Recruitment and Retention for 2026

Dragons Chris

Dragons Chris

SGI NSW Cup
TheRev said:
Agree, even though I was keen to fast-track him (and still all for it if things end up that way).. another year or half a year in Flegg is no big deal.... i.e. 2yrs spent in Flegg is the normal amount.. then 2yrs of cup.. then first grade.. obviously it doesnt always go to plan and sometimes you move up to cover injury etc.

Fans imo struggle to process more than what's happening 'tomorrow'.. I use the example of Glover.. in 2025... he would have been a complete rookie halfback if we had promoted him late in the season.. an absolute rookie who would struggle to tackle world class players... and Jonah is 3-4yrs older than Kade.. Jonah has 2 full seasons of NSW Cup, god knows how much flegg before that.. there is a huge gulf between them.. similar with O'Neil and Reed.

imo Don't compare Reed to the 0.001% prodigies like Walker and Cleary.. Walker himself struggled for a long time due to the early promotion in a world class roosters squad.. and often you only get '1' chance in first grade.. if you struggle (which any 7 would do tbh esp in an ordinary side) fans r off you in a heartbeat.. like all of the titans gun halves that got axed.... there is no rush... that said.. if ONeil breaks a leg tomorrow, no dramas getting Reed into Cup early.. but maybe its probably not Round 1.
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Agree with you 90% of the time but not on this. If Atkinson goes well, I agree. If not, we are on the same boat as the Tigers promoting Glavin so early, Roosters Walker, Panthers Cleary and more. He needs to start in reserve grade and be promoted soon if he goes well but Atkinson doesn't in first grade.
 
Zen

Zen

SGI Junior League
Atkinson was signed for 4 years - and 12 months in advance at that. He'd have to actively shit the bed completely to lose his spot to a rookie in year 1. Not going to happen.

In any case I think he's going to be great. Was a fabulous signing.
 
RedV01

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Zen said:
Atkinson was signed for 4 years - and 12 months in advance at that. He'd have to actively shit the bed completely to lose his spot to a rookie in year 1. Not going to happen.

In any case I think he's going to be great. Was a fabulous signing.
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Wasn't Ilias signed for 3 years?

I agree about Atkinson but I'm not sure if he's more of a 5/8 than 1/2. Seems like it but hopefully he can add another string to the bow in the off season.
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
RedV01 said:
Wasn't Ilias signed for 3 years?

I agree about Atkinson but I'm not sure if he's more of a 5/8 than 1/2. Seems like it but hopefully he can add another string to the bow in the off season.
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I don't follow the Sharks but I saw several comments in the media talking about they have a better winning % with Atkinson and Trindall in the halves. Though I think Trindall was the playmaker and Atkinson more of a running half.
 
Ryan

Ryan

SGI NSW Cup
Justadragon said:
ok a couple of things here Ryan, firstly Gutho in previous times did play a bit of center and halves and made a pretty good fist of it, thats not saying he would now with the way the game has changed. As for KF well he was brought to the Dragons as a 14 he had been a 9 or 14 at the Dogs and wasn't too bad, that is also not to say that he would be better than Liddle or Cook, but I believe that he could fill that role when Cook retires unless there is a gun 9 that we are grooming and who is ready for NRL.
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Did Gutho play centre before? KF played reserve grade #14 for the Dogs.
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
Ryan said:
Did Gutho play centre before? KF played reserve grade #14 for the Dogs.
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He played centre in Origin for one game. I remember because I was blowing up Lomax wasn't selected instead. Funny how fate works. Anyway, he had a bit of a shocker. Commentators were saying how hard it is to defend on the front line after being a fullback for so long.
 
J

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
redv4life said:
The Dragons have rolled out the red carpet treatment for Souths prop Keaon Kolomatangi.

The club reportedly hired a helicopter to take him to team facilities in Wollongong in a sign of how serious they are in luring the Australian forward to the club for 2027.

📝 @Danny_Weidler

told yas ✅
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Well i suppose now its a matter of how much he wants to play for the Dragons, I would hate this to just be a pay day player.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
This is the full article.. I actually think this is quite smart.. we have this gorgeous coastline and lifestyle.. from the air it would be amazing vs ur face in a phone driving down a freeway like almost every other club offers... certainly trumps the dirty Parra river.

Whether we get him I dunno, I still think were a 40% shot and Parra is box seat.. sounds like staying @souths would be very unlikely.. but im also assuming this is still a 2027 deal.. cant see a world where he gets released early bud id love if it could.. Pele just signed with Souths apparently, but im sure thats not a replacement but an addition..
1765069966308.png
 
Jims Dragons

Jims Dragons

SGI Junior League
TheRev said:
Agree, even though I was keen to fast-track him (and still all for it if things end up that way).. another year or half a year in Flegg is no big deal.... i.e. 2yrs spent in Flegg is the normal amount.. then 2yrs of cup.. then first grade.. obviously it doesnt always go to plan and sometimes you move up to cover injury etc.

Fans imo struggle to process more than what's happening 'tomorrow'.. I use the example of Glover.. in 2025... he would have been a complete rookie halfback if we had promoted him late in the season.. an absolute rookie who would struggle to tackle world class players... and Jonah is 3-4yrs older than Kade.. Jonah has 2 full seasons of NSW Cup, god knows how much flegg before that.. there is a huge gulf between them.. similar with O'Neil and Reed.

imo Don't compare Reed to the 0.001% prodigies like Walker and Cleary.. Walker himself struggled for a long time due to the early promotion in a world class roosters squad.. and often you only get '1' chance in first grade.. if you struggle (which any 7 would do tbh esp in an ordinary side) fans r off you in a heartbeat.. like all of the titans gun halves that got axed.... there is no rush... that said.. if ONeil breaks a leg tomorrow, no dramas getting Reed into Cup early.. but maybe its probably not Round 1.
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The reason you would play Kade Reed above his age group (next season is Flegg)... is because the player has learnt all the skills that he possibly could playing lower grades and his CURRENT form deserved he be lifted in grades. Another consideration is that the balance of the playing stocks dicates that he needs to be next man up. l suppose that there may also be any 'promises' made to reward past performance (previous season/s). Of course we should be looking to blood players like we did with many players in FG last season (Loko/Egan/Hamish/Halangahu to name a few). But that needs to be worked in with load balancing some players and giving other players a reason to take a deeper look at their form. But Kade hasn't played a game this season and l haven't read too many opening lines in these comments here, saying that the author has been watching training over the last four weeks. A quick snap on a highlight real is just that - its not form yet. Support our coaching staff to pick the players that are ready - when they are ready... and for how long. On our staff for next season... Mick Ennis should be a welcome addition. He is not everyone's cup of tea - but l can't wait to see/hear his input.
We all need to be concerned that we don't get to the same situation that we did last season... where every media outlet "knew" better than all the staff we have, how the Illias/Glover halves pairing were playing better than FlanJnr/ LKT. Now l didn't watch every reserve grade game but l saw a lot more than a few, and l believe that while Illias/Glover were playing good football in our Reggies... they were in no way standouts and they were playing Reggies. If anything Glover was playing better football then Illias. Illias was in no way playing any better in the latter part of the year than he was when he was dropped for not managing games and not getting our FG side home. The Braiths of the world all seemed to forget that the Flan/LKT combo got us wins against Melb/Manly/Broncos/Sharks/Raiders as well as others. No we didn't have a great year... and our form again fell away at the back end of the season. But we did have enough 'highlights' to build on. We did score some really good tries and played in parts to a level that deserves our supporters to show heart and support the team.
I agree that we don't "accept" low standards... but not everybody can win on the day. We as supporters need to open our eyes and our minds. Not every one wants to come to our club at the moment - and for those that do its gonna be hard work that makes us great again... no quick fix signing will fix it UNLESS the player/s signed want to come to the club and leave it in a better place then they found it *** through hard work and Setting standards *** That is the quick fix we need - and everyone has to buy in Front office / Coaching / Players AND Supporters. l would think if we thought back to Ben Hunt we would see that signing a player as a quick fix just does not work !!!
 
RedV01

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Jims Dragons said:
The reason you would play Kade Reed above his age group (next season is Flegg)... is because the player has learnt all the skills that he possibly could playing lower grades and his CURRENT form deserved he be lifted in grades. Another consideration is that the balance of the playing stocks dicates that he needs to be next man up. l suppose that there may also be any 'promises' made to reward past performance (previous season/s). Of course we should be looking to blood players like we did with many players in FG last season (Loko/Egan/Hamish/Halangahu to name a few). But that needs to be worked in with load balancing some players and giving other players a reason to take a deeper look at their form. But Kade hasn't played a game this season and l haven't read too many opening lines in these comments here, saying that the author has been watching training over the last four weeks. A quick snap on a highlight real is just that - its not form yet. Support our coaching staff to pick the players that are ready - when they are ready... and for how long. On our staff for next season... Mick Ennis should be a welcome addition. He is not everyone's cup of tea - but l can't wait to see/hear his input.
We all need to be concerned that we don't get to the same situation that we did last season... where every media outlet "knew" better than all the staff we have, how the Illias/Glover halves pairing were playing better than FlanJnr/ LKT. Now l didn't watch every reserve grade game but l saw a lot more than a few, and l believe that while Illias/Glover were playing good football in our Reggies... they were in no way standouts and they were playing Reggies. If anything Glover was playing better football then Illias. Illias was in no way playing any better in the latter part of the year than he was when he was dropped for not managing games and not getting our FG side home. The Braiths of the world all seemed to forget that the Flan/LKT combo got us wins against Melb/Manly/Broncos/Sharks/Raiders as well as others. No we didn't have a great year... and our form again fell away at the back end of the season. But we did have enough 'highlights' to build on. We did score some really good tries and played in parts to a level that deserves our supporters to show heart and support the team.
I agree that we don't "accept" low standards... but not everybody can win on the day. We as supporters need to open our eyes and our minds. Not every one wants to come to our club at the moment - and for those that do its gonna be hard work that makes us great again... no quick fix signing will fix it UNLESS the player/s signed want to come to the club and leave it in a better place then they found it *** through hard work and Setting standards *** That is the quick fix we need - and everyone has to buy in Front office / Coaching / Players AND Supporters. l would think if we thought back to Ben Hunt we would see that signing a player as a quick fix just does not work !!!
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I don't think I ever read any comments saying Ilias and Glover were good. Especially Ilias.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
RedV01 said:
Wasn't Ilias signed for 3 years?

I agree about Atkinson but I'm not sure if he's more of a 5/8 than 1/2. Seems like it but hopefully he can add another string to the bow in the off season.
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Its a big gamble, Atkinson as a 7. I watched him back in 22 playing Qld Cup for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, Storms feeder club. Storm released him after 1 1st grade game, which isn't great.

Then because my best mate is a Bluebags tragic, watched him play for them in NSW Cup. The Bluebags are a feeder for the Sharks.

I believe all up since he made his 1st grade appearance for the Storm back in 21 he has played hb, 20 odd times.

Hes actually an international player, playing for Italy in the World Cup back in 22.

There is an old saying, "Never judge a book by its cover", because if you did this particular book wouldn't excite you.

I do wish him the best because if he doesn't, or is not able to be that game manager we so badly need it is going to be a very very long 26 season.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
TheRev said:
This is the full article.. I actually think this is quite smart.. we have this gorgeous coastline and lifestyle.. from the air it would be amazing vs ur face in a phone driving down a freeway like almost every other club offers... certainly trumps the dirty Parra river.

Whether we get him I dunno, I still think were a 40% shot and Parra is box seat.. sounds like staying @souths would be very unlikely.. but im also assuming this is still a 2027 deal.. cant see a world where he gets released early bud id love if it could.. Pele just signed with Souths apparently, but im sure thats not a replacement but an addition..
View attachment 817
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Any update or indication whether Koloamatangi has agreed to sign? Mug Fan Mug Fan
 
J

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
Its a big gamble, Atkinson as a 7. I watched him back in 22 playing Qld Cup for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, Storms feeder club. Storm released him after 1 1st grade game, which isn't great.

Then because my best mate is a Bluebags tragic, watched him play for them in NSW Cup. The Bluebags are a feeder for the Sharks.

I believe all up since he made his 1st grade appearance for the Storm back in 21 he has played hb, 20 odd times.

Hes actually an international player, playing for Italy in the World Cup back in 22.

There is an old saying, "Never judge a book by its cover", because if you did this particular book wouldn't excite you.

I do wish him the best because if he doesn't, or is not able to be that game manager we so badly need it is going to be a very very long 26 season.
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Well JO we have signed him for 3 years on decent coin. I just hope that he is what we are searching for, if not who have we got that can play that role ? it's back to KF again or would we risk Reed.
 
Ryan

Ryan

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
Its a big gamble, Atkinson as a 7. I watched him back in 22 playing Qld Cup for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, Storms feeder club. Storm released him after 1 1st grade game, which isn't great.

Then because my best mate is a Bluebags tragic, watched him play for them in NSW Cup. The Bluebags are a feeder for the Sharks.

I believe all up since he made his 1st grade appearance for the Storm back in 21 he has played hb, 20 odd times.

Hes actually an international player, playing for Italy in the World Cup back in 22.

There is an old saying, "Never judge a book by its cover", because if you did this particular book wouldn't excite you.

I do wish him the best because if he doesn't, or is not able to be that game manager we so badly need it is going to be a very very long 26 season.
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Didn't know he was released by Melbourne. It's a bit of a worry. Bellamy has a decent track record of keeping the right players and letting the others go early on.
Justadragon said:
Well JO we have signed him for 3 years on decent coin. I just hope that he is what we are searching for, if not who have we got that can play that role ? it's back to KF again or would we risk Reed.
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Reed.
 
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