Recruitment and Retention for 2026

Morgan

Morgan

SGI NSW Cup
Dragon David said:


Well Doueihi knocks us back and is going to remain a Tiger for at least the next 2 years. Our $150,000 more could not sway him. His Manager, Moses, must have arranged a third party agreement so he could get more than the $350k pa the Tigers will pay him for the new deal.

Dragons tried but can't win them all - hahaha. Now cross him off and who is next on the list - Sandon Smith?
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Don't need to sign players just because they are on the market. Or likely will be on the market. What position was Doueihi supposed to play for the Dragons? Halfback? God we need one but LKT is a running 5/8 who needs a playmaking halfback and Atkinson is supposed to play halfback anyway.

Need wingers and props.
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
If it's true Doueihi stayed at the Tigers for 25% less money over 2 years, do we need to start talking about Flanno? Or talk more? He just can't recruit even from clubs below the Dragons on the table and paying overs.
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
GCRV said:
If it's true Doueihi stayed at the Tigers for 25% less money over 2 years, do we need to start talking about Flanno? Or talk more? He just can't recruit even from clubs below the Dragons on the table and paying overs.
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According to News LTD Tigers increased their deal to match ours. Flanno could do worse than to raid the Tigers for some young players who the cap squeeze will fall on.
 
RedVHeartbeat

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
And that is the nature of the beast. Back in the day there was a word, what is it? Um, ahh, oh yes I remember LOYALTY.
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Yeh, well said. The mighty $$$ rules today over loyalty, that plus the health of either your current or intended club and of course having a 'clever' manager to guide you. I guess Finau Latu is a good case in point, snatched from under our nose by my most loathed club, the Bullgrubs.The difference between them and us is they have the well respected hard head Phil Gould to pick and choose which players he wants and almost always lands. Akin to our late and great Frank Facer. So the Grubs have gone from a basket case three yrs ago to now being a serious title contender, while we remain a basket case.
 
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Mug Fan

Mug Fan

SGI NSW Cup
FLANNO EXTENDED

St George Illawarra have extended the
contract of head coach Shane Flanagan until 2028 in a significant step towards building an NRL premiership-winning outfit.
Flanagan, who was off contract at the end of next season, has been granted a two-year extension by the club on the eve of Saturday’s local derby against the Cronulla Sharks, the club he guided to the historic 2016 premiership.

“I’m super excited about what lies ahead,” Flanagan said.

Interestingly, he did the deal himself, without agent Isaac Moses, after just seven days of talks with new CEO Tim Watsford and chairman Andrew Lancaster.
 
D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
GCRV said:
If it's true Doueihi stayed at the Tigers for 25% less money over 2 years, do we need to start talking about Flanno? Or talk more? He just can't recruit even from clubs below the Dragons on the table and paying overs.
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I think that Isaac Moses used us to get the Tigers to increase the term. I think that Doueihi was always wanting to stay at the Tigers but wanted the Tigers to increase the term. Nothing really came from the Dragons except some journalists saying we increased our money offer to $500k but that was only clickbait I bet. Moses will line up a third party agreement for Doueihi to get a bit more cash.

They continue to use the Dragons as the club a player has been negotiating with a lot as you know and yes a player does his due diligence and checks out facilities etc as part of the way they go about getting deals they want to achieve happen.

I rate Doueihi but I rate many players but it is not up to me or us fans to get those that we rate. Anderson has got that job of getting the player either the best of or near to the best that the club can attract. Elites are really difficult for this club to sign up, way difficult. We have to be a very special club for those elites to even want to talk to us let alone negotiate anything so my feeling is that the club is hoping that we have juniors who will develop into the elites and secure them for theirs and our future success.

Jayden Campbell
GCRV said:
Rumours about Campbell being on the outer won't go away. Personally I don't buy it. I think he'd be the last player they'd let go of.
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Yes, young Jayden Campbell I really rate as well. I honestly cannot see him coming to us as he is also a very versatile player which the Titans need as part of their spine. Foran won't be around for much longer insofar as playing league is concerned so the Titans cannot afford to lose Campbell.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Not gonna lie though, our roster is still imo 17from17 and to get on par with the other 16 clubs is going to take time (Tigers, Parra, Raiders, Newcastle I think are our competitors in this space.. but somehow the Raiders have proven me very wrong).. but hopefully that improvement is accelerating now.. most of the backlog of signings we want cleared finish end of 2026.. 2027 is a really important year for us.. we also need a plan in place by then to take over from ageing players like Gutho, Cookie and Val just behind them.
 
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TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I was hoping Dan Anderson would be on the podcast today, but it was Dan Lawson instead.. still interesting but rly keen to hear from Anderson.. that said until we have another name or 2 over the line (after securing Kerr but missing Douehi) he probably hasnt got too much he could add..

Note: Dan said the training session this week was the best he had ever seen... whether its enough to get over the sharks i dunno, but a great sign..
 
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D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
Mug Fan said:
FLANNO EXTENDED

St George Illawarra have extended the
contract of head coach Shane Flanagan until 2028 in a significant step towards building an NRL premiership-winning outfit.
Flanagan, who was off contract at the end of next season, has been granted a two-year extension by the club on the eve of Saturday’s local derby against the Cronulla Sharks, the club he guided to the historic 2016 premiership.

“I’m super excited about what lies ahead,” Flanagan said.

Interestingly, he did the deal himself, without agent Isaac Moses, after just seven days of talks with new CEO Tim Watsford and chairman Andrew Lancaster.
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This has come out of the blue. I think a good decision - RVH wouldn't be happy hahaha! The question now is what will Dean Young be doing? Will he remain the head assistant to Flanno for the next 3 years or will he look elsewhere for a head coaching gig at another NRL Club or serve some time in the Super League? I think that Ryan Carr is leaving so Flanno will need new assistants - maybe Willie Talau being one and if Young goes who will be the assistant to replace him?
 
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D

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
Dragon David said:
This has come out of the blue. I think a good decision - RVH wouldn't be happy hahaha! The question now is what will Dean Young be doing? Will he remain the head assistant to Flanno for the next 3 years or will he look elsewhere for a head coaching gig at another NRL Club or serve some time in the Super League. I think that Ryan Carr is leaving so Flanno will need new assistants - maybe Willie Talau being one and if Young goes who will be the assistant to replace him?
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Hopefully someone outside of the dragons to get some fresh ideas & perspective too. Talau & an external would be my preference. I rate Carr, disappointed to see him leaving.
 
D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
TheRev said:
ooh good call David, forgot about Deano..

There may be some Top8 type clauses in Flannos contract also for the final few years.. which I think is a fair compromise for both parties.
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Yes I agree TheRev. Who we sign up, who amongst the young brigade will be promoted and how we end up next year with these players will be important on top of the opening of the C of E in May 2026 will play a big role for Flanno's extra two years. I am predicting we make the top 8 in 2026 and a top 4 spot in 2027.
 
DragonsTragic

DragonsTragic

SGI Jersey Flegg
Dragon David said:
I think that Isaac Moses used us to get the Tigers to increase the term. I think that Doueihi was always wanting to stay at the Tigers but wanted the Tigers to increase the term. Nothing really came from the Dragons except some journalists saying we increased our money offer to $500k but that was only clickbait I bet. Moses will line up a third party agreement for Doueihi to get a bit more cash.

They continue to use the Dragons as the club a player has been negotiating with a lot as you know and yes a player does his due diligence and checks out facilities etc as part of the way they go about getting deals they want to achieve happen.

I rate Doueihi but I rate many players but it is not up to me or us fans to get those that we rate. Anderson has got that job of getting the player either the best of or near to the best that the club can attract. Elites are really difficult for this club to sign up, way difficult. We have to be a very special club for those elites to even want to talk to us let alone negotiate anything so my feeling is that the club is hoping that we have juniors who will develop into the elites and secure them for theirs and our future success.

Jayden Campbell

Yes, young Jayden Campbell I really rate as well. I honestly cannot see him coming to us as he is also a very versatile player which the Titans need as part of their spine. Foran won't be around for much longer insofar as playing league is concerned so the Titans cannot afford to lose Campbell.
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The thing that gets me about the whole Tigers-Doueihi thing is that they low-balled him and were almost happy to let him go until the Dogs game. Then all of a sudden they're falling over themselves to keep him. What happens if he plays a shocker this weekend? Either they see the longterm value in the player or not. A pretty haphazard way to manage a roster and salary cap.
 
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