Recruitment and Retention for 2026

Eric

Eric

Staff
Justadragon said:
Mitchell maybe
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Dragon David said:
...and maybe Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Nick Meaney?
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Bennett is unhappy with Mitchell at fullback. I think he wants Mitchell to play in the centres. Hammer is a much better centre than fullback as well. I think the bloke a few were talking about here, Fuller, is going to be their fullback. Meany is only "workman-like" at best as a fullback or centre. Inglis was a very good fullback but even he was behind Slater and Hayne and maybe a couple more fullbacks. At centre he wasn't behind anyone.
Dragon David said:
I think that when Mark Gasnier came back from Rugby in 2010, the year the Dragons won the Grand Final, he was brought back into the side by Bennett, after doing fitness work and gaining more weight to build up after losing a bit of these things during his absence, to play as the centre. As you know Frank, Darius Boyd was the fullback then and he was doing a good job. Mark never played full back in his several earlier years before going to Rugby in 2008 (third party issues?). I would agree that in today's game if he was of course say 27 he would be quite a good full back having good height, weight, strength, speed, great in defence, catching the high balls and having terrific side step and zip to make breaks. I wonder why he was never used as a fullback in several games? If Boyd was injured, who was the replacement - Jason Nightingale?
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I don't think Gaz or Nighty could have been as good at fullback. Morris played a few games there. Was good but that was when he could have been really good at prop. Was good running the ball but finding a pass was a problem. We all know Gaz could find a pass but I think he mostly relied on speed, footwork and ball skills. The best fullbacks run hard and bust tackles. Coops might have been a better fullback.
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
jodragon40 said:
I can't understand this sudden urge to rush Reed through his development or even trying to jump steps because he is a very good hf in juniors.

As an old coach it's a quick way to destroy or at the very least delay his development and skillsets.

Sometimes, actually most times patience is a valuable virtue
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What teams/clubs did you coach and which reserve grade one?
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Frank Facer said:
What teams/clubs did you coach and which reserve grade one?
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You are actually the first to bother to ask on this forum but that doesn't surprise me. The majority didn't want to know or cared. People like to keep their anonymity.

But to satisfy your enquiry no matter for what actual reason.

U16 - U18 Wenty magpies in late 80s, we didnt have a 1st division team during the 80s in NSWRL.

Qld Cup Burleigh Bears Ressies late 90s. Head coach you may of heard of was Rick Stone.

Work career - NSWPOL - 1981 - 1990
QLDPOL - 1990 - 2020 Retirement rank was D.S.S.

Hope this helps.
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Eric said:
Bennett is unhappy with Mitchell at fullback. I think he wants Mitchell to play in the centres. Hammer is a much better centre than fullback as well. I think the bloke a few were talking about here, Fuller, is going to be their fullback. Meany is only "workman-like" at best as a fullback or centre. Inglis was a very good fullback but even he was behind Slater and Hayne and maybe a couple more fullbacks. At centre he wasn't behind anyone.

I don't think Gaz or Nighty could have been as good at fullback. Morris played a few games there. Was good but that was when he could have been really good at prop. Was good running the ball but finding a pass was a problem. We all know Gaz could find a pass but I think he mostly relied on speed, footwork and ball skills. The best fullbacks run hard and bust tackles. Coops might have been a better fullback.
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When Mitchell was at Easts, he was essentially playing centre. At the end of 2019, he went to play for Souths in 2020, with Bennett as coach. Bennett was the one who moved him to fullback and kept him there for 2 season, before he left Souths to coach coach Redcliff. Mitchell was playing very well for Souths at fullback for those 2 years under Bennett. At the time some even rated him as one of the best players in the game. I think fullback is Mitchell's best position. I would rather play Souths with Mitchell in the centres than at fullback. I don't rate Gray and wouldn't be happy if we signed him. I would take Mitchell over Gray as our fullback.

As for Inglis. When he played fulllback for Melbourne, he was outstanding and one of the best fullbacks I have ever seen play the game. At the time he was leaner and more agile. I was even questioning if he was a better fullback than Slater at the time. Inglis then got bigger, with more bulk and was still very good, but I believe he was a better fullback at Melbourne than at Souths. Young Inglis was one of the best wingers I ever saw play the game and could be the best centre I have seen play the game. I would have taken Greg Inglis when he was young and agile over Jarrod Hayne when Hayne was at his peak.

I think Mark Gasnier would/could have made a great fullback, but was never given a go there. Brown was going to play Brett Morris at fullback in 2007, but Morris got injured after 2 games and missed the rest of the season. It was around that time when the fullback role really began to include being able to play the extra 5/8 role. Brett Stewart, under Des Hasler was a master of it.

Bennett brought Boyd with him to us and Boyd played the extra 5/8 role very well. It was probably his best attribute as a fullback. I wasn't fully happy with Boyd at fullback, as he didn't score enough tries or make enough breaks for my liking.
 
Morgan

Morgan

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
You are actually the first to bother to ask on this forum but that doesn't surprise me. The majority didn't want to know or cared. People like to keep their anonymity.

But to satisfy your enquiry no matter for what actual reason.

U16 - U18 Wenty magpies in late 80s, we didnt have a 1st division team during the 80s in NSWRL.

Qld Cup Burleigh Bears Ressies late 90s. Head coach you may of heard of was Rick Stone.

Work career - NSWPOL - 1981 - 1990
QLDPOL - 1990 - 2020 Retirement rank was D.S.S.

Hope this helps.
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Is your name Jim Lenihan?
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
jodragon40 said:
You are actually the first to bother to ask on this forum but that doesn't surprise me. The majority didn't want to know or cared. People like to keep their anonymity.

But to satisfy your enquiry no matter for what actual reason.

U16 - U18 Wenty magpies in late 80s, we didnt have a 1st division team during the 80s in NSWRL.

Qld Cup Burleigh Bears Ressies late 90s. Head coach you may of heard of was Rick Stone.

Work career - NSWPOL - 1981 - 1990
QLDPOL - 1990 - 2020 Retirement rank was D.S.S.

Hope this helps.
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I think Wentworthville was and still is the number 1 junior rugby league club in Australia and the world. They have numerous teams for each age group. One has to be very good to make their division 1 team.

When I was growing up in under 11's, the team I played was the number 1 team in the comp only losing one game in club game in 2 years and only by a very small margin. We played Hill District in the semis of a knockout. I think Hill District may have played in our knockout to avoid playing against Wentworthville. I don't think our coach knew how good they were and he played some of our players out of position, including a prop, at fullback, because he wanted to play fullback. Our coach didn't take the game seriously enough and we expected to win, as usual. We had one player who was our best player, big and fast and tough too. I don't think anyone had ever run him down from behind. Well Hill District scored one, two or even 3 tries early. They had good players across the whole park, including good wingers. Then when our best player made a break, we all expected him to score, but someone in the Hills team ran him down from behind and tackled him. I think our whole team was in shock. They beat us convincingly and it was the worst defeat our team had suffered in the 2 years. They went onto win the final. I think they were the best team we ever played. I think they are Wentworthville were the top 2 teams in the Parramatta comp for that age group at the time.
 
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jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Frank Facer said:
I think Wentworthville was and still is the number 1 junior rugby league club in Australia and the world. They have numerous teams for each age group. One has to be very good to make their division 1 team.

When I was growing up in under 11's, the team I played was the number 1 team in the comp only losing one game in club game in 2 years and only by a very small margin. We played Hill District in the semis of a knockout. I think Hill District may have played in our knockout to avoid playing against Wentworthville. I don't think our coach knew how good they were and he played some of our players out of position, including a prop, at fullback, because he wanted to play fullback. Our coach didn't take the game seriously enough and we expected to win, as usual. We had one player who was our best player, big and fast and tough too. I don't think anyone had ever run him down from behind. Well Hill District scored one, two or even 3 tries early. They had good players across the whole park, including good wingers. Then when our best player made a break, we all expected him to score, but someone in the Hills team ran him down from behind and tackled him. I think our whole team was in shock. They beat us convincingly and it was the worst defeat our team had suffered in the 2 years. They went onto win the final. I think they were the best team we ever played. I think they are Wentworthville were the top 2 teams in the Parramatta comp for that age group at the time.
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Wenty was originally one of the feeder clubs for the Eels still are . Some good players in the Eels sides of the 80s.

I actually played school footy with a bloke you may remember, ' The Guru'.at Liverpool Boys High played at Mounties, Mt Pritchard, another fella in the team was the zip zip man, Both were always going to be a special players.

In the 90s up here on the GC we were connected to the now defunct Gold Coast Seagulls. Had a corporate box went to the games in stretch limousines. They were the days.
 
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jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Frank Facer said:
I think Wentworthville was and still is the number 1 junior rugby league club in Australia and the world. They have numerous teams for each age group. One has to be very good to make their division 1 team.

When I was growing up in under 11's, the team I played was the number 1 team in the comp only losing one game in club game in 2 years and only by a very small margin. We played Hill District in the semis of a knockout. I think Hill District may have played in our knockout to avoid playing against Wentworthville. I don't think our coach knew how good they were and he played some of our players out of position, including a prop, at fullback, because he wanted to play fullback. Our coach didn't take the game seriously enough and we expected to win, as usual. We had one player who was our best player, big and fast and tough too. I don't think anyone had ever run him down from behind. Well Hill District scored one, two or even 3 tries early. They had good players across the whole park, including good wingers. Then when our best player made a break, we all expected him to score, but someone in the Hills team ran him down from behind and tackled him. I think our whole team was in shock. They beat us convincingly and it was the worst defeat our team had suffered in the 2 years. They went onto win the final. I think they were the best team we ever played. I think they are Wentworthville were the top 2 teams in the Parramatta comp for that age group at the time.
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Certainly were
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
RedVHeartbeat said:
Lots of clubs but ours. Never used to be the norm before '99.
Many Dragons debuted at ages 19 or 20 as this was a common age for talented junior players to break into first grade.
Notable examples include: Legends Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Billy Smith, plus Johnny King, Robert Stone, Anthony Mundine, Mark Coyne, Craig Young, Rod Reddy, Michael Beattie, Nathan Blacklock, Lance Thompson. No doubt there were others, but all I found. Even back then imports were preferred over local juniors. There are only five listed here, Gasnier, Smith, Beattie,Thompson, Mundine.
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Jason Stevens debuted at prop aged 18. Dennis Kinchella debuted while still at school, I think he was 17. Brad MacKay debuted for us at 18, while still at school. Gordon Tallis was 19 and a month old when he debuted for us. Trent Barrett was 17 when he debuted for Illawarra, so was John Simon. That is just off the top of my head.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Frank Facer said:
Jason Stevens debuted at prop aged 18. Dennis Kinchella debuted while still at school, I think he was 17. Brad MacKay debuted for us at 18, while still at school. Gordon Tallis was 19 and a month old when he debuted for us. Trent Barrett was 17 when he debuted for Illawarra, so was John Simon. That is just off the top of my head.
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All those named just oozed natural talent and demanded a spot. But today's club and competition make up is vastly different.
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Dragons Chris said:
  • Mark Gasnier
  • Chase Stanley (who was really good until he started with his injuries)
How old were Coops, Deano, Ryles and Bull Bailey when Browny debuted them?
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Chase was 17 when he debuted. I knew one of his relatives when he debuted for us. He told me Chase had a younger brother who was even better than Chase named Kyle. Mark Gasnier was 18 when he debuted for us.
 
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