Coach from 2027

[Mailroomsgi]

Who would you guys want out of the realistic candidates?

 

[RufusRex]

who even are the realistic candidates .. we only know the two old boys

 

[Murfy]

Surely there would be aspiring coaches lining up for this job. The team has the potential to be so much better next year. Would love something outside of the box, like when the warriors got Webster. Maybe someone like Teo. Don’t understand how someone in the locker room for the last 3 years while we have sucked can be the front runner. Surely you need a fresh start. Love Hornby but are we seriously still going to try for a Wayne assistant again. When in recent years has that worked. Cheika looks so fkn obvious can’t believe it’s not being entertained.

 

[Justadragon]

Who would you guys want out of the realistic candidates?

No one, I would be seriously be making a play at Slater !!!

 

[Dragon David]

Surely there would be aspiring coaches lining up for this job. The team has the potential to be so much better next year. Would love something outside of the box, like when the warriors got Webster. Maybe someone like Teo. Don’t understand how someone in the locker room for the last 3 years while we have sucked can be the front runner. Surely you need a fresh start. Love Hornby but are we seriously still going to try for a Wayne assistant again. When in recent years has that worked. Cheika looks so fkn obvious can’t believe it’s not being entertained.

Bennett left the Dolphins in Kristian Woolf's hands and they are flying this year. Hornby won't be taking over Souths but the Dragons, if appointed, so he isn't following the same way after Bennett like Demetriou, Henjak, Griffin, Price etc did. The only one that is bucking that trend is Woolf so this "voodoo" of coaching following Bennett might be over. So if it's Hornby, there could be some great things. He is a good attacking coach. Defence coach will need to be someone that has good credentials - not DeanoY.

 

[Murfy]

Bennett left the Dolphins in Kristian Woolf's hands and they are flying this year. Hornby won't be taking over Souths but the Dragons, if appointed, so he isn't following the same way after Bennett like Demetriou, Henjak, Griffin, Price etc did. The only one that is bucking that trend is Woolf so this "voodoo" of coaching following Bennett might be over. So if it's Hornby, there could be some great things. He is a good attacking coach. Defence coach will need to be someone that has good credentials - not DeanoY.

That’s true, I forgot about Woolf. He did have a lot of success in the super league prior to being Bennetts assistant though. Just wish there a bit of ambition from our leaders to go after a great coach and really make a splash. Don’t just go for the easy or familiar option. Time will tell

 

[Justadragon]

whoever the coach is next year he will have the best team the Dragons have had in years, so there will be no blaming the cattle we have. With our forward pack and another couple of signings we should be bucking for a top 8 spot anything less I would see as a failure, AND ITS ON THE COACH !!!

 

[Inverted63]

whoever the coach is next year he will have the best team the Dragons have had in years, so there will be no blaming the cattle we have. With our forward pack and another couple of signings we should be bucking for a top 8 spot anything less I would see as a failure, AND ITS ON THE COACH !!!

I have to say, I don’t quite get all the enthusiasm for next years signings.

When you then look at who we have recruited:
KK - potentially a great middle forward, but some question marks over his knees. He is 28 years old and in his peak performance window now, but we have signed him for 5 years.

Connor Watson - We are just a transit lounge for him. If he is a stop gap measure for Cook to bide time for someone like Pattie, Mozer or Healey then that could be a good outcome. But I suspect Watson will be focussed on 2028 and he will just bide his time and avoid injury. Then we are back in the market again.

Drinkwater - Turns 30 next year in his first season with us and has never played rep footy of any kind. Creative in attack, but tackle efficiency just over 70%. How will he go without weapons like Purdue and Chester running off him? Could very easily be Gutho V 2.0 for us.

Sami - Experienced and reliable, but hardly what you’d describe as a game breaking attacking weapon. 8 tries from 14 appearances so far this year. I don’t think signing the 28 year old winger from the team coming second last is going to give us the attacking capability that we will need next year.

Metcalf - If he can recreate his form from 2025 he will be great for us, but can he? Recovering from ACL and hamstring injuries, on his return could not unseat Tannah Boyd in the Wahs lineup, and then when Boyd got injured the Wahs have preferred Martin at 7.

There is a lot of media spin about the Dragons rebuild at the moment, but I’m not convinced. These signings don’t address the capability gap we currently have in our outside backs. Some of them are not investments for the future as their best footy is probably behind them.

I know you can only sign the players that are available, and of those only the ones that are willing to come. I also know that the players we have signed are potentially better than those they replace in our current roster. But I don’t think it will be enough to move the needle.

I’m hoping there are more signings to come and I’m hoping that they are all young fast outside backs.

 

[RufusRex]

I have to say, I don’t quite get all the enthusiasm for next years signings.

When you then look at who we have recruited:
KK - potentially a great middle forward, but some question marks over his knees. He is 28 years old and in his peak performance window now, but we have signed him for 5 years.

Connor Watson - We are just a transit lounge for him. If he is a stop gap measure for Cook to bide time for someone like Pattie, Mozer or Healey then that could be a good outcome. But I suspect Watson will be focussed on 2028 and he will just bide his time and avoid injury. Then we are back in the market again.

Drinkwater - Turns 30 next year in his first season with us and has never played rep footy of any kind. Creative in attack, but tackle efficiency just over 70%. How will he go without weapons like Purdue and Chester running off him? Could very easily be Gutho V 2.0 for us.

Sami - Experienced and reliable, but hardly what you’d describe as a game breaking attacking weapon. 8 tries from 14 appearances so far this year. I don’t think signing the 28 year old winger from the team coming second last is going to give us the attacking capability that we will need next year.

Metcalf - If he can recreate his form from 2025 he will be great for us, but can he? Recovering from ACL and hamstring injuries, on his return could not unseat Tannah Boyd in the Wahs lineup, and then when Boyd got injured the Wahs have preferred Martin at 7.

There is a lot of media spin about the Dragons rebuild at the moment, but I’m not convinced. These signings don’t address the capability gap we currently have in our outside backs. Some of them are not investments for the future as their best footy is probably behind them.

I know you can only sign the players that are available, and of those only the ones that are willing to come. I also know that the players we have signed are potentially better than those they replace in our current roster. But I don’t think it will be enough to move the needle.

I’m hoping there are more signings to come and I’m hoping that they are all young fast outside backs.

First thing - you hope professional pride has some place in thinking ... CW still probably thinks he is unlucky to miss origin this year and may have that drive.
This "we are just a transit lounge for the next role" i understand but also what is to say he wont just bask in Port Moresby. I hope the people we get have a desire to win each game. At least if it fails it is just a 12 month one but it allows us to get into the market end of this season for a fullback to start in 2028

Drinky - correct needs help, but has other aspects to his game that we need ie kick a 40-20 plus can break the line himself. Is faster next year than gutho so som footy in his legs before he hits nuffo stages.

Sami - so is it his fault or the insides fault he isnt scoring tries? Need to make up your mind here as you are using the same arguement both sides on Drinky/Sami. He is faster than we have on the wing, competes in the air and makes metres ... ticks more boxes than anything we have at the moment.

Metcalf - the one that worries me the most given his kness.

Agree we need OBs ... a pair of centres would be nice.

 

[Zen]

I have to say, I don’t quite get all the enthusiasm for next years signings.

When you then look at who we have recruited:
KK - potentially a great middle forward, but some question marks over his knees. He is 28 years old and in his peak performance window now, but we have signed him for 5 years.

Connor Watson - We are just a transit lounge for him. If he is a stop gap measure for Cook to bide time for someone like Pattie, Mozer or Healey then that could be a good outcome. But I suspect Watson will be focussed on 2028 and he will just bide his time and avoid injury. Then we are back in the market again.

Drinkwater - Turns 30 next year in his first season with us and has never played rep footy of any kind. Creative in attack, but tackle efficiency just over 70%. How will he go without weapons like Purdue and Chester running off him? Could very easily be Gutho V 2.0 for us.

Sami - Experienced and reliable, but hardly what you’d describe as a game breaking attacking weapon. 8 tries from 14 appearances so far this year. I don’t think signing the 28 year old winger from the team coming second last is going to give us the attacking capability that we will need next year.

Metcalf - If he can recreate his form from 2025 he will be great for us, but can he? Recovering from ACL and hamstring injuries, on his return could not unseat Tannah Boyd in the Wahs lineup, and then when Boyd got injured the Wahs have preferred Martin at 7.

There is a lot of media spin about the Dragons rebuild at the moment, but I’m not convinced. These signings don’t address the capability gap we currently have in our outside backs. Some of them are not investments for the future as their best footy is probably behind them.

I know you can only sign the players that are available, and of those only the ones that are willing to come. I also know that the players we have signed are potentially better than those they replace in our current roster. But I don’t think it will be enough to move the needle.

I’m hoping there are more signings to come and I’m hoping that they are all young fast outside backs.

Even for a pessimistic forum full of navel-gazing and self-loathing, this is some extreme glass-half-empty shit! Next year we might all die too! Hope I'm wrong of course

 

[Inverted63]

Even for a pessimistic forum full of navel-gazing and self-loathing, this some extreme glass-half-empty shit! Next year we might all die too! Hope I'm wrong of course

One man’s evidence based objective analysis is another man’s pessimistic shit Zen. Instead of criticising maybe you should stick to reading Hairy Maclary or Miffy the Rabbit - they tend to have happy endings.

 

[RufusRex]

One man’s evidence based objective analysis is another man’s pessimistic shit Zen. Instead of criticising maybe you should stick to reading Hairy Maclary or Miffy the Rabbit - they tend to have happy endings.

ahhh E9 ... Guess how much i love you ... that is a book.

 

[Zen]

One man’s evidence based objective analysis is another man’s pessimistic shit Zen. Instead of criticising maybe you should stick to reading Hairy Maclary or Miffy the Rabbit - they tend to have happy endings.

Nathan Cleary is 30 next year and has only ever played in the Penrith system. Might struggle outside of it? Tolutau Koula has only scored 5 tries in 12 appearances this year, for a team that scored only 12 points against the Bulldogs on the weekend. Is he really the guy to improve our attack? What I'm doing here is providing evidence-based analysis... or cherry-picking facts to suit a subjective perception.

The real Hairy McLary is long dead and the sun will eventually go supernova. There are no happy endings.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Nathan Cleary is 30 next year and has only ever played in the Penrith system. Might struggle outside of it? Tolutau Koula has only scored 5 tries in 12 appearances this year, for a team that scored only 12 points against the Bulldogs on the weekend. Is he really the guy to improve our attack? What I'm doing here is providing evidence-based analysis... or cherry-picking facts to suit a subjective perception.

The real Hairy McLary is long dead and the sun will eventually go supernova. There are no happy endings.

Only established centre I'd sign is Herbie Farnworth. Otherwise make do with Holmes for another year then competition between Heidke and Buchanan and Nick T for the 2nd spot. The year after might have a couple more like Burton and Corneilius.

The good thing about losing and not having a new coach appointed is that for every loss, it makes it harder for the board and his good mate, Ben Creagh to go with their first choice who is obviously Deano. This way I still want them to win but not as disappointed as I otherwise would be.

The previous coach doing everything he can for one particular player regardless of the team got us in this mess. Having Deano as head coach with his Dad in the position he is in will end badly as well.

 

[Inverted63]

Nathan Cleary is 30 next year and has only ever played in the Penrith system. Might struggle outside of it? Tolutau Koula has only scored 5 tries in 12 appearances this year, for a team that scored only 12 points against the Bulldogs on the weekend. Is he really the guy to improve our attack? What I'm doing here is providing evidence-based analysis... or cherry-picking facts to suit a subjective perception.

Nah. What you’re doing here I reckon Zen is just listing random observations about random players in an attempt to undermine my post about the Dragons’ 2027 recruitment so you can justify calling it pessimistic shit. You could probably find something better to do with your time though.

The real Hairy McLary is long dead and the sun will eventually go supernova. There are no happy endings.

Yep. Hopefully the Dragons will recruit some decent outside backs before then.

 

[Justadragon]

One man’s evidence based objective analysis is another man’s pessimistic shit Zen. Instead of criticising maybe you should stick to reading Hairy Maclary or Miffy the Rabbit - they tend to have happy endings.

Oh there are lots of things that have happy endings, just not the NRL Dragons 2026 season