jodragon40
Staff
I'd suggest 5/8 if he is no game manager. Just my views
Trial Game 1 v Knights
- Thread starter jodragon40
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George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
That was my first thought as well, Jo. But if that’s the case, why wouldn’t he just play Kyle at half and Atkinson at 5/8?
jodragon40
Staff
That ship has sailed. His son is not a game manager as we all saw last season
Great to hear. All players can benefit from working on their speed - not just backs.
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
I agree. So wouldn’t it be prudent to start Atkinson at 5/8 from game 1, if that is to be his long-term position, and look to promote one of the young halfbacks as a game‑managing halfback during the season to replace Kyle?
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
Same here Jo. We will see.
Just being a proper coach, taking the heat off his new recruit. 100% he has been signed by Flanagan to be the half back and dominant half and yes to take control of the clutch plays. No way he's going to say that in public and hang the lad out to dry if things go wrong. Might take half a season for him to grow into his role and the last thing he needs is the media and fans giving it to the player and damaging his confidence. So he's downplaying his expectations. Yet another example of clever media handing by an experienced coach.
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Excatly, what he was saying is the game management will be shared with the expirenced Cook and Gutho taking some pressure of Atko
Plus there will be times when Kyle takes over in need. We have some quality young halves in LKT and Reed playing in NSW cup so plenty of internal pressure on both halves. But yeah it's all about Atko atm.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
I do hate the way halfbacks get crucified for a team loss, or paraded for a win.. it really is a team game and there are soooo many factors that influence the halfbacks game.. its all about space and time.. where they get to kick..how much time they get to execute the kick.. how good is the chase..
I think the raw ingredients are in Atkinson, but I hope he turns out more than just good.. I think he has that winners instinct in him also.. love that he moved down to the gong also... hes all in.
I think the raw ingredients are in Atkinson, but I hope he turns out more than just good.. I think he has that winners instinct in him also.. love that he moved down to the gong also... hes all in.
I agree. There are not many halves capable of manufacturing a win behind a forward pack that are going backwards so it takes the whole team. In saying that, Thurston managed to do it again and again. As did Andrew Johns. How good would it be if we could uncover a half of that caliber?
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
there is so much subtelty to that statement .... the easiest explaination is around a halfbacks kicking game ...
if the halfback can kick say 10-15m longer that we saw last year with better hang time and a decent chase then it means that the next set we defend finishes 10-15m further away from out try line - the net result of that is our fullback can potentially take a catch uncontested and make 10m on the kick return which in turn brings the forwards back onside a play earlier allowing them to be in the game more ball in hand and do less work running back on side.
So you say that a halfback cannot perform behind a beaten pack - that to an extent is true, but a halfback with a decent kicking game and outside backs with a decent kick chase can also help the forwards out ...
Last year flano's kicking game cost us metres and put gutho under too much pressure with his kick gather/return.
That is the biggest thing i am hoping to see reversed with Atkinson.
Tomorrow we will get to see Reed/LKT/ONeills kicking games ... that will be interesting.
if the halfback can kick say 10-15m longer that we saw last year with better hang time and a decent chase then it means that the next set we defend finishes 10-15m further away from out try line - the net result of that is our fullback can potentially take a catch uncontested and make 10m on the kick return which in turn brings the forwards back onside a play earlier allowing them to be in the game more ball in hand and do less work running back on side.
So you say that a halfback cannot perform behind a beaten pack - that to an extent is true, but a halfback with a decent kicking game and outside backs with a decent kick chase can also help the forwards out ...
Last year flano's kicking game cost us metres and put gutho under too much pressure with his kick gather/return.
That is the biggest thing i am hoping to see reversed with Atkinson.
Tomorrow we will get to see Reed/LKT/ONeills kicking games ... that will be interesting.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
We know Atkinson has a longer kicking game than Kyle (or LKT), but im interested to see just 'how' much better it is.. and how much variety does he have..
I've said this before, but Reed has a really long boot, but he doesnt seem to need that big wind up like a lot of kickers do.. he just sort of drops it and it pings off his boot.. .. maybe he can get more distance if he does wind up... but it has to be a great option with the rushing defence he will cop in the NRL.. and he will cop it deluxe as a young 7.... but I still dont wanna get too excited cause I still think hes probably 3yrs from being an every round halfback.. thats a really long journey.. but it starts tomorrow =)
I've said this before, but Reed has a really long boot, but he doesnt seem to need that big wind up like a lot of kickers do.. he just sort of drops it and it pings off his boot.. .. maybe he can get more distance if he does wind up... but it has to be a great option with the rushing defence he will cop in the NRL.. and he will cop it deluxe as a young 7.... but I still dont wanna get too excited cause I still think hes probably 3yrs from being an every round halfback.. thats a really long journey.. but it starts tomorrow =)
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
From watching highlights reels, O'Neil looks better than Glover to me. I looked up O'Neil to see how old he is and learnt he is 22 years old. This is the result I got. I also see captaining the Jersey Flegg team to a premiership as a good sign. I remember reading on another forum, someone rated O'Neil very highly. Canterbury bought Galvin and Mitchell Woods, who has some very big wraps on him and those 2 signing put O'Neil down the pecking order
Joseph O’Neill has been signed by the St George Illawarra Dragons for the 2026 season, as officially announced on December 3, 2025.
- O’Neill, a 22-year-old playmaker, joins from the Canterbury Bulldogs, where he captained their Jersey Flegg side to a premiership in 2023 and played 42 NSW Cup games in the halves.
- He will begin his tenure with a development contract in 2025, preparing to join the senior squad for the 2026 NRL season.
- Head Coach Shane Flanagan praised O’Neill as a talented, hard-working, and passionate player who will add valuable depth in the halves.
- Despite being listed as a 2026 signing in multiple sources, including the official NRL Signings Tracker, O’Neill is not currently listed as a 2026 player for the Dragons in the latest official squad data, suggesting a potential reclassification or contract update.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
Or half as good.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
I would be very surprised if Atkinson ends up in the centres. I think we bought him to play in the halves. I thought 5/8 to be more specific. He has played fullback in the past and if players such as Reed and Walker become the players I hope they do, Acko, could even replace Gutho when he retires, but I think that would be unlikely too.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
That is what I thought Flanno would do too.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
Yeah, again, I agree. I hope Reed is our number 7 be the end of the season, with Acko 5/8
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
I always remember Jack Gibson, the original Supercoach, saying while coaching Parramatta in regards to Peter Sterling. "If you have got the best halfback, you are halfway there"
That Parra team was a champion team, with one of the best backlines ever, including Kenny, who was as good as you get, Cronin who was a champion centre, Steve Ella who was a very special player, who played centre, but when Sterling and Kenny were playing over in England in 1985, Ella was the form 5/8 of the competition, ahead of Terry Lamb and Eric Grothe on the wing who was one of the best wingers of all time and Ray Price at lock who was one of the best locks to play the game. So it even makes Gibson's quote about Sterling and halfback more pertinent.
I will also add, when Price and Cronin had retired, at times Sterling was literally carrying the Parramatta team on his own.
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
looking forward to seeing the guys for the first time in 2026. Nothing more than a blowout and just get the cobwebs out. Lets see who works their way to Vegas. No injuries to anyone would be the best outcome of the day.