Recruitment & Retention 2027

[Dragon David]

That trio as good as they are, or were but still have experience which is golden, they have been unable to bring us a top 8 spot. Gutho is now too slow for the custodian role and Cook likewise at hooker.

Who is Sami replacing, hopefully Suli or the draft horse CT, as despite his age he is a speedster and has origin cred. But what does not escape any of us, is he is yet another reject which is about all Flanagan can lure.

It is so hard to fathom. My instincts are that they must feel that Sami is better for our team. But if he was the only one that was willing to join us and the actual "better" ones, who they might have wanted more so than Sami, didn't, then does this mean that we will have yearly problems getting who we want and by that with willingness and who fits all the necessary ingredients. I understand that identifying guys with ability isn't the only thing that recruitment would be looking at, as Anderson explained in his podcast talk with Jammer Graham on his recent Bye Round Podcast. There is so much more involved in recruitment and that makes the job of a recruiter so much tougher.

We need consistent winning results with winning formulae and being up in the upper layer of the ladder for several years to maybe get more of a shoe in with players and their managers. I'm hoping that the facilities and conditions at the new Bruce Gordon Centre of Excellence will help our guys bring on those wins as well.

 

[Dragon David]

Well I sit here in wonder. I wonder if our recruitment team were on the piss over lunch signing a 28 year old from a club that has failed to reach any heights in the last 5 years.

So Sami who is 28 yrs of age 29 by the time he pulls on the jersey and has been described in the media as a veteran winger.

Then over lunchtime dessert when everyone is feeling more tipsy lets sweeten the dessert and give him 3 years.

It is obviously a depth position signing and he can score a try but what are we thinking? I would have thought we need to look for speed and a younger player.

Winger's OFF CONTRACT 2026

Michael Asomua, Selwyn Cobbo, William Craig, Mathew Feagai, Sione Katoa, Nathan Lawson, Greg Marzhew, Marcelo Montoya, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jaxson Paulo, Phillip Sami, Jeral Skelton, Sam Stonestreet, Jed Stuart, Jonathan Sua, Jake Tago, Murray Taulagi, Christian Tuipulotu, Daniel Tupou, Will Warbrick

I acknowledge a few of these mentioned players are no longer available. It would appear to me that our club still has a stigma attached to it as does the coach.

My information provided to me by a very reputable person in the RL community tells me that there are still a number of player managers who will not deal with our coach because of what went down behind the scenes some 12 yrs ago now.

This could very well be one of the reasons Jo. I bet a guy like Brad Arthur would be a much better fit - he knows more than what people give him credit for. He just spent too long at the Eels (11 seasons) and became stale with them. He is doing well with the Leeds Rhinos club at the moment and are currently 5th on the ESL ladder. His contract is to the end of 2026 and hopes to get back coaching in the NRL - maybe Manly will nab him.

 

[Eric]

This could very well be one of the reasons Jo. I bet a guy like Brad Arthur would be a much better fit - he knows more than what people give him credit for. He just spent too long at the Eels (11 seasons) and became stale with them. He is doing well with the Leeds Rhinos club at the moment and are currently 5th on the ESL ladder. His contract is to the end of 2026 and hopes to get back coaching in the NRL - maybe Manly will nab him.

Isn't his son on the books with Manly? I think this clown show with our coach and his son will make Manly hesitate to hire him with his son already on the books.

 

[puff]

Isn't his son on the books with Manly? I think this clown show with our coach and his son will make Manly hesitate to hire him with his son already on the books.

Super League ATM.

 

[jodragon40]

This could very well be one of the reasons Jo. I bet a guy like Brad Arthur would be a much better fit - he knows more than what people give him credit for. He just spent too long at the Eels (11 seasons) and became stale with them. He is doing well with the Leeds Rhinos club at the moment and are currently 5th on the ESL ladder. His contract is to the end of 2026 and hopes to get back coaching in the NRL - maybe Manly will nab him.

I will say this, I actually had a few beers earlier this year with a retired dragons forward who is labouring up my way.

He also was involved in that incident and I got the distinct feeling had Flanno walked into the tavern he may not have left in one piece.

 

[Aonikz]

Any news around trying to lock down couchmans on longer deals?

 

[jodragon40]

Well wipe another winger off my previous post Issako off to the Storm in 27

 

[Dragon David]

Isn't his son on the books with Manly? I think this clown show with our coach and his son will make Manly hesitate to hire him with his son already on the books.

Jake Arthur did play for Manly but now with Hull in the ESL. His other son I think is playing for Newcastle Knights.

 

[Dragon David]

Well wipe another winger off my previous post Issako off to the Storm in 27

That could be a very good signing for the Storm.

 

[redv4life]

Well wipe another winger off my previous post Issako off to the Storm in 27

He’s a gun fit as anything

 

[Frank Facer]

I thought you were running around like a headless chicken, or the cyber version of that, making excuses for Flanno due to the mess he inherited. He did inherit a mess but so far has made it even worse.

Flanno inherited a team that had not made the semis for 5 years and was either favourites or second favourites for the wooden spoon the 3 years he has been our coach. That was because of our poor roster. Other prospective coaches knocked us back when he took over and knocked us back when Griffin took over. We have not been an attractive destination for prospective players since 2012. We have been knocked back by so many players, I can't keep count. I had no expectation of us making the semis this year or the previous 2 years Flanno has been our coach. I was hoping that things may be better by next year. Flanno has had to make do with who he could get, not who he wanted to get. My patience with Flanno is starting to wear thin, but I was prepared to give him until next year. I don't think any other coach would have done much better or any better than Flanno has done with us over the last 2 years and 4 games. Our attack already looked disjointed and lacking direction long before Flanno took over. Flanno took the job that Ryles, Slater, Ciraldo and whoever else didn't want. It was probably one of the best coaching decisions they all will ever make. Coaching us since 2012 has been career coaching suicide. I don't think any other coach could take over from next week and have us making the semis this year or winning more games than we lose for the rest of the season with the roster we have. We need to improve our roster. A coach is only as good as the cattle he has to work with. Flanno has never had the cattle since he got here. He was quite successful while coaching Cronulla. As Phil Gould said in our end of year report several years ago, our problems go beyond our coach and that has been the case before and since.

Why is it that you choose to resort to insults towards me? I have not insulted or attempted to belittle you or anyone else on this forum. I consider it weak on your part and the others who do so as well. We can have a civil discussion without you and others resorting to personal insults, memes and whatever else, don't you think? I don't see any need to make personal insults or insulting memes towards others on here. Like everyone on here, I want us to be successful. We are all St George Illawarra supporters.

I also think we should be located/based at Kogarah. I am allowed to have that opinion, even if it is "unpopular". As I have pointed out that all of the successful teams over the last 28 years or more have been from either Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. Since we have been located at Wollongong when Bennett decided that was best for us, we had success when he was coach, but very little to none since. I think being based at Kogarah, would help us recruitment wise.

 

[Frank Facer]

Well I sit here in wonder. I wonder if our recruitment team were on the piss over lunch signing a 28 year old from a club that has failed to reach any heights in the last 5 years.

So Sami who is 28 yrs of age 29 by the time he pulls on the jersey and has been described in the media as a veteran winger.

Then over lunchtime dessert when everyone is feeling more tipsy lets sweeten the dessert and give him 3 years.

It is obviously a depth position signing and he can score a try but what are we thinking? I would have thought we need to look for speed and a younger player.

Winger's OFF CONTRACT 2026

Michael Asomua, Selwyn Cobbo, William Craig, Mathew Feagai, Sione Katoa, Nathan Lawson, Greg Marzhew, Marcelo Montoya, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jaxson Paulo, Phillip Sami, Jeral Skelton, Sam Stonestreet, Jed Stuart, Jonathan Sua, Jake Tago, Murray Taulagi, Christian Tuipulotu, Daniel Tupou, Will Warbrick

I acknowledge a few of these mentioned players are no longer available. It would appear to me that our club still has a stigma attached to it as does the coach.

My information provided to me by a very reputable person in the RL community tells me that there are still a number of player managers who will not deal with our coach because of what went down behind the scenes some 12 yrs ago now.

Of that list of wingers off contract at the end of this season and excluding Warbrick who has signed with New Zealand and Nawaquanitawase who is going to Union next year, Sione Kotoa would be a decent signing and Jonathan Sua from Canterbury could be a good signing.

 

[No Surrender]

Flanno inherited a team that had not made the semis for 5 years and was either favourites or second favourites for the wooden spoon the 3 years he has been our coach. That was because of our poor roster. Other prospective coaches knocked us back when he took over and knocked us back when Griffin took over. We have not been an attractive destination for prospective players since 2012. We have been knocked back by so many players, I can't keep count. I had no expectation of us making the semis this year or the previous 2 years Flanno has been our coach. I was hoping that things may be better by next year. Flanno has had to make do with who he could get, not who he wanted to get. My patience with Flanno is starting to wear thin, but I was prepared to give him until next year. I don't think any other coach would have done much better or any better than Flanno has done with us over the last 2 years and 4 games. Our attack already looked disjointed and lacking direction long before Flanno took over. Flanno took the job that Ryles, Slater, Ciraldo and whoever else didn't want. It was probably one of the best coaching decisions they all will ever make. Coaching us since 2012 has been career coaching suicide. I don't think any other coach could take over from next week and have us making the semis this year or winning more games than we lose for the rest of the season with the roster we have. We need to improve our roster. A coach is only as good as the cattle he has to work with. Flanno has never had the cattle since he got here. He was quite successful while coaching Cronulla. As Phil Gould said in our end of year report several years ago, our problems go beyond our coach and that has been the case before and since.

Why is it that you choose to resort to insults towards me? I have not insulted or attempted to belittle you or anyone else on this forum. I consider it weak on your part and the others who do so as well. We can have a civil discussion without you and others resorting to personal insults, memes and whatever else, don't you think? I don't see any need to make personal insults or insulting memes towards others on here. Like everyone on here, I want us to be successful. We are all St George Illawarra supporters.

I also think we should be located/based at Kogarah. I am allowed to have that opinion, even if it is "unpopular". As I have pointed out that all of the successful teams over the last 28 years or more have been from either Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. Since we have been located at Wollongong when Bennett decided that was best for us, we had success when he was coach, but very little to none since. I think being based at Kogarah, would help us recruitment wise.

We are the Illawarra Dragons

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Is it going to be closer to Sydney, Wollongong or roughly between?

There is not one good reason for it to be in Sydney

I would assume it is nearby to the CoE. Though that begs the question as to how the St. George side will benefit. Unless they are making one for both sides which would be doubly excellent.

Spitting distance.

This will upset all the old Dragons who probably haven't even lived in the area for 20 years, we are a Wollongong based Club now.
Apart from a few games at Jubilee which I think will be less every year all St George Illawarra operations and training are Wollongong based.

All lower grade training and Elite Academy is at the Gong, the major home ground is at Figtree, even Dragons rep teams will play there this season.

Pathways Signings in the Dragons reps also do pre season with Cup and Flegg.

These plus trialist are the players that will be in the village.

Georges River Council are extremely hard to deal with, favouring soccer more.
We have not trained there this pre-season and the Junior Reps have one game there and it had to be on a Sunday to accommodate Soccer.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

That’s all what Mug Fan said in December last year and it’s spot on

Forget about Sydney now we should be completely honed in on the south coast/Wollongong where the COE is

 

[No Surrender]

There is not one good reason for it to be in Sydney

Spitting distance.

This will upset all the old Dragons who probably haven't even lived in the area for 20 years, we are a Wollongong based Club now.
Apart from a few games at Jubilee which I think will be less every year all St George Illawarra operations and training are Wollongong based.

All lower grade training and Elite Academy is at the Gong, the major home ground is at Figtree, even Dragons rep teams will play there this season.

Pathways Signings in the Dragons reps also do pre season with Cup and Flegg.

These plus trialist are the players that will be in the village.

Georges River Council are extremely hard to deal with, favouring soccer more.
We have not trained there this pre-season and the Junior Reps have one game there and it had to be on a Sunday to accommodate Soccer.

All true, hence perhaps it’s time to change the name of the club

 

[George Sancti]

When times are tough, it’s natural for people within the same club to react sharply to views that differ only slightly from their own. Even so, it disappoints me when I see former Saints or Illawarra supporters framing the strengths of one region as if they somehow diminish the other. Whether it’s Illawarra’s junior depth or the extraordinary history carried by the old Dragons sides.

I’m an old Dragon myself, and I was one of those lobbying for St George and Illawarra to join forces well before the Super League era. I could see that rationalisation in Sydney was inevitable, and the idea of being pushed into something like a St George–Canterbury club was… unthinkable. I also believed the ARL would eventually treat Illawarra as a ‘near‑Sydney’ region whose supporters could simply be absorbed by an existing Sydney club, much like what happened on the Central Coast.

But together, with Illawarra’s resources and St George’s unmatched legacy, this club was built to endure. Longer than most, and certainly long enough to weather the lean years. I never imagined we’d find ourselves at the bottom of the ladder, but even then, I never doubted that St George Illawarra would remain a rightful, permanent part of the premier competition.

We are stronger as one club than either region could ever be alone. That was true when the joint venture was formed, and it remains true today.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

James Graham’s interview with Daniel Anderson

Something about ando, love listening to him speak.

From memory my favorites section is around an hour 10 mins into the podcast and he starts talking details about recruitment and the contrast between roosters and dragons

Mentioned specifically for us that we need to really focus on junior recruitment externally (outside the Illawarra + St George) which I couldn’t agree more with

Said that once the roosters had their 16 bed complex in Kingsford it allowed them to bring In great young talent like Robert Toia/Salesi Foketi/Va’a bros etc.

I think This is very similar to what we are aiming to do with the accomodation village near the COE

Would love for the club podcast to have him on for another chat for an hour and hear his thoughts/plans etc.

 

[Mug Fan]

From memory my favorites section is around an hour or an hour 10 mins into the podcast and he starts talking details about recruitment and the contrast between roosters and dragons

Mentioned specifically for us that we need to really focus on junior recruitment externally (outside the Illawarra + St George) which I couldn’t agree more with

Said that once the roosters had their 16 bed complex in Kingsford it allowed them to bring In great young talent like Robert Toia/Salesi Foketi/Va’a bros etc.

I think This is very similar to what we are aiming to do with the accomodation village near the COE

A good chat
Pretty much everything I had already talk with him about and posted on here.
It a process and we have started, a couple of houses to get us going.
Then pathways recruitment in positions we need.