Recruitment and Retention for 2026

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
I like your superman analogy Dave, and of the wingers I have seen Nawaganitawase is easily the closest. I do want Sloan to see out his contract with the Dragons and hopefully 2026 will produce a more robust and aggressive version, and if not, we needn't offer an extension. Whilst it would be good to recruit a winger (a couple of rungs down from superman status), our efforts (and money) must be focused on recruiting a marquee prop and a top halfback.
Nice reply George. I agree with the marquee prop and halfback. Definitely need them. No doubt Anderson is working hard to get them to come and sign up with us.

I forgot to mention Nathan Lawson and Matt Feagai who both are wingers and they are steady players. Lawson would be better next year after his many games in the Cup and Feagai has been around for a few seasons now and is good as a substitute should injuries occur to either wingers and centres.

You know, my dream is for the Dragons to have the best players in all of the positions. Yes I know it is only a pipe dream and would never happen, but I will always dream. Just imagine, the best players. Wow! :LOL:

Dragons Tragic
Have we given up on Lawson?

Shane Flanagan gave him big wraps after we signed him. He still has a lot to learn and he might come good.
 

George Sancti

SGI Jersey Flegg
Nice reply George. I agree with the marquee prop and halfback. Definitely need them. No doubt Anderson is working hard to get them to come and sign up with us.

I forgot to mention Nathan Lawson and Matt Feagai who both are wingers and they are steady players. Lawson would be better next year after his many games in the Cup and Feagai has been around for a few seasons now and is good as a substitute should injuries occur to either wingers and centres.

You know, my dream is for the Dragons to have the best players in all of the positions. Yes I know it is only a pipe dream and would never happen, but I will always dream. Just imagine, the best players. Wow! :LOL:

Dragons Tragic
Have we given up on Lawson?

Shane Flanagan gave him big wraps after we signed him. He still has a lot to learn and he might come good.
Not necessarily a pipe dream, Dave. In 1965 we were pretty close to having the best players in all positions. We may just need to wait another 40 or 50 years... I will see you on the SCG Hill.
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Atkinson played well tonight. Scored a try, kicked really good in general play and defended well. Would like to have seen him do a bit more running tonight.

I think once he settles in our team he will be a very good link with the backs.
Yeah he played really well in the sharks win, the above-average general play kicking (and penalty kicks) is something I cant wait to have.. especially after we missed Douiehi.... and given that Atko hadnt played all year I thought he was pretty decent, 1 good pass, a bit clunky otherwise, but again to be expected.. the only qn is whether we can turn him into a 7 in 1 pre-season..

He is 100% a footballer no doubts about that side of things.. just might be a lot to go into a season depending on.. but perhaps we dont have a choice. The other option is LKT could play 7, but again its a lot to ask.. still barely finding his feet as a 6.
 

Justadragon

SGI Jersey Flegg
Yeah he played really well in the sharks win, the above-average general play kicking (and penalty kicks) is something I cant wait to have.. especially after we missed Douiehi.... and given that Atko hadnt played all year I thought he was pretty decent, 1 good pass, a bit clunky otherwise, but again to be expected.. the only qn is whether we can turn him into a 7 in 1 pre-season..

He is 100% a footballer no doubts about that side of things.. just might be a lot to go into a season depending on.. but perhaps we dont have a choice. The other option is LKT could play 7, but again its a lot to ask.. still barely finding his feet as a 6.
I just hope he gets to our preseason with no injuries.
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I was just talking about a T&T for Cody, I think its the best outcome.. he can keep training and see how his body goes with another off-season.. cover injury.. but I wasnt so keen to give up a Top30 spot.. they are so precious.. and this is very much uncharted territory.. talk again in 2026...

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RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
I was just talking about a T&T for Cody, I think its the best outcome.. he can keep training and see how his body goes with another off-season.. cover injury.. but I wasnt so keen to give up a Top30 spot.. they are so precious.. and this is very much uncharted territory.. talk again in 2026...

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The right decision. He can continue to put on weight and play well in reserve grade and then who knows what will happen in 2027.
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
I think Anderson will do well with Saints if he is paired with an organising half. Although he didn't do a lot of running last night, I feel his strengths may be getting the backline moving and running set plays.
So we are dropping LKT to make way for Anderson? Who is gonna be the halfback?
Kristen Bell Idk GIF by Team Coco
 

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
Have a disgusting feeling Shane’s going to keep Kyle as the 7 next year

Otherwise where else does he fit in the 17?

Should be LKT and Atkinson halves combo, there’s a load more threat in that duo and Atkinsons’ got a big boot on him to end the sets
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I cant think of a 7 we are going to find in the off-season (assuming DCE went to rorters).. and after we let Glover go and I dont think we will sign another of his stature in the game.. i.e. I think its a genuine first grade 7 or nothing... and I think Reed is the only young prospect in our system for now...

So for me the current situation is Atkinson/LKT 1st grade & Kyle/Reed in reserve grade...

However Kyle could also be the 9 or 14 in NSW Cup if we do sign someone (or Ilias stays), but I actually dont know who we are buying yet.. i.e. we have 4 (or 5) spots left and apart from perhaps Klemmer and another Winger/Fullback I dunno how we intend to fill those spots tbh.

Either way I cant see a way for Kyle to fit in our full strength 17.. so I think he is injury cover.. and I dont mind him for that, he is covering 6/7/9/14 and goal-kicking, but obviously thats a mental shift and still to see if Shane would agree with that.
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
Have a disgusting feeling Shane’s going to keep Kyle as the 7 next year

Otherwise where else does he fit in the 17?

Should be LKT and Atkinson halves combo, there’s a load more threat in that duo and Atkinsons’ got a big boot on him to end the sets
The CEO said specifically LKT 5/8 and Anderson halfback.
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I dont think anybody knows the 17 for next year, beacuse we dont know who we are going to be able to recruit yet... I know the big clubs get to actually recruit who they want, but we have had to be flexible..

I have no doubt we did and maybe still are trying to find a marquee 7, but nobody really knows yet, I dont even know what positions they have in mind for the 4 (or 5 or 6 if tapped players leave) spots still free.
 
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