2026-27 Off Season

[Dragons faithful]

Check out the Cook Islands team - They did what we didnt manage to do last season.

So is Holmes injured or not didn’t get picked very interesting

 

[Illusion]

If Sloan stays it pretty much guarantees Holmes @ left ctr.. and then right ctr is between Gutho, Atko, Buchanan, Suli, Fale or someone we are yet to sign.. they arent great odds for Gutho or Atko being in the starting 17.. means they are likely seat warming as #18 or #19.. they wont want that... either of them.

Atko for me could turn out to be a good utility player covering a couple of spots off the bench , but then again we have Watson as well that can play a similar role .......... Time will tell ..........

 

[Mug Fan]

Halangahu IG post - lost 10kg’s in the last 4.5 months

Different game nowadays so the wight difference is almost none between middles and edge backrowers but interested to see how he develops and where he’s nailed down to be postionally long term

Lost the bulk of it in first month 7kg.
So mid season when he went from edge to middle to FG..

Probably down around 13 kg in body fat and up 3kg in muscle
Should continue to bulk now and start the pre season at 105 to 110 range.

 

[GCRV]

Atko for me could turn out to be a good utility player covering a couple of spots off the bench , but then again we have Watson as well that can play a similar role .......... Time will tell ..........

They say with the new 6 man bench, utility players aren't really needed anymore. Watson will play a lot of minutes at hooker and lock to give Couchman and Liddle a rest.

 

[RufusRex]

Yeah ... there is still a place for the 9/13 utility type if the player in question is good enough in both those roles.
if you can share 160 minutes of Hooker/Lock among three players then you get a decent output from the three.

The 1/6/7 is less an interchange utility now and more a flat out injury replacement.

 

[Dave03]

Watson is an okay pinch hitting hooker but no more than 15-20mins Max. He's a great small ball lock.

 

[GCRV]

Watson is an okay pinch hitting hooker but no more than 15-20mins Max. He's a great small ball lock.

15〜20mins should be more than enough unless Liddle is injured.

 

[RufusRex]

agree ...
across 160 minutes for say 50-55 min for three players

Lids 55 min Hooker
KK/Loko/Stewart/Ryan at Lock - 55 min
Watson 50 min (25 at hooker either side of HT, 25 at lock)

thats pretty basic numbers but you share the load in the middle among three players pretty easily there.

 

[Jaz20]

Lost the bulk of it in first month 7kg.
So mid season when he went from edge to middle to FG..

Probably down around 13 kg in body fat and up 3kg in muscle
Should continue to bulk now and start the pre season at 105 to 110 range.

So no changes to the plan to shift him into the middle? I was supportive of it until we lost Sua and Leilua, am quite worried about what happens if either of Hamish (who I'd like at 13 by end of season) or Egan go down.. Nick not reliable enough as yet I don't think.

 

[dragonheart]

2027 will really be the year to test our capabilities. 2025 we had a few bad injuries to the young forwards, 2026 very few injuries with a year older in experience and still last on the ladder. ...... we all know our backs were awful hence our last position.

So here we are, short of a decent centre and winger so far, but everywhere else solid and looking like a much better outfit with an idea of where the try line is.

We maybe clunky in the first few games because of the new spine but wins early are important for the confidence of the players of 25 and 26.

It is the first time I can remember in a very long time, we have a team that could really fight for wins and give the fans some real entertainment...... Roll on 2027

 

[Eric]

So no changes to the plan to shift him into the middle? I was supportive of it until we lost Sua and Leilua, am quite worried about what happens if either of Hamish (who I'd like at 13 by end of season) or Egan go down.. Nick not reliable enough as yet I don't think.

Hopefully like Hamish he can excel in either position. Couchman's for one reason or another, are nowhere near as good in the backrow as in the middle, IMO. With Stewart the between his ability in the middle or edge is minimal, again IMO.

 

[Eric]

2027 will really be the year to test our capabilities. 2025 we had a few bad injuries to the young forwards, 2026 very few injuries with a year older in experience and still last on the ladder. ...... we all know our backs were awful hence our last position.

So here we are, short of a decent centre and winger so far, but everywhere else solid and looking like a much better outfit with an idea of where the try line is.

We maybe clunky in the first few games because of the new spine but wins early are important for the confidence of the players of 25 and 26.

It is the first time I can remember in a very long time, we have a team that could really fight for wins and give the fans some real entertainment...... Roll on 2027

The backs were just so bad this year. Most of them would have struggled to make NSW Cup of the top teams. Forwards were still young, not at the best yet apart from a few who were signed too long like Lawrie, Sele, Gular, Leilua. Next year with much better backs and forwards, should be a different prospect. Hope so anyway.

 

[RufusRex]

yeah .. hoping a functioning spine and semi competent kicking game can create a few more scoring opportunities for the likes of Tu/Suli/Holmes to finish.
(pending replacements if they come).