Recruitment and Retention 2028

[TheRev]

Bostock definitely a gamble.. 850k I dont mind esp with the cap increase coming.. unless its with a ratchet.. but perfect age, aerial skills.. even if he did end up a winger its not the worst outcome.. we do need centres though good gosh.. as much as I would love a Heidke/Burton centre combo, its hard to know if/when it could go down as a reliable 27+ rounds option.

Morkos I suspect is a winger also.. its so hard.. guys like Feagai, Lawson and Val to a lesser extent.. or im sure im forgetting a bunch.. guys that are supposed to be centres.. but rly end up being average wingers.. defending from ctr is hard.. and noone has rly taken the opportunity in as long as I can remember.. other guys like Suli, Aitken, Feagai2.. cant remember the last guy to 'own' the position.. since Cooper maybe.. surely im forgetting someone..

 

[Dragon David]

When we have this much talk about a rumoured signing, you can bet that that signing doesn't eventuate. I'd love Bostock to come back to the Dragons but I am not counting my chickens until they are hatched because the disappointment would be shithouse.

 

[dragonheart]

I would normally agree with you David but under Ando so far its a different story. If we get Bostock and another couple of 1st tier players for 28, it would feel we have eventually arrived back as a top club destination again.

 

[No Surrender]

Bostock definitely a gamble.. 850k I dont mind esp with the cap increase coming.. unless its with a ratchet.. but perfect age, aerial skills.. even if he did end up a winger its not the worst outcome.. we do need centres though good gosh.. as much as I would love a Heidke/Burton centre combo, its hard to know if/when it could go down as a reliable 27+ rounds option.

Morkos I suspect is a winger also.. its so hard.. guys like Feagai, Lawson and Val to a lesser extent.. or im sure im forgetting a bunch.. guys that are supposed to be centres.. but rly end up being average wingers.. defending from ctr is hard.. and noone has rly taken the opportunity in as long as I can remember.. other guys like Suli, Aitken, Feagai2.. cant remember the last guy to 'own' the position.. since Cooper maybe.. surely im forgetting someone..

But a gamble worth taking particularly since the salary cap is going to increase

Local junior, tall, fast and athletic

What else could we ask for?

 

[GCRV]

But a gamble worth taking particularly since the salary cap is going to increase

Local junior, tall, fast and athletic

What else could we ask for?

If wingers are worth about the same as centres, it's not a gamble. I haven't seen a lot of him play centre but from the little I've seen, he's not that good. Not to say he isn't good. Just not one of the best. As a winger he's one of, if not the best.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

If wingers are worth about the same as centres, it's not a gamble. I haven't seen a lot of him play centre but from the little I've seen, he's not that good. Not to say he isn't good. Just not one of the best. As a winger he's one of, if not the best.

Agreed, he’d a huge aerial threat but as a pass him the ball and make something happen centre he’s not as good as Best/Staggs

 

[TheRev]

Agreed, he’d a huge aerial threat but as a pass him the ball and make something happen centre he’s not as good as Best/Staggs

I agree Best is a good chunk in front of Jack as pure x-factor and a proven rep centre.. Jack is 2 years younger though and more athletic.. also always worry about ongoing injuries for Bradman with his size for an outside back.

I've never been a Staggs man, I get at his best hes brutal but I just never seen him as a rep centre.. I realise I say this when we are sporting Moses Suli as our right ctr.. but I mean in terms of comparing the best out there.

I dunno if we actually have Jack confirmed though, im sure we put the 3yr deal @850k deal forward, but hes away in oz camp and surely hasnt spoken to all suitors and toured the facilities etc.. and seen what falls out if say Best or Mitchel or Herbie move..... unless the thing about being homesick rly is true.. but ive just never heard any vibe of that publicly... in fact he actively said he didnt give a toss basically where he goes to further his career.

 

[GCRV]

Agreed, he’d a huge aerial threat but as a pass him the ball and make something happen centre he’s not as good as Best/Staggs

Or Farnworth, McLean. Also Mitchell (when he's fit), Crighton and others.

I doubt he'll ever be a better centre than the first two but might surpass the latter two. That would be the gamble. Better winger than all of them.

 

[RufusRex]

our pack is going to develop so nicely that there will be space out wide ... we just need players who can identify and put people into holes and in Drinkwater/Kodi we have two of the best.

 

[Zen]

I'm either experiencing deja vu or I've read all this before. Anyway I'll play the repetition game too

Bostock is just 23 and has only played 16 games of NRL at centre (btw the Dolphins won 15 of those). Kristian Woolf rated him enough to keep Cobbo out to the wing and bump Averillo out of first grade completely. He's being compared to centres either older/more experienced than him, or players in the top 2 or 3 in the world for the position. Despite that still managed more try assists this year than both Farnworth and McLean - from fewer games! Not a gamble imo. It's a slam dunk, and we'd be getting him well before his absolute prime

 

[Dave03]

I think as a winger he could have a daniel tupou like career. I'd take that everyday of the week. He's got that outward confidence every team needs. Lets see if it actually happens or not though, maybe they wait until the wc is over to announce any signings?

 

[Morgan]

I think as a winger he could have a daniel tupou like career. I'd take that everyday of the week. He's got that outward confidence every team needs. Lets see if it actually happens or not though, maybe they wait until the wc is over to announce any signings?

Official announcements won't start until Nov 10 at the earliest.

 

[GCRV]

I'm either experiencing deja vu or I've read all this before. Anyway I'll play the repetition game too

Bostock is just 23 and has only played 16 games of NRL at centre (btw the Dolphins won 15 of those). Kristian Woolf rated him enough to keep Cobbo out to the wing and bump Averillo out of first grade completely. He's being compared to centres either older/more experienced than him, or players in the top 2 or 3 in the world for the position. Despite that still managed more try assists this year than both Farnworth and McLean - from fewer games! Not a gamble imo. It's a slam dunk, and we'd be getting him well before his absolute prime

It seems to me like you just think wingers are way less valuable than centres. In the modern game, I'm not sure if centres are more valuable.

I haven't looked at the stats. Just saying from what I've seen of Bostock in the centres, for example against the Roosters a few weeks ago, he's not one of the best centres. Maybe only top 10 but not top 5. As a winger, he might well be the best. Is the best winger worth 850k a year? Does he want to play centre or is he content on the wing?

 

[No Surrender]

If wingers are worth about the same as centres, it's not a gamble. I haven't seen a lot of him play centre but from the little I've seen, he's not that good. Not to say he isn't good. Just not one of the best. As a winger he's one of, if not the best.

True but better than any center we have

 

[GCRV]

True but better than any center we have

Way better than Suli or Holmes. It's just Zen seems to think being called a better winger than centre is a grave insult.

But if the 850 number they are throwing around is true, seems reasonable if Herbie Farnworth is going to be on over a million a year.

 

[TheRev]

The Holmes wanting to continue into 2028 is interesting.. in theory I still think he could be a gun left wing.. but since we havent had a chance to play him there due to our lack of damn centres.. how do you assess him...

And how much of a pay drop is he willing to take off that 850k type level.. its a hard one.. he can talk to clubs in 2 days time.. but I dunno if were gonna rush out and extend him.. tbh im not 100% sure what sort of a cat he is around the player group also.. it feels like he doesnt take it all very seriously.. but to have done what hes done and in the NFL etc.. like he clearly can focus.. so I dont know.. im not too fussed either way, probably happy to get someone younger anyway.. I just wish we had some other centres.

 

[Dragons faithful]

The Holmes wanting to continue into 2028 is interesting.. in theory I still think he could be a gun left wing.. but since we havent had a chance to play him there due to our lack of damn centres.. how do you assess him...

And how much of a pay drop is he willing to take off that 850k type level.. its a hard one.. he can talk to clubs in 2 days time.. but I dunno if were gonna rush out and extend him.. tbh im not 100% sure what sort of a cat he is around the player group also.. it feels like he doesnt take it all very seriously.. but to have done what hes done and in the NFL etc.. like he clearly can focus.. so I dont know.. im not too fussed either way, probably happy to get someone younger anyway.. I just wish we had some other centres.

I think centre for 2028 we have young guns coming through we have to back them with the team they will have around them surly it’s the way to go. Val and Clint need to be moved on we don’t need either of them they have had enough chances they both are passed there time and have cost us a shit load of salary cap let’s see how many offers they both get come Nov 1st. My guess is not many, Super league for both of them

 

[dragonheart]

Herbie is a fantastic player but Jack has shown against NZ he has great skills apart from height in leaping and speed, his run through the defence and flick back to Walsh was excellent and that was a play by a top centre or winger. I think he is worth more to a team than Best or Staggs....... Let's hope its with us.

 

[Eric]

I just hope people won't be too disappointed if it's all just baseless rumour. Big Wrong saying he's already been signed is obviously not true. Maybe he meant there is already a verbal agreement. But if that were the case, why would Bostock keep pouring cold water on it?