The Biggest Winners And Losers From The NRL Off-Season

The NRL’s annual post-season player carousel has been spinning in high gear with several big-name players switching clubs for the 2017 season. Jarret Filmer picks the biggest winners and losers from the flurry of free agent movement.

WINNER: Gold Coast Titans

In the 18 months since Daly Cherry-Evans decided to turn his back on the biggest contract in rugby league history – a move that prompted every pundit and his dog to suggest that the Titans were destined to suffer mediocrity in perpetuity – the Titans have ended their finals drought, signed Jarryd Hayne, Ashley Taylor, Konrad Hurrell, Chris McQueen, Jarrod Wallace, Nathan Peats and Dan Sarginson while shedding Greg Bird. This offseason they have added resolute Kiwis second rower Kevin Proctor, one of the NRL’s most efficient defenders who formed a potent edge combination with Cooper Cronk in Melbourne that the Titans will be hoping he can re-create with tyros Taylor and Kane Elgey. The Titans will be a trendy a pick to win their maiden Premiership next season.

LOSER: Manly Sea Eagles

On the flip side of the back flip heard around the world, it’s difficult to figure out what the plan is on the Northern Beaches. Since canning club legend Geoff Toovey and replacing him with Trent Barrett’s matinee idol good looks the Silvertails seem to be lacking the sort of plan that will see them return to the club’s glory days. After signing his massive deal Daly Cherry-Evans was badly out of sorts and clearly missed the influence of Kieran Foran. Honest toiler Jamie Buhrer was swapped for Newcastle’s out-of-form and out-of-shape finisher Akuila Uate. Club stalwart Jamie Lyon hung up his boots and long-time centre partner Steve Matai looks likely to follow him into retirement. The Trbojevic brothers look like future Origin players but if Tom takes the custodian’s position where does that leave Brett Stewart? Melbourne’s Blake Green has been recruited to replace Foran as Cherry-Evans’ foil but it seems likely that he will join the long list of former Storm players to struggle once they leave Craig Bellamy’s tutelage. Manly is facing a lot of questions and they certainly didn’t provide any answers with their free agency moves.

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LOSER: Cronulla Sharks

Even when they are winners the Sharks are still losers.  Michael Ennis’ retirement has left a gaping hole at hooker that the Sharks are hoping to fill with NYC Player of the Year Jayden Brailey despite the mixed results for rakes graduating from the Under 20’s (see Lichaa, Michael). Their back-up plan is former Eel, Rooster and Titan Daniel Mortimer which is problematic because it hinges on Mortimer being a useful first grader. Ben Barba’s white line fever has opened the door for Valentine Holmes to assume his rightful position in the number one jersey but leaves the Sharks woefully thin on the three-quarter line.  Combine this with the fact that key cogs of the Sharks pack such as Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis are now a year older and closer to footballing oblivion and that Andrew Fifita is one brain snap away from lacing up his boots for the Batley Bulldogs and it’s hard not to be pessimistic about the Sharks chances of making the eight let, alone defending their Premiership title.

WINNER: Parramatta Eels

Parramatta were good enough to make the finals last season before they were stripped of points in the salary cap scandal. Badly burnt by putting all their eggs in the Foran basket, the Eels have now emulated last season’s big improvers, the Canberra Raiders, by taking a punt on a bevy of veterans on cheap contracts. While it is unlikely that any of the new signings will push for rep honours, the Eels roster now bristles with aggression and experience right across the park.

LOSER: New Zealand Warriors

For a team that has missed the finals five seasons in a row and features a host of ageing stars the Warriors have been strangely quiet on the free agent market. As the only team to change head coach they had carte blanche to re-shape the roster to suit Stephen Kearney’s vision but aside from the signing of troubled Kieran Foran to replace Thomas Leuluai the Warriors have done little. Assuming Foran is eventually registered by the NRL the Warriors seem to be hoping for a ‘best case’ scenario where none of their veterans shows their age, they get a full season from RTS and the youngsters start living up to their potential. While that scenario is possible its equally possible that the likes of Manu Vatuvei, Jacob Lillyman, Ryan Hoffman and Simon Mannering fall off a cliff and the slew of NYC graduates stocking the middle and bottom of the roster continue to put in erratic performances. The Warriors seem to be operating under the presumption that they are a move or two away from contention. Their performance over the last five seasons would suggest otherwise.