Recruitment and Retention for 2023

[GCRV]

Pics of him on our website training. By his build I'd say in the halves. Hello FO we have our own next gen halves in Wallace and Herring. Why arent they backing them over imports.

And Sullivan is hardly a veteran and at the stage, Amone is still on the books.

 

[GCRV]

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Jacob Liddle​

Liddle is one of the Dragons’ four signings for the 2023 season but is undoubtedly the most important, filling the hooker role after Andrew McCullough retired. The 26-year-old has played 74 NRL games across eight seasons with the Tigers, having only played 20 games in a calendar year once. Liddle has shown glimpses of talent and impressive pace out of the ruck, but consistency has been his biggest issue in recent years as well as constant injury problems including a PCL blow suffered last season. If Dragons coach Anthony Griffin can unlock his new hooker, he could be a hit with the Red V faithful.


According to News Ltd, this is the Dragons "key signing" for this season. That might be true. I thought it was interesting hooker was the "key signing" a number of clubs made.

1. Parramatta: Josh Hodgson
2. Gold Coast: Sam Verrills
3. Bulldogs: Reed Mahoney
4. Canberra: Danny Levi
5. Rorters: Brandon Smith (of course they paid the most for the best of the lot. No salary cap for them.)
6. Tigers: Apisai Koroisau
7. St George: Jacob Liddle

Out of all those, due to his age, injury history and ability when fully fit, it seems no surprise that Dragons for the worst of the lot.

 

[Eric]

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Jacob Liddle​

Liddle is one of the Dragons’ four signings for the 2023 season but is undoubtedly the most important, filling the hooker role after Andrew McCullough retired. The 26-year-old has played 74 NRL games across eight seasons with the Tigers, having only played 20 games in a calendar year once. Liddle has shown glimpses of talent and impressive pace out of the ruck, but consistency has been his biggest issue in recent years as well as constant injury problems including a PCL blow suffered last season. If Dragons coach Anthony Griffin can unlock his new hooker, he could be a hit with the Red V faithful.


According to News Ltd, this is the Dragons "key signing" for this season. That might be true. I thought it was interesting hooker was the "key signing" a number of clubs made.

1. Parramatta: Josh Hodgson
2. Gold Coast: Sam Verrills
3. Bulldogs: Reed Mahoney
4. Canberra: Danny Levi
5. Rorters: Brandon Smith (of course they paid the most for the best of the lot. No salary cap for them.)
6. Tigers: Apisai Koroisau
7. St George: Jacob Liddle

Out of all those, due to his age, injury history and ability when fully fit, it seems no surprise that Dragons for the worst of the lot.

What did you expect? Griffin likes the challenge of getting one or two more good years out of guys no other clubs want. It's a strategy which has worked so well until now so why change?

 

[Eric]

The player with the most to prove at every club​

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: JACK BIRD​

Still a bit of a nomad in terms of his positional play. Was swapped between second row, centre, lock and five-eighth last season. Looked comfortable as a ball-playing lock in the middle of the field but defensively it took its toll. Needs to master one spot. The Dragons were such a dour side at times last season, Bird needs to contribute more with the football.

---

Finally, other than on this forum, someone is talking about Bird's defence. I like Bird coming off the bench to give JDB a rest and staying on while JDB moves to prop for his second stint.

 

[Chris M]

The player with the most to prove at every club​

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: JACK BIRD​

Still a bit of a nomad in terms of his positional play. Was swapped between second row, centre, lock and five-eighth last season. Looked comfortable as a ball-playing lock in the middle of the field but defensively it took its toll. Needs to master one spot. The Dragons were such a dour side at times last season, Bird needs to contribute more with the football.

---

Finally, other than on this forum, someone is talking about Bird's defence. I like Bird coming off the bench to give JDB a rest and staying on while JDB moves to prop for his second stint.

If Bird could fix his defence, I like the idea of having in the forwards.

 

[RedV01]

The player with the most to prove at every club​

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: JACK BIRD​

Still a bit of a nomad in terms of his positional play. Was swapped between second row, centre, lock and five-eighth last season. Looked comfortable as a ball-playing lock in the middle of the field but defensively it took its toll. Needs to master one spot. The Dragons were such a dour side at times last season, Bird needs to contribute more with the football.

---

Finally, other than on this forum, someone is talking about Bird's defence. I like Bird coming off the bench to give JDB a rest and staying on while JDB moves to prop for his second stint.

I keep hearing defence, when they are at the level of first grade, is all about commitment. I just hope if Bird isn't committed this year as he obviously wasn't for a lot of last year, he's dropped.

 

[Edward]

Hi Dragons fans. Greetings from Chongqing City. I was just wondering if anyone can confirm: Everyone can see how weak we are in the forwards so it would make sense if our supercoach went out and signed Panthers centre or winger or fullback Stephen Crighton for around Au$1mil a year. Anyone heard anything?

 

[GCRV]

Hi Dragons fans. Greetings from Chongqing City. I was just wondering if anyone can confirm: Everyone can see how weak we are in the forwards so it would make sense if our supercoach went out and signed Panthers centre or winger or fullback Stephen Crighton for around Au$1mil a year. Anyone heard anything?

Welcome to the forum. I think that city has more people than all of Australia. Is it correct?

As for Chighton, wouldn't surprise me one bit.

 

[Edward]

Welcome to the forum. I think that city has more people than all of Australia. Is it correct?

As for Chighton, wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Thanks GCRV. As for your question, it's not such a simple answer. The greater urban area is about double the population of Oz but they don't count it like that. 1000 or 2000 or 3000 or more years ago, there were separate communities. Now they have all grown together. By some counts satellite city A is part of Chongqing but satellite city B isn't. By another count both are part of Chongqing. And some of those satellite cites, as they kept growing to become cities, have their own satellite cites. Lets just say the population of the city is about the same as Oz but the greater urban area is about double that.

 

[Morgan]

Hi Dragons fans. Greetings from Chongqing City. I was just wondering if anyone can confirm: Everyone can see how weak we are in the forwards so it would make sense if our supercoach went out and signed Panthers centre or winger or fullback Stephen Crighton for around Au$1mil a year. Anyone heard anything?

Right on cue:

DRAGONS​

The Dragons used multiple fullbacks in 2022, including young gun Tyrell Sloan, utility Moses Mbye and Cody Ramsey.

Ramsey has been battling a serious illness this off-season, which could open the door for Sloan to make the fullback jersey his own in 2023.

However, head coach Anthony Griffin hasn’t hesitated to axe the young gun in the past and if he fails to deliver at the Red V this season, Dragons powerbrokers could look elsewhere.

Crichton could be in Griffin’s scopes to provide the Dragons with a second attacking outlet in 2024, which would take the pressure off Ben Hunt.


Griffin, who has also failed to lead his team to the finals in his two years in charge, could be looking for a big recruit to spark his side’s resurgence.

 

[RedV01]

Right on cue:

DRAGONS​

The Dragons used multiple fullbacks in 2022, including young gun Tyrell Sloan, utility Moses Mbye and Cody Ramsey. Ramsey has been battling a serious illness this off-season, which could open the door for Sloan to make the fullback jersey his own in 2023. However, head coach Anthony Griffin hasn’t hesitated to axe the young gun in the past and if he fails to deliver at the Red V this season, Dragons powerbrokers could look elsewhere.

Crichton could be in Griffin’s scopes to provide the Dragons with a second attacking outlet in 2024, which would take the pressure off Ben Hunt. Griffin, who has also failed to lead his team to the finals in his two years in charge, could be looking for a big recruit to spark his side’s resurgence.

Plus he loves Penriff players.

 

[GCRV]

Thanks GCRV. As for your question, it's not such a simple answer. The greater urban area is about double the population of Oz but they don't count it like that. 1000 or 2000 or 3000 or more years ago, there were separate communities. Now they have all grown together. By some counts satellite city A is part of Chongqing but satellite city B isn't. By another count both are part of Chongqing. And some of those satellite cites, as they kept growing to become cities, have their own satellite cites. Lets just say the population of the city is about the same as Oz but the greater urban area is about double that.

Sounds interesting. I've been to Tokyo and Moscow which are also mega cities. Tokyo in particular is the epitome of a cement jungle.

Anyway, as for Crighton, a player of his quality would of course be welcome for the right place but everyone can see an outside back on big money is the last thing the Dragons need.

 

[Eric]

Sounds interesting. I've been to Tokyo and Moscow which are also mega cities. Tokyo in particular is the epitome of a cement jungle.

Anyway, as for Crighton, a player of his quality would of course be welcome for the right place but everyone can see an outside back on big money is the last thing the Dragons need.

A few weeks ago, everyone would have been saying something like, "the last thing the club needs is another aging, journeyman prop." I can't say for sure because I didn't ask anyone. Seemed too ridiculous to even consider but now here we are.....

 

[Ryan]

A few weeks ago, everyone would have been saying something like, "the last thing the club needs is another aging, journeyman prop." I can't say for sure because I didn't ask anyone. Seemed too ridiculous to even consider but now here we are.....

It might be a good year for RL purists who love the game more than any team in it. A year for Dragons fans to appreciate the game this year and hope for things to be better next year.

 

[jodragon40]

It's going to be a very long year and next season will be the rebuilding. As I have said for years now 2025 is the next time we see a competitive top 8 dragons team. I hope we can manage 12th and the pundits agree with me we are rated in the betting on par with the Titans. I just hope we aren't in a battle for the dreaded wooden spoon come round 22.

 

[jodragon40]

Welcome to the forum. I think that city has more people than all of Australia. Is it correct?

As for Chighton, wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Any manager worth his salt would not be recommending that any decent players sign for us under our current team and club culture. I would be shocked if Chriton came anywhere near us.

 

[Eric]

It might be a good year for RL purists who love the game more than any team in it. A year for Dragons fans to appreciate the game this year and hope for things to be better next year.

That's how far we have fallen. Now we should support the game rather than our team......

It's going to be a very long year and next season will be the rebuilding. As I have said for years now 2025 is the next time we see a competitive top 8 dragons team. I hope we can manage 12th and the pundits agree with me we are rated in the betting on par with the Titans. I just hope we aren't in a battle for the dreaded wooden spoon come round 22.

At first I thought you were overly pessimistic. Not anymore.

 

[jodragon40]

That's how far we have fallen. Now we should support the game rather than our team......

At first I thought you were overly pessimistic. Not anymore.

Don't be surprised if the players threaten to not play. My information is that all clubs have now boycotted any pre season advertising of the game until the NRL come back to the table and its over money of course. Not only has our team fallen to new depths but also the game.

 

[Eric]

Don't be surprised if the players threaten to not play. My information is that all clubs have now boycotted any pre season advertising of the game until the NRL come back to the table and its over money of course. Not only has our team fallen to new depths but also the game.

I saw that. Only the headlines. Not exactly sure what the issue is but I know Abdo and V’landys are two of the most arrogant Aholes in the entire country. It's so typical of them to dictate from on high rather than discuss and agree with the union and others stakeholders.

 

[Morgan]

That's how far we have fallen. Now we should support the game rather than our team......

At first I thought you were overly pessimistic. Not anymore.

Maybe tomorrow the club is going to announce one or two of the reserve grade forwards is going to be granted an immediate release. Fifita and/or Thompson is going to be signed. Also Johnson, the two Couchmans and Lobb are going to be signed into the top 30.