2026 pre-season

Ryan

SGI NSW Cup
New squad up. 27 players but hopefully Sloan and Lawrie find a new club before long. Mike Molo, Feagai and Lawson might find it hard to play first grade next year so maybe they could go as well.
 

AyiosYiorgos

SGI Jersey Flegg
New squad up. 27 players but hopefully Sloan and Lawrie find a new club before long. Mike Molo, Feagai and Lawson might find it hard to play first grade next year so maybe they could go as well.
I was under the impression MMolo is goneski, actually i'm pretty sure he is..
 

Dragons Chris

SGI NSW Cup

St George Illawarra Dragons​

Last season:

15th. Gains: Daniel Atkinson (Sharks), Josh Kerr (Dolphins). Losses: David Klemmer (St Helens), Lachlan Ilias (Titans), Sione Finau (Raiders), Jack de Belin (Eels), Cody Ramsey (released).

The big question:

Will the Dragons prove the bookies right by finishing last? After eight losses in their last 10 games left St George Illawarra 15th on the ladder, they are early favourites for the wooden spoon. Coach Shane Flanagan will have other ideas.

So Dragons are early favourites for the spoon again. I think it's been the case for the last few years. If Atkinson can be a good halfback, not talking about being a star but just much better than this years halfback, I think we will push for top 8. With a bit of luck with injuries as well.
 

Eric

Staff
Maybe a bit of bias RVH. Take Cookie for instance - he more or less convinced Flanno to sign Ilias up and you know what happened to him and now he has been released to sign with the Titans which is puzzling but Hannay might be able to get lots out of Ilias when Flanno couldn't or maybe he didn't want to so that he could keep Kyle in the first grade halves.
This thing with has a lot of people stirred up. Some like you are and others insisting that isn't fair on Flanno. Personally I can see both sides of the argument. Kyle wouldn't have been signed if his dad wasn't head coach but last season, he was the best we had to play halfback. Now Ilias has gone, I think we can reflect on how bad he was. At least Kyle puts his body on the line in defence and is a good back up goalkicker.

But what annoys me about the situation is that this speculation is going to continue to exist and continue to pile more pressure on both Kyle and his Flanno. Then if he is dropped, more legit questions about why he was extended. I feel it would be best for both Flanagan's and the team if he secured a spot in the ESL. Just my views.
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup

St George Illawarra Dragons​

Last season:

15th. Gains: Daniel Atkinson (Sharks), Josh Kerr (Dolphins). Losses: David Klemmer (St Helens), Lachlan Ilias (Titans), Sione Finau (Raiders), Jack de Belin (Eels), Cody Ramsey (released).

The big question:

Will the Dragons prove the bookies right by finishing last? After eight losses in their last 10 games left St George Illawarra 15th on the ladder, they are early favourites for the wooden spoon. Coach Shane Flanagan will have other ideas.

So Dragons are early favourites for the spoon again. I think it's been the case for the last few years. If Atkinson can be a good halfback, not talking about being a star but just much better than this years halfback, I think we will push for top 8. With a bit of luck with injuries as well.
Big question: If Sloan is on the outer, who TF is going play wing? CT and Feagai? Tell me it isn't so.
 

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
This thing with has a lot of people stirred up. Some like you are and others insisting that isn't fair on Flanno. Personally I can see both sides of the argument. Kyle wouldn't have been signed if his dad wasn't head coach but last season, he was the best we had to play halfback. Now Ilias has gone, I think we can reflect on how bad he was. At least Kyle puts his body on the line in defence and is a good back up goalkicker.

But what annoys me about the situation is that this speculation is going to continue to exist and continue to pile more pressure on both Kyle and his Flanno. Then if he is dropped, more legit questions about why he was extended. I feel it would be best for both Flanagan's and the team if he secured a spot in the ESL. Just my views.
I agree that Kyle is a good defender and is able to kick for goals. He isn't a strong/fast attacking half nor does he have a very effective high/long kicking game in my opinion. If he can improve the deficiencies then he might be ok to keep in the halfback spot. To me he would be more suited to being the utility #14 where Tim Watsford said that he was brought to the Dragons to play.
 

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
Which one do you want mate ? Cant run very fast or score 2 try's but let 3 in :)
I'm thinking that there will be several changes to the back line next year particularly the full back and wing positions. The centre pairing I think will be Suli and Holmes, however, I don't have a clue who would be fullback/wingers until after the pre-season trials.
 

Dragons Chris

SGI NSW Cup
I agree that Kyle is a good defender and is able to kick for goals. He isn't a strong/fast attacking half nor does he have a very effective high/long kicking game in my opinion. If he can improve the deficiencies then he might be ok to keep in the halfback spot. To me he would be more suited to being the utility #14 where Tim Watsford said that he was brought to the Dragons to play.
If Kyle is halfback again next year, we are in a world of trouble.

As for being a #14, is there any indication he can play hooker? I think he played a few games for the Dogs when he was #14 in reserve grade.
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
This thing with has a lot of people stirred up. Some like you are and others insisting that isn't fair on Flanno. Personally I can see both sides of the argument. Kyle wouldn't have been signed if his dad wasn't head coach but last season, he was the best we had to play halfback. Now Ilias has gone, I think we can reflect on how bad he was. At least Kyle puts his body on the line in defence and is a good back up goalkicker.

But what annoys me about the situation is that this speculation is going to continue to exist and continue to pile more pressure on both Kyle and his Flanno. Then if he is dropped, more legit questions about why he was extended. I feel it would be best for both Flanagan's and the team if he secured a spot in the ESL. Just my views.
As I said in a previous post Eric, it all revolves on our start next year, we end up having another poor start to the comp, things will move very quickly to move Flanno on, just my opinion. If the problem still exists in the halves with KF there, then I believe we wont see both Flanno's for much longer.
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
Good story in the DT about the Dragons pre-season. Info includes a lot of pics. I'm not going to post them here because Mug Fan Mug Fan posted the video in the Promising Juniors Thread but the info includes:
  • Hamish Stewart and LPT given the week off due to the excellent condition they returned to pre-season training in.
  • Hamish Stewart won the 1.2 km race and the "up the hill race". Not sure how long the latter was but I can conclude it was uphill. Isn't it very impressive for a lock his size to win those races?
  • Dylan Egan isn't running yet but is on the bicycle and recovering well from his ACL injury.
  • Jake Halangahu also returned in good condition. As the above video suggested.
  • Majority of squad will be back in mid-November.
No mention of the big news about Kade Reed re-signing. This time last year hardly anyone knew about Hamish Stewart. Almost everyone who follows the NRL knows his name now. I have a feeling the same might be true for Kade Reed in the not distant future.
 
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