2025 Season - The season that was

[Dragon David]

OK I'm going to put myself out there lads, watching bits and pieces of the KOE Cup, I watched young TPH running from fullback, lightening quick, great courage and fearless to a tee. Remined me of a Walsh and Papenhuyzen. So there, something to think of outside the box. Feel free to shoot me down anyway you want. We need something different, an x Factor, a point of difference to what we are always doing.

I haven't seen much of TPH play but if he has similar traits as Walsh and Papenhuyzen then why not try him if he qualifies for first grade.
In my opinion Gutho is on the slow side compared to the fullbacks in other teams - Edwards is similar. I like a livewire type of player for fullback. One that can back up immediately in attack and one that can zip from one side of the field to the other to tackle an opposition player who is about to score. Also able to take high ball kicks and has a lethal cut out pass. Not asking for too much am I?

But here we go again and is what we can do and that is working out ourselves who should be where, what player we need, who we should get rid of etc which is all good for us to talk about. I only hope that what we see and what we want is similar to the recruitment guru, the head coach and the football manager who are at the grass roots of player requirements. It should not be about the name of a player, it should be where the best player should be played in all of the positions and if any position isn't covered well, get those players to fill the positions.

 

[Justadragon]

I haven't seen much of TPH play but if he has similar traits as Walsh and Papenhuyzen then why not try him if he qualifies for first grade.
In my opinion Gutho is on the slow side compared to the fullbacks in other teams - Edwards is similar. I like a livewire type of player for fullback. One that can back up immediately in attack and one that can zip from one side of the field to the other to tackle an opposition player who is about to score. Also able to take high ball kicks and has a lethal cut out pass. Not asking for too much am I?

But here we go again and is what we can do and that is working out ourselves who should be where, what player we need, who we should get rid of etc which is all good for us to talk about. I only hope that what we see and what we want is similar to the recruitment guru, the head coach and the football manager who are at the grass roots of player requirements. It should not be about the name of a player, it should be where the best player should be played in all of the positions and if any position isn't covered well, get those players to fill the positions.

Agree Dave, I dont know how good TPH might be aerially, maybe he would struggle, but we are clutching at straws, I really hope DA has this worked out, I couldnt go through another year where we have never had our spine settled for the majority of the year.

 

[Dragon David]

Agree Dave, I dont know how good TPH might be aerially, maybe he would struggle, but we are clutching at straws, I really hope DA has this worked out, I couldnt go through another year where we have never had our spine settled for the majority of the year.

Another year of the same won't be good but I think that we will do better, by how much is what I couldn't say. All I know is that both joint venture clubs don't work. If Flanno was head coach of say Manly, he would do a lot better - yes that club might have the better players and therefore he gets better results but if you take Madge Maguire who has had experience as a head coach of the Tigers - he couldn't take a trick at that joint venture club but now he has the Broncos in the grand final (again, better players I know but most stand alone clubs have these while we struggle to get them). Bennett was able to get us great results. But he is the exception.

 

[GCRV]

Agree Dave, I dont know how good TPH might be aerially, maybe he would struggle, but we are clutching at straws, I really hope DA has this worked out, I couldnt go through another year where we have never had our spine settled for the majority of the year.

Not Dufty 2.0? Walsh and Papenhuyzen are taller and heavier than TPH.

IMO Gutho is ok. He has a lot of strengths. Weakness compared to the best fullbacks is his lack of speed. Tedesco and Ponga don't have any weakness. Walsh can get jumped over when taking bombs and both he and Papenhuyzen can get flung around when caught.

 

[Illusion]

The difference between Walsh , Papenhuyzen compared to a player like Sloan that could have been our fullback is the other two are tough and not scared to put their bodies on the line ........

 

[blacksafake]

I reckon Gutho will be ok at fullback for at least another year but if not, Gutho halfback, LKT 5/8.

Atkinson??

 

[GCRV]

Atkinson??

Bench utility?

 

[Illusion]

Bench utility?

Is he better than Kyle ........ ? If he is then Kyle to the bench ........

 

[GCRV]

Is he better than Kyle ........ ? If he is then Kyle to the bench ........

Kyle is better than Ilias but that's not saying much. Flanno had reason to keep him in first grade. But I was stunned by his comments about LKT having an indifferent season but no mention of Kyle's season.

But to answer your question, as far as I'm concerned Atkinson is much better than Kyle.

Gutho will be the fullback anyway. I haven't seen anything to suggest he shouldn't be though he isn't a marquee fullback.

 

[dragonheart]

I kind of understand Flannos comments, kyle worked hard for the team but certainly not a no.1 half, he has a poor kicking game and died too often on the 5th tackle, but as flanno said he was brought to the Dragons as a14 to cover half and hooker. LkT is young and looks alright in attack taking to the line, but defensively not good at all, bad laterally and positioning, but may come good with a good off season. We had no real game management, they know this needs to be sorted.

 

[dragonheart]

I find it interesting South's take Ashton Ward, Bud Sullivan and now Jonah Glover for halfback and we didnt try Glover at all. Remember Ben Hornby a great half for us is there to mentor them.

 

[DragonsTragic]

I find it interesting South's take Ashton Ward, Bud Sullivan and now Jonah Glover for halfback and we didnt try Glover at all. Remember Ben Hornby a great half for us is there to mentor them.

They have Humphrey as well and just off-loaded Dodd. Smells of desperation.

 

[Kim]

Already got a good fullback in reserve grade. His name is Cody Ramsay.

 

[Morgan]

Already got a good fullback in reserve grade. His name is Cody Ramsay.

Probably not ready for a full year of first grade but hopefully will be good injury cover for Gutho.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Already got a good fullback in reserve grade. His name is Cody Ramsay.

Do you think he will stay or leave??

 

[Illusion]

Probably not ready for a full year of first grade but hopefully will be good injury cover for Gutho.

If he stays ........

 

[Eric]

Do you think he will stay or leave??

If he stays ........

Surely he'll stay. A development contract seems right. Would any other team gamble with him in the top 30 given his health issues? I would imagine they'd want to wait for another off season to see how he's continuing to progress health wise and whether he can pack on the weight first grade will require.

 

[Illusion]

Surely he'll stay. A development contract seems right. Would any other team gamble with him in the top 30 given his health issues? I would imagine they'd want to wait for another off season to see how he's continuing to progress health wise and whether he can pack on the weight first grade will require.

Didn't he visit Rooster's facilities ......... ?

 

[Eric]

Didn't he visit Rooster's facilities ......... ?

Yes. Was reported but that doesn't mean he's about to sign or they offered him a top 30 spot. Not as far as I know anyway but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Dave03]

He talks about his gameday routine with food intake which sounds tough. Happy for him to get another 1yr contract depending on what we do with our fb position. I don't see ramsey as a long term option due to his health issue.