2025 pre season

Edward

Edward

SGI Jersey Flegg
Chris M said:

The perfect off-season for every NRL club​

DRAGONS​

For all the hype over Ben Hunt leaving a massive void at the club, he did only make one finals series in seven seasons at the Dragons. Shane Flanagan’s call to release him could seem foolish, but if he gets a better balanced squad capable of winning more games he has done his job. The fact he has brought in Lachan Ilias and Daniel Atkinson in the next two seasons shows he is focused on building a competitive roster with spots not guaranteed to anyone.

The Dragons have been one of the biggest movers in the recruitment stakes heading into 2025 in a bid to break their finals drought, after missing the top eight by a win last season. The acquisitions of Damien Cook and Ilias from the Rabbitohs, Valentine Holmes from the Cowboys and Clint Gutherson from the Eels will see them field a new look team in 2025.

Unfortunately, the arrivals have been offset by the loss of their most influential player in Hunt, who takes an NRL best 34 try assists with him to the Broncos next season. But that is not to say that with increased roles and ownership of the team, Ilias and Kyle Flanagan can’t step up and realise their potential as NRL playmakers.

Gutherson and Holmes will add some strike out wide and Cook’s running game will help from dummy half, so Ilias and Flanagan will get every chance to improve as playmakers in 2025. The pair’s kicking games will also be crucial to replacing Hunt by committee, especially given Gutherson and Cook are not noted kickers.

Gutherson’s arrival also pushes one of the Dragons’ best attacking weapons in Tyrell Sloan to the wing, but that could make him even more dangerous without the extra responsibility of the No.1 jersey. And serving his apprenticeship under Gutherson can mould Sloan into the Dragons’ long-term fullback of the future. The added bonus of Gutho: he’s exceptionally fit and already setting new standards in that regard at St George Illawarra.

Hunt’s reign at the Dragons is over and the club can move on from overpaying for one position at the expense of building a team capable of making a deep finals run.
Not sure about Sloan being the best attacking player and not sure he's suited to wing. As for raw talent, he was the best attacking player but he only showed it off once every few games.

The last paragraph = 💯
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Griffin was too blinded by his love for Hunt to see the obvious. What seems obvious to almost everyone. McGregor was desperate for a big name signing. Flanno didn't want to let him go without a back up option. Water under the bridge now. Looking forward to seeing how the team develops without him. I think it's going to be good.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Dave03 said:
Lawrie has that look of a person knowing his time is ending at this club.
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You know one thing you can't knock him for was his effort he knew he was going to get smashed and outmuscled on most occasions but he still pulled on that 1sts jumper and tried to the best of his ability. He would have benefited if we had that 1 big bodied go forward prop that I have consistently said that we have been missing for the last 5 yrs.
 
Edward

Edward

SGI Jersey Flegg
jodragon40 said:
You know one thing you can't knock him for was his effort he knew he was going to get smashed and outmuscled on most occasions but he still pulled on that 1sts jumper and tried to the best of his ability. He would have benefited if we had that 1 big bodied go forward prop that I have consistently said that we have been missing for the last 5 yrs.
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True. He will get another chance in first grade at some stage next year.
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
I think Dragons might have the best hooker combo in the competition.

Every NRL club’s depth at hooker for 2025​

DRAGONS ​

The high-profile signing of Damien Cook will change the way Saints attack in 2025 markedly. Coupled with the one-two punch of Jacob Liddle, the Dragons are well covered at nine. If required due to injury or suspension, Kyle Flanagan has also proven he’s more than capable at hooker with his strong defence, service and kicking game.
 
Chris M

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup

Every NRL club’s train-and-trial lists​

DRAGONS​

  • Hayden Buchanan
  • Jacob Halangahu
  • Kyan Hjaltason
  • Jett Liu
  • Kade Reed
  • Ben Rumble
  • Jarrah Treweek
  • Leeroy Weatherall

Analysis: Get familiar with local junior Hayden Buchanan because he has been tipped for a big future in the game. The 18-year-old centre captained the Steeler’s SG Ball side this year and also represented NSW in the under 19s Origin clash. Jacob Halangahu boasts a seriously impressive resume which includes an SG Ball premiership and Man of the Match honours, selection in the Australian Schoolboys squad in back-to-back years and representing NSW in the Under 19s Origin — all achieved at just 17-years old. The Penrith junior, who is now 18, is a second-rower. Kyan Hjaltason (hooker) and Jett Liu (prop) and Ben Rumble (fullback) have been promoted from the Dragons’ Jersey Flegg side with the latter already a fan favourite. Kade Reed is a talented halfback, who joined the Dragons’ system from Kirwan State High School a couple of years ago. He’s a good chance to wear the No.7 in Jersey Flegg next season. It’ll be hard to miss towering second-rower Jarrah Treweek, who played SG Ball this year, while Leeroy Weatherall (lock) is a local junior who has signed a long-term deal with the Dragons. His sister, Maddison, starred for the club’s NRLW team in 2023.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Chris M said:

Every NRL club’s train-and-trial lists​

DRAGONS​

  • Hayden Buchanan
  • Jacob Halangahu
  • Kyan Hjaltason
  • Jett Liu
  • Kade Reed
  • Ben Rumble
  • Jarrah Treweek
  • Leeroy Weatherall

Analysis: Get familiar with local junior Hayden Buchanan because he has been tipped for a big future in the game. The 18-year-old centre captained the Steeler’s SG Ball side this year and also represented NSW in the under 19s Origin clash. Jacob Halangahu boasts a seriously impressive resume which includes an SG Ball premiership and Man of the Match honours, selection in the Australian Schoolboys squad in back-to-back years and representing NSW in the Under 19s Origin — all achieved at just 17-years old. The Penrith junior, who is now 18, is a second-rower. Kyan Hjaltason (hooker) and Jett Liu (prop) and Ben Rumble (fullback) have been promoted from the Dragons’ Jersey Flegg side with the latter already a fan favourite. Kade Reed is a talented halfback, who joined the Dragons’ system from Kirwan State High School a couple of years ago. He’s a good chance to wear the No.7 in Jersey Flegg next season. It’ll be hard to miss towering second-rower Jarrah Treweek, who played SG Ball this year, while Leeroy Weatherall (lock) is a local junior who has signed a long-term deal with the Dragons. His sister, Maddison, starred for the club’s NRLW team in 2023.
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The trick is now to keep these kids until they are 1st graders. I believe that Flanagan is keen on young Halangahu but as I said elsewhere we don't want to throw them into the deep end until we really have to. I'm not liking our current starting bookends for 25, Sele/Molo they just lack size.
 
Edward

Edward

SGI Jersey Flegg
jodragon40 said:
The trick is now to keep these kids until they are 1st graders. I believe that Flanagan is keen on young Halangahu but as I said elsewhere we don't want to throw them into the deep end until we really have to. I'm not liking our current starting bookends for 25, Sele/Molo they just lack size.
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Frank Molo is big enough. Fast enough as well. Something missing in his game.
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
The trick is now to keep these kids until they are 1st graders. I believe that Flanagan is keen on young Halangahu but as I said elsewhere we don't want to throw them into the deep end until we really have to. I'm not liking our current starting bookends for 25, Sele/Molo they just lack size.
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Not a good idea throwing young players in the deep-end. Especially forwards and especially middle forwards but I still think Flanno was too cautious with the Couchmans last season though I'm not privy to what is going on behind the scenes. If they are good enough, they are old enough.
U20s.png
 
Chris M

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
Not big enough for my liking has good leg speed but his stat's avg 95m a game and 11 hit ups a game. That's not going to get you on the front foot I'm afraid
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It might be he just isn't very strong for his size. Doesn't really make much of a dent in the opposition defence but he is big enough for sure. I think he weighs about 115kg.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Chris M said:
It might be he just isn't very strong for his size. Doesn't really make much of a dent in the opposition defence but he is big enough for sure. I think he weighs about 115kg.
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So he is under 6 feet tall and weighs about 105 -110kg . When I always waffle on about a big bodied prop who rolls forwards, I am describing a player such as AFB 123kg 6 foot 3 inch tall
 
Chris M

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
So he is under 6 feet tall and weighs about 105 -110kg . When I always waffle on about a big bodied prop who rolls forwards, I am describing a player such as AFB 123kg 6 foot 3 inch tall
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According to the Dragons website, he's 112kg. That is much bigger than Penriths multiple premiership winning props. I get what you are saying but I think his size isn't the problem. He has good leg speed. I'm really not sure why he doesn't have much better go-forward.
 
Edward

Edward

SGI Jersey Flegg
Chris M said:
According to the Dragons website, he's 112kg. That is much bigger than Penriths multiple premiership winning props. I get what you are saying but I think his size isn't the problem. He has good leg speed. I'm really not sure why he doesn't have much better go-forward.
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he plays well from time to time. Just far too rarely. If he doesn't pull his socks up next year, by the end of the year he might find himself in reserve grade.
 
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