RedVHeartbeat
SGI NSW Cup
Jahrome Hughes, Sandon Smith, Jaxon Purdue and Luke Metcalf are mentioned. We sign one of the four, then meanwhile we have the promising Kade Keed cooling his heels in Ressies for how long?
Recruitment and Retention for 2026
- Thread starter Dragons Chris
- Start date
RedVHeartbeat
SGI NSW Cup
Jaxon Purdue. Halfback. QLD U19s. Player Bio. Height: 186 cm. Weight: 83 kg. Birthplace: Mackay, QLD. Age: 19.
Hughes 30.
Metcalf 26.
Smith 22.
With Kade and Purdue same age, two cant play half/game manager.
Hughes 30.
Metcalf 26.
Smith 22.
With Kade and Purdue same age, two cant play half/game manager.
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Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
I just wonder who they have in mind? Better be a goody. If we do end up with a "marquee" half, he would be the 7 and Atkinson the 6? What will happen to LKT? I gather that Kyle will be in the 17 somewhere as well - on the bench as cannot see him as a lock so reverts back to being the 14 utility which he originally was signed for when we had Amone and Hunt.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Wasn't Amone already almost certainly going to be jailed and sacked or just sacked when Kyle was signed and Sullivan let go?
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
Hi Morgan
This is what Tim Watsford said -
"Kyle was brought in as a 14 or utility to play a role," Watsford said of Flanagan.
"At the time, we had two halves in Benny Hunt and Junior Amone. That was where the club was heading."
Junior's contract with the Dragons was deregistered in Dec 2023 and the club possibly foresaw this happening and signed Kyle in Sept 2023 I would imagine so that he could fill in for Amone which is what he did starting in 2024, but I think with his Dad coming as the head coach, Shane I'm sure arranged for Kyle to become the 14 initially not knowing what the outcome of Amone's situation would be I think.
Anyway for whatever reason it was, Watsford has said that Kyle won't be the half next year and that he is just "filling in" in 2025 until then.
Let's wait and see what happens and I think there will be lots happening throughout the year and start of next year. Get all things footy in place for 2026 and align with the proposed opening of the Centre of Excellence in about March 2026.
RedVHeartbeat
SGI NSW Cup
A pair of twin baby beasts. The prop resembles Loko in destructive power when he first came here, but is faster and more agile.
I forgot about the training of excellence, that will elevate professionalism & training standard across the squads.
jodragon40
Staff
It's official Toby Sexton is a dragon for the next 2 seasons. Unfortunately for us it's the Catalan Dragons in the ESL.
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
I think that is an odd statement for a club CEO to make public. I am OK with him thinking that this is the case, but I don't see the purpose in him making a public statement. Whoever plays 7 in 2026, whether it is Atkinson, LKT or Kyle, he will be thinking that he is only a placeholder until the CEO can find someone better.
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RedVHeartbeat
SGI NSW Cup
Neither Flanagan, Ilias or King-Togia will be our half in '26 as Watsford says it will be Atkinson. Hasnt he always been a utility, some 5/8, but a 7/game manager? Is currently the off the bench utility for the Shonkies. Little wonder then Watsford is shopping for a marquee half.
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
I am still thinking about the CEO’s statement regarding the recruitment of an elite halfback. IMO the current elite halfbacks are Jahrome Hughes, Nathan Cleary and Tom Dearden and the next level halfbacks are Daly Cherry-Evans, Luke Metcalf, Jamal Fogarty and Adam Reynolds. Of these players Jahrome Hughes, Adam Reynolds and Luke Metcalf will be coming off contract at the end of 2026 (according to Zero Tackle), and Daly Cherry-Evans will be available for season 2026. I think Jahrome Hughes may be a bridge too far, and Adam Reynolds NRL capacity may have expired by 2027. Therefore, unless we have Daly Cherry-Evans in our sights for 2026, we are going to be targeting Luke Metcalf.
Eric
Staff
He also mentioned Kade Reed so whoever it is, if anyone, it must not be a long-term deal.
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
Kade Reed may turn out to be our future halfback, but at this stage I think it may be a bit ambitious to place him in the elite category.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Not yet but he might be in a couple of years.
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
I hope you are right GCRV !!
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
He'd cost a mil a year.
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
A lot more
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Good player but personally I don't think that good.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Surely we couldnt pull someone like that.. would be a prime Bears candidate too right? Hes already on over 1mil, i thnk he would go for 1.3-1.5m on the open market.