2025 - DRAGONS WOODEN SPOON

[jodragon40]

Well the 2025 NRL Premiership betting market is in. I have always loved a punt and believe me the bookies usually are driving mercs whilst I drive a Holden and that is because they usually get it right.

However Dragons been made equal favourites for the wooden spoon with the Raiders, well that just is a fallacy.

If I was still coaching I would print that market, enlarge it, and stick it on one of the dressing sheds walls. There are very few more greater incentives than to tell a group of professional players that they are considered the worst team in the competition.

On this occasion those bookies have got the market wrong. I would be extremely surprised if, all being equal, during the season we don't play semi finals football next season, and I will be putting my money where my mouth is.

 

[Chris M]

Well the 2025 NRL Premiership betting market is in. I have always loved a punt and believe me the bookies usually are driving mercs whilst I drive a Holden and that is because they usually get it right.

However Dragons been made equal favourites for the wooden spoon with the Raiders, well that just is a fallacy.

If I was still coaching I would print that market, enlarge it, and stick it on one of the dressing sheds walls. There are very few more greater incentives than to tell a group of professional players that they are considered the worst team in the competition.

On this occasion those bookies have got the market wrong. I would be extremely surprised if, all being equal, during the season we don't play semi finals football next season, and I will be putting my money where my mouth is.

Interesting. I think this team is going to surprise a lot of people.

 

[jodragon40]

Interesting. I think this team is going to surprise a lot of people.

Agree

 

[GCRV]

Well the 2025 NRL Premiership betting market is in. I have always loved a punt and believe me the bookies usually are driving mercs whilst I drive a Holden and that is because they usually get it right.

However Dragons been made equal favourites for the wooden spoon with the Raiders, well that just is a fallacy.

If I was still coaching I would print that market, enlarge it, and stick it on one of the dressing sheds walls. There are very few more greater incentives than to tell a group of professional players that they are considered the worst team in the competition.

On this occasion those bookies have got the market wrong. I would be extremely surprised if, all being equal, during the season we don't play semi finals football next season, and I will be putting my money where my mouth is.

I think the Dragons team is shaping up well but think about other teams as well. I think Tigers are more likely to get the spoon again even if they have a gun half and 5/8. Then Canberra but apart from them it seems to me other teams are also going to very hard to beat.

 

[Chris M]

Like CD’s, the Ben Lexcen skateboard and the Harlem Shake, surely the Dragons long odds don’t last. With the upskill in talent from the arrival of Damien Cook, Lachlan Ilias, Clint Gutherson and Valentine Holmes, it’s impossible to understand how a team that finished one win away from last year’s finals are the longest odds in the entire premiership race. Let’s have this conversation after the Dragons first pre-season trial match when there’s a real chance you won’t see their $67 odds again. The smart punters have spied value in the final 8 market where they’re third best backed, while they’re the fifth best backed team for the top four at $13.

 

[jodragon40]

Like CD’s, the Ben Lexcen skateboard and the Harlem Shake, surely the Dragons long odds don’t last. With the upskill in talent from the arrival of Damien Cook, Lachlan Ilias, Clint Gutherson and Valentine Holmes, it’s impossible to understand how a team that finished one win away from last year’s finals are the longest odds in the entire premiership race. Let’s have this conversation after the Dragons first pre-season trial match when there’s a real chance you won’t see their $67 odds again. The smart punters have spied value in the final 8 market where they’re third best backed, while they’re the fifth best backed team for the top four at $13.

I backed us to make the 8. The experts have missed the mark here

 

[RedV01]

I really hope for a better year next year but I honestly can't say I'm confident. Maybe after a hard first half of the season, things will improve in the second half. I really worry about where the tries will come from. Holmes and Suli will have to play out of their skin. Gutherson is probably a good leader, hard-worker and won't make many mistakes but does anyone seriously think he's going to set up or score a lot of tries? I don't think Illias and Kyle Flanno are as bad as a lot of people are saying but does anyone think they are going to set up or score a lot of tries? The one good thing I'll say about Hunt was that when close to the line, he was very dangerous when running himself. I know as a playmaker he was a complete failure. Cook and Liddle are the wildcard. I think those two will deliver a very dangerous one-two punch. Will it be enough? Both Couchmans near the line might score a few tries. Who are the wingers even going to be? CT and Sloan? I rate them both. CT at the end of a very speedy backline might be good. Sloan needed to up his game in a hurry but looks too late now but he certainly had the talent for fullback but on the wing, good luck getting the team off on the front foot after clearning kicks from the other team.

 

[Edward]

I really hope for a better year next year but I honestly can't say I'm confident. Maybe after a hard first half of the season, things will improve in the second half. I really worry about where the tries will come from. Holmes and Suli will have to play out of their skin. Gutherson is probably a good leader, hard-worker and won't make many mistakes but does anyone seriously think he's going to set up or score a lot of tries? I don't think Illias and Kyle Flanno are as bad as a lot of people are saying but does anyone think they are going to set up or score a lot of tries? The one good thing I'll say about Hunt was that when close to the line, he was very dangerous when running himself. I know as a playmaker he was a complete failure. Cook and Liddle are the wildcard. I think those two will deliver a very dangerous one-two punch. Will it be enough? Both Couchmans near the line might score a few tries. Who are the wingers even going to be? CT and Sloan? I rate them both. CT at the end of a very speedy backline might be good. Sloan needed to up his game in a hurry but looks too late now but he certainly had the talent for fullback but on the wing, good luck getting the team off on the front foot after clearning kicks from the other team.

It's a fair comment but I think without Hunt, we might see improvements in every player.

 

[jodragon40]

I really hope for a better year next year but I honestly can't say I'm confident. Maybe after a hard first half of the season, things will improve in the second half. I really worry about where the tries will come from. Holmes and Suli will have to play out of their skin. Gutherson is probably a good leader, hard-worker and won't make many mistakes but does anyone seriously think he's going to set up or score a lot of tries? I don't think Illias and Kyle Flanno are as bad as a lot of people are saying but does anyone think they are going to set up or score a lot of tries? The one good thing I'll say about Hunt was that when close to the line, he was very dangerous when running himself. I know as a playmaker he was a complete failure. Cook and Liddle are the wildcard. I think those two will deliver a very dangerous one-two punch. Will it be enough? Both Couchmans near the line might score a few tries. Who are the wingers even going to be? CT and Sloan? I rate them both. CT at the end of a very speedy backline might be good. Sloan needed to up his game in a hurry but looks too late now but he certainly had the talent for fullback but on the wing, good luck getting the team off on the front foot after clearning kicks from the other team.

Our Achilles heel is our lack of go forward especially in the 1st 3 hitups. Unless we improve greatly in that area of the game we will again struggle against the competitive top 8 teams.

 

[jodragon40]

It's a fair comment but I think without Hunt, we might see improvements in every player.

Time will tell but he was the leading try assist player in the competition last season

 

[Eric]

I really hope for a better year next year but I honestly can't say I'm confident. Maybe after a hard first half of the season, things will improve in the second half. I really worry about where the tries will come from. Holmes and Suli will have to play out of their skin. Gutherson is probably a good leader, hard-worker and won't make many mistakes but does anyone seriously think he's going to set up or score a lot of tries? I don't think Illias and Kyle Flanno are as bad as a lot of people are saying but does anyone think they are going to set up or score a lot of tries? The one good thing I'll say about Hunt was that when close to the line, he was very dangerous when running himself. I know as a playmaker he was a complete failure. Cook and Liddle are the wildcard. I think those two will deliver a very dangerous one-two punch. Will it be enough? Both Couchmans near the line might score a few tries. Who are the wingers even going to be? CT and Sloan? I rate them both. CT at the end of a very speedy backline might be good. Sloan needed to up his game in a hurry but looks too late now but he certainly had the talent for fullback but on the wing, good luck getting the team off on the front foot after clearning kicks from the other team.

Last season most tries came from slick backline movements. I think the team is better suited to score even more of them next season.

 

[Eric]

The article is behind a paywall but the highlights are:

St George Illawarra 2025 NRL report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch​

Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax were responsible for over 50 try involvements for St George Illawarra in 2024. They will both line up for rival clubs in 2025, leaving Shane Flanagan searching for points with a spine that has never played together.

Free agency wrap​

A strong turnover of high-end players going both ways. Have recruited almost everything that they need, including some much-needed experience.
They have been super active and would have liked to add a world-class prop to their roster but, overall, one of the best periods of recruiting for the club in recent years.

They have also signed Shane Flanagan-style of players, in terms of veterans who train hard and know how to get the job done. It was the successful blueprint he used in Cronulla. The test will be how quickly their new-look spine settle in with Kyle Flanagan the only mainstay from last season.

Damien Cook and Lachlan Ilias have the added advantage of having played plenty of first grade alongside each other. Despite some strong signings they lost their best player from 2024 in, Zac Lomax, and their best player in the past five years in Ben Hunt. However, their additions will make for a much stronger squad.

This won't be the best 17 at all!

Likely debutant(s)​

The Dragons have three players in their top 30 who are yet to play first grade. Dylan Egan made headlines this time last year, but was unable to make his debut. He played a full season of NSW Cup, featuring in 24 games which has given him a strong platform for this year.

Fellow local product Hamish Stewart is another player who the club hope will have a long first grade career. The pair are back-rowers and will eventually put pressure to make it into the top 17. Stewart went close to playing first grade in 2024 and, if results had been different at the back end of the year, he may have been given a taste.

Shane Flanagan has already said it is a matter of time before 19-year-old Loko Pasifiki Tonga is given an opportunity. It is a balancing act for Flanagan, who already believes Tonga, at 196cm and 120kg, is ready for the NRL but still needs to be tested against men on a regular basis.

He has already impressed by getting in some training work before the rest of the squad resumed pre-season duties. The Australian Schoolboys representative is destined to be an NRL regular.

 

[Eric]

Who takes the next step​

Toby and Ryan Couchman had indifferent 2024 seasons despite being tipped to be regular NRL players. Shane Flanagan was very patient with the pair who had made their NRL debuts a season earlier. Toby played 15 games in his first season but just 11 in 2024 while Ryan was able to play one more than the five he played in 2023.

The Dragons did not allow the pair to hit the open market after they both agreed to new deals which will keep them at the club until at least the end of 2027. It shows what the club thinks of them.

They are popular figures at the Dragons and they have hopes that not only can they be forward leaders, but potential Dragons captains. The amount of NSW Cup they played should help them when it comes to finding the consistency they need to be in the top 17.

BURNING ISSUES​

Spine factor​

Very few teams head into a new season with a change to three of out the four key positions, but that’s what exactly confronts the Dragons. They will need them all to come together and quickly. The new halves combination of Lachlan Ilias and Kyle Flanagan will be an interesting one given the rollercoaster careers the pair have had. Veterans Damien Cook and Clint Gutherson will not only be calming influences, they are going to have a huge say in how the team goes in 2025.

Crystal ball​

They should be on the cusp of the top eight. Despite not making the finals last season they still overachieved. They will now have all the tools to do better after another season under Flanagan and a better balanced roster. Competing for the top eight at the end of season will be another step in the right direction and a finals finish would be a successful year.

 

[Edward]

The article is behind a paywall but the highlights are:

St George Illawarra 2025 NRL report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch​

Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax were responsible for over 50 try involvements for St George Illawarra in 2024. They will both line up for rival clubs in 2025, leaving Shane Flanagan searching for points with a spine that has never played together.

Free agency wrap​

A strong turnover of high-end players going both ways. Have recruited almost everything that they need, including some much-needed experience.
They have been super active and would have liked to add a world-class prop to their roster but, overall, one of the best periods of recruiting for the club in recent years.

They have also signed Shane Flanagan-style of players, in terms of veterans who train hard and know how to get the job done. It was the successful blueprint he used in Cronulla. The test will be how quickly their new-look spine settle in with Kyle Flanagan the only mainstay from last season.

Damien Cook and Lachlan Ilias have the added advantage of having played plenty of first grade alongside each other. Despite some strong signings they lost their best player from 2024 in, Zac Lomax, and their best player in the past five years in Ben Hunt. However, their additions will make for a much stronger squad.
View attachment 506
This won't be the best 17 at all!

Likely debutant(s)​

The Dragons have three players in their top 30 who are yet to play first grade. Dylan Egan made headlines this time last year, but was unable to make his debut. He played a full season of NSW Cup, featuring in 24 games which has given him a strong platform for this year.

Fellow local product Hamish Stewart is another player who the club hope will have a long first grade career. The pair are back-rowers and will eventually put pressure to make it into the top 17. Stewart went close to playing first grade in 2024 and, if results had been different at the back end of the year, he may have been given a taste.

Shane Flanagan has already said it is a matter of time before 19-year-old Loko Pasifiki Tonga is given an opportunity. It is a balancing act for Flanagan, who already believes Tonga, at 196cm and 120kg, is ready for the NRL but still needs to be tested against men on a regular basis.

He has already impressed by getting in some training work before the rest of the squad resumed pre-season duties. The Australian Schoolboys representative is destined to be an NRL regular.

Numbers 15 and 16 won't be in the best 17.

 

[Edward]

The article is behind a paywall but the highlights are:

St George Illawarra 2025 NRL report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch​

Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax were responsible for over 50 try involvements for St George Illawarra in 2024. They will both line up for rival clubs in 2025, leaving Shane Flanagan searching for points with a spine that has never played together.

Free agency wrap​

A strong turnover of high-end players going both ways. Have recruited almost everything that they need, including some much-needed experience.
They have been super active and would have liked to add a world-class prop to their roster but, overall, one of the best periods of recruiting for the club in recent years.

They have also signed Shane Flanagan-style of players, in terms of veterans who train hard and know how to get the job done. It was the successful blueprint he used in Cronulla. The test will be how quickly their new-look spine settle in with Kyle Flanagan the only mainstay from last season.

Damien Cook and Lachlan Ilias have the added advantage of having played plenty of first grade alongside each other. Despite some strong signings they lost their best player from 2024 in, Zac Lomax, and their best player in the past five years in Ben Hunt. However, their additions will make for a much stronger squad.
View attachment 506
This won't be the best 17 at all!

Likely debutant(s)​

The Dragons have three players in their top 30 who are yet to play first grade. Dylan Egan made headlines this time last year, but was unable to make his debut. He played a full season of NSW Cup, featuring in 24 games which has given him a strong platform for this year.

Fellow local product Hamish Stewart is another player who the club hope will have a long first grade career. The pair are back-rowers and will eventually put pressure to make it into the top 17. Stewart went close to playing first grade in 2024 and, if results had been different at the back end of the year, he may have been given a taste.

Shane Flanagan has already said it is a matter of time before 19-year-old Loko Pasifiki Tonga is given an opportunity. It is a balancing act for Flanagan, who already believes Tonga, at 196cm and 120kg, is ready for the NRL but still needs to be tested against men on a regular basis.

He has already impressed by getting in some training work before the rest of the squad resumed pre-season duties. The Australian Schoolboys representative is destined to be an NRL regular.

Replace Eisenhuth and RFM with Ryan Couchman and Egan. Also JDB will be prop. It might be his best position now. He's slowed down a bit and is a bit heavier.

Pressure will be CT, Sloan and Flanagan. I think all 3 of them are good enough but not on the wings or in the halves.

 

[Ryan]

Replace Eisenhuth and RFM with Ryan Couchman and Egan. Also JDB will be prop. It might be his best position now. He's slowed down a bit and is a bit heavier.

Pressure will be CT, Sloan and Flanagan. I think all 3 of them are good enough but not on the wings or in the halves.

Happy holidays!

Could easily see Lawson and Finau on the wings and LKT at 5/8 after only a few rounds. I kind of hope it happens but hope it doesn't happen. Because I think it will make for a much better team but it will also mean the first few rounds have gone badly.