2025 Season - The season that was

[Dragon David]

I noticed Ponga is a name that keeps coming up. Apparently there was talk the Bulldogs were after him but have given up. Almost certainly due to lack of salary cap space. Newcastles salary cap is going to be a disaster with Ponga and Brown both on over a mil a year. When Ponga is fit he's the best player in the comp. Having said all that, I guess Newcastle will want to see if they can make having Ponga and Brown work for next year at least.

I think that Ponga owes the Knights heaps because of his long layoff in the game and would want to repay the Knights for this. On top of this, once Dylan Brown goes there, their combination with Fletcher Sharpe or maybe Sandon Smith (who the Knights could use as their hooker). They will have a decent spine. The knights won the spoon in 2025 and Im sure that the new coach, yet to be decided, will get the club back up the table in 2026.

So my conclusion is that Ponga won't be leaving the Knights

 

[Dragons Chris]

I think that Ponga owes the Knights heaps because of his long layoff in the game and would want to repay the Knights for this. On top of this, once Dylan Brown goes there, their combination with Fletcher Sharpe or maybe Sandon Smith (who the Knights could use as their hooker). They will have a decent spine. The knights won the spoon in 2025 and Im sure that the new coach, yet to be decided, will get the club back up the table in 2026.

So my conclusion is that Ponga won't be leaving the Knights

I think Dylan Brown is one of the most overrated players in the competition. I'm stunned the Knight's offered him that much for that long but time will tell.

 

[Dragon David]

I think Dylan Brown is one of the most overrated players in the competition. I'm stunned the Knight's offered him that much for that long but time will tell.

Yes, it amazes me that Peter O'Sullivan, who as we know is a Recruitment Guru, would have arranged the deal for such a long period - no doubt with some clauses in the contract that could allow Brown not going the full 10 year term and also in the clubs favour. But why knock it back - $1.4M per year over 10 years for a player who has not really set the world on fire. It certainly beats the Lottery Office's Set for Life prize of $20k per month over 20 years.

 

[Justadragon]

I think Dylan Brown is one of the most overrated players in the competition. I'm stunned the Knight's offered him that much for that long but time will tell.

Not whilst I think of what we paid Norman will I ever think of anyone else as overrated.

 

[GCRV]

Not whilst I think of what we paid Norman will I ever think of anyone else as overrated.

Analysis = true

 

[Dragons Chris]

Not whilst I think of what we paid Norman will I ever think of anyone else as overrated.

Over the years, I guess it was the head coach making the decisions, there have been a number of blunders but Corey Norman was just on another level. Not only due to his on-field form but what he brought to the club off the field.

 

[Dave03]

How shit was the jdb farewell video. It's like they forgot and rushed it or forced to do it lmao.

 

[jodragon40]

No sugar coating another season lost, 15th on the ladder in the end no matter the what ifs during the season.

Positives would be: our new attacking structures when executed well, led to points. 498 points compared to last seasons 434.

Sloan love him or loath him because of his inability to defend finished the season 6th on the try scoring ladder, impressive considering our finishing position.

Our juniors that were blooded didn't dissapoint and our engine room moving into 2026/2027 won't be the reason we don't play semi finals football in either of these seasons.

Our reserves have played extremely well all season and are well coached by Willie Talau finishing 2nd and with luck should be representing the big red V on GF day.

Negatives:

Well far too many to name hence the 15th final position.

However defence didn't improve sufficiently enough 634 points conceded in 24, 628 this year, avg 26 points a game. History in this statistic shows that to play semi-finals football it should be no more than 18 so a way to go defensively.

The lack of a genuine 7 no matter how hard Flanagan tried, and he did try, cost us at the very least 4 games but to target him would be a mistake in my opinion.

Kick return metres, 17th, that is a very big issue because it dictates where you start your attacking sets and we didn't have the speed in the backline to score 70m tries. Personally I couldn't start Gutho at fb come 2026 just based on this statistic.

Due to the lack of success on the field the faithful actually attending games dwindled greatly to finish last in this area, extremely disappointing and that would have club management worried.

To my eye and for the last 3 seasons we have been down a genuine game manager and a big bodied go forward prop. Hopefully we can recruit in those 2 vital positions.

Good luck to our reserves in their endeavours to make the GF.

 

[Illusion]

No sugar coating another season lost, 15th on the ladder in the end no matter the what ifs during the season.

Positives would be: our new attacking structures when executed well, led to points. 498 points compared to last seasons 434.

Sloan love him or loath him because of his inability to defend finished the season 6th on the try scoring ladder, impressive considering our finishing position.

Our juniors that were blooded didn't dissapoint and our engine room moving into 2026/2027 won't be the reason we don't play semi finals football in either of these seasons.

Our reserves have played extremely well all season and are well coached by Willie Talau finishing 2nd and with luck should be representing the big red V on GF day.

Negatives:

Well far too many to name hence the 15th final position.

However defence didn't improve sufficiently enough 634 points conceded in 24, 628 this year, avg 26 points a game. History in this statistic shows that to play semi-finals football it should be no more than 18 so a way to go defensively.

The lack of a genuine 7 no matter how hard Flanagan tried, and he did try, cost us at the very least 4 games but to target him would be a mistake in my opinion.

Kick return metres, 17th, that is a very big issue because it dictates where you start your attacking sets and we didn't have the speed in the backline to score 70m tries. Personally I couldn't start Gutho at fb come 2026 just based on this statistic.

Due to the lack of success on the field the faithful actually attending games dwindled greatly to finish last in this area, extremely disappointing and that would have club management worried.

To my eye and for the last 3 seasons we have been down a genuine game manager and a big bodied go forward prop. Hopefully we can recruit in those 2 vital positions.

Good luck to our reserves in their endeavours to make the GF.

X2 ......................

 

[Dragon David]

No sugar coating another season lost, 15th on the ladder in the end no matter the what ifs during the season.

Positives would be: our new attacking structures when executed well, led to points. 498 points compared to last seasons 434.

Sloan love him or loath him because of his inability to defend finished the season 6th on the try scoring ladder, impressive considering our finishing position.

Our juniors that were blooded didn't dissapoint and our engine room moving into 2026/2027 won't be the reason we don't play semi finals football in either of these seasons.

Our reserves have played extremely well all season and are well coached by Willie Talau finishing 2nd and with luck should be representing the big red V on GF day.

Negatives:

Well far too many to name hence the 15th final position.

However defence didn't improve sufficiently enough 634 points conceded in 24, 628 this year, avg 26 points a game. History in this statistic shows that to play semi-finals football it should be no more than 18 so a way to go defensively.

The lack of a genuine 7 no matter how hard Flanagan tried, and he did try, cost us at the very least 4 games but to target him would be a mistake in my opinion.

Kick return metres, 17th, that is a very big issue because it dictates where you start your attacking sets and we didn't have the speed in the backline to score 70m tries. Personally I couldn't start Gutho at fb come 2026 just based on this statistic.

Due to the lack of success on the field the faithful actually attending games dwindled greatly to finish last in this area, extremely disappointing and that would have club management worried.

To my eye and for the last 3 seasons we have been down a genuine game manager and a big bodied go forward prop. Hopefully we can recruit in those 2 vital positions.

Good luck to our reserves in their endeavours to make the GF.

Well put Jo.

One thing that I am so damned upset about is your comment about fan attendance at games. Looking at most teams crowds and their respective grounds, there are so many more fans and the grounds are so much better - possibly the Tigers on a par with the Dragons' grounds. It seems so unfair that certain clubs have better facilities - Penrith is having a new ground built which when finished will possibly be the state of the art and whomever plays against them at the first game there will come up against a very determined team to win their first game at the new ground.

Kogarah and WIN - something drastically missing and I am sure that Management is worried about this.

I know that if we were playing top 8 footy every year things would be far different - obvious thing really and so the fact that our crowd numbers are the lowest of all clubs shows that the fans want better results plus better, more modern facilities.

What's happened to this Club?

 

[Eric]

Well put Jo.

One thing that I am so damned upset about is your comment about fan attendance at games. Looking at most teams crowds and their respective grounds, there are so many more fans and the grounds are so much better - possibly the Tigers on a par with the Dragons' grounds. It seems so unfair that certain clubs have better facilities - Penrith is having a new ground built which when finished will possibly be the state of the art and whomever plays against them at the first game there will come up against a very determined team to win their first game at the new ground.

Kogarah and WIN - something drastically missing and I am sure that Management is worried about this.

I know that if we were playing top 8 footy every year things would be far different - obvious thing really and so the fact that our crowd numbers are the lowest of all clubs shows that the fans want better results plus better, more modern facilities.

What's happened to this Club?

Need to not only start winning but do it with speed and skill. Not try and grind out wins. What has been the biggest score we have put on over the last few years? 30 something? Most or all other teams have a number of 40 or 50 point hauls. That's the way I see it anyway.

 

[Illusion]

Well put Jo.

One thing that I am so damned upset about is your comment about fan attendance at games. Looking at most teams crowds and their respective grounds, there are so many more fans and the grounds are so much better - possibly the Tigers on a par with the Dragons' grounds. It seems so unfair that certain clubs have better facilities - Penrith is having a new ground built which when finished will possibly be the state of the art and whomever plays against them at the first game there will come up against a very determined team to win their first game at the new ground.

Kogarah and WIN - something drastically missing and I am sure that Management is worried about this.

I know that if we were playing top 8 footy every year things would be far different - obvious thing really and so the fact that our crowd numbers are the lowest of all clubs shows that the fans want better results plus better, more modern facilities.

What's happened to this Club?

It's become a Boy's Club and they seem to be life members ....... I have seen it and lived it ........ If nothing changes dramatically , it will be a slow death

 

[jodragon40]

Well put Jo.

One thing that I am so damned upset about is your comment about fan attendance at games. Looking at most teams crowds and their respective grounds, there are so many more fans and the grounds are so much better - possibly the Tigers on a par with the Dragons' grounds. It seems so unfair that certain clubs have better facilities - Penrith is having a new ground built which when finished will possibly be the state of the art and whomever plays against them at the first game there will come up against a very determined team to win their first game at the new ground.

Kogarah and WIN - something drastically missing and I am sure that Management is worried about this.

I know that if we were playing top 8 footy every year things would be far different - obvious thing really and so the fact that our crowd numbers are the lowest of all clubs shows that the fans want better results plus better, more modern facilities.

What's happened to this Club?

I agree with what you say . I have always believed success on the field is important ingredient in being able to gain and maintain your supporter base and without a traditional home ground support this can equate to your team losing a close game. Cost of tickets and lack of facilities can also hinder a supporter base. But success is the most important ingredient something we haven't had for many years.

 

[Dave03]

I think once the coe starts we should consider moving most of our games to Wollongong. Need to have a proper location. Tigers will be doing it with only a select amount of games at Leichardt (3?). Commit properly to one base imo.

 

[GCRV]

I think once the coe starts we should consider moving most of our games to Wollongong. Need to have a proper location. Tigers will be doing it with only a select amount of games at Leichardt (3?). Commit properly to one base imo.

I agree with most of what you say but the current arrangement works well. Pretty much based in Wollongong but not completely abandoning the Kogarah area to Souths, Sydney, Canterbury or Cronulla.

 

[Dragon David]

Need to not only start winning but do it with speed and skill. Not try and grind out wins. What has been the biggest score we have put on over the last few years? 30 something? Most or all other teams have a number of 40 or 50 point hauls. That's the way I see it anyway.

Yes, cannot beat winning games with speed and brilliance (plus need great defence as well). That was what our past was like (in the 50's and 60's - Johnny King, Eddie Lumsden, Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands etc) and then we had players like Amos Roberts, Slippery Morris, Nathan Blacklock, Ricky Walford, Mark Gasnier, lately Tyrell Sloan. Where are those brilliant, speedy guys now at the Dragons? Or are there any/many coming through the system that you can tag as being brilliant. They are the players we need - brilliant ones, not average/mediocre ones they will bring the crowds you can bet my word on that.

 

[Dragon David]

I think once the coe starts we should consider moving most of our games to Wollongong. Need to have a proper location. Tigers will be doing it with only a select amount of games at Leichardt (3?). Commit properly to one base imo.

Yes, definitely need this to happen and then all focus can be made on the one ground with about 4 games at Kogarah. With the C of E available sometime next year this should help the football operations to function better. Improve the facilities at WIN and to give the players more identity and pride to be part of the new frontier.

 

[Dragon David]

I agree with most of what you say but the current arrangement works well. Pretty much based in Wollongong but not completely abandoning the Kogarah area to Souths, Sydney, Canterbury or Cronulla.

Yes, possibly keep playing games at Kogarah for games against those teams you mentioned GCRV. That's 4 games.

 

[Edward]

Yes, cannot beat winning games with speed and brilliance (plus need great defence as well). That was what our past was like (in the 50's and 60's - Johnny King, Eddie Lumsden, Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands etc) and then we had players like Amos Roberts, Slippery Morris, Nathan Blacklock, Ricky Walford, Mark Gasnier, lately Tyrell Sloan. Where are those brilliant, speedy guys now at the Dragons? Or are there any/many coming through the system that you can tag as being brilliant. They are the players we need - brilliant ones, not average/mediocre ones they will bring the crowds you can bet my word on that.

Do you mean, cannot win games without speed and brilliance? I think that's right. Not enough games against teams with speed and brilliance.

 

[jodragon40]

I think once the coe starts we should consider moving most of our games to Wollongong. Need to have a proper location. Tigers will be doing it with only a select amount of games at Leichardt (3?). Commit properly to one base imo.

Disagree, that's what I find wrong with the newer generation of fans and players alike.

No real grasp of our history and of course no understanding of the word loyalty.

Kogarah Jubilee oval is sacred ground. We are not the Illawarra St George Dragons it's the other way around and there are very good reasons for that.

I understand that the new COE is down at the Gong but the heart and soul of St George is Kogarah. There should be an equal balance of home games between the two venues.

Although I can see in the foreseeable future maintaining 2 home grounds with the current dwindling supporter base will be financially challenging.