Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[Eric]

Video of young Ah Kee on the linked page. My immediate impression is that even as a young fellow his passing game is already outstanding. He can really exploit a suddenly changed position with an unexpected pass in a way that I haven't ever seen before. Quick, quick hands. Talent. (excuse off-topic comment)

Ah Kee has been the topic of a lot of discussion for a long time, mostly in this thread.

Junior Reps 2025

https://www.news.com.au/sport/2025-peter-mulholland-cup-live-stream-patrician-brothers-blacktown-v-hunter-sports-high-grand-final/news-story/7220449a5bad1668a75f848c6ae9c134

sgiforum.com

Apparently no one doubts his talent but questions around his personality. He was off contract but haven't heard anything for a while so not sure how that is working out.

 

[redv4life]

pressure mounting on shane to land a big fish. metcalf would be 1.

 

[Morgan]

pressure mounting on shane to land a big fish. metcalf would be 1.

Don't think he is on the radar. Anderson has decided Kade Reed is the long term halfback from 2027.

 

[Dave03]

Fwiw I think roosters got ramsey more for culture with the young fellas than playing 1st grade. Their outside back depth is pretty good tbh. Stoked ramsey got a legit nrl contract. Get some financial security. Sensible decision by us too. Win/win for everyone

 

[GCRV]

pressure mounting on shane to land a big fish. metcalf would be 1.

Thankfully recruitment and retention has largely been taken out of Flanno's hands.

 

[Xuiz]

We are competing with Warriors 1+ million offer for Metcalf and also the Perth bears

How much are you guys willing to pay for a player like him?

 

[Dragon David]

I have a feeling that the Dragons are again being used as a club "showing interest" in the services of Luke Metcalf to drive up his market price that his manager can use during negotiations for the Warriors to retain his client. I think Metcalf was on $550,000 a year and his manager will be looking at somewhere near the million mark for the next couple of years. I just think Metcalf would be happy to stay in Auckland as he has formed good mateship with the other guys who attended Metcalf's wedding last weekend.

I'd like to see how Kade Reed handles himself in the higher Cup grade because he has received a lot of good wraps and Flanno could be happy to go with him and not bother signing a player like Metcalf.

 

[GCRV]

We are competing with Warriors 1+ million offer for Metcalf and also the Perth bears

How much are you guys willing to pay for a player like him?

How many halves do we need? Atkinson, LKT, KF (2 more years), Ilias, Reed & Hammoud not far away, Ah Kee not much further away.

Emphasis has to be on speed, good quality wingers! Then maybe one more good prop if they can move Lawrie on. Then centre and fullback and Holmes and Gutho aren't getting younger.

Then if none or only one of the halves above make it, another big money half or 5/8.

 

[Justadragon]

So when does the story come out that Metcalf is being courted by the Dragons so he gets his Million with the Warriors.

 

[George Sancti]

So when does the story come out that Metcalf is being courted by the Dragons so he gets his Million with the Warriors.

As a fan Justadragon, I find it annoying that we seem to be used consistently by agents to drive up the asking price of their clients, when we are not actively pursuing the player. From the club's perspective, they are probably happy to see the competition using a greater amount of their salary cap to sign a player. Regarding Metcalf, this is one player I would definitely be happy for us to sign. In earlier posts I was opposed to spending $1.2 on prop. However, for a top halfback, $1.2M is reasonable.

 

[Xuiz]

Wishart testing the open market, we will need a hooker/utility after Cook retires next year

9. Liddle
14. Wishart

 

[dragonheart]

I thought Wishart was pretty poor in the Grand Final, we need exceptional players who can take control, we have enough one dimensional types. It's time for the x factor and speed

 

[Dragon David]

We tend to get used a lot because we are seen as a club that is desperate to sign players. Like right at this moment we have signed Kerr, Atkinson and Fale. We have been linked to Sami but his agent has said that the Titans had never agreed to allow him to explore other clubs so he is staying at the Titans. Reports are that we have signed Nicholas Quinn from the Bunnies - but not as yet officially confirmed. Tim Watsford mentioned ages ago that we were targeting a marquee half back - but targeting and getting that player are two totally different things - and we seem to never get who we target.

The players we have signed and look like signing so far are ok but not marquee. So when a decent player comes on the market we are mentioned because we still have spots to fill and known that he have cap space to sign players but no one really knows who we are actually targeting and managers tend to mention us if they have a decent player on their books so that they can use us as a bargaining tool in their negotiations with other clubs.

We seem to be the club that all managers know we need good players but they don't direct those players to us. Anasta won't be sending any decent players to us on principle because of Ilias and there are others who don't like the Dragons. I think Daniel Anderson can now see what dramas we have in signing players.

 

[dragonheart]

We definitely need 2 marquee players ..... the Dragons fans need to be excited again, it's been too long. I have great hope in the young forwards coming through. ........ now give us 2 exceptional thrill seekers.
X factor and speed speed speed!

 

[Justadragon]

As a fan Justadragon, I find it annoying that we seem to be used consistently by agents to drive up the asking price of their clients, when we are not actively pursuing the player. From the club's perspective, they are probably happy to see the competition using a greater amount of their salary cap to sign a player. Regarding Metcalf, this is one player I would definitely be happy for us to sign. In earlier posts I was opposed to spending $1.2 on prop. However, for a top halfback, $1.2M is reasonable.

I really dont know what the worth of players is anymore George, we talk about millions as if it was Lolly water and then in the same breath we talk about not losing control of our cap which will hold us in good stead, and has it ? Apparently we have lots of money to throw around but we have no takers. I dont think anyone outside of those 4 walls where Anderson sits knows anything, I think we just let the season ride out and make judgement after Nov 1. Remember the good, bad and the ugly. I'm sure one of those will fit our recruiting picture very soon.

 

[Justadragon]

I thought Wishart was pretty poor in the Grand Final, we need exceptional players who can take control, we have enough one dimensional types. It's time for the x factor and speed

Agree, we need someone that can get momentum back when things are not going well for us, which is the case more often than not.

 

[Edward]

Wishart testing the open market, we will need a hooker/utility after Cook retires next year

9. Liddle
14. Wishart

I thought he might make a good hooker but definitely not a centre.

 

[Ryan]

I really dont know what the worth of players is anymore George, we talk about millions as if it was Lolly water and then in the same breath we talk about not losing control of our cap which will hold us in good stead, and has it ? Apparently we have lots of money to throw around but we have no takers. I dont think anyone outside of those 4 walls where Anderson sits knows anything, I think we just let the season ride out and make judgement after Nov 1. Remember the good, bad and the ugly. I'm sure one of those will fit our recruiting picture very soon.

I'm not overly concerned by it. It's seemed for a while if we want to get back to being a top team we have to do what all the top teams but Roosters do. Even Roosters have been doing it recently. That is, get a good group of young players have 2 or 3 pushing for first grade at the start of every season. I think we have it now. Except for in the outside backs.

X factor and speed speed speed!

This. We don't seem to have a lot of speed or X factor coming through to compliment all the forwards next year.

With the Cap, not sure how it works but I imagine we'd be able to front-load contracts then if need be, bid 1.8 mil for someone like Ponga.

 

[No Surrender]

So when does the story come out that Metcalf is being courted by the Dragons so he gets his Million with the Warriors.

Story was out yesterday saying we are one of two clubs chasing Metcalf.

 

[No Surrender]

Wishart testing the open market, we will need a hooker/utility after Cook retires next year

9. Liddle
14. Wishart

Unfortunately we still have Cook, and in theory young Flanagan is meant to have been signed as a 14.