Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
In that case, I guess it's not Saab.
Recruitment and Retention for 2026
- Thread starter Dragons Chris
- Start date
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
It may well be, you can understand why they would be shopping him too.. god knows why they extended him in the first place though.. the thing he would bring is some height for ball catching which we sorely miss.. but yeah i dunno what the vibe was like when he left us in the first place.. not in love with him as a wing option either.. but I guess he is an upgrade on our current options.
We do however need to replace our fullback cover in Sloan if indeed we do find a new home for him.
Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
I haven't seen many Manly games so had no idea he was struggling. From the highlights I'd watched, I thought he was going well.
Personally I’d be looking at Tommy Talau. Off contract, plays wing and centre. Maybe get in dad’s ear. 25 years old, 6 ft 2, 95kg, played 80 games, 40 tries. Wouldn’t break the bank either
Eric
Staff
Who does he play for now?
Personally I'd like us to be able to promote like it seems every second other club is doing.
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
I do like seeing him flying down the wing but he needs a centre that can make a break and set him up for the run to the line. Suli would be the centre on the right side as Homes likes the left. Suli hogs the ball and can't make a break and he isn't a player who can effectively off load to any player.
So if we do get Saab, will he complain about the travel again? His original wish was to play under Des Hasler which he did. Des has gone and by that I mean he will be gone from the NRL after this year at the Titans imo.
Saab has defensive issues and I prefer that we keep Sloan as he loves the Dragons even though he too has defensive issues.
Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
Sloan has had so many chances over such a long period but is still far more likely to lose us the game with bad play than win it with good.
He’s at Manly
Love to promote internally if they’re ready to go, but they ain’t. Buchanan is nowhere near ready to step up, neither is Williams
Eric
Staff
Buchanan will never make it as a winger. Williams and Lyric might seem pretty far off now but they are both at an age where they could have big off seasons. Williams is on a train and trial deal so I think that means the clubs thinks he's not far off. There is also Kirk who did his ACL early this season. Could be the younger Rumble as well. He's already been promoted to NSW Cup for a few games. And of course Charles Heidke is another possibility.
Not doubting some of these young blokes coming through but in terms of 2026, they are more than likely not ready. Hence looking outside for 2026/27
jodragon40
Staff
You shouldn't be going Back to the Future in my opinion. If its Saab it's a No interest from me especially under the circumstances that he originally left the club.
100% agree. He shit on the club big time, I wouldn’t even entertain the idea of chasing him.
jodragon40
Staff
Look im no scout but finding, nurturing, investing and progessing the skillset of any player is a long term mission. It's like building your house.
You start with the foundation-
You look at those kids aged 12 - 15 years of age who show their individual techniques skills and stand out. They have to have technical skills.
Secondly you build your house , the walls go up, the rooms and the size.
Kids 15 - 18 years of age need to start showing more than technique they need to start showing their understanding of the game and what their individual role/job will be in the position they have chosen to play.
Their physical growth needs to start to show and continue to grow into their bodies and develop their physical appearance in line with their chosen position.
Thirdly and lastly you put the roof on your house. 18 - 20 years of age they have to have developed that mental toughness. Do they have the maturity to understand the sacrifice of realising their dream to possibly play 1sts one day which will severely affect their social life, so no night clubbing for instance.
Success never comes easy to the majority of 1st grade players.
You start with the foundation-
You look at those kids aged 12 - 15 years of age who show their individual techniques skills and stand out. They have to have technical skills.
Secondly you build your house , the walls go up, the rooms and the size.
Kids 15 - 18 years of age need to start showing more than technique they need to start showing their understanding of the game and what their individual role/job will be in the position they have chosen to play.
Their physical growth needs to start to show and continue to grow into their bodies and develop their physical appearance in line with their chosen position.
Thirdly and lastly you put the roof on your house. 18 - 20 years of age they have to have developed that mental toughness. Do they have the maturity to understand the sacrifice of realising their dream to possibly play 1sts one day which will severely affect their social life, so no night clubbing for instance.
Success never comes easy to the majority of 1st grade players.
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
Yes, well put Jo. Building a player from a young age to semi maturity to play league at the highest level. These blokes who dream of playing first grade have much to learn not only in the skills department of all aspects of development to become good footy players but having to sacrifice doing other things in life. Learning to balance everything in sport and social life and just having some time out stuff. Just like so many other sports where there is so much dedication, training and endurance to become the best or near to the best in whatever field of sport that is chosen.
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
So if the Tigers don't announce that they have re-signed Doueihi in the next few days and that there is silence for longer, it could mean that he has agreed to terms with another club and then of course the 10 day cooling off period will be involved to enable the Tigers to offer a different deal to him.
"The NRL's "last right of negotiation" clause, also known as the 10-day cooling-off period, does come into effect if a player's contract is not renewed by November 1 and they reach an agreement with another club. This clause allows the player's current club a 10-day window to attempt to re-sign the player before they can finalise their contract with the new club."
"The NRL's "last right of negotiation" clause, also known as the 10-day cooling-off period, does come into effect if a player's contract is not renewed by November 1 and they reach an agreement with another club. This clause allows the player's current club a 10-day window to attempt to re-sign the player before they can finalise their contract with the new club."
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
Afrer his big game last weekend, you'd think wherever he's going to sign, he'll do it this week.
Justadragon
SGI Jersey Flegg
It wouldnt be the first time Dave that a player has turned down an offer from the Dragons to come or go for less money
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
Not recently. Hopefully DA is going to fix whatever the issue is.
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
You may be spot on Edward. Even if we do miss out on Doueihi, having Daniel Anderson on board gives me confidence we are now managing the recruitment process more professionally.