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.
8. Parramatta Eels
Major ins: Morgan Harper
Major outs: Josh Hodgson
Re-signed: Dylan Brown, Bryce Cartwright, Wiremu Greig, J'maine Hopgood, Mitchell Moses, Will Penisini, Maika Sivo
I still cannot believe the Eels missed Finals footy in 2023. How could that side possibly finish below nine sides?
Despite the final finishing spot, I believe there is a top few finish in this squad. So it's encouraging they enter 2024 with an almost identical list.
Josh Hodgson is a big loss, on paper only.
Morgn Harper is an option out wide, I guess. Eels fans weren't holding any parades for the announcement.
Re-signing wise they've nailed down their starting halves, two starting forwards, their try scoring freak out wide and their starting centre.
The squad is strong, but recruitment wise ... uninspiring.
Grade: C
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