Players we should sign

[Frank Facer]

I think we should sign Jaxon Purdue from Nth Qld. He is still unsigned beyond 2026. That makes me wonder if another big club already is close to signing him or maybe he has agreed to sign with them? I think he will be a superstar. He played halfback and 5/8 throughout his juniors. He is said to be training at halfback for Nth Qld this pre season. He debuted at 18 years old last year and was essentially playing out of position at centre and was very impressive. I see a bit of Laurie Daley or Billy Slater in him. I have not seen him play fullback, but that could be his best position. He would be able to play both sides of the field. Inject himself into the game when he wishes. He should have the passing game for the modern fullback, due to him playing in the halves while growing up. He has good speed and evasive skills. Fullback is one of the most important positions on the field in today's game. I rate him the best young talent in the game. Better than Galvin, who Phil Gould has the biggest wrap on. I think he will take Munster's place in the Qld origin team at 5/8 in the next 3 years or so. Time will tell if I am correct. I would love to see him in the St George jersey by 2027. Signing him would be up there with the signing of Koloamatangi.

 

[Kim]

I think we should sign Jaxon Purdue from Nth Qld. He is still unsigned beyond 2026. That makes me wonder if another big club already is close to signing him or maybe he has agreed to sign with them? I think he will be a superstar. He played halfback and 5/8 throughout his juniors. He is said to be training at halfback for Nth Qld this pre season. He debuted at 18 years old last year and was essentially playing out of position at centre and was very impressive. I see a bit of Laurie Daley or Billy Slater in him. I have not seen him play fullback, but that could be his best position. He would be able to play both sides of the field. Inject himself into the game when he wishes. He should have the passing game for the modern fullback, due to him playing in the halves while growing up. He has good speed and evasive skills. Fullback is one of the most important positions on the field in today's game. I rate him the best young talent in the game. Better than Galvin, who Phil Gould has the biggest wrap on. I think he will take Munster's place in the Qld origin team at 5/8 in the next 3 years or so. Time will tell if I am correct. I would love to see him in the St George jersey by 2027. Signing him would be up there with the signing of Koloamatangi.

Not to be a narc bcs I know this kid is your long lost lovechild but I can't see anything special in those highlights. He didn't beat anyone, set anyone up, burn anyone off, outleap anyone, show a variety of skills...

 

[GCRV]

Not to be a narc bcs I know this kid is your long lost lovechild but I can't see anything special in those highlights. He didn't beat anyone, set anyone up, burn anyone off, outleap anyone, show a variety of skills...

He's average so far. Might improve much more due to his age but so far, solid first grader only.

 

[Frank Facer]

Last year, in this post game press conference Todd Payten was asked if Purdue is ready for origin. Payten didn't say he was ready, but did say, "He will play origin one day, I promise ya"

 

[GCRV]

Last year, in this post game press conference Todd Payten was asked if Purdue is ready for origin. Payten didn't say he was ready, but did say, "He will play origin one day, I promise ya"

I wonder if he will still have a job 3 months from now. But seriously, a coach talking up a player is so unique......

 

[Frank Facer]

I wonder if he will still have a job 3 months from now. But seriously, a coach talking up a player is so unique......

Can you give any other examples of a coach promising one of their 18 year old players will play origin? and than any examples of ones who a coach said their 18 year old players would play origin, but didn't play origin? I would think there would be numerous examples of coaches saying their 18 year old players will play origin, but I am struggling to think of any off the top of my head.

Do you think the coach who replaces Payten will have a position long term? The same question could be asked about Holbrook at Newcastle or Hannay at the Gold Coast.

 

[Xuiz]

Purdue is one of the best young centres in the game and his best position isn’t even in the centres, he’s mainly a fullback

 

[RedV01]

Purdue is one of the best young centres in the game and his best position isn’t even in the centres, he’s mainly a fullback

From what I've seen, he's average but I don't follow the Cowboys so.......

 

[Frank Facer]

Isiaya Katoa is contracted to Redcliff until 2028. It is reported he is only on 500K a year. I think he would be worth at least 1 mil a season, probably worth 1.2 mil a season. He is the kind of player who could win us a premiership, if we signed him. I wonder if he gets "homesick" and wants to return to Sydney before 2028? He, Sam Walker and Purdue would probably be the best 3 young halves in the game. I wonder if Sam Walker gets "homesick" and wants to return to Brisbane? Sam Walker is on a mil a year at Easts. I doubt he will get "homesick" on that money and playing for Easts.

 

[redv4life]

Storm had a serious look at Purdue. Cows are putting him in the halves as an attempt to re-sign him. Very talented

 

[Frank Facer]

Fletcher Sharpe is contracted to Newcastle until 2028. I can't find any info on how much he is on, but I doubt it would be more than 500K a year. I think he would be worth 1 mil a year to play fullback.

There aren't many really good halfbacks, 5/8's or fullbacks we could target who are coming into their prime.

If we had a Katoa at 7, Purdue at 6 and Sharpe at 1, I think we would win a comp, especially with the props we will have over the next few years and Liddle at hooker.

The likes of Keano Kini and Blayke Brailey are both contracted until 2030.

 

[Frank Facer]

Storm had a serious look at Purdue. Cows are putting him in the halves as an attempt to re-sign him. Very talented

Melbourne signed Oryn Keeley who from Redcliff for 2027. I like the look of him. I think he will proved to be a great signing for Melbourne. I would have liked us to sign him, but it we are well stocked in second rowers. He may end up playing prop later in his career.

 

[Dave03]

Why do we have this thread when we've already got multiple recruitment threads?

 

[GCRV]

Can you give any other examples of a coach promising one of their 18 year old players will play origin? and than any examples of ones who a coach said their 18 year old players would play origin, but didn't play origin? I would think there would be numerous examples of coaches saying their 18 year old players will play origin, but I am struggling to think of any off the top of my head.

Do you think the coach who replaces Payten will have a position long term? The same question could be asked about Holbrook at Newcastle or Hannay at the Gold Coast.

Yes. Paul McGregor - Zac Lomax.

 

[Justadragon]

Any NRL standard hooker !!!

 

[Frank Facer]

Yes. Paul McGregor - Zac Lomax.

I don't recall McGregor saying Lomax will play origin when he was aged 18. I searched for McGregor saying it when he was 18 and couldn't find anything. All I could find was McGregor saying he won't be overawed when he was picked to play his first origin game in 2024. He did debut aged 18, which is always a good sign. I said he would play origin when he was 18, if not 19 and was correct in my prediction. I just thought it would be at centre.

It was Brad Fittler who called Lomax "The Gifted One" when he was playing for NSW under 18's origin team, but there was no mention of him saying Lomax will play origin.

I said Haas, David Fifita, Turbo and Mark Gasnier would all play origin in their debut seasons, when they were all 18. I said Cleary would play origin when he was 17. It was obvious Greg Inglis and Israel Folau would play origin when they were 17. Those names are some very good company to be named amongst.

 

[Frank Facer]

On Zac Lomax. When he was 18 he said he saw himself or his best position as fullback. He was apparently promised to get a decent crack at fullback for us and that may have indicated why he was on an 850K season long term contract. He never got a decent crack at fullback and was a revelation on the wing.

I am thinking, if he signs with Melbourne and is given a decent crack at fullback. He may be NSW fullback within the next 2 or 3 years. Edwards's position doesn't look safe. Teddy probably only has another 2 seasons left in the NRL. If I was NSW selector, I would have picked Teddy at fullback last year and have him penciled in as NSW fullback this year. Tom Turbo is 29, has been injury prone and has never locked down the NSW fullback position. I consider him unlucky not to have played fullback for NSW. If he had been given a decent shot at NSW fullback and been injury free, I believe he would have been very successful there.

If Lomax is playing fullback for Melbourne, he will be playing in top 4 team, with Bellamy as coach and Slater there to give him some extra coaching at fullback. He may turn out to be a revelation at fullback for Melbourne. In saying all of that, I wish we had given him a decent crack at fullback, when he was here. He had Dufty and then Slone blocking his path. If he does become NSW fullback in the next few years, then he would be worth 850k plus a season. Lets see what eventuates with Lomax and Melbourne?

Fletcher Sharpe is the other one who I think can be NSW fullback in the next few years, if given regular game time there. Ponga does have a history of injuries and there is media conjecture of him possibly moving to Easts or another NRL club and also talk of him wanting to play for the All Blacks. So Sharpe may get a decent crack at fullback for Newy.

Iongi from Parra is another who could be NSW future fullback. He looks like a very good prospect.

Mitchell is said to be moving to the centres this year, which would probably rule him out of being in contention for fullback for NSW.

ps There is no appropriate thread for this post and was an after thought from my last post.

 

[Frank Facer]

We currently have Liddle and Cook signed up for the next 2 or 3 years. Salary cap wise that will make it very difficult for us to sign another top quality hooker. We should be looking to sign a top quality young one who will be ready for first grade by 2028, as barring injuries Cook and Liddle will be blocking their path until Cook retires. I thought this year should have been Cook's last one.

 

[Dragon David]

Hi Frank
In answer to your -
"ps There is no appropriate thread for this post and was an after thought from my last post."
there is the "Other Rugby League" thread. If you go to the Home page and scroll down to the Dragons Lair Club the "Other Rugby League" is there to cover what you posted, Is this right Eric?

 

[Dragons Chris]

We currently have Liddle and Cook signed up for the next 2 or 3 years. Salary cap wise that will make it very difficult for us to sign another top quality hooker. We should be looking to sign a top quality young one who will be ready for first grade by 2028, as barring injuries Cook and Liddle will be blocking their path until Cook retires. I thought this year should have been Cook's last one.

Cook is signed until the end of this year.