Recruitment and Retention for 2025

[Mailroomsgi]

I thought he was ok for most of the year. Not better or worse than expected. But look at this list again:

Eisenhuth is turning 33 during next season. How many "just ok" old forwards are among this list? What possible reason could there be for one more if not helping out an old mate at the expense of the club? I can't and won't cop that at all.

Young players just never ready at the Dragons these days. If Egan still isn't ready, even though he played every NSW Cup game last year and just got better and better according to reports I read, have to rely on blokes with a contract already like RFM and Mike Molo.

I think Egan is definitely ready. Pretty confident about Stewart and Tonga. Latu, Nick T and Halangahu maybe. I think those 3 only played a handful of NSW Cup last year. So you can see I'm stunned Eisenhuth is even under consideration to be re-signed. Unless at least 2 of Molo's, Lawrie, RFM, Fifita are being lined up to move on, then it's just Flanno and jobs for his mates. That the way I see it and I can't cop it. No way in the world Bellamy, Cleary or Bennett would be that unprofessional. Hasler and hell, even Benji wouldn't stand for his long-time friend Nofuluma turning up to pre-season training fat.

They are trying to punt lawrie(He was signed for big money so it’s impossible to shift his salary) and RFM/Michael Molo will likely go as well. It takes time to overhaul a roster.
Ivan Cleary is about to sign Moses Mbye to Penrith, so if that doesn’t show you that every club has ordinary players that fill out their top 30 then idk what will.

You’re overrating the young guys btw, Egan was very solid but he wasn’t spectacular in NSW cup and the jump from that level to NRL is huge.
Halangahu hasn’t even played a game of NSW cup yet and only just turned 18, Finau Latu similarly has only played 1 game of NSW cup.

Loko Tonga is the only one who I think can genuinely crack first grade in 2025 and stay in the 17.
Just my opinion and I respect yours but I don’t agree

 

[GCRV]

They are trying to punt lawrie(He was signed for big money so it’s impossible to shift his salary) and RFM/Michael Molo will likely go as well. It takes time to overhaul a roster.
Ivan Cleary is about to sign Moses Mbye to Penrith, so if that doesn’t show you that every club has ordinary players that fill out their top 30 then idk what will.

You’re overrating the young guys btw, Egan was very solid but he wasn’t spectacular in NSW cup and the jump from that level to NRL is huge.
Halangahu hasn’t even played a game of NSW cup yet and only just turned 18, Finau Latu similarly has only played 1 game of NSW cup.

Loko Tonga is the only one who I think can genuinely crack first grade in 2025 and stay in the 17.
Just my opinion and I respect yours but I don’t agree

Egan like Eisenhuth will never be spectacular. Egan really is a tackling machine.

If at least 2 of those are moved on, I have no issue with re-signing Eisenhuth. Not in favour or against. Don't really have an opinion. As of now, can hardly comprehend it's even under consideration.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Does anyone know what contract Tom has or what role he'll be playing in season 25.
I'll wait

 

[TheRev]

Does anyone know what contract Tom has or what role he'll be playing in season 25.
I'll wait

I do love a mystery! We know he has some sort of role given he's training in the gym. And we know you said this a few months back:

I posted before that our talks with Max F and Tom were around Supplementary contracts and I still believe those 3 spots will go to older players with some expirence.

But much water has flown under the bridge since then.. and missing Hetherington would have been a perfect replacement for him @13... now I dont know who will play lock.... so Tom could be anything from NSW Cup to T&T to Dev/Sup to Top30... we can only speculate.

If I was to guess though... I would say T&T or Dev for now.. but with an eye to Top30 if/when we find room.

 

[GCRV]

now I dont know who will play lock.... so Tom could be anything from NSW Cup to T&T to Dev/Sup to Top30... we can only speculate.

Why wouldn't JDB or either Couchman be in line to start at lock? I don't see why Egan wouldn't make a good lock. Then maybe not in round 1 but later in the year, Latu has the game to be a very good lock.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Why wouldn't JDB or either Couchman be in line to start at lock? I don't see why Egan wouldn't make a good lock. Then maybe not in round 1 but later in the year, Latu has the game to be a very good lock.

The way Flanno has talked about Cook and based on how he finished the year at South’s, he’s talked about playing Cook in the ‘ball distributing forward role’ when he and Liddle are on the field together.
If it’s not JDB or one of the Couchman’s in the #13 than Cook will probably end up there in game

 

[st george tragic]

Funny. I haven't been angry with him until this thing came up and I think my reasoning is very sound.

I would be interested to know if you could sack flanno (which I believe is crazy talk) who would you replace him with and why

 

[TheRev]

I keep forgetting about Cook to 13, but hes still expecting to do 20 minutes at hooker I assume? I cant really see Cook doing 80 minutes a week for 27 rounds.. maybe he does 20 at hooker 40 at lock, 20m rest.. i dunno.. its complicated..

And JDB I think has shown hes not really a lock.. hes better just making his tackles and battering it up.. Couchmans im not sure if they can distribute.. but they have good footwork.. it might be better to keep their gameplan simple though while so young.. lot of pressure and decision-making at lock for rookies, its just the way Ryan made all those errors when switched him to 2nd row late last year.. just made me think it might be asking a lot for young kids to do something they dont train for week in and week out.. maybe there is no rush there.

A lot of this also depends on injuries/suspensions..

 

[GCRV]

I would be interested to know if you could sack flanno (which I believe is crazy talk) who would you replace him with and why

Haven't thought about. I'm not in favour now. If I was to be, look at my last several messages to understand why.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Haven't thought about. I'm not in favour now. If I was to be, look at my last several messages to understand why.

Brad Arthur is probably the best coach not in an NRL job(He has his critics but did a good job at parramatta).

Shane Flanagan is considerably better than anyone people could suggest to replace him.
He’s also a top 6/7 coach in the league and the only ones I’d definitely say I’d take over him are Bennett/Cleary/Bellamy

 

[st george tragic]

Haven't thought about. I'm not in favour now. If I was to be, look at my last several messages to understand why.

My why was to describe why you chose the new coach. So you think we should sack our coach with no real forward thinking. The truth is we do not have all the facts with what flannos plans are so I will base my thoughts on results and results only in about 10 mths time. However I have hope with decisions made so far.

 

[st george tragic]

Brad Arthur is probably the best coach not in an NRL job(He has his critics but did a good job at parramatta).

Shane Flanagan is considerably better than anyone people could suggest to replace him.
He’s also a top 6/7 coach in the league and the only ones I’d definitely say I’d take over him are Bennett/Cleary/Bellamy

Yes sure but they are not available so let's sack flanno and get some nobody. I can't believe this is even a conversation.

 

[Dave03]

Rather lose to see a random Dragons supporter on the internet melt down? Sometimes I get those feelings but I learned to suppress them. Would you also prefer to see Halangahu bid sayonara to the club so Tommy Eisenhuth can get a contract?

Yes 100%. I'd also like to see Hook as the CEO, Mary as our new Head Coach & Lawrie play fullback with a 10 year extension.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Yes sure but they are not available so let's sack flanno and get some nobody. I can't believe this is even a conversation.

No chance, and I’m in agreement. I’d extend him tomorrow without hesitation

 

[GCRV]

My why was to describe why you chose the new coach. So you think we should sack our coach with no real forward thinking. The truth is we do not have all the facts with what flannos plans are so I will base my thoughts on results and results only in about 10 mths time. However I have hope with decisions made so far.

I didn't say sack the coach. I said if Eisenhuth is given a top 30 contract. Nothing against Eisenhuth. He's ok but he's turning 33 early next season and Dragons need more than ok. In my view Dragons have more than ok in a number of young forwards. And don't owe Eisenhuth any loyalty. He did a job for one year, not very good or bad. if he's given a top 30 contract, just Flanno doing a favour for his mates. Maybe trying to buy loyalty rather than commanding respect from the players. That's the impression I got from Mary. I don't know why my view is so problematic.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I didn't say sack the coach. I said if Eisenhuth is given a top 30 contract. Nothing against Eisenhuth. He's ok but he's turning 33 early next season and Dragons need more than ok. In my view Dragons have more than ok in a number of young forwards. And don't owe Eisenhuth any loyalty. He did a job for one year, not very good or bad. if he's given a top 30 contract, just Flanno doing a favour for his mates. Maybe trying to buy loyalty rather than commanding respect from the players. That's the impression I got from Mary. I don't know why my view is so problematic.

Because it’s a knee jerk decision and not looking at the situation holistically.
Sacking a coach is such a huge decision that affects so many things at the club.

There’s a good chance many of the young guys at the club leave if a different coach is brought in eg’ Half of Parramatta’s SG ball winning side in 2023 left after Brad Arthur was sacked midseason

 

[st george tragic]

I didn't say sack the coach. I said if Eisenhuth is given a top 30 contract. Nothing against Eisenhuth. He's ok but he's turning 33 early next season and Dragons need more than ok. In my view Dragons have more than ok in a number of young forwards. And don't owe Eisenhuth any loyalty. He did a job for one year, not very good or bad. if he's given a top 30 contract, just Flanno doing a favour for his mates. Maybe trying to buy loyalty rather than commanding respect from the players. That's the impression I got from Mary. I don't know why my view is so problematic.

Flanno has to do what he has to do
if the team goes well He is a hero
Wooden spoon in trouble live or die by the sword as they see. He knows more than me I just think he is making tough and good decisions with little assistance from bod.

 

[GCRV]

Because it’s a knee jerk decision and not looking at the situation holistically.
Sacking a coach is such a huge decision that affects so many things at the club.

There’s a good chance many of the young guys at the club leave if a different coach is brought in eg’ Half of Parramatta’s SG ball winning side in 2023 left after Brad Arthur was sacked midseason

Fair enough but I'm not the CEO. I think I'm allowed knee-jerk reactions.

 

[jodragon40]

It’s great to see that some believe our biggest concern is the status of ole Tommy Eisenhuth. Great sign that we’re in a good position if that’s what people are fuming at. In my opinion, he had a solid year and did exactly what I expected if not better than I thought when we signed him. Some of you must have unbelievably unrealistic expectations.

Agree, he is that type of defensive forward that every pack needs. No he's not going to score a try and be a game winner he's not that type of player. He is going to shore up your defence in the middle of the park and pass on his experience to our younger forwards coming through the ranks. There is no substitute for experience and as long as he doesn't use up too much of our cap and endanger the retention of our rising stars I am happy to have him in our squad.

 

[GCRV]

Flanno has to do what he has to do
if the team goes well He is a hero
Wooden spoon in trouble live or die by the sword as they see. He knows more than me I just think he is making tough and good decisions with little assistance from bod.

Fair enough. So lets see what he does next year.