The gamble your NRL club must take to be a success in 2024

Save articles for later

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

RABBITOHS

Make Latrell Mitchell captain
It’s time for South Sydney to go all-in on Latrell Mitchell. Already the fullback and the team’s talisman, the 26-year-old needs to lead South Sydney to a title. The chances of that happening will increase if he’s got the “c” next to his name. The added responsibility is what Mitchell needs to get him out of his comfort zone. There were suggestions last season Mitchell was given preferential treatment – let him share the captaincy duties with Cameron Murray and watch him step up and set the standards on and off the field.

NZ WARRIORS

Use the NRL’s money to buy an All Black
The NRL is finalising a bold initiative to make the purchase of players from rival codes salary-cap exempt. The Warriors should be the first club to avail themselves of it. They already have the signature of returning cross-code star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, but now is an opportunity to inflict a real blow on struggling rugby union. All Blacks Ardie Savea, Damian McKenzie and Richie Mo’unga have enough good football in them to top a short list. The Warriors are on the crest of a wave and securing a bigname, with minimal salary-cap damage, is too good an opportunity to pass.

The Warriors should target Ardie Savea.Credit: Getty

ROOSTERS

Release Joseph Suaalii immediately
If you’re struggling to work out where Joseph Suaalii fits into this Roosters line-up, it’s because he doesn’t. On merit, Dom Young and Daniel Tupou will be the wingers, with Joseph Manu and Billy Smith in the centres. That leaves Suaalii, who is sucking up a reported $700,000 of salary-cap space next year, surplus to requirements. That’s money that could be better spent on someone elsewhere. Even more so when you’re talking about a youngster who has turned their back on the club and the code to chase Rugby Australia’s money.

DRAGONS

Buy Joseph Suaalii immediately
It makes perfect sense. Shane Flanagan is desperate for a fullback; already he has indicated Zac Lomax will challenge Tyrell Sloan for the No.1 jersey this season, while Joseph Manu is a target for the following one. The Roosters can provide the short- and long-term answers he is seeking. The Dragons have the salary cap space to accommodate Suaalii immediately, should he be granted a release. Everyone wins; the Roosters free up salary-cap space, the Dragons get a marquee signing and Suaalii gets a guaranteed spine spot.

Joseph Suaalii would look good in the Red V strip.Credit: Getty

KNIGHTS

Ban Kalyn Ponga from representative footy
Kalyn Ponga is the NRL’s highest-earning player. After his extraordinary Dally M season, he is justifying his hefty price tag. To continue to do so, he needs to devote himself entirely to club football. His selfless decision to make himself unavailable for State of Origin propelled Newcastle into the finals and saved the job of coach Adam O’Brien. Ponga has missed a chunk of football in recent seasons and the Knights need him on deck as often as possible.

SHARKS

Buy a grizzled, old, angry forward
There is something missing from the Cronulla pack. What the Sharks need is an injection of mongrel, leadership and experience. What they need is Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Despite being contracted and in the twilight of his career, every effort should be made to prise JWH out of Bondi Junction immediately. While his judiciary record is a risk – he only has to sneeze to spend more time on the sidelines – it is one worth taking. The grizzled prop will harden up his teammates and teach them how to win. Craig Fitzgibbon should get on the phone to his old bosses at the Roosters and make it happen.

Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.Credit: Getty

SEA EAGLES

Embrace your inner rah-rah
Remember when Reuben Garrick, during a clash with Penrith in August, engaged in an old-fashioned kicking duel? It didn’t come off on that occasion – in fact it spectacularly backfired – but there was some method in the madness. Manly played a style of football that night which, albeit only momentarily, caught the premiers off kilter. Now imagine if they play that same bold, flamboyant style, but this time Tom Trbojevic and Luke Brooks are there to help execute it. Seibold has worked in the rugby sphere previously and might have just stumbled upon tactics that could shock the NRL.

Let’s see more kicking duels involving Reuben Garrick.Credit: Getty

RAIDERS

Keep Michael Maguire
They say a man cannot serve two masters, but Maguire has done a fine job of it so far. “Madge” has just relinquished the Kiwis coaching gig to pick up the NSW Blues job. Rather than viewing this as a negative, Canberra should hang on to a coach who regularly interacts with the game’s best players. The bloke is workaholic who won’t be burdened by the extra workload and it’s not like the Raiders will be able to replace him with a like-for-like premiership-winning assistant coach. It also sets up a succession plan for when Ricky Stuart eventually wants to hand in the clipboard and transition into an off-field role.

EELS

Move Clint Gutherson from fullback
Parramatta are desperate for an X-factor back. Melbourne are desperate for an X-factor forward. It’s time to do a swap deal. The Storm should loan out young gun Sualauvi Faalogo, which would give the Eels an X-factor fullback. The Eels would give Faalogo – stuck behind custodians Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nick Meaney – the chance to develop as a No.1 before returning to Melbourne. The Storm, meanwhile, would have their pick of one of several Parramatta forwards, which could potentially result in Ryan Matterson, Wiremu Greig or Bryce Cartwright being loaned out. It’s a win-win-win.

Clint Gutherson is a weapon, no matter which position he plays.Credit: Getty

COWBOYS

Let Jason Taumalolo go
Jason Taumalolo is halfway through a 10-year deal worth the best part of $10 million. There have been times when North Queensland have had the better end of that deal, but those days appear over. On his day, Taumalolo remains one of the game’s most destructive forwards, but he’s not worth seven figures. He would be a great pick-up for several rivals, especially given he spent more than a third of last season as bench forward for the Cowboys. After losing his debut boxing bout to Regan Campbell-Gillard, his new club should also ban him from any further time in the ring.

It’s time for the Cowboys to box clever with Jason Taumalolo.Credit: Dynamic Events

DOLPHINS

Just call yourself Redcliffe
They play in Redcliffe. They represent the people of Redcliffe. The club’s entire history is based in Redcliffe. So just call yourself the “Redcliffe Dolphins” already! Forget the gibber from the consultants claiming fans living outside of Redcliffe will be ostracised. Every other NRL club has a geographical reference in their title and they don’t have issues attracting fans from outside of their catchment area. Successful clubs not only know what they stand for, but also who they represent. And the “Redcliffe Dolphins” has a nice ring to it.

The Dolphins have an identity crisis.Credit: Getty

TITANS

Order Des Hasler to declare war on Brisbane
Now that they have made the brave decision to appoint Des Hasler, it’s time to get out of his way. Embrace the Dessie madness that he will inevitably bring in the belief that results will follow. However, there is one directive the coach should be given: pick a fight with Brisbane. The Titans have always struggled for relevance and they are further overshadowed by a rejuvenated Broncos and the newcomer Dolphins. Hasler enjoys playing the villain, so encourage him to poach Brisbane’s finest and do whatever else is necessary to put the Gold Coast on the NRL map.

BULLDOGS

Shift Matt Burton out of the halves
Matt Burton has made it abundantly clear he wants to play at five-eighth. It’s time to overrule him. It doesn’t matter that he is being paid spine money, this is the big gamble Cameron Ciraldo needs to take right now. There is plenty of time in Burton’s career to revert to a playmaking role while two of Toby Sexton, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Blake Taaffe and Jaeman Salmon steer the side. Burton’s strength is his running game and he can still hoist those towering bombs as a three-quarter. The co-captaincy is already enough of a burden.

Canterbury co-captain Matt Burton.Credit: Janie Barrett

WESTS TIGERS

Hire Michael Cheika
As it stands, the Wests Tigers don’t have a head of football. Tim Sheens was juggling that and the coaching jobs before he departed, but now that he’s gone Benji Marshall hasn’t got an old head to lean on. And as a rookie coach taking on the two-time wooden spooners, he’ll need all the help he can get. That’s where Cheika comes in. Sure, it’s a gamble but he has league experience with Lebanon and the Roosters. He’s reticent to shift away from coaching, but his mind should be changed. He’ll bring a fresh perspective to a club that has tied itself into a pretzel doing the same old thing.

PANTHERS

Cut ties with Jarome Luai
Jarome Luai loves the NBA. Convince Luai that the 2024 season is “The Last Dance” for him at Penrith. The Panthers should pull their $1.7 million deal to ensure other players aren’t lost. Luai is worth seven figures per season and the Tigers are prepared to pay him that. The constant speculation over his future has the potential to drag well into next season and disrupt Penrith’s chances of a historic four-peat. Shake hands, thank him for his service and then convince him to give it one final effort in 2024 to ensure he leaves the foot of the mountains as a winner.

Jarome Luai, and Penrith, could benefit from a change.Credit: Getty

STORM

Put a deadline on Craig Bellamy … and stick to it
You can almost set your clock to it, the inevitable “will he or won’t he retire” stories that drag well into Melbourne’s premiership campaign. Craig Bellamy’s signature has been one worth waiting for, but it’s now time to devise a succession plan. This year the Storm should make Bellamy adhere to the March deadline to make a call on his future. That way, if he doesn’t want to go on the following year, there’s plenty of time to school-up his replacement. The job is Jason Ryles’ to lose … unless Billy Slater wants it.

Craig Bellamy needs to make an early call.Credit: Getty Images

BRONCOS

Move on from Adam Reynolds

Adam Reynolds was brought to Brisbane to teach his teammates how to win. He has certainly done that. If not for an epic final 20 minutes from Nathan Cleary, the Broncos would be the reigning premiers. But all good things must come to an end and it’s time for Reynolds to hang up his boots at the end of 2024. The veteran halfback will be 34 next year and his body may not be able to go beyond then. Failing to prepare for his retirement is preparing to fail. Make the tough call now and get him to help blood his replacement No.7.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article