Other Clubs in 2026
- Thread starter Morgan
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Dragon David
SGI NSW Cup
The Storm now 0-5. Has Bellamy lost his touch or doesn't the Storm have the cattle or is it both?
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
It’s rare for a young coach to arrive and have immediate success, as we’re seeing with Foran. His progress will be worth following, and we’ll see whether Manly continue to improve under his guidance. I’m reminded of an interview with Wayne Bennett where he described himself first and foremost as a teacher. The great coaches, Bennett especially, seem able to teach players how to do something, rather than simply instructing them what to do. Foran may prove to be a young coach who adopts a similar philosophy.
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
a pretty substantial turnover in players with Paps/NAS/Tui/Katoa/Anderson esp the forwards ...
Melbourne still feel like a team that could do a panthers from last year who also lost 5 in a row early
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
its also how brutally hard this competition is... like every NRL match is brutal unless a team doesnt show up... even the soft teams are good now, aka Knights, Tigers etc.. Titans will get there imo.
In our case though its not so much the wins and losses.. its everything around juniors, selections, recruitment, gameplan that I blade Flanno for.. feel like hes doing damage off the field.
In our case though its not so much the wins and losses.. its everything around juniors, selections, recruitment, gameplan that I blade Flanno for.. feel like hes doing damage off the field.
Ryan
SGI NSW Cup
Melbourne's plight might take a bit of the focus off Flanno.
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
Tigers hit gold with that triple Fainu signing 2 years ago
I remember it at the time thinking manly are f*cking mad, one of the many poor decisions which has manly’s roster so out of whack
I remember it at the time thinking manly are f*cking mad, one of the many poor decisions which has manly’s roster so out of whack
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
I rate Melbourne as having the best spine in the comp. I also rate Bellamy one of not the best coach in the comp. There 5 game losing streak is quite unbelievable.
kogarahwarrior
SGI Jersey Flegg
I actually wonder how much of it is Foran's coaching, or the Manly players feeling like they have a weight taken off their shoulders.
With Seibold's career hanging in the balance, they would've felt the pressure every game to be conservative, not to throw it around too much or do anything 'stupid'. However, now that Seibold is sacked, they obviously have more freedom with nothing really to play for. That's just my theory, though. Not trying to discount Foz at all. Maybe he's a great coach. I mean, for starters, I noticed that he's made sure Haumole and Koula get more ball. Idk how that wasn't obvious before.
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
Good point
kogarahwarrior. Whilst Foran seems to be delivering, the pressure on the former coach must have impacted the players to some extent. Even if the players felt that Siebold was not the best coach, they wouldn't have wanted to be responsible for his demise. There may be parallels with our club too, sustained pressure on the coach filtering through to the playing group.
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RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
I see a lot of a similarities between the Tigers of last year or the year before and Dragons this year. A couple of highly paid imports, probably on a bit more they should be, and a whole stack of guys who have come through the grades at the Tigers. Along with a coach in Benji backs the young players.
Gutho signing was sheer madness given the way he was already on the slow side for a fullback. But I doubt Drinkwater will lose a lot of speed until he's around 31~32 if not later. I wouldn't mind keeping Cook and Luciano on much less money for another year. Then after that, load up with the young guys along, of course including those who have already played first grade.
Gutho signing was sheer madness given the way he was already on the slow side for a fullback. But I doubt Drinkwater will lose a lot of speed until he's around 31~32 if not later. I wouldn't mind keeping Cook and Luciano on much less money for another year. Then after that, load up with the young guys along, of course including those who have already played first grade.
Dragon David
SGI NSW Cup
Need several tough Islanders who can break the first line of defence without too much trouble and have pace. Need pacey players. Fitness is the big key. You can be fit but then you can be fitter. That should be the aim.
The Tigers play with plenty of speed. Madden didn't play tonight and he would be good at the Dragons if we can get him. Plenty of pace with him. Doueihi we wanted but like so many we identify that would be great don't want to come to the Dragons which is the sorry tale of it all.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Counchman's and Stewart can and do break the first line.
Ryan
SGI NSW Cup
Overachieved last year. Their spine is one of the worst. Galvin is a good 5/8 Burton is a good centre. Galvin is a rubbish 1/2 and Burton is a rubbish 5/8. Their hooker and fullback are just rubbish. Pack gotten better with Thompson but Kikau is sliding so they don't rain much there. The winger Kiraz is very good but injured a lot.
I doubt they make the finals. I know they beat Penrith but any team is beatable on an off day.
F*** the dogs. They should be 1-6 not 3-4. Refs got them over the line in Vegas and vs Canberra. Critta, Mr untouchable. Gus can stick that you know where. Hope their whole season implodes
AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
Gould got way too involved
Dragons4me
SGI Junior League
Gould is running the dogs. Ciraldo doesn't have the balls to go against him. They're a myth of a team and Galvin is shit. Ciraldo won't dare drop him cause he's Gus's love child.
Looking forward to them and their shit fans crashing and burning. 
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
It’s no wonder they can barely score points, their spine is poor, they desperately needed a Drinkwater + Woods to turn into a star
Burton is decent but massively overhyped, can’t create but a good ball runner and Galvin I’ve always thought is overrated.
Tracey and Hayward are serviceable 6/10 players at their positions respectively and when you have those guys you need to make up for it with a star halves combo which they clearly don’t have
Burton is decent but massively overhyped, can’t create but a good ball runner and Galvin I’ve always thought is overrated.
Tracey and Hayward are serviceable 6/10 players at their positions respectively and when you have those guys you need to make up for it with a star halves combo which they clearly don’t have
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
I don't really want to get too critical of any team (as much as I enjoy the dogs losing), the game has changed, offence >>> defence..... the old defensive systems are still helpful... but they are almost optional now.. and you certainly cant just be a 'defensive/grinding side' anymore, that's a big part of why we have struggled this year.... but even gun squads like storm and raiders r struggling.. so if they are struggling, what chance do we have?
It changes your recruitment also, and its harder for us to turn our roster over vs most clubs.. but is there a chance the NRL reverse some of their rule changes next year? I will say the most important thing for us is just making sure we have a coach that can adapt and wont default back to run hard tackle hard as a viable gameplan (thats my only fear for Deano, but im hoping hes young enough and smart enough to lean on the right assistants).
It changes your recruitment also, and its harder for us to turn our roster over vs most clubs.. but is there a chance the NRL reverse some of their rule changes next year? I will say the most important thing for us is just making sure we have a coach that can adapt and wont default back to run hard tackle hard as a viable gameplan (thats my only fear for Deano, but im hoping hes young enough and smart enough to lean on the right assistants).