RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
I'm going to assume the coach has a plan. I just can't see it.
Recruitment and Retention for 2023
- Thread starter Chris M
- Start date
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
One of the most confusing things for me is the way he has consistently picked Bird in the second row in front of Sims. Maybe Sims hasn't justified his salary but the worst game I can remember him playing is better tjan Birds best game in the second row.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
He did rave about how Bird has played finals football so must be kept and about how the spine required experience. i.e. McCullough isn't going anywhere. But the positive news is about how he talked about the juniors who the club have resigned en-masse. Obviously the staff do have high hopes in the juniors coming through.
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
But who and how soon? It's been, or was widely speculated Shereb, Coric, O'Ofuo were pretty much ready to go. If not from now, definitely this year. O'Ofuo is 22 and can't make it in the NSW Cup team. Coric is in and out of the NSW Cup team and Shereb obviously bombed out in the NSW Cup and has been in Jersey Flegg for the past few rounds.
I'm not privy as to how the coaching staff prepare young players for first grade. Maybe it's all part of the plan.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Off-contract 2022:
- Billy Burns - Depth signing? Still young.
- Poasa Faamausili - Bye
- Jackson Ford - Unfortunately... bye.
- Jack Gosiewski - Depth signing?
- Josh McGuire - Time to retire.
- Tautau Moga - Bye
- Aaron Woods (PO 2023) - He won't get picked up by another NRL club. Maybe ESL.
- Jaiyden Hunt - Give him a chance in the NRL.
- Shalom O’Ofou - High hopes for him but seems wasn't to be.
- Jonathon Reuben - Depth signing in the backs?
Off-contract 2023:
- Talatau Amone - Re-sign him ASAP
- George Burgess - bye
- Jack de Belin (PO 2024) - hang around until the end of 2024
- Tyrell Fuimaono - depth signing?
- Ben Hunt - Bye. Sullivan's time has come.
- Josh Kerr - bye
- Blake Lawrie - Has to do better or bye. Coming off the bench would be a start.
- Moses Mbye - bye
- Andrew McCullough - bye
- Mikaele Ravalawa (PO 2024) - Can he transition into the forwards? Getting a little too slow for a winger.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
May be everything is ready for the club to bring Lodge in over the bye weekend.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
This had better be someone's idea of a sick joke. What are the Dragons going to do with Flanagan? Grubs can take over Ben Hunts contract from next year.
The mooted player swap has put prospective Bulldogs coach and current Dragons recruitment committee member Shane Flanagan in an awkward position.
Flanagan is considered the favourite to be named the Bulldogs next head coach, with a reunion with son Kyle on the cards, but a player swap with Sullivan would put an end to that possibility.
Flanagan in potential Bulldogs swap deal for Dragons halfback
Bulldogs halfback Kyle Flanagan and Dragons counterpart Jayden Sullivan have been put forward in a potential player swap to help both club’s playmaking issues.The mooted player swap has put prospective Bulldogs coach and current Dragons recruitment committee member Shane Flanagan in an awkward position.
Flanagan is considered the favourite to be named the Bulldogs next head coach, with a reunion with son Kyle on the cards, but a player swap with Sullivan would put an end to that possibility.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
No way. This is BS for sure.
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
If I were deciding, I'm not sure there is a single Dogs player I'd swap for Sullivan. JAC is a very good winger but considering his age and position, I'd prefer to keep Sullivan.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
I think they are just making it up. It's utterly illogical. Some wishful thinking from someone at the Grubs leaking it despite the Dragons not having any interest in even considering it.
Eric
Staff
If this turned out to be true, someone or some people at the club would have to be arrested.
I think it has something to do with Flanagan senior. The Grubs are putting it out there in order to force the staff to say something like, "no thanks. We don't rate Flanagan Jnr at all." Thereby causing some friction with Flanagan senior. Kind of smart is a Machiavellian way.
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
The club needs to have a very serious crack at Payne Haas or Matt Lodge now! Specially Haas would transform Saints from having the worst front row rotation to one of the best.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Prefer Lodge because would have to throw almost 1mil at Haas.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Probably not, almost 1mil but actually 1mil. That's what the best forwards are paid these days and he is certainly one of the best.
Eric
Staff
As good as Haas is, defiantly don't throw 1 mil or more at any non spine player.
Ryan
SGI Jersey Flegg
Official reply by the Dragons: (the swap) Not under consideration.
So that's that.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Players off contract: 18
2022: Billy Burns, Poasa Faamausili, Jackson Ford, Jack Gosiewski, Jaidyn Hunt, Tautau Moga, Josh McGuire, Shalom O'Ofou, Aaron Woods
2023: Junior Amone, George Burgess, Tyrell Fuimaono, Ben Hunt, Josh Kerr, Blake Lawrie, Moses Mbye, Andrew McCullough
Priority re-signings: Ben Hunt, Junior Amone
STATE OF PLAY
The Dragons have a good mix of experience and youth locked in long-term at the club, but with 18 players unsigned beyond 2023, they still have some big decisions to make around their roster for the future. Their key priority will be keeping Hunt and Amone to provide security in the halves and give a nod to the present and future success of the club. Outside of that they have a number of forwards in their best 17 this season without deals long-term and with the way their big men have performed this season, it won't be a surprise to see some let go. With Tariq Sims moving on at the end of this year, there'll be some cash to spend in that department.Key position: Prop
The Dragons looks very settled in their backline, particularly if they manage to retain gun youngster Amone and also keep Hunt at the club. They look settled on the edges too with Jack Bird and Jaydn Su'A signed long-term. Where they really need improvement is in the middle forwards department.
Although they could still get more out of him, Francis Molo looks like a great purchase, Lawrie and de Belin have been solid enough this year and the Red V have a few gun young middles coming through the ranks, but a player like Tom Flegler from the Broncos or David Klemmer could potentially transform this forward pack from a fringe finals team into a top-four contender.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
I thought the above was a really good analysis. Except for the nonsense about Ben Hunt being a priority signing. I rate Ben Hunt highly but Sullivan is the No.7 going forward.
Good props are desperately needed. How old is Klemmar now? No more props at the end of their career. Need at least 3 good years.
Good props are desperately needed. How old is Klemmar now? No more props at the end of their career. Need at least 3 good years.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
The neck-breaker, Jordan McClean is another possibility. Not sure how old he is but he's off contract at the end of this year.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
I don't agree with your characterization of him. Seems to me it was an unfortunate accident 3 people contributed to. But the team really needs one or two good props so why not sign him and/or Klemmar and/or Lodge?