Recruitment & Retention 2027

TheRev · 2026-03-12T00:32:10+1100

Was looking into Trai Fullers status.. definitely off-contract for 2027.. Woolf declared Hammer is their #1 choice for 2026... and there is no way the Dolphins could offer a backup fullback a decent offer with all the guns they have oozing from that backline.. they do need a backup fullback for 2027... but I bet its a 300-400k offer vs maybe 650-750k if he came to us.. cant be too many clubs with first grade #1 spots available.. unless the sharks or dogs r looking to offload theirs...

But I have no idea if Trai is actually interested in moving interstate... and for all I know maybe its Averillo that we are looking at as a potential fullback.. would be very nervous about the latter.

Dragon David · 2026-03-12T09:23:57+1100

TheRev said:
Was looking into Trai Fullers status.. definitely off-contract for 2027.. Woolf declared Hammer is their #1 choice for 2026... and there is no way the Dolphins could offer a backup fullback a decent offer with all the guns they have oozing from that backline.. they do need a backup fullback for 2027... but I bet its a 300-400k offer vs maybe 650-750k if he came to us.. cant be too many clubs with first grade #1 spots available.. unless the sharks or dogs r looking to offload theirs...

But I have no idea if Trai is actually interested in moving interstate... and for all I know maybe its Averillo that we are looking at as a potential fullback.. would be very nervous about the latter.

I think we need to sign a "specialist" fullback TheRev not a quasi one. In other words not an incomplete one. Averillo has had plenty of time last year as the fill in fullback at the Dolphins when the Hammer did his SOO duties for Qld and also did a bit in that #1 position with the Bulldogs but not too much. Fuller would be ideal.

My take though is that some coaches would prefer to have a fullback also able to play in other positions as well, like 5/8th or even half back and basically in the backline, so I guess Averillo can fit the bill. He is a stronger player than Sloan and just as quick at least. Not too many available which is the problem and with two more teams coming into the comp in the next couple of years there will be a flow on effect of shortage of good players. I guess there are a few hanging about to see what best deal they can get in the next few years.

Recruitment will be a tough one for bottom 8 clubs I feel.

Justadragon · 2026-03-12T09:59:39+1100

TheRev said:
Was looking into Trai Fullers status.. definitely off-contract for 2027.. Woolf declared Hammer is their #1 choice for 2026... and there is no way the Dolphins could offer a backup fullback a decent offer with all the guns they have oozing from that backline.. they do need a backup fullback for 2027... but I bet its a 300-400k offer vs maybe 650-750k if he came to us.. cant be too many clubs with first grade #1 spots available.. unless the sharks or dogs r looking to offload theirs...

But I have no idea if Trai is actually interested in moving interstate... and for all I know maybe its Averillo that we are looking at as a potential fullback.. would be very nervous about the latter.

Yeah I dont know Rev, when we start talking about FB's of Fuller's size then we start running into a multiude of other issues. If that was to be the case then I would keep developing TPH. The kid has courage beyond reproach, loves the club and would be much cheaper option until one of our other juniors could possibly fill that slot. Lets face it there's not too many elite FB's running around waiting for the Dragons to pick them up.

Justadragon · 2026-03-12T10:04:35+1100

Dragon David said:
I think we need to sign a "specialist" fullback TheRev not a quasi one. In other words not an incomplete one. Averillo has had plenty of time last year as the fill in fullback at the Dolphins when the Hammer did his SOO duties for Qld and also did a bit in that #1 position with the Bulldogs but not too much. Fuller would be ideal.

My take though is that some coaches would prefer to have a fullback also able to play in other positions as well, like 5/8th or even half back and basically in the backline, so I guess Averillo can fit the bill. He is a stronger player than Sloan and just as quick at least. Not too many available which is the problem and with two more teams coming into the comp in the next couple of years there will be a flow on effect of shortage of good players. I guess there are a few hanging about to see what best deal they can get in the next few years.

Recruitment will be a tough one for bottom 8 clubs I feel.

Not too sure Fuller is the man for us Dave, just think of the backline we have and what he would be expected to do in the side. I wou;ld prefer someone in the Tedesco mold that can just about do anything, unless we grow one I dont think we will pick up one of those anytime soon.

redv4life · 2026-03-12T10:32:45+1100

The dog’s interest in LPT is genuine. If I had to guess we won’t stand in his way to go

Dragon David · 2026-03-12T10:49:17+1100

redv4life said:
The dog’s interest in LPT is genuine. If I had to guess we won’t stand in his way to go

If LPT goes, I reckon that Rueben Porter has some chance of getting his spot. Porter plays like it is second nature to him and runs hard and is quick, offloads many times (successfully) and is pretty good defensively from what I have seen of him (even though limited). Same as Dylan Coutts. Yes, they might be backrowers now but I feel that they could transition into the front row easily.

We still don't know what goes on with LPT. Anyway, lets see how he goes in the Cup game against the Storm this weekend - well all three that I have mentioned. Both LPT and Coutts named in the first 13 while Porter is the 17th man on the bench so don't know how much game time each one will have.

TheRev · 2026-03-12T10:56:13+1100

redv4life said:
The dog’s interest in LPT is genuine. If I had to guess we won’t stand in his way to go

If thats why Gus stayed back a few days instead of heading to Vegas with the rest of their organisation... to be there during the trial.. ffs.

If we do let him go though, we would want to swap for someone, maybe an outside back for example.. we do have some other young forwards though LPT was a fair bit ahead of the others in development.

No Surrender · 2026-03-12T11:26:34+1100

redv4life said:
The dog’s interest in LPT is genuine. If I had to guess we won’t stand in his way to go

We should require a player swap

Dragons Chris · 2026-03-12T11:36:18+1100

redv4life said:
The dog’s interest in LPT is genuine. If I had to guess we won’t stand in his way to go

I thought for a prop his age he was really good least year. I thought he'd be a permanent fixture in the 17, let alone 19, this year. Not sure what is going on with the Dogs and Finau Latu. Maybe he wasn't worth keeping and maybe that is case for LPT as well. Or is it just Flanno is a bad coach, bad man-manager, bad judge of talent?

No Surrender · 2026-03-12T12:19:21+1100

Dragons Chris said:
I thought for a prop his age he was really good least year. I thought he'd be a permanent fixture in the 17, let alone 19, this year. Not sure what is going on with the Dogs and Finau Latu. Maybe he wasn't worth keeping and maybe that is case for LPT as well. Or is it just Flanno is a bad coach, bad man-manager, bad judge of talent?

He is well behind the Coachman’s and Stewart in terms of development

Needs to run and tackle harder

May be lagging behind because of his knee

Dragons Chris · 2026-03-12T12:24:25+1100

No Surrender said:
He is well behind the Coachman’s and Stewart in terms of development

Needs to run and tackle harder

May be lagging behind because of his knee

Isn't he 2 years younger than Stewart and 3 younger than the Couchman's?

Dave03 · 2026-03-12T12:43:56+1100

Well that would suck. Maybe the way the game is trending the big tall type of fwd won't be as effective. He is good mates with finau latu. I'd be asking for a swap too. Don't the dogs have some good young outaide backs?

Dave03 · 2026-03-12T12:45:19+1100

Barnett signed with broncos on a 2yr deal.

No Surrender · 2026-03-12T14:14:36+1100

Dragons Chris said:
Isn't he 2 years younger than Stewart and 3 younger than the Couchman's?

True

But to earn a spot in the pack LPT needs to consistently out perform Sele/Guler/Lawrie.

2 or potentially all 3 of those guys are likely to leave at the end of the season.

If LPT puts in consistently, he will be selected in the 17. He needs to bend the line.

I hope none of the other clubs have got into his head. He has a huge future with our club if he knuckles down and performs.

Dragon David · 2026-03-12T14:46:37+1100

Dave03 said:
Barnett signed with broncos on a 2yr deal.

They needed a replacement for Haas and pretty desperate to get Barnett - don't think any other club had a chance really.

Eric · 2026-03-12T15:01:41+1100

Dragon David said:
They needed a replacement for Haas and pretty desperate to get Barnett - don't think any other club had a chance really.

Due to his age, I'm not sure why other clubs were enthusiastic about signing him. I guess Broncos figured they can afford sign him for a year longer than ideal.

puff · 2026-03-12T15:28:47+1100

Dragons Chris said:
Isn't he 2 years younger than Stewart and 3 younger than the Couchman's?

1 behind Stewart and Egan, 2 behind Couchmans

puff · 2026-03-12T15:30:24+1100

Dragon David said:
They needed a replacement for Haas and pretty desperate to get Barnett - don't think any other club had a chance really.

There is no replacement for Haas! Broncos are going to struggle without their cheat code. He's been bailing them out for years.

puff · 2026-03-12T15:32:41+1100

Dragons Chris said:
I thought for a prop his age he was really good least year. I thought he'd be a permanent fixture in the 17, let alone 19, this year. Not sure what is going on with the Dogs and Finau Latu. Maybe he wasn't worth keeping and maybe that is case for LPT as well. Or is it just Flanno is a bad coach, bad man-manager, bad judge of talent?

Yes, good for his age. He's still very young for a prop.

Mug Fan · 2026-03-12T18:00:06+1100

Dragon David said:
If LPT goes, I reckon that Rueben Porter has some chance of getting his spot. Porter plays like it is second nature to him and runs hard and is quick, offloads many times (successfully) and is pretty good defensively from what I have seen of him (even though limited).

No no no no no
He's a 29yo perennial reserve grader that couldn't make our cup side last week.

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