RedVictory
SGI Jersey Flegg
Leeds have confirmed Croft does have an NRL release clause.
Recruitment and Retention for 2025
- Thread starter Eric
- Start date
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
Leeds said the NRL release clause had a date he had to advise them... which he missed, so he cant use that.. he could however play the homesick card.. but I still think he is 2nd or 3rd on our hitlist (we would be in no rush to sign him)... and he isnt going to be reneging on a contract unless it was a sure thing.
Just a Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
From Sydney Morning Hearld
St George Illawarra will turn their attention to finding a halfback after securing the signature Clint Gutherson – and Lachie Ilias is on their hit list.
The three-year deal for Gutherson, who becomes the proud owner of Dragons’ No.1 jersey, frees the club to ramp up its pursuit of a chief playmaker.The Dragons need a halfback, and have identified South Sydney’s Ilias as a target.
Fellow new recruit Damien Cook has already advised coach Shane Flanagan that his former South Sydney teammate would be a perfect fit at the Red V.
With Ilias reportedly competing for the role of back-up dummy-half behind Peter Mamouzelos. Cook insists 24-year-old Ilias is wasted as a No.9.
“Lachie is a halfback, not a hooker,” Cook said. “Souths weren’t travelling that well last season, and Lachie copped a lot of that criticism, which was unfair.“I think Lachie is a great halfback. He’s a great defender, he’s still got plenty to learn, and he hasn’t had the chance to show what he’s capable of.
I’d love to see him at the Dragons. I’ve been in his ear, too.
“I know he loves Souths, but I’ll be letting him know what I think. He’s a halfback, not a dummy-half. Later on in his career, he might end up at lock because he is that bigger body, and he’s a good ball player.
“I understand Souths might be thinking about what they’re doing. He will be a part of their best 17, but they’ve also got other halves ahead of him. I know Lachie would love it at the Dragons.”
Flanagan was delighted to have signed Gutherson, and confirmed his interest in Ilias.
“I love Gutho’s leadership, how competitive he is, and all the cultural stuff; basically what he will do for all our young kids and players coming through – we’ve seen what he does on the field, but he will be so important to us off the field as well,” Flanagan said.
“We did our homework on him. He played the last month of footy with a quad strain and rib cartilage damage. There were no issues with his knees. I’m really confident in my staff, that we’ll give Gutho that longevity.We wanted to get Gutho sorted first, and now he’s done, we’ll jump on to finding a halfback next week. Lachie is one we will discuss and meet with.”
St George Illawarra will turn their attention to finding a halfback after securing the signature Clint Gutherson – and Lachie Ilias is on their hit list.
The three-year deal for Gutherson, who becomes the proud owner of Dragons’ No.1 jersey, frees the club to ramp up its pursuit of a chief playmaker.The Dragons need a halfback, and have identified South Sydney’s Ilias as a target.
Fellow new recruit Damien Cook has already advised coach Shane Flanagan that his former South Sydney teammate would be a perfect fit at the Red V.
With Ilias reportedly competing for the role of back-up dummy-half behind Peter Mamouzelos. Cook insists 24-year-old Ilias is wasted as a No.9.
“Lachie is a halfback, not a hooker,” Cook said. “Souths weren’t travelling that well last season, and Lachie copped a lot of that criticism, which was unfair.“I think Lachie is a great halfback. He’s a great defender, he’s still got plenty to learn, and he hasn’t had the chance to show what he’s capable of.
I’d love to see him at the Dragons. I’ve been in his ear, too.
“I know he loves Souths, but I’ll be letting him know what I think. He’s a halfback, not a dummy-half. Later on in his career, he might end up at lock because he is that bigger body, and he’s a good ball player.
“I understand Souths might be thinking about what they’re doing. He will be a part of their best 17, but they’ve also got other halves ahead of him. I know Lachie would love it at the Dragons.”
Flanagan was delighted to have signed Gutherson, and confirmed his interest in Ilias.
“I love Gutho’s leadership, how competitive he is, and all the cultural stuff; basically what he will do for all our young kids and players coming through – we’ve seen what he does on the field, but he will be so important to us off the field as well,” Flanagan said.
“We did our homework on him. He played the last month of footy with a quad strain and rib cartilage damage. There were no issues with his knees. I’m really confident in my staff, that we’ll give Gutho that longevity.We wanted to get Gutho sorted first, and now he’s done, we’ll jump on to finding a halfback next week. Lachie is one we will discuss and meet with.”
Just a Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Sloan has only manage to put on 9kg over 3 pre season, he isn't getting any bigger
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
It's going to be Kyle Flanno @7 and LKT @6. I'm not a fan but Kyle has to become a playmaker. Simple as that. The job of his old man might depend on it. Should depend on it. Nepotism has no place in a pro sports team.
Unless Sloan can become a 7. He has the ball skills. Jerome Hughes was an unwanted fullback before he went to Melbourne. And our own Benny Hornby did just fine there as well. His defence is the only issue and it's a big issue.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Big enough to be a halfback if he can tackle.
Ryan
SGI Jersey Flegg
Does George Williams still play? If he can go around for 2 more years, he'd be far better than Croft.
I always liked him, thought he left the NRL too early. Similar to Fogarty both quality halfbacks
Not sure about Illias, I wasn't too impressed by him but maybe it was due to mental pressure & expectations at Souths. Happy to take a punt on him for low $$$. I'm still worried about our FRF stocks, we need to get a Tyrell May type into the team if we want to challenge for top 8 imo.
Ryan
SGI Jersey Flegg
He had issues with Ricky Stuart, or so they say.
AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
Terrell Kalo Kalo Souths ----> Dragons KOE squad not sure what type of contract
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
Not many highlights, but a video from 3yrs ago:
Hes a fullback/ctr, big body.. 22yrs old in january... named in U19s blues squad in 2022... but it all seemed to go wrong from there, hes played less than half a season every year, not sure whats happening (source):
Under-21
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK% | FG | Pts |
| South Sydney | Jersey Flegg 2022 | 10 | 2 | – | – | – | 8 |
| South Sydney | Jersey Flegg 2023 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Overall | 2022–2023 | 15 | 2 | – | – | – | 8 |
Under-18 / Under-19
| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK% | FG | Pts |
| South Sydney | SG Ball 2020 | 5 | 3 | – | – | – | 12 |
| South Sydney | SG Ball 2021 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| South Sydney | SG Ball 2022 | 3 |
Missed most of 2023 with a broken leg, but I cant work out what happened in 2024, like im not seeing him in any of their squads.. i would suggest hes just not in their top17 and a bit of a speculator for us..
blacksafake
SGI Junior League
Maybe a speculator on Cooks advice ?
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
Good call..
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
I hope it isn't Cook securing jobs for his mates.
AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
Other changes are afoot, the most significant the expected departure of half Jayden Sullivan, who was offered for virtually nothing to return to his former club the Dragons.
Saints weren’t interested. The concern with Sullivan isn’t related to discipline or team harmony. Officials at the club like Sullivan and have no concerns with his work ethic or personality.
The issue is that the club is overloaded in the halves and Sullivan is on a fat contract that means their salary cap and squad are out of sync.
Saints weren’t interested. The concern with Sullivan isn’t related to discipline or team harmony. Officials at the club like Sullivan and have no concerns with his work ethic or personality.
The issue is that the club is overloaded in the halves and Sullivan is on a fat contract that means their salary cap and squad are out of sync.
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
I think they are already back except for the rep players.
Just a Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Junior players started this week senior players 18th Nov, rep players 9 to 10 weeks after their last game.