2026 pre-season

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
I get the point DC, but if KF wasn't there would Flanno's comments on Illias be justified ? I see another article today about Pezet going to Parra for a year and no way were the Dragons going to get him in any way shape or form because of the I'll treatment of Illias. It's about time I reckon that the Dragons come out and say exactly why Illias couldn't force his way back into the NRL, because he was pathetic !!! And in all of this I see Souths are keeping a low profile, no mention of why they were so keen to let him go. I dont hate the kid , he's done nothing wrong, he just ain't got it or he aint got it for us, all the best to him at the GC. He got torn a new one by Boyd in the GF, I've seen him play live a couple of times and apart from maybe one game the only thing making him look good was Glover. Anasta can go and F$#K himself !!
As I see it, we needed another half because Hunt was leaving in 2025. Ilias was in limbo at Souths and more or less getting over his broken leg and was not wanted by the maestro Bennett in Souths squad so he was surplus to requirements and had nowhere to go and as we needed a half, Cookie threw in his two bobs worth and gave Ilias a good wrap having spent sometime playing with him at Souths. Now Anasta knew that he would find it hard to get Ilias a gig elsewhere and he probably found out that we had some interest by all that was going on in the media so with his tail between his legs Anasta got in touch with the Dragons and arranged a deal for us to sign Ilias. Now if Ilias was a world beater, there was no way that Anasta would have even taken any calls from Flanno to see if the Dragons could sign him up. But as he knew Ilias was not to be in real physical fitness and wasn't that great, he pretty quickly got him signed up to the Dragons and laughed all the way to the bank.

Now the moral of the story is twofold - Never take advice from a player to make recommendations for new players to be signed up and never deal with a sneak agent like Anasta ever again no matter who is on the market and managed by him.
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
As I see it, we needed another half because Hunt was leaving in 2025. Ilias was in limbo at Souths and more or less getting over his broken leg and was not wanted by the maestro Bennett in Souths squad so he was surplus to requirements and had nowhere to go and as we needed a half, Cookie threw in his two bobs worth and gave Ilias a good wrap having spent sometime playing with him at Souths. Now Anasta knew that he would find it hard to get Ilias a gig elsewhere and he probably found out that we had some interest by all that was going on in the media so with his tail between his legs Anasta got in touch with the Dragons and arranged a deal for us to sign Ilias. Now if Ilias was a world beater, there was no way that Anasta would have even taken any calls from Flanno to see if the Dragons could sign him up. But as he knew Ilias was not to be in real physical fitness and wasn't that great, he pretty quickly got him signed up to the Dragons and laughed all the way to the bank.

Now the moral of the story is twofold - Never take advice from a player to make recommendations for new players to be signed up and never deal with a sneak agent like Anasta ever again no matter who is on the market and managed by him.
100% Dave. I think the days between Anasta and the Dragons are pretty much over.
 

Morgan

SGI NSW Cup
Now we know neither Sami or NAS are coming (not a big deal. Sami is better than our current wingers but not a really good winger and NAS is well past his best), have to update this:

Round 1 team​

  1. Gutho
  2. CT
  3. Holmes
  4. Suli
  5. Feagai
  6. LKT
  7. Atkinson

  8. Sele
  9. Cook
  10. Couchman
  11. Su'A
  12. Egan
  13. Stewart

  14. Liddle
  15. Couchman
  16. Leilua
  17. LPT

  18. ?????? Please don't tell me Flanagan.
The pack is really very decent. Would be nice if Lawrie leaves so can extend Klemmer. There is also Gular for depth and hopefully Liu but not sure about his contract status.

The backline is terrible! Holmes is the only really good player in the backline. Gutho is good but question of whether he has the game for a modern fullback. He's a bit like Dylan Edwards lite and I thought he (Edwards) went downhill pretty drastically from the previous few years.
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
Now we know neither Sami or NAS are coming (not a big deal. Sami is better than our current wingers but not a really good winger and NAS is well past his best), have to update this:

Round 1 team​

  1. Gutho
  2. CT
  3. Holmes
  4. Suli
  5. Feagai
  6. LKT
  7. Atkinson

  8. Sele
  9. Cook
  10. Couchman
  11. Su'A
  12. Egan
  13. Stewart

  14. Liddle
  15. Couchman
  16. Leilua
  17. LPT

  18. ?????? Please don't tell me Flanagan.
The pack is really very decent. Would be nice if Lawrie leaves so can extend Klemmer. There is also Gular for depth and hopefully Liu but not sure about his contract status.

The backline is terrible! Holmes is the only really good player in the backline. Gutho is good but question of whether he has the game for a modern fullback. He's a bit like Dylan Edwards lite and I thought he (Edwards) went downhill pretty drastically from the previous few years.
You left out Truck Morgs, I reckon he should be in there somewhere.
 

Edward

SGI NSW Cup
Now we know neither Sami or NAS are coming (not a big deal. Sami is better than our current wingers but not a really good winger and NAS is well past his best), have to update this:

Round 1 team​

  1. Gutho
  2. CT
  3. Holmes
  4. Suli
  5. Feagai
  6. LKT
  7. Atkinson

  8. Sele
  9. Cook
  10. Couchman
  11. Su'A
  12. Egan
  13. Stewart

  14. Liddle
  15. Couchman
  16. Leilua
  17. LPT

  18. ?????? Please don't tell me Flanagan.
The pack is really very decent. Would be nice if Lawrie leaves so can extend Klemmer. There is also Gular for depth and hopefully Liu but not sure about his contract status.

The backline is terrible! Holmes is the only really good player in the backline. Gutho is good but question of whether he has the game for a modern fullback. He's a bit like Dylan Edwards lite and I thought he (Edwards) went downhill pretty drastically from the previous few years.
Forward pack is too light. Really need Klemmer or Gular will be starting.
 

George Sancti

SGI Jersey Flegg
Now we know neither Sami or NAS are coming (not a big deal. Sami is better than our current wingers but not a really good winger and NAS is well past his best), have to update this:

Round 1 team​

  1. Gutho
  2. CT
  3. Holmes
  4. Suli
  5. Feagai
  6. LKT
  7. Atkinson

  8. Sele
  9. Cook
  10. Couchman
  11. Su'A
  12. Egan
  13. Stewart

  14. Liddle
  15. Couchman
  16. Leilua
  17. LPT

  18. ?????? Please don't tell me Flanagan.
The pack is really very decent. Would be nice if Lawrie leaves so can extend Klemmer. There is also Gular for depth and hopefully Liu but not sure about his contract status.

The backline is terrible! Holmes is the only really good player in the backline. Gutho is good but question of whether he has the game for a modern fullback. He's a bit like Dylan Edwards lite and I thought he (Edwards) went downhill pretty drastically from the previous few years.
This is a reasonable team, and if the players can avoid major injuries, we should be competitive. However, add one or two very good players who are at or near representative level (I have lowered my expectations that we will sign any elite players), the eight will not be completely out of reach.
 

Eric

Staff
This is a reasonable team, and if the players can avoid major injuries, we should be competitive. However, add one or two very good players who are at or near representative level (I have lowered my expectations that we will sign any elite players), the eight will not be completely out of reach.
2 top quality rep players short. Agree 100% though I won't be surprised if Couchmans, Stewart, LPT become rep players next year.

That team Morgan Morgan nominated has CT, Suli and Feagai. 3 big, hard running, metre making backs. The way I see it, can only afford 1 of that type of back. 2 at most.
 

George Sancti

SGI Jersey Flegg
2 top quality rep players short. Agree 100% though I won't be surprised if Couchmans, Stewart, LPT become rep players next year.

That team Morgan Morgan nominated has CT, Suli and Feagai. 3 big, hard running, metre making backs. The way I see it, can only afford 1 of that type of back. 2 at most.
Whilst the team looks solid, it will not score a lot of points. We may need to start with David Fale or hope Sloan has improved his defence.
 

Eric

Staff
Whilst the team looks solid, it will not score a lot of points. We may need to start with David Fale or hope Sloan has improved his defence.
Or..... a long shot but Jesse Williams is on a train and trial deal according to Mug Fan Mug Fan. Same deal Shibasaki started the year on at the Donkeys...... Anything is possible when you have a big, fast winger like him who far from has hands for feet. Or is it feet for hands? He has skills on top of athletic ability, I mean to say.
 

George Sancti

SGI Jersey Flegg
Or..... a long shot but Jesse Williams is on a train and trial deal according to Mug Fan Mug Fan. Same deal Shibasaki started the year on at the Donkeys...... Anything is possible when you have a big, fast winger like him who far from has hands for feet. Or is it feet for hands? He has skills on top of athletic ability, I mean to say.
I don't know a lot about Jesse Williams, other than he scored a number of tries in the lower grades. In relation to the hands and feet thing, it depends on whether he has trouble catching the ball or tripping over the longer blades of grass!!
 

Mug Fan

SGI NSW Cup
Pre season kicks off tomorrow, it will see younger players back plus Sup and trian & trial players.

Loko
Jake
Hamish

Leeroy
Kade
Cyrus

Charles Heidke
Jesse Williams
Shadi Hammoud
Ryan Hutchinson
Jacob Webster
Daniel Meafou
Jarrah Treweek

A few players missing that will still be in rehab.
 

Ryan

SGI NSW Cup
Pre season kicks off tomorrow, it will see younger players back plus Sup and trian & trial players.

Loko
Jake
Hamish

Leeroy
Kade
Cyrus

Charles Heidke
Jesse Williams
Shadi Hammoud
Ryan Hutchinson
Jacob Webster
Daniel Meafou
Jarrah Treweek

A few players missing that will still be in rehab.
Has Corey Ackers officially moved on?
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
If we get him I'd like to see him at FB and move Gutho to 5/8 with Atkinson until Reed is ready.
Why are we all dismissing LKT? Considering he turned 20 during the season, was behind an injury decimated pack which was already considered weaker than most others and was partnered for every game with one Kyle Flanagan, I thought LKT was really good. At least really good in patches. Just needs to be more consistent and without those 2 major handicaps and a year older, I bet he can be really good more consistently.
 
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