2026 Fullback?

2026 Fullback

  • William Kennedy (no changes needed)

    Votes: 5 10.6%

  • William Kennedy (unless we get a much better player)

    Votes: 14 29.8%

  • Liam Ison / Taj Ford

    Votes: 5 10.6%

  • Clear the decks to poach a premium/marquee fullback immediately (e.g. Ponga, Manu)

    Votes: 2 4.3%

  • Make room to poach a mid-range fullback immediately (e.g. Jayden Campbell, Kini, Fa'alogo)

    Votes: 11 23.4%

  • Hiroti / Iro /Mulitalo (fullback-off)

    Votes: 2 4.3%

  • Chevy Stewart

    Votes: 3 6.4%

  • Cody Ramsey

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Tyrell Sloan

    Votes: 2 4.3%

  • Daine Laurie (need to trump the Raiders first)

    Votes: 3 6.4%

  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    47
  • Poll closed .
This is a tough one, as I'd be okay with multiple options here, and it depends on lots of factors beyond our knowledge/control.

For me, if the choice is there to bring in an elite, or very good fullback, you do it. Melbourne beat us due to elite moments from elite players, we have some very good players, but still somewhat lack the ability to break a big game open.

If the above isn't possible for whatever reason, then we would be silly not to try secure Kennedy for one more year. If the right option is available for 2027, it doesn't stop us going to market, and if it's not, we get to see some more of Ison before letting go a guy who bats well above his pay grade for us.

So if you can get Ponga/Campbell without crippling the cap, do that. Otherwise keep Kennedy for 1 year and keep options open.
 
Proud Shark said:
This is a tough one, as I'd be okay with multiple options here, and it depends on lots of factors beyond our knowledge/control.

For me, if the choice is there to bring in an elite, or very good fullback, you do it. Melbourne beat us due to elite moments from elite players, we have some very good players, but still somewhat lack the ability to break a big game open.

If the above isn't possible for whatever reason, then we would be silly not to try secure Kennedy for one more year. If the right option is available for 2027, it doesn't stop us going to market, and if it's not, we get to see some more of Ison before letting go a guy who bats well above his pay grade for us.

So if you can get Ponga/Campbell without crippling the cap, do that. Otherwise keep Kennedy for 1 year and keep options open.
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Yeah that's a fair point re the poll options. I've tried to change the two Kennedy options around a little, though I won't capture all the cases!
 
I went Kennedy because that’s the only scenario I really see happening

- unless we do a mass clean out we aren’t getting a high quality recruit at fullback, atleast not for 2026. I think any clean out happens in 27

- Ison won’t be ready. Different story if he didn’t get injured but he did and doubt he’ll be ready for a starting spot

That all changes if Kennedy doesn’t stay but feel if he was going to leave he would have signed by now
 
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Proud Shark said:
This is a tough one, as I'd be okay with multiple options here, and it depends on lots of factors beyond our knowledge/control.

For me, if the choice is there to bring in an elite, or very good fullback, you do it. Melbourne beat us due to elite moments from elite players, we have some very good players, but still somewhat lack the ability to break a big game open.

If the above isn't possible for whatever reason, then we would be silly not to try secure Kennedy for one more year. If the right option is available for 2027, it doesn't stop us going to market, and if it's not, we get to see some more of Ison before letting go a guy who bats well above his pay grade for us.

So if you can get Ponga/Campbell without crippling the cap, do that. Otherwise keep Kennedy for 1 year and keep options open.
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Yep perfectly summed up (y)
 
To be honest I do feel like the Titan's are the easiest path to a solution here. I don't care if it's Brimson, Campbell or Kini, they have to many quality fullbacks, we need one of them.

They need a controlling half, a hooker and probably an exorcism which I'll throw in for free on top of any deal.


If Hannay likes Niwhai start with offering him and his brother but if not I'm sure we have other squad members he'd like to keep coaching.
 
I would offer will like 300k for a year. If he goes I would back ISON or one of Mulitalo, Hiroti or Iro.


IRO or Mulitalo at full back could open up a wing spot for Stonestreet which would be handy.
 
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Sevshark said:
To be honest I do feel like the Titan's are the easiest path to a solution here. I don't care if it's Brimson, Campbell or Kini, they have to many quality fullbacks, we need one of them.

They need a controlling half, a hooker and probably an exorcism which I'll throw in for free on top of any deal.


If Hannay likes Niwhai start with offering him and his brother but if not I'm sure we have other squad members he'd like to keep coaching.
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Very good points. It probably would make it easier for Hannay to bring one or two players he knows as well.

In fact, when you lay it out like that, it seems almost inevitable once the dust settles from this season.
 
SF said:
Very good points. It probably would make it easier for Hannay to bring one or two players he knows as well.
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As much as I would hate to lose him, I think if we offered Hannay the chance to take Billy with him he'd jump at it.

If Fifita leaves they've basically only got Fermor left at backrow.
 
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Sevshark said:
As much as I would hate to lose him, I think if we offered Hannay the chance to take Billy with him he'd jump at it.

If Fifita leaves they've basically only got Fermor left at backrow.
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I could live with that, Burns or Nikora. Maybe even Talakai.

We are a little bit weak in depth, probably Coutts and McCullough/Dellow (though both currently locks) the main depth.
 
I think there'd be a riot if we let Burns go though. The Shire loves him. Also only frees up minimum cap space.

I'd probably look at Nikora then. He came from the Gold Coast too. I love him, but he was down on form this year, and I don't think our style of play helped him either (or Ramien).
 
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SF said:
I think there'd be a riot if we let Burns go though. The Shire loves him. Also only frees up minimum cap space.

I'd probably look at Nikora then. He came from the Gold Coast too. I love him, but he was down on form this year, and I don't think our style of play helped him either.
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I've been a fan of Billy since well before he was playing regular nrl for us but I'm not letting Brit go for him.

If talk of BHU being halfway out the door is true than the cap space shouldn't be too much of an issue when combined with the reported 300k we have set aside for Will.
 
Sevshark said:
I've been a fan of Billy since well before he was playing regular nrl for us but I'm not letting Brit go for him.

If talk of BHU being halfway out the door is true than the cap space shouldn't be too much of an issue when combined with the reported 300k we have set aside for Will.
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Fair enough. I guess if we got Kini or similar, then probably most would see Billy as an acceptable price.
 
SF said:
Fair enough. I guess if we got Kini or similar, then probably most would see Billy as an acceptable price.
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Kini is probably the least likely of the three I'd say

Campbell is the only one we can actually talk to from nov1 and we should be trying to get a deal for 27 done immediately. Then we can try and get a transfer sorted.

He'd also be the cheapest of the 3 next year
 
Sevshark said:
As much as I would hate to lose him, I think if we offered Hannay the chance to take Billy with him he'd jump at it.

If Fifita leaves they've basically only got Fermor left at backrow.
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Nah he can take either Wilton or Nikora.

Keep Burns.
 
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