2022 Recruits

[Eric]

Griffin is really. What are we going to do with Mbye? Utility on the bench? So what are we going to do with Bird? Centre? So what are we going to do with Suli? Bird is going to be a backrower? So what are we going to do with Su'A? Seems we are a little light in the front row so I can understand signing Molo and Burgess. When Alvaro is in the 17, we have a problem. If some of those recruits are "depth signings" as they said for Moga, surely some of our local guys would be better. Feagai x 2, Sullivan, Aomne, Sloan in my opinion look the goods. Suli was kept in reserve grade by Morgan Harper......

 

[RedV01]

Griffin is really. What are we going to do with Mbye? Utility on the bench? So what are we going to do with Bird? Centre? So what are we going to do with Suli? Bird is going to be a backrower? So what are we going to do with Su'A? Seems we are a little light in the front row so I can understand signing Molo and Burgess. When Alvaro is in the 17, we have a problem. If some of those recruits are "depth signings" as they said for Moga, surely some of our local guys would be better. Feagai x 2, Sullivan, Aomne, Sloan in my opinion look the goods. Suli was kept in reserve grade by Morgan Harper......

I can't see Mbye getting much time in the NRL. Every club needs cover for injuries but injury cover is usually on little money. I wonder if Hook thinks Sloan isn't ready for a full season in the NRL. In that case, I'd prefer Amone at fullback and Sullivan in the halves or Ramsey at fullback and one of the Feagai's on the wing.

 

[Eric]

Vaccination has become a new religion. Lets be non-believers, sign Luke Thompson and have Bullgrubs subsidize it!

 

[Eric]

NRL club roster management: Who needs what and why in transfer market​

DRAGONS – Where will Bird fly free?

The Dragons have quietly assembled one of their deepest squads in years, with their forward pack in particular overflowing with experience. With their roster almost done, the biggest question mark is where the versatile Jack Bird will play. The smart money is at lock, which gives him the most opportunities to cause some damage with his running game.

 

[Morgan]

NRL club roster management: Who needs what and why in transfer market​

DRAGONS – Where will Bird fly free?

The Dragons have quietly assembled one of their deepest squads in years, with their forward pack in particular overflowing with experience. With their roster almost done, the biggest question mark is where the versatile Jack Bird will play. The smart money is at lock, which gives him the most opportunities to cause some damage with his running game.

Bird won't be replacing Jack de Belin for at least next season and probably the one after that. He could be a Bateman-like backrower.

 

[RedV01]

Bird won't be replacing Jack de Belin for at least next season and probably the one after that. He could be a Bateman-like backrower.

Maybe Jack will be a prop and Bird lock.

 

[Morgan]

Good news!
St George Illawarra have secured its future in the halves with the club agreeing to terms with young halfback Jayden Sullivan for three more years.

The 20-year-old, already under contract for 2022, was free to talk to other clubs from November 1 but after fielding plenty of interest the South Coast junior will recommit to remain in Wollongong until the end of 2025.

It’s a move which shows the Dragons are planning for life after Ben Hunt with the skipper having two years remaining on his contract.


In the short term it looks like there’ll be a pre-season shoot out between Sullivan and his SG Ball winning halves partner Talatau Amone for the number six jersey after the departure of five-eight Corey Norman.

Whilst Sullivan has come through as a number seven he will be keen to find a place anywhere in Anthony Griffin’s seventeen and add to his six games of first grade.

The exciting chemistry between Sullivan and Amone as well as fullback Tyrell Sloan was on show at the back end of the season when Sullivan played out of his regular position at dummy half.

His signature comes after the club recently re-signed the Feagai twins and with Sloan and Amone tied up until the end of 2023, it shows the joint-venture is determined to keep hold of its promising juniors.

Exclusive: Telling Hunt hint as Dragons fend off rivals to re-sign young gun

Exclusive: Telling Hunt hint as Dragons fend off rivals to re-sign young gun

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Morgan]

Woods’ St George Illawarra option
Aaron Woods’ St George Illawarra contract comes with a one-year option. It was announced as a 12 month contract some months ago, but Woods revealed on the Bloke In A Bar podcast that he needs to “play a certain amount of games” in order to trigger the option for 2023.

Always an interesting chat, Woods gave the podcast an insight into how new Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon handled the job of cutting the former Blues forward.

Woods said his goal at the Dragons was simple: “to get a starting spot first. We’ve got some really good middles there.”

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Good luck to him. He's always been massively overrated but could still be a solid NRL player for 2 years. He's probably on not much more than a minimum wage.

 

[RedV01]

Woods’ St George Illawarra option
Aaron Woods’ St George Illawarra contract comes with a one-year option. It was announced as a 12 month contract some months ago, but Woods revealed on the Bloke In A Bar podcast that he needs to “play a certain amount of games” in order to trigger the option for 2023.

Always an interesting chat, Woods gave the podcast an insight into how new Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon handled the job of cutting the former Blues forward.

Woods said his goal at the Dragons was simple: “to get a starting spot first. We’ve got some really good middles there.”

---

Good luck to him. He's always been massively overrated but could still be a solid NRL player for 2 years. He's probably on not much more than a minimum wage.

You are overly optimistic. I think he'll be smashed by the best packs in the competition.

 

[Eric]

Woods’ St George Illawarra option
Aaron Woods’ St George Illawarra contract comes with a one-year option. It was announced as a 12 month contract some months ago, but Woods revealed on the Bloke In A Bar podcast that he needs to “play a certain amount of games” in order to trigger the option for 2023.

Always an interesting chat, Woods gave the podcast an insight into how new Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon handled the job of cutting the former Blues forward.

Woods said his goal at the Dragons was simple: “to get a starting spot first. We’ve got some really good middles there.”

---

Good luck to him. He's always been massively overrated but could still be a solid NRL player for 2 years. He's probably on not much more than a minimum wage.

Both he and Lawrie have big motors. Having both in the 17 should allow for Sullivan or an outside back on the bench. Suli would work on the bench. Cover for injury to an outside back and big enough to play in the forwards.

 

[Morgan]

Both he and Lawrie have big motors. Having both in the 17 should allow for Sullivan or an outside back on the bench. Suli would work on the bench. Cover for injury to an outside back and big enough to play in the forwards.

But if would be nice if both not only had a big petrol tank but a little more horsepower to go with it. Lawrie needs to develop an offload.

 

[RedV01]

But if would be nice if both not only had a big petrol tank but a little more horsepower to go with it. Lawrie needs to develop an offload.

Blake Lawrie hasn't been here or there (really good or piss poor) for a while now. He needs to change something or risk fading from view in the NRL.

 

[Eric]

Blake Lawrie hasn't been here or there (really good or piss poor) for a while now. He needs to change something or risk fading from view in the NRL.

Every team needs a few players on a minimal salary who are never going to play Origin. Would be nice to see him develop an offload but if he does, his value will go up and if we are to keep him, we'll have to let someone else go.

 

[RedV01]

Every team needs a few players on a minimal salary who are never going to play Origin. Would be nice to see him develop an offload but if he does, his value will go up and if we are to keep him, we'll have to let someone else go.

He could be doing a little more to justify his salary.

 

[Morgan]

NRL club roster management: Who needs what and why in transfer market​

DRAGONS – Where will Bird fly free?

The Dragons have quietly assembled one of their deepest squads in years, with their forward pack in particular overflowing with experience. With their roster almost done, the biggest question mark is where the versatile Jack Bird will play. The smart money is at lock, which gives him the most opportunities to cause some damage with his running game.

Bird isn't worth getting into a bidding war over. Would be nice to see him stay but if not, not a great loss. If the young players (Amone, Sullivan, Sloan, Feagai's) coming though are half as good as we think the team is pretty settled for a few years. Can McCullough play another 2 seasons? Or will Hunt move to hooker for the last year if his contract? Need a few backrowers. Burns hasn't done much. If he puts on some weight he might come good. Sims is leaving or at the end of his career.

 

[Eric]

Bird isn't worth getting into a bidding war over. Would be nice to see him stay but if not, not a great loss. If the young players (Amone, Sullivan, Sloan, Feagai's) coming though are half as good as we think the team is pretty settled for a few years. Can McCullough play another 2 seasons? Or will Hunt move to hooker for the last year if his contract? Need a few backrowers. Burns hasn't done much. If he puts on some weight he might come good. Sims is leaving or at the end of his career.

Talking of backrowers, Josh Kerr talking as though he is going to be a backrower next season. He's been tried again and again, given more and more chances and hasn't come up with the goods. He is big and mobile considering how big he is but seems hopelessly incapable of troubling opposition defenders. I guess his defence is ok but he's hardly Jack de Belin. At best he should be a backup prop. Jackson Ford offers more off the bench.

Unless there is a breakout young backrower ready to storm the NRL team, I'd start with Sims and Su'A in the backrow, de Belin at lock, Lawrie, Woods as front rowers. Bird, Burgess, Burns and Suli or Sullivan on the bench.

 

[Eric]

Interview with Su'A. Pretty unremarkable. This guy played Origin but was also dropped to NSW Cup at one point. Hopefully he is consistently good next year.

 

[Chris M]

Interview with Su'A. Pretty unremarkable. This guy played Origin but was also dropped to NSW Cup at one point. Hopefully he is consistently good next year.

I didn't watch so many of Souffs games but after this guy was linked to St George, I payed attention to him. Good in some games, crap in others. Bit of a flat track bully.

 

[Chris M]

Bird isn't worth getting into a bidding war over. Would be nice to see him stay but if not, not a great loss. If the young players (Amone, Sullivan, Sloan, Feagai's) coming though are half as good as we think the team is pretty settled for a few years. Can McCullough play another 2 seasons? Or will Hunt move to hooker for the last year if his contract? Need a few backrowers. Burns hasn't done much. If he puts on some weight he might come good. Sims is leaving or at the end of his career.

Bird will have some stiff competition for a spot in the 17. Barring an injury crisis, thank god he won't be in the centres.

 

[RedV01]

Bird will have some stiff competition for a spot in the 17. Barring an injury crisis, thank god he won't be in the centres.

Bird is an ok centre but agree we need a faster player in that position. We have had a generally 'slow' side for a long time. With Amone and Sloan in the 17, at least one of the Feigai's with Bird in the forwards, interchange or run-on, it will speed us up a lot.