New coach

[Chris M]

Ilias is not killing it in reserves... hes a yard slow and getting swallowed up easily when he runs, and when he passes its often too late in traffic and the pass is being fumbled by either us or sometimes the opponent they are so close.. I wish we had the magical 7 everyone wants, but I dont think that player exists right now, so we have to make the most of what we have.

Note that we actually were the better team on the weekend and lost.. twice now we have scored more tries than our opponents and lost.... mistakes have been made in the selection room of course and yes those close losses will cost us any chance of finals, but i think the side is performing pretty well considering the pieces we have to work with... just hope dont cop any more injuries to our props in particular.

This is all true but he's going ok in reserve grade, the results speak for themselves and there is not a less threatening player in the competition with ball in hand than Kyle.

 

[Justadragon]

In a year and 10 games KF has shown nothing but why 3 clubs before the Dragons didn't want his services, why he was on the RL scrapheap when his dad was appointed coach of the Dragons and why he was signed to play hooker for the Dragons according to his dad. I haven't seen any reason to think he would be a good hooker but at this stage anything to get him out of the halves!

If memory serves me correct Ryan, KF played hooker for the dogs and was making a reasonable fist of it.

 

[Justadragon]

Ilias is not killing it in reserves... hes a yard slow and getting swallowed up easily when he runs, and when he passes its often too late in traffic and the pass is being fumbled by either us or sometimes the opponent they are so close.. I wish we had the magical 7 everyone wants, but I dont think that player exists right now, so we have to make the most of what we have.

Note that we actually were the better team on the weekend and lost.. twice now we have scored more tries than our opponents and lost.... mistakes have been made in the selection room of course and yes those close losses will cost us any chance of finals, but i think the side is performing pretty well considering the pieces we have to work with... just hope dont cop any more injuries to our props in particular.

Get your point Rev, here's a question for you, who should be the halves pairing next year ? Where will KF be ?

 

[TheRev]

Get your point Rev, here's a question for you, who should be the halves pairing next year ? Where will KF be ?

I think its odds on to be Atkinson+LKT, but this assumes LKT continues to improve. KF tbd, 9, 13, 14 or reserves I would think... and its why I dont think Ilias is part of our plans moving forward.. the minute LKT extended we have a surplus now..

But there is so much to play out in 2025 first.. depending how the season pans out from here, who knows how people are viewing Kyle, Ilias or LKT in a month or 3 months time...

 

[RedV01]

I think its odds on to be Atkinson+LKT, but this assumes LKT continues to improve. KF tbd, 9, 13, 14 or reserves I would think... and its why I dont think Ilias is part of our plans moving forward.. the minute LKT extended we have a surplus now..

But there is so much to play out in 2025 first.. depending how the season pans out from here, who knows how people are viewing Kyle, Ilias or LKT in a month or 3 months time...

Sir, Kyle Flanagan will NOT be 13. He's one of the slightest, easiest to tackle halves. You think Flanno might not re-sign JDB, banish Stewart and one or both Couchmans to reserve grade to fit Kyle in at 13? Stranger things have happened over the last year and a bit. Well, ok stranger things haven't happened than that.

He might have been ok at #9 or #14 but Liddle has been one of our best for a while now and Flanno won't admit he made a mistake signing Cook.

 

[Ryan]

If memory serves me correct Ryan, KF played hooker for the dogs and was making a reasonable fist of it.

He didn't. They had an injury crisis for hooker late in the year and I think he got a game coming off the bench playing hooker. Ended the season on the bench for reserve grade.

 

[Justadragon]

He didn't. They had an injury crisis for hooker late in the year and I think he got a game coming off the bench playing hooker. Ended the season on the bench for reserve grade.

Wow, my bad, so from the reserve grade bench to 5/8 or Half in the NRL, now thats a promotion !!! I suppose someone had thoughts that he would initially make a good backup for Liddle as a 14.

 

[Chris M]

Wow, my bad, so from the reserve grade bench to 5/8 or Half in the NRL, now thats a promotion !!! I suppose someone had thoughts that he would initially make a good backup for Liddle as a 14.

The worst part about it is that from what I've seen and heard, not even his strongest supporters doubt the only reason he was signed is because his dad is head coach. It's like U12s. I remember my U12s. There were 2 kids who didn't like each other. One was the best player in the team and the other was coaches son. So the best player was pushed out.

 

[Justadragon]

The worst part about it is that from what I've seen and heard, not even his strongest supporters doubt the only reason he was signed is because his dad is head coach. It's like U12s. I remember my U12s. There were 2 kids who didn't like each other. One was the best player in the team and the other was coaches son. So the best player was pushed out.

Ah the old not what you know but who you know !!!

 

[Justadragon]

Just putting it out there, has anyone ever had any father and sons combinations that have worked as well as the Cleary's. Of course it helps to have 4 premierships under your belt, and your son is the worlds best player.

 

[Chris M]

Just putting it out there, has anyone ever had any father and sons combinations that have worked as well as the Cleary's. Of course it helps to have 4 premierships under your belt, and your son is the worlds best player.

The opposite seems to be the case much more often.

 

[Morgan]

Just putting it out there, has anyone ever had any father and sons combinations that have worked as well as the Cleary's. Of course it helps to have 4 premierships under your belt, and your son is the worlds best player.

Billy Walters did ok. Not more than ok. I think clubs try to avoid the situation as a general rule. This episode with Kyle will make it even more of a no-no. I don't blame Flanno. He loves his only son so much, he is blinded to the reality of the situation. Dean Young should have pulled Flanno aside and laid down the law. He's worried about his job but the longer this continues, the more damage it's going to do to his reputation.

 

[Justadragon]

Billy Walters did ok. Not more than ok. I think clubs try to avoid the situation as a general rule. This episode with Kyle will make it even more of a no-no. I don't blame Flanno. He loves his only son so much, he is blinded to the reality of the situation. Dean Young should have pulled Flanno aside and laid down the law. He's worried about his job but the longer this continues, the more damage it's going to do to his reputation.

Yep agree Morgan, we have both coaches that are always under a cloud, looking at the situation we have now I would have preferred KF went to the ESL. How do you approach him when he is on the Dragons website saying " I'll do anything that helps the team out" . Without being nasty I think we all know the answer to that, and Flanno knows it as well, its become too obvious now to turn a blind eye to it.

 

[Morgan]

Yep agree Morgan, we have both coaches that are always under a cloud, looking at the situation we have now I would have preferred KF went to the ESL. How do you approach him when he is on the Dragons website saying " I'll do anything that helps the team out" . Without being nasty I think we all know the answer to that, and Flanno knows it as well, its become too obvious now to turn a blind eye to it.

It's a ruthless business, not a socialist nirvana. I hate old club stawlwarts being forced out a year too early but unfortunately, it has to be done. KF should be and would be a very easy call but for his old man.

 

[Justadragon]

It's a ruthless business, not a socialist nirvana. I hate old club stawlwarts being forced out a year too early but unfortunately, it has to be done. KF should be and would be a very easy call but for his old man.

Yep, unless kyle is taken out of the halves and put in his rightful place, wherever that is, then I can see this ending badly for everyone.

 

[jodragon40]

This is the reality as I see it. Flanagan originally signed as a reserve hooker, now playing as our play maker.

Illias signed as our 7 and play maker appears not to have recovered both physically and mentally from that horrific leg injury. Lacks confidence and no sign of him coming good any time soon.

LKT a 6 playing in the 7 jumper but again is no play maker. Playing safety first football with little creativity for more than 1 reason.

Ressies 7 Glover has improved his running game and passing game digging into the line more than I have ever seen him in previous years but his defence is questionable in ressies let alone in 1sts.

Next season we will have an underdone 6 in Atkinson, playing very few minutes with the Sharks now he signed with us, avg 20 min a game over the first 10 rounds. Once again though he is no 7 or game manager.

So the reality is we have been caught with our pants down and there is a distinct lack of genuine 7s running around.

So the previously mentioned combination of Atkinson/LKT in 26 is not going to solve our lack of a genuine 7 game manager.

Any thoughts?

 

[Ryan]

This is the reality as I see it. Flanagan originally signed as a reserve hooker, now playing as our play maker.

Illias signed as our 7 and play maker appears not to have recovered both physically and mentally from that horrific leg injury. Lacks confidence and no sign of him coming good any time soon.

LKT a 6 playing in the 7 jumper but again is no play maker. Playing safety first football with little creativity for more than 1 reason.

Ressies 7 Glover has improved his running game and passing game digging into the line more than I have ever seen him in previous years but his defence is questionable in ressies let alone in 1sts.

Next season we will have an underdone 6 in Atkinson, playing very few minutes with the Sharks now he signed with us, avg 20 min a game over the first 10 rounds. Once again though he is no 7 or game manager.

So the reality is we have been caught with our pants down and there is a distinct lack of genuine 7s running around.

So the previously mentioned combination of Atkinson/LKT in 26 is not going to solve our lack of a genuine 7 game manager.

Any thoughts?

yeah, I think LKT has shown loads of creativity. But I agree he's primarily a 5/8 rather than a 1/2. With the complete,100% lack of creativity in his halves partner, it's always going to be hard for him. And the coach would love to scapegoat him to protect his halves partner.

When it was first reported LKT was going to be called up, I thought the suggestion he would be picked at 1/2 was some kind of late April fools joke.

 

[jodragon40]

yeah, I think LKT has shown loads of creativity. But I agree he's primarily a 5/8 rather than a 1/2. With the complete,100% lack of creativity in his halves partner, it's always going to be hard for him. And the coach would love to scapegoat him to protect his halves partner.

When it was first reported LKT was going to be called up, I thought the suggestion he would be picked at 1/2 was some kind of late April fools joke.

To my eye this kid is playing to the coaches instructions and not his natural game.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

100%, Flanno would have told him to just do his job which doesn’t utilise all of his talent, look how he digs into the line and creates space for his Backrower or outside men

All they’ve got him doing is shovelling it to Luch early or Out the back to gutho who moves like a draught horse

 

[jodragon40]

100%, Flanno would have told him to just do his job which doesn’t utilise all of his talent, look how he digs into the line and creates space for his Backrower or outside men

All they’ve got him doing is shovelling it to Luch early or Out the back to gutho who moves like a draught horse

Exactly and that type of play did not and would not have earnt him promotion to 1sts