Off season chatter

[Papenhuyzen23]

Jack Hethrington can be added to the 2026 squad, can’t really see him displacing any of our best 17 but an ok depth piece, work that magic Bellamy!

[yanjarra]

Just reading between the lines looking at socials of early returns to training as we all do, i'd say we can lock in that jack is going to remain centre, warbrick will be wing again for sure and looks ripped, but he always does, i rekon he'll have a huge season if fit. Mcdonald looks trim, 2nd row might be a shout but id say its chan/lisati. Leo looking fit and might put some pressure on meaney

[The Black Dot]

So it looks like no Rugby 360 until 28 so if Paps turns around and says "Whoops can I come back ?" do we say sure or don't let the door hit you on the way out?

[Bullucked]

So it looks like no Rugby 360 until 28 so if Paps turns around and says "Whoops can I come back ?" do we say sure or don't let the door hit you on the way out?

For me, no. But even for just match payments.
Let's give Sua the keys and pray for no soft tissue injuries...

[Storm Spirit]

So it looks like no Rugby 360 until 28 so if Paps turns around and says "Whoops can I come back ?" do we say sure or don't let the door hit you on the way out?

That's a fascinating question.

I dont know Paps ......just saw what I saw on his Instagram and heard what I heard on the 167 podcast.

I get the impression that Paps wanted and needed to see (for a short while anyway) what the other part of life was like without the constant discipline of professional sport.

The future opportunities like R360 must have been a massive part of his decision but having some time away also seemed like that was a factor for him.

I don't reckon he would come back to Storm this year even if the Club wanted him to.

Just my opinion...no inside knowledge at all.

[sallymay]

Take him back in a heart beat

I don’t think he will come back though I really think he wanted a break from playing

If he does come back I hope it’s with the bears not any other club

[Storm98]

Paps is not a guy id want back. Could use Lomax at centre though

[yanjarra]

Lomax would be great but think he had a clause he can't play for another nrl club but eels.

Pap would only be there for depth if he returned - which won't happen; club would be going in another direction at no1 whether he stayed or left...which is the real reason he left and wont return. It's naive to think he'd of still 'left to have a break' if the club begged him to stay and be the number 1 long term because he was playing great, and they and he were thrilled with the way he was going. That's not what happened. Whens the last time a club said we terminated a contract because a 'guy isnt up to it', especially a well liked legend of a club, don't believe everything you read in press releases. He could either leave or sit on the sidelines. He did what was best for the club and himself with that info, credit to him.

[Papenhuyzen23]

First grade and NSW Cup squads starting to take shape for 2026

I can’t wait to watch the NSW cup this year, I think it’s so much better for the club by ways of combinations etc

1. Sua FA’ALOGO
2. Xavier COATES
3. Jack HOWARTH
4. Nick MEANEY
5. Will WARBRICK
6. Cameron MUNSTER
7. Jahrome HUGHES
8. Stefano UTOIKAMANU
9. Harry GRANT (c)
10. Josh KING
11. Shawn BLORE
12. Ativalu LISATI
13. Trent LOIERO

14. Tyran WISHART
15. Alec MACDONALD
16. Joe CHAN
17. Tui KAMIKAMIKA

NSW Cup

1. Hugo PEEL
2. Suilagi TUIMALATU-BROWN
3. Marion SEVE
4. Moses LEO
5. Manaia WAITERE
6. Trent TOELAU
7. Keagan RUSSELL-SMITH
8. Josiah PAHULU
9. Gabriel SATRICK
10. Lazarus VAALEPU
11. Preston CONN
12. Angus HINCHEY
13. Jack HETHRINGTON

?? Jai BOWDEN
?? Mitchell JENNINGS

[Stormszn]

First grade and NSW Cup squads starting to take shape for 2026

I can’t wait to watch the NSW cup this year, I think it’s so much better for the club by ways of combinations etc

1. Sua FA’ALOGO
2. Xavier COATES
3. Jack HOWARTH
4. Nick MEANEY
5. Will WARBRICK
6. Cameron MUNSTER
7. Jahrome HUGHES
8. Stefano UTOIKAMANU
9. Harry GRANT (c)
10. Josh KING
11. Shawn BLORE
12. Ativalu LISATI
13. Trent LOIERO

14. Tyran WISHART
15. Alec MACDONALD
16. Joe CHAN
17. Tui KAMIKAMIKA

NSW Cup

1. Hugo PEEL
2. Suilagi TUIMALATU-BROWN
3. Marion SEVE
4. Moses LEO
5. Manaia WAITERE
6. Trent TOELAU
7. Keagan RUSSELL-SMITH
8. Josiah PAHULU
9. Gabriel SATRICK
10. Lazarus VAALEPU
11. Preston CONN
12. Angus HINCHEY
13. Jack HETHRINGTON

?? Jai BOWDEN
?? Mitchell JENNINGS

Pahulu will be in the first grade side. Probably Hetherington too.

[Papenhuyzen23]

Yeah mate I think you missed the point of the post, just showing the depth we have now for NSW cup, I picked Bellamy favourites but trust me I would have 3 or 4 of these guys named not in 1st grade at all.

[Utha]

Paps might be done with pro sport altogether from what he’s been saying to the media. After all his injury issues, who could blame him?

If that’s the case, it’s a pity he didn’t quite go out on top like Ash Barty, but shit happens. Billy Slater also bowed out after a loss (2018 GF).

[yanjarra]

More socials inferrings:

* meaney won the beep test.

*Wish, uto, munster, grant not returned as best i can tell. Wish would likely push meaney in beep. Harry/munster extra time off due ashes tour. Didnt realise uto got a cat 1 for tonga, so thats why he'd be delayed. And i guess wish gets time off due pms 13 appearance.

*blore on crutches. Did he pick up a late leg injury/off season surgery?

*howarth looks fittest he's been.

* kingy still looks filthy did anyone catch the clip of harry saying hopefully king will crack a smile for the first time since the gf next year sometime? wish we had 30 with his mentality.

[Stormhunter]

Did Howarth end up getting an operation on his shoulder?

[sallymay]

Did Howarth end up getting an operation on his shoulder?

I think he did …I remember his girlfriend posted about it I just can’t remember when it was now