Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
I don't know why Connor M isn't rated. He's not much of a threat with the ball but his passing from dummy half is good and his defence is very good.
Recruitment & Retention 2027
- Thread starter jodragon40
- Start date
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Ah yes ty, I knew something was off there, but the 2 remaining look rly promising.
If Kyle does go next year though, we're still 1 Liddle hammie away from wasting the 2027 season/momentum.. i.e. we need a #3 option, but unless its already a done deal we dont know about, seems like we're going to try and rely on internal.. Connor or Fagalilo or Haele maybe.. maybe we try to pick someone up very very late if Kyle does move on.
The problem is we are definitely hitting the market come Nov 1st for a genuine 2028 hooker.. so I can understand it makes going after a young gun this year difficult to commit too.. that said seems like we missed out on Pattie and the penrith kid and im not sure if we were ever looking at Moser.. im not actually sure we want that kind of hooker though.. like a flighty lightweight hooker who struggles with defence... I think we want a 'sure thing'.
I dunno how seriously they view any of our current young ones though thats the question I rly want to know.. Connor, Fagalilo, Haele, Grant, Phillips.. they r the ones at a useful level of experience... are any of them eyed as potential first graders? I am rly interested to see how Coehlo goes out of the young ones though, but hes still many years away... esp now that Chapman moved on.
jodragon40
Staff
Muhleisen? I know he has been injured and Finau may have to keep that 9 position in house
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Muhleisen and Finau are much better hookers than Kyle.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Gutho on the bench coming on to play hooker if there are no injuries in the backs. Seems perfect. Why wouldn't he be a much better hooker than Kyle? His defence is good. It's just he often isn't fast enough to get into position to make the tackles at fullback. Wouldn't be an issue at hooker. He's a much better talker and is faster. Passing is at least as good.
RufusRex
SGI NSW Cup
Gutho in that role is when we have Watson AND Liddle in the 17 seems hugely superflous.
Loko/Halangahu/Watson plus Webster/LKT/Nick on the bench has to be the way forward.
Neither Kyle/Gutho deserve to be anywhere near the 19 if we want success.
Loko/Halangahu/Watson plus Webster/LKT/Nick on the bench has to be the way forward.
Neither Kyle/Gutho deserve to be anywhere near the 19 if we want success.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Of course. Forgot about Watson.
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
Mariner’s a stud and PNG have already signed their star studded backlineWould love adding mariner to our backline, elite speed + good yardage carries
Mariner would be a lovely pick up
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
Definitely no to Hunt but Mariner might be worth a look at the right price. I thought DA said no more imports though. I would have liked to see Williams kick on this year , it wasn't to be, he probably went backwards so I dont know what will happen with him.
Last edited:
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Oh this would be 2028 yeah.. well I guess we could definitely talk to Mariner.. especially if Bostock isnt interested.. he can cover ctr and wing?
Just to edit.. might be a player that could get an early release also.. broncos dont seem too attached to their OB's..
Just to edit.. might be a player that could get an early release also.. broncos dont seem too attached to their OB's..
Last edited:
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
This is the advantage of having 4/5 young homegrown forwards on smaller contracts that’s perform at an 8/10 every week
You can start to splurge a bit more on outside backs.
I think the reported price tags for Metcalf and Drinkwater (900k) are pretty good especially if there’s no ratchet clauses
Most of the deadwood (Gutho/suli/atkinson) will be gone by 2028 season and that’s a lot of money to play with + 2028 we might have a young OB come through and be a starter like Buchanan/Heidke/Morrison
Think 2027 is the first season in a long time where the fans should expect and consider the team a top 8 worthy roster probably since 2018
You can start to splurge a bit more on outside backs.
I think the reported price tags for Metcalf and Drinkwater (900k) are pretty good especially if there’s no ratchet clauses
Most of the deadwood (Gutho/suli/atkinson) will be gone by 2028 season and that’s a lot of money to play with + 2028 we might have a young OB come through and be a starter like Buchanan/Heidke/Morrison
Think 2027 is the first season in a long time where the fans should expect and consider the team a top 8 worthy roster probably since 2018
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
I do think pain will come in 2-3yrs time with those home-grown forwards.. maybe we have to let 1 go at a time as we go.. but so be it.. still rather be in the position of control/power over our roster... and definitely helps that they are home-grown too.. well LPT/Jacob not technically home-grown.
Thats the trade-off to players doing well.. next contract time their value doubles etc.. could be Heidke or Reed or others also.. I am seeing quite a few players going to market this year for other clubs that I would have thought were gonna be 1-club players.... Preston is a standout imo.. Gus is the master usually of "do you wanna be a bulldog" 'ing his players into staying for unders.
We also arent spending a tonne on spine players currently.. but we probably need a genuine rep-level 7 and 9 at some point.. players on top dollar.. not 100% sure how good/reliable Metcalf will end up being... but for now yeah hes on like 900 or something.. thats not a lot for a half (esp if no ratchet)... it should in theory mean some money left for those OB's or some better depth.. we might not be able to get any for 27 though which is a shame.. I should say that the Warriors are showing that you dont need a perfect 7 to win football games.. but when you win games... the price goes up.. curious what they will pay Boyd...
Big year next year, Dean needs to show he has some idea what hes doing or the mood will shift.. I dont think Top8 is realistic, plenty of holes in the roster, its no stronger than the 16 other NRL teams (excluding perth) ...but atleast its comparable again.. that has not been the case in many years.... we are also vulnerable if certainly players get injured (Metcalf/Drinkwater/Liddle in particular).. but if we are back competing with most teams again we should be happy imo.... I would love to see us get back to a 40-50% win record.. something that is respectable.... and it will not be easy.. very very elite competition.
Inverted63
SGI Jersey Flegg
Mariner would be perfect! Top try scorer for the broncos in 2025, won a grand final with them in 2025, still only 23 and lightning quick!
Gee I really hope he lands with the Dragons.
Gee I really hope he lands with the Dragons.
Sheridan Stand
SGI Junior League
I’m not saying Gutho always on bench. Smart clubs have depth to rotate the bench depending on opposition and injury. E.g If lids hammy was gone for a few weeks then Gutho maybe is a great idea on bench to cover Watson plus other positions given his versatility. I would choose him over KF all day (would pick my grandma over KF). I also still think people underestimate Gutho leadership qualities and experience in pressure cooker clutch games. Reminder we have a very young pack and a general lack of leaders to close out games. The fact we can’t name a captain yet is telling. I like having Gutho available for the bench for his last year - doesn’t mean he is always in the rotation eg if injuries don’t require rest him. He has not been a passenger here like so many others - okay he is aged and I get the frustration of cap space but he isn’t useless. He is almost to the end of a very good career. Those type of mentor players in their final year can be very valuable to a young coach and young team. We have him so we should get the most from him and at least he will give his absolute best for the club not like so many.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Dragon David
SGI NSW Cup
"he will give his absolute best for the club not like so many". Like Benjamin Hunt!!
RufusRex
SGI NSW Cup
Are we talking about Kyle here or Connor.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Connor. Kyle's defence isn't very good. It's just not as bad as the rest of his game.
jodragon40
Staff
Secret meeting shuts down Dragons rumour, but new star in firing line
James Phelps
News.com.au
14 August
Daniel Atkinson has been guaranteed his Dragons future and has committed to the club in a move that ends months of speculation that the utility would be squeezed out of Wollongong following the club’s recruitment blitz.
News.com.au can reveal that Atkinson met with the Dragons’ powerbrokers at a secret meeting in Wollongong last week, leaving with a clear message from the club that he is not going anywhere.
The five-eighth, along with his manager Michael Hudson and Titans Sports Management owner Dave Riolo, met with Dragons coach Dean Young and recruitment manager Daniel Anderson to thrash out his role at the club amid speculation that high-profile recruits Luke Metcalf, Scott Drinkwater and Kodi Nikorima would force him out of the club.
It is understood the meeting was called to address speculation that the triple-playmaking raid that has netted them Metcalf, Drinkwater, and Nikorima has put Atkinson at the top of a Dragons offload list that also includes Moses Suli, Clint Gutherson and Kyle Flanagan.
According to Dragons sources, Atkinson was left in no doubt about his standing at the club. The Dragons rate him a genuine talent and value his rare ability to cover multiple positions — five-eighth, centre and fullback — a versatility the club considers crucial as it resets its spine for 2027.
He has been told he will most likely start next season on the bench, used as an impact player and as senior cover for the new arrivals. Should any of the club’s big-money recruits be injured or fail to fire, Atkinson would be first in line to step into the halves or fullback. Atkinson said he would accept the relegation to the bench on the provision that he would be released should a rival club make an offer that tops his Dragons deal.
While Atkinson’s position has been settled, the same cannot be said of four of his teammates.
News.com.au can reveal that Lyhkan King-Togia has joined Moses Suli, Clint Gutherson and Kyle Flanagan on the dreaded off-load list.
The developments cap a whirlwind period at Wollongong that has seen the club splash out a combined total of almost $10 million to recruit Drinkwater, Metcalf, Nikorima, Phillip Sami and Connor Watson in a ruthless rebuild.
James Phelps
News.com.au
14 August
Daniel Atkinson has been guaranteed his Dragons future and has committed to the club in a move that ends months of speculation that the utility would be squeezed out of Wollongong following the club’s recruitment blitz.
News.com.au can reveal that Atkinson met with the Dragons’ powerbrokers at a secret meeting in Wollongong last week, leaving with a clear message from the club that he is not going anywhere.
The five-eighth, along with his manager Michael Hudson and Titans Sports Management owner Dave Riolo, met with Dragons coach Dean Young and recruitment manager Daniel Anderson to thrash out his role at the club amid speculation that high-profile recruits Luke Metcalf, Scott Drinkwater and Kodi Nikorima would force him out of the club.
It is understood the meeting was called to address speculation that the triple-playmaking raid that has netted them Metcalf, Drinkwater, and Nikorima has put Atkinson at the top of a Dragons offload list that also includes Moses Suli, Clint Gutherson and Kyle Flanagan.
According to Dragons sources, Atkinson was left in no doubt about his standing at the club. The Dragons rate him a genuine talent and value his rare ability to cover multiple positions — five-eighth, centre and fullback — a versatility the club considers crucial as it resets its spine for 2027.
He has been told he will most likely start next season on the bench, used as an impact player and as senior cover for the new arrivals. Should any of the club’s big-money recruits be injured or fail to fire, Atkinson would be first in line to step into the halves or fullback. Atkinson said he would accept the relegation to the bench on the provision that he would be released should a rival club make an offer that tops his Dragons deal.
While Atkinson’s position has been settled, the same cannot be said of four of his teammates.
News.com.au can reveal that Lyhkan King-Togia has joined Moses Suli, Clint Gutherson and Kyle Flanagan on the dreaded off-load list.
The developments cap a whirlwind period at Wollongong that has seen the club splash out a combined total of almost $10 million to recruit Drinkwater, Metcalf, Nikorima, Phillip Sami and Connor Watson in a ruthless rebuild.