Other Clubs in 2026

[Dave03]

Watson and kodi left. One of em will play in the gf.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

6 players from Newcastle made the Aus schoolboys team this year as well

They are the only regional team that could rely on solely local juniors to supply the NRL side and probably could compete at a decent level

Largest non capital city in Australia.
I say this because I keep hearing this narrative that the dragons have to prioritise the ‘local’ juniors and it’s kind of horse shit

St George demographic produces f*ck all outside of the kids recruited from QLD/western Sydney and the Illawarra is a third of the size of Newcastle so the idea that’s it’s a rugby league heartland that will produce kids every year is so misguided and wrong

We really do need to up the ante, I wish someone could plaster this message at the fan forum meetings and get it across to people

That’s why the signings of kids like Cornelius Papualii and that kid from Parra we just signed are encouraging. Much more of that is needed. Go look at the roosters youth recruitment and it’s honestly a joke how far ahead of everyone they are

Jack Asplet is one of the gun players, had a shit load of clubs after him, i think family moved up to Newcastle, ex Kingsgrove Colts, from memory his dad played lower grades at the Saints

 

[redv13]

Jack Asplet is one of the gun players, had a shit load of clubs after him, i think family moved up to Newcastle, ex Kingsgrove Colts, from memory his dad played lower grades at the Saints

Ryan, big fiery red head. Kingsgrove High boy

 

[Mailroomsgi]

This lot and Newcastle are so well run

Can see those 2 plus Canberra being very good over the next 5-6 years with their squad building + coaching

They’ve set a high bar and that’s 3 spots in the 8 that will be hard to nick off them.

Taking into account panthers and roosters always up there + Storm bouncing back

The difficulty in making the 8 has never been higher. I will be very interested to see the moves we make over the next year or 2 to position ourselves for long term success once Drinkwater/Metcalf/Nikorima/Sami’s contracts near an end

 

[RedV01]

View attachment 1320This lot and Newcastle are so well run

Can see those 2 plus Canberra being very good over the next 5-6 years with their squad building + coaching

They’ve set a high bar and that’s 3 spots in the 8 that will be hard to nick off them.

Taking into account panthers and roosters always up there + Storm bouncing back

The difficulty in making the 8 has never been higher. I will be very interested to see the moves we make over the next year or 2 to position ourselves for long term success once Drinkwater/Metcalf/Nikorima/Sami’s contracts near an end

Why Newcastle and Canberra? I'm not sure Melbourne are going to bounce back anytime soon. Penrith will probably be up there for another year next year. Dolphins full strength team only just beat us this year.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Canberra have a very good array of young players particularly in the spine

This year is the worst they will be for a long time and 2025 is a sign of how good they can be

Newcastle are in the first year under Holbrooo and have had a bunch of injuries yet their in a prelim

Have a very good young forward pack coming through like us but also have Sharpe/Best/Ponga + a few talented OB’s pushing into first grade

I don’t think Melbourne will be making prelims regularly like they used to but they’ll probably make the 8 next year in Bellamy’s final season

 

[RedV01]

Canberra have a very good array of young players particularly in the spine

This year is the worst they will be for a long time and 2025 is a sign of how good they can be

Newcastle are in the first year under Holbrooo and have had a bunch of injuries yet their in a prelim

Have a very good young forward pack coming through like us but also have Sharpe/Best/Ponga + a few talented OB’s pushing into first grade

I don’t think Melbourne will be making prelims regularly like they used to but they’ll probably make the 8 next year in Bellamy’s final season

That halfback had one good game against very tackle shy opposition. 5/8 is overrated. He's a tenacious competitor but not as talented as other top 5/8s. The hooker, Owen P***** is pretty good from what I've seen. I'll give them that. He might be the NSW hooker next year. Really good ball skills and a good defender.

Newcastle have had a good year. Ironically I think they are better without Dylan Brown. They are already losing Best and will lose a few more due to Browns 1.2mil a year for the next 10 years. Also Ponga is at his best right now. From now he'll start to slide.

Maybe Bellamy will be able to get them up for one more season but Hughes and Munster were seriously ordinary this year. They'll probably be even worse next year.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Sounds like cope to me tbh mate, sometimes you have to just acknowledge when teams have good players and are doing well + on the rise

Not saying Canberra or Newy will win comps but their in much better positions than most to do well

Sharks, cowboys and souths will slide the over the next 2-3 years I’m very confident on that

 

[RedV01]

Sounds like cope to me tbh mate, sometimes you have to just acknowledge when teams have good players and are doing well + on the rise

Not saying Canberra or Newy will win comps but their in much better positions than most to do well

Sharks, cowboys and souths will slide the over the next 2-3 years I’m very confident on that

Nope. Just my honest opinion. I agree Newcastle will be good next year. Though not sure who is supposed to replace Gagai. Then lost Best the following year. But long term, not sure why you have such a high opinion of them.

Canberra, stand by my previous statement. I remember Luke Brooks debuted very young against us and had a blinder. I remember because that f*cking idiot Chinless Price made a noise about Brooks being allowed to play even though both teams were out of finals contention. It turned out that was his best game ever. So just sayin it's a bit soon for everyone to rate that Canberra halfback.

 

[Eric]

View attachment 1320This lot and Newcastle are so well run

Can see those 2 plus Canberra being very good over the next 5-6 years with their squad building + coaching

They’ve set a high bar and that’s 3 spots in the 8 that will be hard to nick off them.

Taking into account panthers and roosters always up there + Storm bouncing back

The difficulty in making the 8 has never been higher. I will be very interested to see the moves we make over the next year or 2 to position ourselves for long term success once Drinkwater/Metcalf/Nikorima/Sami’s contracts near an end

We need 2 of:

• Ollie
• Charley
• Tony
• Jesse
• Hayden

(If I can be familiar enough to use first names) to play a lot of NRL well next year to be one of the top teams. But the good news is, I wouldn't swap our pack for Newcastles, Canberras, Melbournes, Rorters or any other clubs for the next few years.