Retained Players from 2008 Squad:

Shannon Gallant
Nathan Waters
Josh Davis
Allan Soultan
Nu Akeripa
Corey Vlaciky
Pat Rosser
Luke Young
Pat Franks
Dean Rysko

New Signings:

Andrew Everingham (outside back, Manly NSW Cup)
Tom Moon (Front Row/Second Row, Canterbury NSW Cup)
Charlie Herekotukutuku (5/8, Norths NSW Cup)
Alfred Betham (Front Row, Wentworthville NSW Cup)
Faitoaoa Asa (Front Row, Knights NSW Cup)
Ray Nasso (Hooker, Manly NSW Cup)
Duan Poneki (Front Row, Wentworthville NSW Cup)
Rhys Pritchard (Centre, Newtown NSW Cup)
Albert Hopoate (Centre, Newtown NSW Cup)
Justin Coveney (Front Row, Mounties JB Cup)

The Magpies will also have Wests Tigers NRL and NYC players not selected in their respective teams available.

There are also a few other guys trialling or getting back to fitness like Brendon Waters, who has just started back jogging after missing all of last season.

Thanks Andrew.

Good to see a big chunk of the squad backing up. Though liked to have seen Cutler in the squad again. Looks like another competitive squad - lets hope for another successful season.

Other than Asa and Charlie I don't really know much about the other new signings. Anyone got any information on them ?

:magpies:

Whats happening with Stolk and Mataka ?

Welcome back Toa! :clap:

Stolky is with the NYC squad, don't know Mataka's situation at this time.

Krakas-Toas Back?!!

Hopefully he can really show us what he is made of this time - welcome back - lets see the Kraka-tack!

Also Albert - originally from the heartland, he has been off for a few years - so be interested to see how he has developed.

Interesting to see a few new guys from Newtown and Wenty - Id expect very much that these 4 will take a leading position very quickly in the club - they all got all the way last year, so they know what we are like, and we pushed them bloody hard - theres some spirit in those few guys.

I hope we can get Brendan back into the fold - good to hear he is jogging him - knowing the waters mob (purely as a supporter) they are both stalwards of the club - so I really hope that we can reunite them.

Our next marketing line...

"Come and Watch the Magpies Shine in 2009!"

Welcome back Toa, Welcome back Hoppa Jnr. Looks like Albert's come home for an opportunity. I'm sure if his form warrants, that's exactly what he'll get. the kid was a prodigy whilst playing in the ranks of Matt's, SG Ball and then the Roosters swooped.

Having played a few seasons with the Chooks and the Jets respectively, along with Hoppa completing his Missionary duties, the best of Hoppa is yet to come I feel. Get stuck into him Harvey.

Looks like there will be alot of healthy competition for positions, which can only be a good thing for breeding success from within to seeing it transcend on the field.

Is Rhys Pritchard any relation to Frank Pritchard ?

Wasn't Hoppa Jnr part of the Roosters top squad at one stage ?

I don't think so, however I maybe wrong. I know Abraham Pritchard was. I believe he is currently playing with Mounties in the Jim Beam Cup. Or Bundaberg Cup as it will now be known.

Not sure if Hoppa Jnr was ever apart of the NRL Squad with Easts. I know he was on good coin when he left Western Suburbs though. They had high hopes for him playing First Grade, but his commitment to his faith came first and probably cost him his opportunity.

Coming back home to the Magpies is a tremendous move for both he and the club. He's a powerful asset and as stated if his form warrants, Hoppa Jnr and the likes of Akeripa will but pressure on the outside backs that are of first preference.

Rhys Pritchard is a central coast product (Erina, I think) that the Roosters had high hopes for. He has a bit of pace which will be handy.

Albert Hopoate was a member of the crack 2004 Roosters Flegg team that produced Jamie Soward, Sam Perrett & Heath L'Estrange. At times last season he was dropped back to Chester Hill's Jim Beam Cup team, which wouldn't have helped his confidence.

rhys pritchard is from the central coast nsw. he played for the wyong roos in his junior footy,was signed by manly at the age of 16 for 2 years ,then signed with the roosters for 2 then 1..played all his junior footy at 5/8,then moved to the centers with manly then center ,wing with the roosters..

I'm probably wrong, but I think Fittler wanted to use Hopoate at the back end of the season but the second tier cap would have been breached.

Rhys Pritchard is NOT related to frank pritchard..........

Will Lazarus play with Wests if not selected for NRL ? Read somewhere he will be playing for Balmain.

That's correct.

Why?

I believe he played his junior rep footy mostly (if not totally - can't remember) with Balmain and considers himself a Balmain junior.

Fair enough

Played in Wests Junior league with ESA. Same club as Hodgo

Wasn't selected by Wests for the Junior Reps and went elsewhere. Tried to get back to Wests for Jersey Flegg but wasn't wanted so he called Balmain and got a gig with them moving into Premier League in 2007 as a 18yo.

A talented young man with great potential. He is devoted to the game. One of the nicest and down to earth young man I have met. He is also the nephew of Glenn Lazarus.

Thanks guys. I thought he was a Wests junior. The fact he played junior rep with Balmain makes it understandable.

Flegg and Premier League with Balmain.