Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
They all look remarkable. LL looks a different guy and will no doubt have more stamina and speed this year. Will be interesting to see how his attitude and performance are in the games.
2026 pre-season
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- 2026 pre season
jodragon40
Staff
Playing for a contract extension hell go well given the room
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Sorry to be negative but someone has to do it.
I don't agree with this, Luciano has lost so much weight and therefore he'll be much better. The fat version of Luciano could only play around 50 minutes but was way behind Egan for effective tackles and tackle breaks during those minutes. If he's much fitter, will he still provide the same crap output for 80 minutes rather than 50?
I'd be trying to move him on now. Go with Halangahu and Su'A in the first few rounds then Egan and Su'A when the former is back to full fitness.
But I hope Luciano proves for once I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm talking about.
Plenty of young blokes snapping at his heels too. Switch on then happy days, struggle and he’ll be gonski
jodragon40
Staff
Im just relying upon my own personal experiences with players coming off contract. He would have been tapped on the shoulder by his manager and told the current state of affairs.
Your right, stats wise and it wouldn't surprise me if he came on off the bench as an impact edge forward but I think he will start.
Time will tell, we have a riches in our engine room this season. 5 props, T Couchman, Guler, Kerr, LPT and Sele.
Backrowers, Halangahu, Stewart, Su'a, Leilua, and coming back from iinjury are Egan and R Couchman .
Definitely 1 bench spot will be Liddle leaving 3 forwards to battle out the remaining bench spots.
jodragon40
Staff
Agree
Ryan
SGI NSW Cup
You forgot Ryan Couchman.
Ryan
SGI NSW Cup
I believe the game nowadays is locks are considered middles and second rowers are edge backrowers. Stewart is an gun lock, not a backrower.
jodragon40
Staff
Im old school, I dont, backrowers to me are 2nd row and lock just me
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
10 forwards picked every game
2 x hookers - liddle and cook
2 x edge forwards - sua and luc
1 x lock - stewart
4 x props - guler/sele/toby/kerr
1 x option player ... could be an impact forward like LPT, an edge/middle like Ryan, an edge relief in Halangahu
What will be interesting is when Egan is fit what happens to the back row and if sele can play more than 3 games in a row.
2 x hookers - liddle and cook
2 x edge forwards - sua and luc
1 x lock - stewart
4 x props - guler/sele/toby/kerr
1 x option player ... could be an impact forward like LPT, an edge/middle like Ryan, an edge relief in Halangahu
What will be interesting is when Egan is fit what happens to the back row and if sele can play more than 3 games in a row.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
Yeah. I would too. Someone on another forum, said he saw O'Neil playing juniors and thought he was going to be a superstar, but due to them buy Mitchell Woods and Glavin, O'Neil came to us looking for opportunities.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
Both Ryan and yourself posts are relevant. Someone like Yeo started on the edge and moved to lock. Cam Murray is a lock who can play on the edge. Taumalolo went from being a lock to a prop. Jake Turbo started at prop and played mostly as a lock, but J Turbo and Taumalolo are not edge backrowers. Carrigan is a lock/prop. . Koloamatangi went from edge backrow to prop and could play lock as well. Matterson at Parra who started on the edge could play lock. I think Stewart is more lock/edge backrow and than prop, but later could transition into a prop. I had a look at NSW lock options this year and have Yeo and Murray as the top 2. After that Stewart could come into calculations if he continues to develop. Finau Latu is another who could be a future lock for NSW and he hasn't even played any first grade yet. Then again, someone else could come along and be better than both Stewart and Latu. It will be interesting to see who turns out to be better out of Stewart and Latu,
jodragon40
Staff
14. Will be Liddle
I'd say LPT will spend most of the year learning his trade with Sele and Blocka.
Ryan and Egan will come back through ressies as well .
I'd expect the prop rotation will be Kerr/ Guler / Couchman.
Time will tell if I'm right
Unless there's injuries you can pretty much lock in couchman, kerr, stewart & sua for the early rounds, the rest of the fwd spots are up for grabs imo. I'd have Nick T on the bench for versatility & Luch as an edge after seeing his weight loss. I wish we had someone better than Guler as our hard body mature prop.
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
I think they will all get a chance throughout the injury and possible fatigue/form will dictate it. Only difference this year is we stand up better with the guys we have available.
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
There really isn't a lot of time until our first trial. It makes it all exciting with just about a whole new team, there are so many variables. We still dont know who the wingers will be, what the forward makeup will be and Atkinson as the halfback. I'm trying not to let the excitement and emotion get away and certainly hope that we dont encounter the disappointment of the last few years. Just being competitive in every game will do me, and that this time we finish on the winning side of close encounters.
jodragon40
Staff
You know and this is a big statement especially from someone that knows better. But if those youngsters in our pack can actually achieve their promise and potential and we can keep them together as a group for the next 3 to 4 seasons and injury free.
That is an engine room that would be feared on the park and could help deliver consistent success to our club and dare I say it, the opportunity to win a premiership as long as we can strengthen our spine and backs in that same timeframe.
A lot of ifs, but these kids give me hope especially with a SOO and International prop leading them next season and under the guidance of a premiership winning coach.
We are giving our club the opportunity to be a strength again in this competition.
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
100% JO, it just feels as though we have turned the corner slightly, just waiting for the evidence that proves it is a frustrating thing.
jodragon40
Staff
No I didn't he is coming back from a terrible injury the coach won't be rushing him back into 1sts in a hurry. He's a talent no doubt but we have enough cover to ensure he comes back slowly. Just my views
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
God have mercy! You are so timid. That's what trials are for.