2026-27 Off Season

Eric

Staff

Every NRL team’s pre-season return date​

DRAGONS​

Return: November 2
The youngsters will start on November 2 and some the following week. The majority will be starting by November 16. Luke Metcalf won’t start until November 30 while Valentine Holmes and Connor Watson are due on December 14. The likes of Kodi Nikorima and Keaon Koloamatangi aren’t expected until after Christmas if Australia and New Zealand make the World Cup final.

Injuries: No major off-season surgeries. Hayden Buchanan will have a delayed start to training as he recovers from late shoulder surgery.

Rookies/NRL pre-season first timers: Jersey Flegg player of the year Edgen Hodges, new recruit from Parramatta Lachlan Coinakis, boom outside back Oliver Burton and winger Tom Kirk will have an opportunity to impress during summer.
I hope Tom Kirk goes well. Burton will, it's almost certain. If Hodges doesn't kick on, still have LKT who I think is only a year older. No idea at all about Lachlan Coinakis.
 

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
Young on KK

“His role will be different at the Dragons than what it was with Souths and with Australia. He’s been that middle forward doing a lot of hit-ups to get teams upfield.

“But he’s got a lot of skills – he was a nightmare to defend against when he was on that right edge for Souths – he’s just had to park those skills the last few years because he’s been required to play a different role.
“The plan will be to use him as that ball-playing lock, a bit like Isaah Yeo is that link to the halves [at Penrith].
 

Runner

SGI Jersey Flegg

Every NRL team’s pre-season return date​

DRAGONS​

Return: November 2
The youngsters will start on November 2 and some the following week. The majority will be starting by November 16. Luke Metcalf won’t start until November 30 while Valentine Holmes and Connor Watson are due on December 14. The likes of Kodi Nikorima and Keaon Koloamatangi aren’t expected until after Christmas if Australia and New Zealand make the World Cup final.

Injuries: No major off-season surgeries. Hayden Buchanan will have a delayed start to training as he recovers from late shoulder surgery.

Rookies/NRL pre-season first timers: Jersey Flegg player of the year Edgen Hodges, new recruit from Parramatta Lachlan Coinakis, boom outside back Oliver Burton and winger Tom Kirk will have an opportunity to impress during summer.
The inclusion of Tom Kirk surprises me if it is for wing or centre. He is too slow to make it in those positions. Maybe looking at 2nd row for him?
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
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.
They need to be shooting for top 4 next year, with no bullshit excuses.
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
Young on KK

“His role will be different at the Dragons than what it was with Souths and with Australia. He’s been that middle forward doing a lot of hit-ups to get teams upfield.

“But he’s got a lot of skills – he was a nightmare to defend against when he was on that right edge for Souths – he’s just had to park those skills the last few years because he’s been required to play a different role.
“The plan will be to use him as that ball-playing lock, a bit like Isaah Yeo is that link to the halves [at Penrith].
Well lets see if this works, makes me wonder exactly why we got him. Anyway we shall see.
 

RufusRex

SGI NSW Cup
the game only has 160 minutes of prop ... Loko/Toby/Ryan all capable of playing 50-60 ... and that is before you add Jake into the mix .. then Webster ...
If we cop injuries yes the rotations will suffer and we will need to worry about depth ... Hutchinson/Kerr would come into play

I agree we are light on across the squad - especially given we have lost Lawrie/Sele/Guler/Weatherall/Hikila/Carmichael

We really need another forward who can play prop/edge with equal ability just to give us a bit more depth.

Young is mentioning Yeo being the model for KK ... remember Yeo is still averaging over 120m a game. KK will still take hitups and make metres ... perhaps not as many as at souths but will still be there doing the pig work when needed.
 

RufusRex

SGI NSW Cup
Terrible in my opinion.

It is terrible if coaches dont actually think about the best way to use it ...

Treat it as 3 interchanges and 3 reserves and swap the reserves every week. You get teh cover you need in case of injury plus by thinking about rotating positions 17/18/19 those blokes will play at least every 2nd week and more frequently if the Cup/1sts games align better.

Coaches mindset is pick the best 19 each week and that is where it fails, pick the best 16 each week 100% and base your game/rotations around that

It is how Robinson won the grand final.


So for us a bench of Watson/Ryan Couchman/Jake Halangahu is the interchange ...
then you swap each week Webster/Hutchinson in the forward role, Atkinson/LKT in the spine role, Tu/Fale in the OB role.


It really isnt that hard.
 

Dragon David

SGI NSW Cup
It is terrible if coaches dont actually think about the best way to use it ...

Treat it as 3 interchanges and 3 reserves and swap the reserves every week. You get teh cover you need in case of injury plus by thinking about rotating positions 17/18/19 those blokes will play at least every 2nd week and more frequently if the Cup/1sts games align better.

Coaches mindset is pick the best 19 each week and that is where it fails, pick the best 16 each week 100% and base your game/rotations around that

It is how Robinson won the grand final.


So for us a bench of Watson/Ryan Couchman/Jake Halangahu is the interchange ...
then you swap each week Webster/Hutchinson in the forward role, Atkinson/LKT in the spine role, Tu/Fale in the OB role.


It really isnt that hard.
Yes, very good explanation Rufus. With Robbo winning the grand final this year having the bench as you say Rufus, then I hope that Young will adopt this as well. Dave03 Dave03 mentioned above that Young could be using KK as the #13 next year. Do you think that that would be good for our forward strength?
 
Top