Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
I'd give him a couple of weeks in reserve grade but not a 3 week break. He's on about 1mil a year!
Recruitment & Retention 2027
- Thread starter jodragon40
- Start date
AyiosYiorgos
SGI NSW Cup
He is playing injured from all reports, so a break would be better than running around KOE cup, we are so short of quality depth that guys like Gutho, Holmes and probably a few more have to back up week in week out, this is what you call a cluster f*ck of recruitment by Incompetent clowns..
Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
If he's playing injured, I agree.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Ai Gutho can barely run and is on 1 leg... I think Val has a shoulder and some sort of injury effecting his speed..
In an ideal world they are being rested, but thats how dire our depth is right now... I do wish the club was more public with this stuff so fans could appreciate what they are putting their bodies through so we can field a side each weekend... rather than bag them.... but I get it.... maybe not wanting to share that info with the opposition..
I think back to Flanno days and I hated how he would play CT either injured or fresh off an injury.. but the frustration was because we actually had fit kids like SFinau and perhaps Tamale before him begging for opportunity.. and even a few others that were passable (we had a lot of wingers for a while there).. this is different now.. we're very very lean 1 through 7... the halves situation isnt rly our fault though, 2 longterm injuries to Reed and Hammoud, the outside backs is our fault cause although maybe Heidke, Williams and Lyric could have been pushing.. we ultimately are missing 2-3 more gun outside backs in cup applying pressure.. we now have either flegg kids like Toby or Kirk... or more nsw cup standard players like TPH, Lawson, Afu.. this has been a hole for ages..
Illusion
SGI NSW Cup
Nah don't agree it will make it worse , needs to get away from it all ....... As I have said before something is not right with him put him in reserve grade and he may jump off the gap .......
Dragon David
SGI NSW Cup
Nine news and the Daily Telegraph saying Watson off to PNG in 2028. Will he now come to the Dragons for a year?
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
You would think so now Dave.
Dragon David
SGI NSW Cup
Former Blues star Connor Watson signs with PNG Chiefs
They are still more than 18 months away from kick-off, but the PNG Chiefs have attracted another star player to their roster.
The Dragons have held talks with Watson and he is likely to join Scott Drinkwater, Keaon Koloamatangi, Luke Metcalf and Phillip Sami as a 2027 recruit.
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
Honesty that gives us a first grade spine plus a first grade pack .. yes a bit more quality middle depth or an utter back fence merchant would complete the pack but 1/6/7-17 is better than we have had in a long time.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Also feel better not being completely reliant on Liddle with his soft tissue injuries.. plus the hooker 1-2 punch etc..
Hopefully we are still after that 21yr old for 2027 for cup and injury cover.. plus.. on Nov 1 still hunting a 2028 hooker target to replace Watson.. its quite a production line required..
Eric
Staff
I'd honestly say it's a first grade spine and an absolutely gun pack. If LPT keeps getting better like he is, could we wish for a better prop; rotation than Couchman x 2, LPT, KK? Then Hutchinson for depth.
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
Absolute gun is still a bit shy of where it is ...
The back row could have a lot more impact - Luc would be the only "game breaker" in the back row, Egan/Stewart wont let you down and will run a decent line but they are not your Olakuatu dynamic power running type with an offload.
I really like the team we are building esp in the pack but it is very same same with the twins/egan/stewart etc etc ... Loko is a point of difference and KK obviously will add to us ... A running power middle like Hikila is trying to be in Cup is definately missing as is that dynamic running edge ... Still think we may offer Luc another deal to fill that void.
We add some speed in the three quarters though and we may actually threaten the top 8.
The back row could have a lot more impact - Luc would be the only "game breaker" in the back row, Egan/Stewart wont let you down and will run a decent line but they are not your Olakuatu dynamic power running type with an offload.
I really like the team we are building esp in the pack but it is very same same with the twins/egan/stewart etc etc ... Loko is a point of difference and KK obviously will add to us ... A running power middle like Hikila is trying to be in Cup is definately missing as is that dynamic running edge ... Still think we may offer Luc another deal to fill that void.
We add some speed in the three quarters though and we may actually threaten the top 8.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Ai, the outside backs are still the missing pieces, we have time but we have competition also.. other forum said there was a contract in front of one of em currently.. hopefully we can land whoever it is, then we will need to take stock and see if we need to replace Suli or Val yet... if so we need more cash first.
And similarly if we miss Watson, we still need to find another hooker.
Then there is the coach.. still hoping its a fresh charismatic face that will give us some chance at extending the pack that everyone keeps talking about that isnt currently locked up.... that said if I could pick 2 of all of them that were must keeps.. Egan/Stewart are my Top 2.. then Couchies.. then the rest..
And similarly if we miss Watson, we still need to find another hooker.
Then there is the coach.. still hoping its a fresh charismatic face that will give us some chance at extending the pack that everyone keeps talking about that isnt currently locked up.... that said if I could pick 2 of all of them that were must keeps.. Egan/Stewart are my Top 2.. then Couchies.. then the rest..
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Hoping CST can turn himself, or make himself into a that kind of backrower. Has the skills and size. Needs to put in the hard work. Then Meafou and are we writing Nick T off? He's big, good leg speed, plays 80 min, tackles well. Why can't he make it? Maybe has to work on running his lines better rather than just trying to trample opponents.
I'll take an early stab at it:
- Drinkwater
- Sami
- Holmes
- Buchanan or Heidke
- ____________________?
- Atko/ LKT/ Metcalf
- Metcalf/ Reed
- Keaon
- Liddle
- Toby C
- Egan
- __________________?
- Stewart
- Watson
- Ryan C
- Nick T
- LPT
- ____________________?
- LKT or Atko
Stewart and Egan extended recently. Absolute priority are Couchmans and Loko
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
i think we need to prepare ourselves to Loko/Jake waiting until Nov 1 :-(
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
I think we will get the Couchies cause I dont think we will low-ball them and encourage them to test the market.. but u never know... how do you price 2028 and beyond etc..
The other 2 I dunno.. but again.. coach coach coach.. sweet nothings in their ear.. I dont think we have any chance to secure those 2 pre Nov 1 without a sweeping wind coming thru from external... even then its probably a January extension best case if they stay.
The other 2 I dunno.. but again.. coach coach coach.. sweet nothings in their ear.. I dont think we have any chance to secure those 2 pre Nov 1 without a sweeping wind coming thru from external... even then its probably a January extension best case if they stay.
RandomDragon
SGI Jersey Flegg
Has Leilua Re-signed? what was that video today waffling about?
AyiosYiorgos
SGI NSW Cup
I wouldn't be surprised if both leave, so many rumours about them, shame as we spent so much in developing them including Finau Latu and we end up with Zilch...