The 2023 season now seems like it ended many, many months ago.
With a large number of players returning to pre-season training, attention has quickly and firmly turned to the 2024 campaign.
With a new season comes new hope, new opportunities and most importantly of all, new recruits!
Today I'm going to rank the ins, outs and re-signings of each of the clubs who finished outside of the finals in 2023.
Not every player will be mentioned, just the ones I see making an impact.
5. The Dolphins
Major ins: Herbie Farnworth, Jake Averillo, Thomas Flegler
Major outs: None
Re-signed: Tom Gilbert, Jamayne Isaako, Connelly Lemuelu, Jeremy Marshall-King, Tesi Niu, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Straight up, I think the Dolphins recruitment haul is the best across the entire competition for 2024.
They signed arguably the game's best centre in Herbie Farnworth as well as an Origin starter in Thomas Flegler.
They also added Jake Averillo, who was clearly the Dogs best player last season. His injury is supremely unlucky but his future is still very, very bright.
They moved on a few players but no one of great importance.
Wayne Bennett and co were also able to re-signing 2023 standouts Tom Gilbert, Jamayne Isaako, Connelly Lemuele, Jeremy Marshall-King, Tesi Niue and the Hammer.
A brilliant job done by the NRL's new boys. They should see a huge improvement in 2024.
Grade: A
Jeez Dan – Get Terry to proof-read the content before you publish it !
Wraps for Raps (did the guy arrive in a big ball of cotton-wool?)
Theyโre for Their
Due for Duo
Broncos for Bronson etc
Anyway:
– D for the Dragons is really mean. Theyโve got rid of Hook and signed Flanagan Senior. They havenโt let Ben Hunt walk. The attitude and motivation in the squad has go to be much higher than it was this time last year. Even if they didnโt sign anybody new, those two actions alone have got to be worth a comfortable B
– C for the Titans is a bit mean. Theyโve re-signed Mo and Tino and five good guys. They didnโt break the bank (somehow!) and could still afford Palasia. That has to worth a B at least.
– C for the Dogs is generous. The quality of the guys leaving is greater than the quality of the recruits, (even with Crichton). D for me.
– C for Parra is generous. Signing only Morgan Harper (no offence to him) is not good enough for a pass mark. D for me.
– C for the Cows is equally generous.
– Bunnies look like a B to me, but I won’t squabble over the A