Official Connor Tracey

[Gumby]

Gonnnne

 

[Gumby]

I quite like Billy, would love him here.

Is Michael related to the legendary Johnny-lee?

Yeah I liked the look of him too. Think a few of us mentioned him a few months ago as someone we should sign.

 

[stalefish]

can any one copy and paste the article?

 

[bort]

Here's his replacement scoring against us

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1066660740927685

From DT Top 50 U18 last year
47
Michael Gabrael
State: NSW
Position: Centre
Affiliation: Bulldogs
School: Holy Cross College Ryde
A centre hailing from Wentworthville, Gabrael has been signed by the Bulldogs on a three-year deal. He has excelled at every level as a junior.

Had a glance at Kennel to see what thoughts were

• Why did we release Averillo to sign Tracey
• tracey is a gun, lot cronulla supporters are upset he is going
• Gabrael seems talented so it's a shame to move him on but Tracey is proven so he'll be a handy addition.
• happy with tracey not happy we gave them gabrael though what a shame.
• Gabrael is on development. NRL 2025. We still have to release someone from the Top 30 either to Cronulla or another club?
• Did we really give up Michael Gabrael in return, poor move imo.
• Gabrael came with hype from Parra but seemed to drop in the pecking order after a while. We have Samrani and others anyway.
• Not real happy about losing Gabrael though he looks to have a real promising future. In saying that both he and Kayal Iro prefer left centre so more backline positional issues for Sharks in future.*

*Gabrael played SG ball & Flegg last year by the looks, so eligible for SG again, then two years of Flegg. Unless he starts looking good enough we want him in Cup it's not a big issue. If he starts looking that good we will find a spot.
Was 18th man for one Cup game (v Jets) last season it seems too, so good sign at 18 he is getting close to that level.
But no tries in 11 Flegg games, did score 5 in 9 SG games

We'll be well positioned to have a go at AFB at least.

 

[Shortfin Mako]

https://archive.md/1yh0F

Confirmed. Swap for Michael Gabrael

Article also mentions we've had talks with Billy Burns

How is it possible that the Bulldogs keep signing and signing and signing…

 

[bort]

can any one copy and paste the article?

Connor Tracey’s deal with Canterbury is set to be rubber stamped after the Sharks and Bulldogs agreed to swap a rising star.

It is understood the Sharks have identified Michael Gabrael as the player they want from Canterbury in order to grant Tracey an immediate release.

Gabrael is an outside back who was on a development deal with the Bulldogs in 2024 before being promoted into the club’s top-30 squad.

The Sharks gave Tracey permission to talk with rival clubs, despite having 12 months left on his deal, because they were unable to guarantee him a starting position since Will Kennedy made the fullback spot his own.

Connor Tracey is off to the Bulldogs. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Tracey told Cronulla he wanted to join the Bulldogs, despite significant interest from St George Illawarra.

The utility back will now sign a three-year deal with the Bulldogs and join a totally revamped backline from next season.

The move will give the Sharks close to $500,000 in available salary cap space, as well as securing Gabrael, who has been touted as a future star. The Bulldogs snatched the young centre from Parramatta’s pathway system and were reluctant to let him go after he was part of their SG Ball team in 2023.

Canterbury’s head of football Phil Gould was enthusiastic about Gabrael’s re-signing on Twitter in January saying “good kid this one” along with a picture of the teenager.

He played for City under-18s earlier this year against Country and was also part of Canterbury’s SG Ball team.

Tracey’s release from the Sharks has emerged just over a week after the Sutherland Shire club let key playmaker Matt Moylan out of his contract with 12 months to run so he could take up a deal with Super League club Leigh.

The Sharks have picked up Bulldogs youngster Michael Gabrael. Picture: NRL Images

The release of the pair from the club’s top-30 roster has opened up salary cap space for Cronulla, who could suddenly be one of several clubs to raise interest in signing New Zealand Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake.

Fonua-Blake was photographed meeting with Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould last week.
The move follows a similar path to the one the Sharks took last year with Lachie Miller. Cronulla traded the Knights for emerging prop Max Bradbury.

Tracey, 27, made his first grade debut for South Sydney in 2019 before becoming a regular starter at the Sharks in recent years. He played just 10 games this year after struggling to crack Cronulla’s back five.

Addin Fonua-Blake met with Phil Gould last week.

Tracey’s pursuit of the Bulldogs fullback spot will create immense competition for head coach Cameron Ciraldo. New recruits Blake Taaffe, Stephen Crichton, plus 2023 fullback, Hayze Perham, will also battle for the no. 1 jumper.

The Bulldogs have now added Crichton, Taaffe, Drew Hutchison, Josh Curran, Jake Turpin, Jaeman Salmon, Poasa Faamausili, Bronson Xerri and Kurt Mann.

The Sharks have also had talks with ex-Dragons forward Billy Burns about the back-rower joining on a second-tier contract.
Meanwhile, Nat Butcher has signed a three-year extension with the Sydney Roosters that will keep the back rower at the club until at least the end of the 2027 season.

 

[bort]

How is it possible that the Bulldogs keep signing and signing and signing…

They had 500k spare for Tracey somehow haha

 

[Sevshark]

So is that article suggesting Tracey was on 500k or that between him and Moylan we've saved 500? Because seems a little low for the pair.

 

[Tightywhitey]

So is that article suggesting Tracey was on 500k or that between him and Moylan we've saved 500? Because seems a little low for the pair.

Think it's implying that Tracey was on 500. Between Tracey, Moylan, Graham and Finucane's reduced salary we should have a fair bit of cash stored imo

 

[Sevshark]

Think it's implying that Tracey was on 500. Between Tracey, Moylan, Graham and Finucane's reduced salary we should have a fair bit of cash stored imo

If we were paying him 500 than I'm even happier that he is gone. That's way too much for bloke not in the regular 17. Blayke is reportedly on 550 for reference

 

[bort]

So is that article suggesting Tracey was on 500k or that between him and Moylan we've saved 500? Because seems a little low for the pair.

I believe (and hope) it is referring to just Tracey. Throw in Moylan, call it 350, that's 850k available + anything we already had (presumably at least 250k to cover last squad spots)

We do have only 26 spots filled though so half that money is gone just filling those - fill three on average of 150k would leave about 650K (plus any extra) for last spot.

With Tracey following Moylan out I'd be very surprised if Hiroti didn't move up into one of the top 30 spots.

Think it's implying that Tracey was on 500. Between Tracey, Moylan, Graham and Finucane's reduced salary we should have a fair bit of cash stored imo

Graham would have largely gone into upgrade extensions I assume. Doubt we have the vast majority of his salary just floating around.
Finucane not reduced until next season.

 

[Tiger Shark]

They’ve really drunken the Gus coolade over in their forum

“got to wonder if Gus has talked this kid up early for a deal swap later. That’s the real value of a half academy.”

lol

 

[Gumby]

Wouldn’t be surprised if Tupuha and Hiroti now enter the top 30. Maybe even Bradbury as well?

 

[Mr Ryan]

I love the Trace, but we have the depth to replace him from within.

Better to use that money on other positions - that is forwards

 

[Gumby]

I love the Trace, but we have the depth to replace him from within.

Better to use that money on other positions - that is forwards

Unless injury strikes again.

 

[Mr Ryan]

How is it possible that the Bulldogs keep signing and signing and signing…

Did you see the Bulldogs play last season?

They pretty much lost every week and some of their squad simply weren’t first grade standard.

What choice do they have but to spend the money that NRL gives them?

The only player I’d want from their signings is Crichton, but not for what they would’ve paid.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Good luck to him, will play a heap more first grade over there than here. I hope he cements that fullback spot, but I suspect he might be in the centres, can’t help but think that they want to give Crichton first crack. Surprised we picked up a young outside back, would of thought we would of gone for a forward as it seems we have much more depth in the backs in our youth setups then we have forwards. Still, seems like an extremely promising young centre, plays left side as well, which is apparently Iro’s preferred side, so we’ll see how things settle on the depth chart in the coming years so to speak.

 

[Wiz]

I like it

Tracey gets a run at fullback in first grade after busting his ass trying to make it, we land a good junior on the rise and our relationship between another club improves which can help in the future

They were going hard for this to happen (Cantebury)

 

[Wiz]

Good luck to him, will play a heap more first grade over there than here. I hope he cements that fullback spot, but I suspect he might be in the centres, can’t help but think that they want to give Crichton first crack. Surprised we picked up a young outside back, would have thought we would have gone for a forward as it seems we have much more depth in the backs in our youth setups then we have forwards. Still, seems like an extremely promising young centre, plays left side as well, which is apparently Iro’s preferred side, so we’ll see how things settle on the depth chart in the coming years so to speak.

They see him as a Dylan Edwards type of fullback

 

[CrazyMatt]

They see him as a Dylan Edwards type of fullback

He might end up at fullback some time in the season, but im convinced they’ll give Crichton first crack at the very least. If it doesn’t work, yeah I can imagine Connor being next up. But who knows.