Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[George Sancti]

I haven’t really bought into the Kyle Flanagan debate. But in 2025, Kyle and LKT were, in my view, the best available halves combination. On that basis, Coach Flanno didn’t make an error selecting Kyle.

Where things went wrong was in the public commentary. When criticism of Kyle’s limitations surfaced in the media and on social platforms, Flanno would have been better off staying silent. His instinct to defend his son is understandable, and pointing out the positives in Kyle’s game was a natural response. Unfortunately, it only intensified the scrutiny on Kyle and kept the spotlight on the issue longer than necessary.

I’m hoping 2026 provides a genuine evaluation of every option at 6 and 7, including the younger brigade. By the second half of the season, if not earlier, the club should have a clear sense of whether a strong halves pairing already exists within our ranks or whether we need to look to the market for an established halfback.

 

[st george tragic]

Good post mate. Absolutely agree with you. But remember we have been a fanbase who have been dealt a lot of crap over the last 15 years. Now we must deal with 2026 being some sort of gap year whilst we wait for everything to happen in 2027. Yeah sure I’ll wait and be the loyal member and supporter but by f%#k don’t come and see me with anymore excuses because I will well and truly have had it by then.

I am so optimistic about 2026 theoretical we were only a couple of games out of the 8 last year. My prediction is 8th 2026

 

[Illusion]

There is too much media scrutiny on it now CHris. He will get torched if he doesn’t make the right calls for the club. I feel sorry for KF it’s not his fault I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes if things are not going well. He will have enormous pressure on him from the start and I don’t think that is fair either.

Just me I'm happy for Kyle to be a bench player he can cover the halves hooker , but won't happen while Cook is here ..... I would be ok for Liddle to be the starting 9 and Kyle can give him a rest when needed ....... So the problem here is Cook and again just me I didn't think he was great for us this year ........

 

[Justadragon]

I am so optimistic about 2026 theoretical we were only a couple of games out of the 8 last year. My prediction is 8th 2026

I’d like to be as well but we have too many unknowns for me to be truly excited. As always I hope for the best but I am always ready for the worst to avoid disappointment.

 

[st george tragic]

I’d like to be as well but we have too many unknowns for me to be truly excited. As always I hope for the best but I am always ready for the worst to avoid disappointment.

Stay half glass full lol

 

[User]

This is what I have found on the internet about Daniel Anderson and what his roles as the Head of Recruitment and Pathways for the Dragons are. It is interesting reading that reveals the enormous task he is involved with.

"Daniel Anderson was appointed the Dragons' Head of Recruitment and Pathways in July 2025, with a mandate to implement "long-lasting systems to develop, identify and recruit talent". He planned to sort out recruitment by focusing on building the roster from within the club's junior base, while also targeting specific experienced players to fill immediate gaps.

We've hired Blake Ayshford as our NZ scout.

 

[Ryan]

I am so optimistic about 2026 theoretical we were only a couple of games out of the 8 last year. My prediction is 8th 2026

Sorry to rain on the parade but remember the first several games of last season? Things turned out so that almost every team we played in the first several rounds were missing their best player? Parra without Moses are just a rabble. I don't think they had won a game until they played us.

I hope you are right but I just can't see it right now.

 

[Leighton Craig]

Just me I'm happy for Kyle to be a bench player he can cover the halves hooker , but won't happen while Cook is here ..... I would be ok for Liddle to be the starting 9 and Kyle can give him a rest when needed ....... So the problem here is Cook and again just me I didn't think he was great for us this year ........

I agree with that but I can’t see our hooker rotation changing in 2026, it will stay the same cook starts and when liddle comes on cook will go to lock. in my opinion.

Personally I want cook to start get through all the hard work at the start then come off instead of being a lock and liddle comes on, with he’s good speed around the Ruck, slowly decease cooks amount of minutes until where liddle basically plays the full game. so yeah i agree cook will never be sent to cup and yes id like Kyle to be the 14 for his cover over many positions

We have better options at lock and bigger body’s, yes it can be good to have a crafty lightweight lock who could open up the came. but we have a very lightweight forward Pack I can’t see having cook at lock befitting us with Hamish being our lock

 

[Frank Facer]

We've hired Blake Ayshford as our NZ scout.

Well at least we now have a NZ talent scout. I have never heard of us having a talent scout in NZ, but it does sound like a great idea.

 

[Frank Facer]

I agree with that but I can’t see our hooker rotation changing in 2026, it will stay the same cook starts and when liddle comes on cook will go to lock. in my opinion.

Personally I want cook to start get through all the hard work at the start then come off instead of being a lock and liddle comes on, with he’s good speed around the Ruck, slowly decease cooks amount of minutes until where liddle basically plays the full game. so yeah i agree cook will never be sent to cup and yes id like Kyle to be the 14 for his cover over many positions

We have better options at lock and bigger body’s, yes it can be good to have a crafty lightweight lock who could open up the came. but we have a very lightweight forward Pack I can’t see having cook at lock befitting us with Hamish being our lock

I agree with you in regards to Cook and Liddle. I rate Liddle very highly. He has turned out to be a great buy. If I was selecting the NSW team and picking 2 hookers, Liddle would be one of them, coming off the bench. I think he could be the best impact hooker in the game.. If Liddle was playing 80 minutes, he would be in my supercoach team.

 

[RandomDragon]

Hey guys, is this where everyone comes after being banned from LU?? have never heard about this forum but seems quite active.

 

[Dragon David]

Well at least we now have a NZ talent scout. I have never heard of us having a talent scout in NZ, but it does sound like a great idea.

Yes a great idea. Big nursery of youngsters waiting and wanting to test their footy prowess in the NRL.

We've hired Blake Ayshford as our NZ scout.

Thanks for this info Mug Fan. I hope he spots some goodies for us.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Hey guys, is this where everyone comes after being banned from LU?? have never heard about this forum but seems quite active.

I was banned so long ago I could probably rejoin now....... but no thanks.

 

[Justadragon]

I was banned so long ago I could probably rejoin now....... but no thanks.

Mate if I knew about this forum prior to LU there would have been no way I would have gone there under the control and demeaning nature of those moderators.

 

[Illusion]

Mate if I knew about this forum prior to LU there would have been no way I would have gone there under the control and demeaning nature of those moderators.

X2 .......

 

[RandomDragon]

Bunch of Cock smokers... I got permanently banned for a light hearted joke about Ben Hunt and his missus

 

[Dragon David]

I got banned twice. I had been a poster for quite a while. Some moderator wasn't happy with some political article I had posted and the moderator just said I was warned - did not see the warning and said a few more things that irked him again and bang banned at virtually the start of 2025. Gave it a few months and applied to be re-instated and they agreed but several weeks later when people asked me what happened and I told them I was banned about that article, they banned me again and that is that.

I'm so glad now though that I was because this Forum is the ants pants.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

True but the club has so many young second rowers ready for first grade next season

None with Su'a's cred and tuffness. Only back rower primed for Firsts is Ryan Couchman imv, next Nick T, Egan, tho Jake most likely will get the nod, unless our coaches see his future in the middle as I do.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

I'm so glad now though that I was because this Forum is the ants pants.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

I got permanently banned for a light hearted joke about Ben Hunt and his missus

I'd have been banned long ago had I posted at LU some of what I posted here about the unmentionable one. Seven yrs we wasted not having a match winning play maker.