Recruitment & Retention 2027

[Jaz20]

Bostock is for 28, we have 6 OBs off contract in 27 and probably none will be retained. Gutho,Val, Moses, Fale, Tu, Hayden.

Add Kyle, Lyhkan, Kerr, Cyrus, Nick and we are turning over a third of our roster.

There will be plenty of signing in the next 6-8 months

Bostock locked in Mug?

Nick the only one there I'd like to keep..

 

[Eric]

Bostock locked in Mug?

Nick the only one there I'd like to keep..

x2. Though I wouldn't write off LKT just yet. Cyrus is a huge disappointment. I thought I had realistic hope of him kicking on and becoming a high quality backrower.

 

[Jaz20]

x2. Though I wouldn't write off LKT just yet. Cyrus is a huge disappointment. I thought I had realistic hope of him kicking on and becoming a high quality backrower.

Agree about LKT but if it's him or Hodges.. not sure where LKT fits in. Of course Hodges has done nothing at Cup level and LKT has shown signs at NRL level, so maybe a tough comparison, but guess there's only so many top 30 spots. Come 2028 I think I'd be backing in Hodges at this point.

 

[redv13]

Bostock locked in Mug?

Nick the only one there I'd like to keep..

Agree about Nick. Hopefully he has a decent run injury wise in 2027 and they re sign him for 2028/29. Wouldn’t be big $$$ cap wise and the potential is there, just needs a bit of luck from the injury gods. Could be a gooden off the bench and age isn’t a worry

 

[Dave03]

Agree about Nick. Hopefully he has a decent run injury wise in 2027 and they re sign him for 2028/29. Wouldn’t be big $$$ cap wise and the potential is there, just needs a bit of luck from the injury gods. Could be a gooden off the bench and age isn’t a worry

His leg speed/acceleration combined with power is a big point of difference compared to our other fwds. Feel like he could have a spencer leniu type impact off the bench while covering other positions. A personal fav of mine but can't see him cracking 2rf unless there's a few injuries.

 

[redv13]

His leg speed/acceleration combined with power is a big point of difference compared to our other fwds. Feel like he could have a spencer leniu type impact off the bench while covering other positions. A personal fav of mine but can't see him cracking 2rf unless there's a few injuries.

Perfect bench type in my eyes. 27 rounds is a long time. Hopefully he gets his chance in 2027

 

[The Word]

Wouldn't be the end of the world to retain Tu as cheap bench depth as well depending on how the roster and salary cap start shaping up. Especially if he continues to improve his game.

 

[RufusRex]

His leg speed/acceleration combined with power is a big point of difference compared to our other fwds. Feel like he could have a spencer leniu type impact off the bench while covering other positions. A personal fav of mine but can't see him cracking 2rf unless there's a few injuries.

Maybe Talau could give him some time in the middle as well then

 

[Morgan]

Wouldn't be the end of the world to retain Tu as cheap bench depth as well depending on how the roster and salary cap start shaping up. Especially if he continues to improve his game.

He improved as the year went on. But due to his age, probably not enough.

 

[Dave03]

Maybe Talau could give him some time in the middle as well then

Yea, we'll have a few middle spots open up in cup with the likes of sele, lawrie etc leaving. Either way I'd like to see him get a few games in 1st grade to see whether he's worth extending or not.

 

[Dragsters]

Bostock 3yr deal worth about 850k from 2028

Does that mean your declaration is based on what a couple of "journos" are saying or do you have any actual independent intel?

 

[The Word]

Does that mean your declaration is based on what a couple of "journos" are saying or do you have any actual independent intel?

Of course it's based on speculation from journalists. We are not allowed to table an offer until Sunday and even if we have had some sneaky chats with his agent and things look good, no one with any connection to the club is going to say that or we would be in breach of NRL regulations. I'm going to enjoy the rumour and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Dragsters]

Of course it's based on speculation from journalists. We are not allowed to table an offer until Sunday and even if we have had some sneaky chats with his agent and things look good, no one with any connection to the club is going to say that or we would be in breach of NRL regulations. I'm going to enjoy the rumour and keep my fingers crossed.

I totally agree.

The point is that people are coming out saying it's a done deal at 850k for 3 years and the like.

The only possible way I could see any of these claims being true is if Jack has told his mates and they have a spilled the beans.

Other than that it's journo speculation and that's not something anyone can claim as fact.

Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying the rumour too.

It just irks me when people make out like they know something that they likely don't.

I hope we sign him too but we are just gonna have to wait and see...

 

[Layto]

Kerr officially gone

 

[TheRev]

Kerr officially gone

I'm just archiving the article now, I assume this is the guy Mug was talking about leaving:

Dragons forward Josh Kerr has played his last game for the club with Kerr set to join the Super League.
Kerr is expected to join Hull FC on a multi-year contract from next year.

The experienced prop was given permission by the Dragons to test the open market despite having 12 months left on his contract.

Kerr generated significant interest with a host of Super League clubs circling Kerr, including Hull KR, Hull FC, Catalans and Castleford.

He has agreed to join Daly Cherry-Evans at Hull FC. The pair are managed by the same company.

The emergence of St George Illawarra’s bright young forward pack has pushed Kerr behind the likes of the Couchman twins, Ryan and Toby, Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart in the Red-V pecking order. Kerr played 19 games for the Dragons this season but found his game time diminished at the back end of the year.

He rejoined St George Illawarra this year, having spent three years at the Dolphins. Prior to that he played 68 games for St George Illawarra between 2019-23. During that time he was also a member of Queensland’s extended Origin squad.

Kerr will also represent the PM’s XIII side against PNG recently.

The Dragons also have given centre Moses Suli permission to test the market but as it stands he will return to pre-season training with the Dragons later this month.

I mean its a depth forward gone which is fine.. maybe we had to cover some of his contract.. but its a bit of cash.. and its another spot we need to fill also.. I think we have 3 x Top 30 spots and up to 2 x Development spots left.. depending what they did with Hodges contract.

That photo with Matt Burton is still haunting me.. hes someone who might be on market 2027.. I just doubt we would go that way even if we could afford it... but if the Dogs r chasing Walker or Dearden who knows.

 

[RufusRex]

Our top 30 cap/squad is so unbalanced

Backs - 15
Fullbacks - 2 - Drinkwater/Gutherson
ThreeQuarters - 7 - Sami/Burton/Buchanan/Tu/Fale/Holmes/Suli
Halves - 6 - Metcalf/Reed/Nikorima/LKT/Atkinson/Flanagan

Forwards 12
Hookers - 2 - Liddle/Watson
Middles - 6 - KK/Loko/Ryan/Toby/Halangahu/Webster
Edge - 4 - Egan/Stewart/Tsougrannis/Cyrus

Our middle/edge depth is appalling ... We have a really good 1st grade pack and bench but god help we suffer injuries/suspensions.
The edge forwards particularly lacking.

Getting rid of Kerr on top of everyone else who has gone on the surface is great but in practical terms FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK

 

[redv13]

Our top 30 cap/squad is so unbalanced

Backs - 15
Fullbacks - 2 - Drinkwater/Gutherson
ThreeQuarters - 7 - Sami/Burton/Buchanan/Tu/Fale/Holmes/Suli
Halves - 6 - Metcalf/Reed/Nikorima/LKT/Atkinson/Flanagan

Forwards 12
Hookers - 2 - Liddle/Watson
Middles - 6 - KK/Loko/Ryan/Toby/Halangahu/Webster
Edge - 4 - Egan/Stewart/Tsougrannis/Cyrus

Our middle/edge depth is appalling ... We have a really good 1st grade pack and bench but god help we suffer injuries/suspensions.
The edge forwards particularly lacking.

Getting rid of Kerr on top of everyone else who has gone on the surface is great but in practical terms FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK

Maybe it’s time for Suli to move into the back row

 

[RufusRex]

Maybe it’s time for Suli to move into the back row

It is an option yes

 

[RandomDragon]

Our top 30 cap/squad is so unbalanced

Backs - 15
Fullbacks - 2 - Drinkwater/Gutherson
ThreeQuarters - 7 - Sami/Burton/Buchanan/Tu/Fale/Holmes/Suli
Halves - 6 - Metcalf/Reed/Nikorima/LKT/Atkinson/Flanagan

Forwards 12
Hookers - 2 - Liddle/Watson
Middles - 6 - KK/Loko/Ryan/Toby/Halangahu/Webster
Edge - 4 - Egan/Stewart/Tsougrannis/Cyrus

Our middle/edge depth is appalling ... We have a really good 1st grade pack and bench but god help we suffer injuries/suspensions.
The edge forwards particularly lacking.

Getting rid of Kerr on top of everyone else who has gone on the surface is great but in practical terms FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK

Way too many halves… I would put Kflan to Hooker and Watson to middle

 

[TheRev]

Way too many halves… I would put Kflan to Hooker and Watson to middle

It definitely is too many, O'Neill and Hodges are also part of that halves pool.... its getting stuck with Kyle, Gutho and to a lesser extent Atko.. the legacy of coaches from a time now past (and their lack of recruitment managers at the time).

Rly throws things because Kyle and Gutho are almost 1.5m and 2 slots of dead-weight.. Kyle I think will be warming the bench #19 week on week.. im sure they have told him that if he insists on staying the season and doesnt want to look at ESL gigs. Gutho fark I dunno what we do with him.. hes likely to kick up a fuss as a leader in that group.. but god knows what we do.. even if Drinkwater does a serious injury, would we put Gutho in? I feel like its undoing a lot of what we will be training for with a quick fullback.. but there arent a lot of options tbf.. its Drinkwater or Atkinson or a make-shift.. spose they could throw Burton but I dont love that, big job at the back for someone so young... far too much imo... but lets hope for no injuries hey.

And then there is Atko, who granted does appear to be a mistake in hindsight, but hes different to gutho/kyle... in theory still young and skillful enough to make a fist of fullback or centre.. Im not holding my breath, but if we cop a serious injury.. maybe he is first drop in both positions..

Still think 1 or 2 of them potentially go in the off-season.. but I am nervous about how to fill the free spots... dont want to replace them with more roadblocks.