year as such an impressive hooker that Kiwi international Brandon Smith was relegated to the bench. Add to that the expected recovery of Connor Watson from a patella injury which ruled him out of the entire 2023 season (though a deal is still to be done between he and the club for 2024) and the impressive rookie Tyler Moriarty and the Roosters should be able to cover Turpin’s departure.
Drew Hutchison
Position: Anywhere and everywhere
Regular season games: 17 (eight starts) 51MPG
Likely replacement(s): There is no one player capable of replacing a utility like the great Drew Hutchison. But as with Turpin above, the ability of Sandon Smith to cover the halves and Connor Watson as another utility alternative should suffice - combined with three CTW options in Suaalii, Manu and Smith (Billy). Six men required to cover one - Drew, you’ll be missed.
WARRIORS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (rugby union), Chanel Harris-Tavita (took 2023 off)
Departures: Josh Curran (Bulldogs), Viliame Vailea (Cowboys), Bayley Sironen (Super League)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
The biggest issue facing the Warriors appeared to be how they could fit returning stars Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (rugby union) and Chanel Harris-Tavita (year away from the game) into their squad. RTS is slated to slot in at centre (on the right I believe) at the expense of Rocco Berry. An absolute legend of SuperCoach (at wing and fullback) RTS will be on my watch list not buy list as I want to see if age has wearied or a move to the centres cruelled his SuperCoach output. CHT is a little more problematic. Five-eighth is his best position but Luke Metcalf was excellent there and a big part of the Warriors impressive form over the second-half of the 2023 season. And the Warriors have a utility on their bench in Dylan Walker. So where does he fit? I don’t know.
Josh Curran
Position: 2RF/lock
Regular season games: 20 (seven starts) 49MPG
Likely replacement: I was a bit surprised when I learned Curran was leaving the Warriors to join the Bulldogs. He didn’t have the greatest year in 2023, but he was being talked about in Origin selection circles in 2022. If Jazz Tevaga can stay healthy then he should be a beneficiary of Curran’s departure. Tom Ale may also see an expanded role and if he can hold on to his impressive PPM then he could be a sneaky buy – as could either of the rookies noted below should they play.
Bayley Sirnonen
Position: 2RF/interchange
Regular season games: 22 (zero starts) 30MPG
Look, I wasn’t even going to do a bit on Bayley. Limited minutes, limited impact I figured. But 22 games is a lot of games. And while 30MPG is not HEAPS, there were quite a few games of 35 minutes plus thrown in there’s minutes available for the rookies below.
WESTS TIGERS
PLAYER MOVES
Arrivals: Jayden Sullivan (Dragons), Aidan Sezer (Super League), Latu and Samuela Fainu (Manly)
Departures: Luke Brooks (Manly), Daine Laurie (Panthers), Tommy Talau (Manly), Aitasi James (Manly), Rua Ngatikaura (unsigned), Tuki Simpkins (unsigned), Brandon Wakeham (unsigned)
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
With three Tigers heading to Manly and two Sea Eagles heading to Concord it will be interesting to see who wins the ‘trade’.
Luke Brooks
Position: Halfback
Regular season games: 16 (all starts) 79MPG
Likely replacement: The Tigers will likely field an entirely new look halves combination in round one 2024 with Aidan Sezer firmly pencilled in to start at halfback and Jayden Sullivan the supposed frontrunner to wear six. Sezer, returning to the NRL after a four-year stint in the Super League is an intriguing one. He was a low-key SuperCoach stud when he was at the Titans averaging 60PPGin 2013 and 2015 (and not to sound like my grandpa – but that was when 60PPG meant something). But, as the mathematically literate among us will have noted, that was a long time ago. In 2018 and 2019 Sezer, playing for the Raiders, averaged a more pedestrian 35PPG and 38PPG. The drop off cannot entirely, but to a fair margin, be attributed to the fact that Sezer was the first choice goalkicker for the Titans, but he only kicked when Jarrod Croker was out when at the Raiders. Will he take the shots at Wests? Probably, I doubt Api Koroisau wants to keep the job. Will it make him worth taking a punt on? Maybe, but I’d want to see plenty in the pre-season.
The five-eighth spot is in contest too with new signingJayden Sullivan tipped to make that spot his own, at least until Adam Doueihi returns from his knee injury (which won’t be until mid-season at best). A better result for SuperCoaches would be rookie Latu Fainu starting at five-eighth. A prodigiously talented youngster, Fainu is yet to play in first grade but he’s been a star since his Harold Matts days and he’ll put plenty of pressure on Sullivan and Sezer and it would not shock to see him start in round one.
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