Official Signings, Transfers & Recruitment Discussion 2026

bort said:
Still super wary of this Fred signing, coming in with limited (no?) experience in the game mid season.
At least his Union side is now putting up good attacking numbers, just can't defend.
Sitting 7th with 4th best attack but only 4 of 13 other sides have conceded more, and 1 has conceded the same.

I assume at the moment Holdsworth is filling into attack, and we are probably running without a halves coach (he is doing it as necessary?) and have someone else in blue shirt trainer role. Assume the blue shirt trainer probably keeps that role if Holdsworth leaves, and we look for a new specialist halves coach. But if that is their only role with us they won't be fulltime like he was, doing multiple jobs.

Not sure I trust Maloney. He was brilliant but I don't know if he would know how to really teach technical aspects and he is a clear pain in the arse and just asking for trouble long term.
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Didn't he do a fair bit of work at the Roosters when Fitz was there?

I thought I read somewhere he also did a bit of work with us in 2022.
 
apezza said:
Didn't he do a fair bit of work at the Roosters when Fitz was there?

I thought I read somewhere he also did a bit of work with us in 2022.
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2022 Kicking and Skills consultant with us. Looks like he did a season with Roosters as a Coaching Consultant the year before.
Whatever that means. Hopefully heavily involved in their attacking systems!

Roosters had 4th best attack that year, two of the teams above just 6 points better.

Nicho won the Dally M the year he did a spell with us.

Just a concern he has been quite removed from NRL while it has evolved into the current game. Hope he has had time to be doing his homework while coaching Union.
 
Sam Verrills has been told by the titans he won’t be re signed for next season.

Bears still need a 9 so he could be an option for them. Don’t see any other nrl clubs though showing too much interest.

Maybe Manly if they can’t sign Connor Watson.
 
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Proud Shark said:
I agree, especially not for a HC position.

Between Seibold, Teo and Ennis there are a few AC options out of a job mid-year, so we should have some options. It's still just not ideal for the disruption.
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Ennis isn't an option unless you want him for Holdsworths halves specialist job. Hasn't been willing to work anywhere fulltime yet - not willing to give up Fox work for anything less than head coach.
 
bort said:
Ennis isn't an option unless you want him for Holdsworths halves specialist job. Hasn't been willing to work anywhere fulltime yet - not willing to give up Fox work for anything less than head coach.
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I thought Holdsworth was the attack AC now taking over Hannay?
 
bort said:
I am working on the assumption he is just filling in until Fred arrives, and would then revert to his other two part-time roles
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Interesting. I thought Fred would fill in those part time roles. I don't have anything to base that on though.
 
bort said:
Not sure I trust Maloney. He was brilliant but I don't know if he would know how to really teach technical aspects and he is a clear pain in the arse and just asking for trouble long term.
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While thankful for his significant contribution to our 2016 campaign, this disrespect Maloney showed the club in 2017 and afterwards has never sat that well with me

Tanking his game in 2017 cause unhappy with his contract (a contract he signed) yea that disqualifies him from future employment here for me - that is unacceptable to the jersey and to the supporters. Be unsatisfied with the contract sure and work through it on the side but don't punish the clubs fans and sponsors and give less than your best.

Also he talks **** about how he was practically coaching the team in 2016, yea righto mate. The team had improved significantly under Flanno from 2012-2015 before Jimmy got here, Flanno had great success in junior grades and took over a reserve grade squad, made good signings ect.

There is more to being head coach than just barking instructions about some attacking plays on field and Jimmy acts like Flanno made no valid contributions to the teams success

Bloke is a plonker
 
Proud Shark said:
Interesting. I thought Fred would fill in those part time roles. I don't have anything to base that on though.
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Sharks said
"Michalak will replace Josh Hannay, who vacated his role on Fitzgibbon's staff at the conclusion of the 2025 season to accept a head coaching opportunity at the Gold Coast Titans."
but that may very well just be words and you are correct.
Fred is also currently an attacking coach in union, which lends itself to idea he would keep that role, but with his League experience the Holdsworth roles would make more sense.
I'd be a lot more comfortable with the midseason arrival of a union coach if it was more in a halves and skills space.

Either way if Holdsworth leaves there's a fair bit of a gap suddenly. Seibold would be a good shout. Think Teo was a defensive coach at Broncs (and T-Baz is attack) so probably not what we are seeking.
 
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Gards said:
While thankful for his significant contribution to our 2016 campaign, this disrespect Maloney showed the club in 2017 and afterwards has never sat that well with me

Tanking his game in 2017 cause unhappy with his contract (a contract he signed) yea that disqualifies him from future employment here for me - that is unacceptable to the jersey and to the supporters. Be unsatisfied with the contract sure and work through it on the side but don't punish the clubs fans and sponsors and give less than your best.

Also he talks **** about how he was practically coaching the team in 2016, yea righto mate. The team had improved significantly under Flanno from 2012-2015 before Jimmy got here, Flanno had great success in junior grades and took over a reserve grade squad, made good signings ect.

There is more to being head coach than just barking instructions about some attacking plays on field and Jimmy acts like Flanno made no valid contributions to the teams success

Bloke is a plonker
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Yep. Plonker.

Luke Lewis often tells the story (in relation to the final play in the GF) how Flanno (not Maloney) often had them doing drills at the end of training where defenders used to keep dropping off until they were left with about 6 on 13 - just in case they one day had to scramble.
 
apezza said:
Yep. Plonker.

Luke Lewis often tells the story (in relation to the final play in the GF) how Flanno (not Maloney) often had them doing drills at the end of training where defenders used to keep dropping off until they were left with about 6 on 13 - just in case they one day had to scramble.
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I bet Maloney was the first to drop off and hit the showers

Bloke treated defense like an allergy
 
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