Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[redv4life]

I'm a big fan of the young forwards in our team and coming through, but we still need good experienced forwards with size and nous. Sua, Liddle, Sele (stay fit for once) and Leilua (if his weight is really down and stays off) add to that lets hope we buy Kolomatangi for 27. It wont be Tino

gus tweeted today the dogs salary cap and roster is full (whether you believe him or not is another thing lol). one less club in for kolo could be a good thing ?

 

[dragonheart]

The Dogs are always in the mix no matter what Gus says. I would like to see Kolo and Savala join in 27

 

[jodragon40]

My 2c worth , you can't put an old head on young shoulders. No matter how promising or talented any young rising star players are they need to be taught the intricacies of their trade.

It is akin to when you went to school and you had a teacher who wanted to teach v the teacher that was just standing at the front and telling you to read pages in a book and self learn.

So those experienced players are needed but should not hinder our youngsters progress. The big question here is do we have those experienced players and are they willing or able to pass on their knowledge and experience. Time will tell.

 

[Justadragon]

My 2c worth , you can't put an old head on young shoulders. No matter how promising or talented any young rising star players are they need to be taught the intricacies of their trade.

It is akin to when you went to school and you had a teacher who wanted to teach v the teacher that was just standing at the front and telling you to read pages in a book and self learn.

So those experienced players are needed but should not hinder our youngsters progress. The big question here is do we have those experienced players and are they willing or able to pass on their knowledge and experience. Time will tell.

100% Jo, most of all the experienced players that we have had in the last 10 years have taught the juniors bugger all.

 

[Eric]

Thanks Chris, I appreciate it. It's just that I get so frustrated with the way things have been. Our club used to be feared across all grades. but somewhere along the line we lost our focus and started to bring players in to give us that short term fix and success. Maybe it started with Bennett but he knew what he was doing and brought in the exact players we needed, unlike the rest of the numpties that we have had bring in these sporadic players on big money at the end of their careers under the bullshit excuse that we need the experience to mentor our youth, what youth, we had virtually let our pathways die. Now the rectification process is in place, its the start of our future. As Cooper said in one of his messages, that things are finally changing for the better and he firmly believes that the Dragons fans have finally something to be excited about, we can really build a team around these young blokes whilst the pipeline is in place for the next 3-5 years, have a look at some of the posts @Mugfan has been displaying, we are certainly targeting some bright young talent,,,,,,,,finally !!!!

This is just a reminder for all users. I noticed J Justadragon tagged @Mugfan like this. To tag someone you need to add the "@" mark followed by the username. In this case it didn't work because it's Mug Fan, not @Mugfan. Spaces and upper or lower case matters.

 

[Eric]

My 2c worth , you can't put an old head on young shoulders. No matter how promising or talented any young rising star players are they need to be taught the intricacies of their trade.

It is akin to when you went to school and you had a teacher who wanted to teach v the teacher that was just standing at the front and telling you to read pages in a book and self learn.

So those experienced players are needed but should not hinder our youngsters progress. The big question here is do we have those experienced players and are they willing or able to pass on their knowledge and experience. Time will tell.

It's true but next year we will have Liddle and Couchman's will hardly be newbies any more. Ditto Stewart. But yeah, I can see the benefit of keeping Su'A rather than having a pack of 13. Stewart, 12. Egan, 11. Halangahu, 10. LPT, 9. Liddle, 10. Couchman.

Even 16 months from now, that pack would be unbelievably young.

 

[TheRev]

We've missed a lot of targets.. but if we did somehow pull off Savala @7, Koula/Campbell @1, Keaon @Prop, for 2027 or otherwise.. it would turn around our fortunes bigtime.. but lot of ifs and buts in there.. not sure just how seriously we are chasing any of those targets, or what our chances are.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Kade Reed finally extended, so you Bullgrubs and other would be poachers go suck eggs. He is ours.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Kolomatangi

Jeez we needed to get this big dude before he became a Kangaroo. Now his price will be if not double, significantly steeper. Plus he will be on more clubs radars. Forget him, no chance.

 

[Justadragon]

This is just a reminder for all users. I noticed J Justadragon tagged @Mugfan like this. To tag someone you need to add the "@" mark followed by the username. In this case it didn't work because it's Mug Fan, not @Mugfan. Spaces and upper or lower case matters.

Thankyou and edited

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Leilua (if his weight is really down and stays off)

Is that fact or wishful thinking as I'd love to see a trimmed down Luch become the middle enforcer we crave, smashing into the line then using his good ball skills for second phase. And we wont have to fork out valuable cap coin for an outsider. Luch would also be a good mentor for our emerging forwards. I reckon he still has another good four yrs in him if he is now fit and can stay that way.

 

[Justadragon]

Kolomatangi

Jeez we needed to get this big dude before he became a Kangaroo. Now his price will be if not double, significantly steeper. Plus he will be on more clubs radars. Forget him, no chance.

If the club really believes that we can get him RVH, then we should go after him and make sure that we do, its up to DA to do that without crucifying the future. He has got to want to come to the Dragons to be part of the club and the Dragons way, not just for the money and nothing else. Otherwise all we'll get is a Ben Hunt V2, thats just my opinion.

 

[Justadragon]

Is that fact or wishful thinking as I'd love to see a trimmed down Luch becoming the middle enforcer we crave, smashing into the line then using his good ball skills for second phase. And we wont have to faulk out valuable cap coin for an outsider. Luch would also be a good mentor for our emerging forwards. I reckon he still has another good four yrs in him if he is now and can stay fit.

He's in his last year RVH, it's taken him 2 years to work out that he needs to do something or he'll be gone. You cant really say he has been value for money.

 

[Edward]

Is that fact or wishful thinking as I'd love to see a trimmed down Luch becoming the middle enforcer we crave, smashing into the line then using his good ball skills for second phase. And we wont have to faulk out valuable cap coin for an outsider. Luch would also be a good mentor for our emerging forwards. I reckon he still has another good four yrs in him if he is now and can stay fit.

If Flanno wanted him to become a prop, wouldn't he not want Luciano to trim down?

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

He's in his last year RVH, it's taken him 2 years to work out that he needs to do something or he'll be gone. You cant really say he has been value for money.

I am talking of the proviso he has a new attitude and wants to be fit Jd. If he remains built like a brick shithouse which cuts his agility, then he wont be worth the coin we are paying him. Mate if he didnt have ball skills I'd not give him the time of day, like BMM, but if he can maintain his fitness then he becomes an asset.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Otherwise all we'll get is a Ben Hunt V2, thats just my opinion.

We already have one, Kyle Flanagan.
That name is banned on this forum. The nameless one is all I use.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

You dont agree Edward. In ball skills and kicking KF is his clone, but not in defense or effort. But with those skills alone he wont get us into the finals. It is someone that can lead us round the field that will and neither of them has proven they can do that.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

If Flanno wanted him to become a prop, wouldn't he not want Luciano to trim down?

I say both Shane Flanagan and Dan Lawson would demand it by making it crystal clear that Luchs days as a lazy trainer are over if he wants to finish his career wearing the RedV.

 

[Edward]

I say both Shane Flanagan and Dan Lawson would demand it by making it crystal clear that Luchs days as a lazy trainer are over if he wants to finish his career wearing the RedV.

He was overweight last year. But if he was going to become a prop, I guess he'd want to keep that bit of surplus luggage.

 

[Justadragon]

We already have one, Kyle Flanagan.
That name is banned on this forum. The nameless one is all I use.

I cant put KF into the BH mold RVH. It's not KF's fault he is playing where he is, I do believe his heart is with the Dragons, but unfortunately theres that big question mark over the position he plays or why he's there. I actually feel sorry for him and the comments he got after his game against PNG, it seems everyone knows what his best position is and isn't except his dad. In saying all this I still think he was better than Illias for last year, I'm also waiting to see what happens next year.