After passing the halfway mark of the season, those sides in the bottom few are starting to look to next season.
Below we take a look at those sides including their recruitment to date, and those players who they should target.
Related: 2018 Recruitment Gradings - Bulldogs, Warriors, Raiders, Eels
It's a little bit of fantasy booking per say, and I've tried to keep those potential targets realistic. Without knowing the exact salary cap position of each side, take the suggestions with a grain of salt, but given reports, and common sense, they are players each side would likely be able to recruit.
Gold Coast Titans
In: Keegan Hipgrave (Brisbane Broncos, 2018)
Not much in terms of ins, but the club didn't need a huge squad overhaul. They need to recruit more doctors as the casualty ward reached ridiculous proportions. To be honest, I don't know much about young Hipgrave, but fair to say his signing won't replicate the immediate success of Haynes arrival last season.
Out: Chris McQueen (Wests Tigers), Leivaha Pulu (New Zealand Warriors)
McQueen is a big loss but has been a fringe player this season, so won't be felt too harshly. Likewise, Pulu isn't a loss the Titans will celebrate, but it is hardly going to tear their squad apart. As good as McQueen and Pulu are, off contract players elsewhere were rightfully made priorities.
Re-signed: Jarryd Hayne (2018), Konrad Hurrell (2019), Ryan James (2020), Paterika Vaivai (2018)
The Titans have managed to re-sign the big three off-contract stars and have done very well to do so. Hayne probably didn't have a whole lot of options, but his re-signing should be marketed as a monster deal. Hurrell is playing brilliant footy, and Ryan James is a future rep forward. They've done well.
Off Contract: Karl Lawton, Agnatius Paasi, Nathan Peats, Eddy Pettybourne, Tyrone Roberts, Ryan Simpkins, Oshae Tuiasau, William Zillman
I can't believe Will Zillman is off contract. Seems like only yesterday he signed that monster deal with the Titans. I'm not sure if his retention will be met with such fanfare this time despite his talents. Nathan Peats is the deal the club needs to get done. Roberts is playing well.
Should Target: Bodene Thompson
The Titans squad is pretty much complete, but they do look an experienced, hard working second rower short. Bodene Thompson offered that, and more. Given the 'ins' headed to Auckland, it'll be tough to hold onto Thompson, Hoffman or Gubb, so the Titans could pounce there. Thompson should be the one.
Grading: B
The Titans didn't need to recruit big in key areas. Hayne, Taylor, Elgey and Peats are their long-term spine, so Peats re-signing needs to happen, almost at any cost. If they can extend their number nine's deal, they're well set. They have mega talent out wide, and plenty of depth. They look a forward or two short, but names will come up. Re-signing Hayne, Hurrell and James was an obvious priority. Get the Peats deal done now.
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