Recruitment and Retention for 2023

Morgan

Morgan

SGI NSW Cup
RedV01 said:

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.
Click to expand...
To be honest, 2 high quality props on the market, I'm wondering why the hell the club hasn't made a move to sign one of them. If it has the money to throw 1.2 mil at Munster, it obviously has salary cap space. Lodge would far from break the bank and Broncos have already paid Haas half his salary for this year.
 
Morgan

Morgan

SGI NSW Cup
Lets get it done before the before the Cowboys game in 2 weeks!

Matt Lodge is up for grabs. Here’s where he could land​

DRAGONS​

The Dragons have two roster spots to fill and another front-rower makes sense. Veteran props Aaron Woods and George Burgess haven’t exactly set the world on fire since joining the club.

Meanwhile, Daniel Alvaro was granted a mid-season release for a Super League deal and it seems Poasa Faamausili has fallen out of favour.

Utility forward Tariq Sims is off to the Storm next season and retirement may be on the cards for off-contract 32-year-old Josh McGuire at the end of the season.
 
RedV01

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Morgan said:
Lets get it done before the before the Cowboys game in 2 weeks!

Matt Lodge is up for grabs. Here’s where he could land​

DRAGONS​

The Dragons have two roster spots to fill and another front-rower makes sense. Veteran props Aaron Woods and George Burgess haven’t exactly set the world on fire since joining the club.

Meanwhile, Daniel Alvaro was granted a mid-season release for a Super League deal and it seems Poasa Faamausili has fallen out of favour.

Utility forward Tariq Sims is off to the Storm next season and retirement may be on the cards for off-contract 32-year-old Josh McGuire at the end of the season.
Click to expand...
Don't hold your breathe. All the money has been spent on Mbye.
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
I hope this isn't true. From what I've seen, he is a fringe first grader.
Four clubs are reportedly in pursuit of Bulldogs enforcer Jack Hetherington, who has been told he is free to negotiate with rival teams.

The 25-year-old is set to be one of the players who move away from Belmore following the departure of Trent Barrett, following Brent Naden away from the struggling club.

Hetherington is contracted until the end of the 2023 season, but has a mutual option for the final year meaning he can walk away.

“The Bulldogs forward is off-contract and has been told he can negotiate with rival clubs, the Dragons are certainly circling.

“There is three other clubs, the Newcastle Knights, the Wests Tigers and the Canberra Raiders, now Jack’s father played for the Raiders, Brett Hetherington, so there is lineage there.
 
Morgan

Morgan

SGI NSW Cup
GCRV said:
I hope this isn't true. From what I've seen, he is a fringe first grader.
Four clubs are reportedly in pursuit of Bulldogs enforcer Jack Hetherington, who has been told he is free to negotiate with rival teams.

The 25-year-old is set to be one of the players who move away from Belmore following the departure of Trent Barrett, following Brent Naden away from the struggling club.

Hetherington is contracted until the end of the 2023 season, but has a mutual option for the final year meaning he can walk away.

“The Bulldogs forward is off-contract and has been told he can negotiate with rival clubs, the Dragons are certainly circling.

“There is three other clubs, the Newcastle Knights, the Wests Tigers and the Canberra Raiders, now Jack’s father played for the Raiders, Brett Hetherington, so there is lineage there.
Click to expand...
Some brighter news.

DRAGONS UPGRADE YOUNG GUN​

St George Illawarra have announced the re-signing of forward Jaiyden Hunt.​

Hunt will be promoted to the Dragons’ Top 30 next year and will remain at the club until at least the end of 2024.

The Brisbane export has played four NRL games since joining the Dragons ahead of last season on a train-and-trial deal.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to remain a Dragon. I am keen to continue giving my all on and off the field as I strive to be a consistent fixture in the first grade team,” Hunt said.

“I’d also like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my journey so far, including the Dragons who provided me the opportunity to move down last year and make my NRL debut.

“I’m looking forward to repaying everyone’s faith in me over the coming seasons and beyond.”
 
RedV01

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Parramatta looking to get Lodge. Tigers getting some rugby player who's apparently pretty good. Dragons not linked to anyone at all. Why would they be? Going so well as is.
 
Morgan

Morgan

SGI NSW Cup
RedV01 said:
Parramatta looking to get Lodge. Tigers getting some rugby player who's apparently pretty good. Dragons not linked to anyone at all. Why would they be? Going so well as is.
Click to expand...
It's become a surrealistic nightmare. Can't afford anyone because all the money was spent on Hooks superstar recruits Woods, Mbye, Burgess, McCullough and McGuire.
 
RedV01

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Morgan said:
It's become a surrealistic nightmare. Can't afford anyone because all the money was spent on Hooks superstar recruits Woods, Mbye, Burgess, McCullough and McGuire.
Click to expand...
The entire world, literally everyone alive and at least one generation of those passed knows Dragons forwards are severely lacking go forward. Griffin's former Broncos U20s superstar Alvaro left so there is definitely a place in the squad available. A good prop like Lodge comes on the market and not a peep from the Dragons about signing him. Incredible! WTF is going on?????
 
Chris M

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
RedVHeartbeat said:
Billy Burns, Poasa Faamausili, Jackson Ford, Jack Gosiewski, Jaidyn Hunt, Tautau Moga, Josh McGuire, Shalom O'Ofou, Aaron Woods

Surely we'd have plenty of lolly under the cap once we offload those in bold.
Click to expand...
Aaron Woods has an option in his favour and no other club wants him. ESL or he'll go ok in the NSW Cup.
 
Morgan

Morgan

SGI NSW Cup
RedVHeartbeat said:
Billy Burns, Poasa Faamausili, Jackson Ford, Jack Gosiewski, Jaidyn Hunt, Tautau Moga, Josh McGuire, Shalom O'Ofou, Aaron Woods

Surely we'd have plenty of lolly under the cap once we offload those in bold.
Click to expand...
A bigger turnover than I realised. Are they all going to be replaced with juniors?
 
RedV01

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
RedVHeartbeat said:
Doubt it.. like that to happen but all bar one of those listed are forwards while most of our best juniors are backs.
Click to expand...
I heard that. Just what we don't need at present! Obviously more good players coming into first grade is always good no matter the position but there's obviously a pressing need for forwards at present.
RedVHeartbeat said:
Hearing McGuire is going to ESL.. not sure about Woods. If only we had picked him up five years ago when he left the Tigers. I like his passion.
Click to expand...
McGuire is off contact but Woods isn't.
 
RedVHeartbeat

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
RedV01 said:
I heard that. Just what we don't need at present! Obviously more good players coming into first grade is always good no matter the position but there's obviously a pressing need for forwards at present.

McGuire is off contact but Woods isn't.
Click to expand...
Post 185 says Woods is off contract. I'd like him to hang round. He'd be a good mentor to the juniors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top