Ahhhh Ben

[mightyrooster]

Apparently we can only offer Hunt $500k a year - which begs the question, where the hell is all our salary cap being spent next year?

It’s totally bizarre. Maybe we expect Manu to return mid year. Maybe we’re looking towards big signings for 2026 when more players are off contract. May to tigers, I know this has been knocked on the head before but I wouldn’t mind Galvin.

[The Brain]

It’s totally bizarre. Maybe we expect Manu to return mid year. Maybe we’re looking towards big signings for 2026 when more players are off contract. May to tigers, I know this has been knocked on the head before but I wouldn’t mind Galvin.

Thats a smart buy- Galvin . Hard to pull away the kid from the them ..we almost got there ..
As I see it we get Hunt then Chad goes to Saints and poor young Elias is still out of a job.

[Thirteen]

Why didn’t we do a swap deal when we let May go, he was good and would have given us good bargaining power.

[HDTONE]

So if Cheese goes that's another regular part of our 17. So we've lost about 30% if our top 17.
Add Walker as well because he comes back mid season and Sandon who's up in the air.

Can't see there's no plan B. Hunt still has to meet with the Dogs so that's no cert he's a Chook.

Gotta figure and hope there's a massive Plan B going on in the halls of power.

[The Brain]

someone has mentioned chooks pulled the offer to Hunt

[milanja]

Hunt and his partner just whine and whinge to the media when things don’t go their way, realistically, his signing alone wouldn’t have made that much difference to 2025.

im pretty happy if i don’t see him wear our colours.

[milanja]

So if Cheese goes that's another regular part of our 17. So we've lost about 30% if our top 17.
Add Walker as well because he comes back mid season and Sandon who's up in the air.

Can't see there's no plan B. Hunt still has to meet with the Dogs so that's no cert he's a Chook.

Gotta figure and hope there's a massive Plan B going on in the halls of power.

Mitchell Pearce and John Bateman

[Qld Chook]

Apparently we can only offer Hunt $500k a year - which begs the question, where the hell is all our salary cap being spent next year?

My question exactly. We lost a heap of talent and havent signed anyone of note. I'm so confused. We should have a stack of cash.

And that's before even considering Keary & TMay, who we initially contracted for this season, have left. Someone make it make sense.

The only thing I cant think of is we have conceded it will be a rebuilding year so we front loaded contracts.

[Chook2]

My question exactly. We lost a heap of talent and havent signed anyone of note. I'm so confused. We should have a stack of cash.

And that's before even considering Keary & TMay, who we initially contracted for this season, have left. Someone make it make sense.

The only thing I cant think of is we have conceded it will be a rebuilding year so we front loaded contracts.

Only thing I can think of as well that we are loading up for 26/27 years to come
beggars belief
we have lost 6 of our top 17 for $4m, signed one player in Marky n for $500k and some upgrades
And have f all money? Something does not add up

[John Corey]

This is all about 2026. Big plans that require not over paying for a player like Ben Hunt.
2025 will be a tough season.

[Rooster_6]

This is all about 2026. Big plans that require not over paying for a player like Ben Hunt.
2025 will be a tough season.

Certainly feels like that.

Ben Hunt was possibly the Michael Gordon signing before the James Tedesco signing.

[HDTONE]

Don't we have to spend a big share of the $4m for next next year ?

[The Marshall]

On face value we should have heaps of cash. What we don’t know is what upgrades have we committed to? Or need to ?That may soak up money for players about to break out. I have seen it written in a few places that we have a good academy but I have been skeptical as we don’t seem to have unearthed much in the last few years, especially compared to Penrith and Melbourne.
I have started to come to the view that the club is going to rely more on academy talent as a cost effective way to manage the salary cap into the future. I think the club are clearly of the view that they are about to have the next generation of talent emerge over the next two years and need to keep cap space for those players. That would also fit with the idea of bringing in a few veterans to babysit for a year or two and an elite recruit in certain spots.
I wouldn’t have to much hope for 2025 as it is looking like a 2016 type of year. We know that season lead to a double.

[Rooster_6]

Don't we have to spend a big share of the $4m for next next year ?

Sounds like most of it has already been budgeted, potentially with some front loaded contracts and enough to make one signing if the timing is right.

[IRoosterManI]

Idk what it is but ever since the fafita fiasco we just haven’t been able to sign our targets, a very abnormal amount of failed deals.. it’s very unlike us… it has me concerned if we even know what direction we are taking atm.