Recruitment and Retention for 2026
- Thread starter Dragons Chris
- Start date
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Tigers have 3 or 4 ctr options.. Not sure why they r in the media discussion..
Just listening to bulldog on a podcast who said we've apparently said no to chasing xerri.. Spose it could be a response given he's not available yet..
May and To’a injured, think they preferred to develop young Makasini on the wing
I’m suprised we aren’t interested, Flanno is very close to the Xerri family
Eric
Staff
From what I've seen, he's not better than Suli. Moving Holmes to wing would work though I think he's much more valuable to us at centre. But even if Flanno decided to move Holmes to wing, I'd prefer Buchanan at centre. Xerri might be better right now but by the end of the season let alone next year and the year after (depending how long he wants to sign for), I think Buchanan is better.
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
I hope you are right Eric about Buchanan. He has been building up each year and is getting much better. As a comparison, Buchanan is 5'10" and 88kg while Xerri is 6'2" and 99kg. A big difference. Not too sure about speed wise on both but I think Xerri would be faster.
When we had Matt Cooper, who I like to compare Buchanan with, Cooper was 6'1" and 98kg, pretty similar to Xerri but I think slightly less as fast as Xerri.
We did really well with Cooper and Gasnier - need players who are similar.
Anyway, DA will be looking at what we need with more knowledge than what I think we do.
Eric
Staff
Is that the case now or on the first day of the pre season? I thought Buchanan looked bigger and Xerri smaller. Like 90kg vs 95 or something like that.
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
What 
Can we be real about our players?
I’ve played footy with Bronson, he was 6’1 at 17 and 100kg’s and he looks about the same now
I haven’t seen Buchanan in person but he looks quite small for a centre, here he is next to Ashton ward a couple months ago who’s 5 foot nothing
The smallest NRL centre is Matt timoko and even he would be mid to high 90’s and 5’9/5’10
Can we be real about our players?
I’ve played footy with Bronson, he was 6’1 at 17 and 100kg’s and he looks about the same now
I haven’t seen Buchanan in person but he looks quite small for a centre, here he is next to Ashton ward a couple months ago who’s 5 foot nothing
The smallest NRL centre is Matt timoko and even he would be mid to high 90’s and 5’9/5’10
Attachments
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
Koula - 180cm/88kg
Bucky - 179cm/88kg
i dont think there is a dragons fan on the planet that wouldnt take Koula if he were offered to us
Bucky - 179cm/88kg
i dont think there is a dragons fan on the planet that wouldnt take Koula if he were offered to us
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
I dont really believe all the weight/height stats on the web.. but Koula is an animal and tears through tackles.... surely Buchanan isnt anywhere near as big.. but im still keen to see him play this year, hes definitely much thicker in his torso.. he turned 20 in january so he's still pretty young..
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
Smaller centres can make up for a lack of weight by their speed anyway, greater velocity because of faster sprinting speed so it’s no wonder Koula breaks tackles for fun
There’s no doubt in my mind Buchanan will physically develop more over the next 18 months that by then he very well could be in contention to grab one of the centre spots when Suli/Holmes leave end of ‘27
There’s no doubt in my mind Buchanan will physically develop more over the next 18 months that by then he very well could be in contention to grab one of the centre spots when Suli/Holmes leave end of ‘27
I am the same height and weight as Payne Haas. I don't think there is a Dragons fan on the planet that wouldn't die of shame to see me play first grade in the red V.
Koula is an absolute physical freak. Buchanan is not going to be the same kind of player. I beleive in Buchanan. I think he's going to be a good NRL centre. He might even become a better player than Koula. But he will never run like Koula.
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
Agree ... he does have late footwork and decent enough pace ... a bit more power will obviously help.
I also think he is substantially better on the left but has had to play on the right a but more in his 5 games of 1sts.
Has 10 tackle breaks in reserves so far which is 3rd highest in cup (i know it is cup).
So work in progress for a 20 year old for sure ...
I also think he is substantially better on the left but has had to play on the right a but more in his 5 games of 1sts.
Has 10 tackle breaks in reserves so far which is 3rd highest in cup (i know it is cup).
So work in progress for a 20 year old for sure ...
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
Yep .. but the conversation is about his size ... and pointing out that there are effective centres that are his size means that it is more nuanced.
Bit more strenght and power as he ages and he is big enough and fast enough. Just remains to be seen if he is good enough.
Penisini is another who isn't super tall. He's listed at 183. He is certainly shorter than that. Extremely common in sports to put a couple of extra inches on the height of players in these profiles.What
Can we be real about our players?
I’ve played footy with Bronson, he was 6’1 at 17 and 100kg’s and he looks about the same now
I haven’t seen Buchanan in person but he looks quite small for a centre, here he is next to Ashton ward a couple months ago who’s 5 foot nothing
The smallest NRL centre is Matt timoko and even he would be mid to high 90’s and 5’9/5’10
Eric
Staff
Even if those figures re weight are up to date, I don't think 88kg for a recently turned 20 year-old is that small. Sounds to me he might be more like 90 kgs in the near future and settle at a playing weight of around 95 kgs which seems pretty much standard for centres.
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
The big question is - Will guys like Buchanan and whoever else is playing in the lower grades (Fale?) be what we really need for our backline when Holmes and Suli depart?