Recruitment and Retention for 2025

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup

What every NRL team wants in their Christmas stocking​

Dragons – A half that’s not related to Shane Flanagan​

With Ben Hunt back at the Broncos, the jury is out on St George Illawarra’s halves pairing this upcoming season, with some suggesting they will be the weakest in the NRL.

Lachie Ilias, who suffered a shocking leg injury last season, would love the chance to prove he is a genuine No. 7 after falling out of favour at Souths, and hopes to hit it off with Kyle Flanagan.

It’s not all bad news for the Dragons though, with Sharks utility Daniel Atkinson penning a three-year deal with the club from 2026, and Damien Cook, Valentine Holmes and workhorse Clint Gutherson joining the Red V in 2025 to help restore the club to the glory of the 1950s and 60s.
 

Ryan

SGI Jersey Flegg

What every NRL team wants in their Christmas stocking​

Dragons – A half that’s not related to Shane Flanagan​

With Ben Hunt back at the Broncos, the jury is out on St George Illawarra’s halves pairing this upcoming season, with some suggesting they will be the weakest in the NRL.

Lachie Ilias, who suffered a shocking leg injury last season, would love the chance to prove he is a genuine No. 7 after falling out of favour at Souths, and hopes to hit it off with Kyle Flanagan.

It’s not all bad news for the Dragons though, with Sharks utility Daniel Atkinson penning a three-year deal with the club from 2026, and Damien Cook, Valentine Holmes and workhorse Clint Gutherson joining the Red V in 2025 to help restore the club to the glory of the 1950s and 60s.
Lets give Kyle a break until the start of the season. Then he had better be better than last year. Or Flanno must drop him. Not in round 15 but in round 3 or 4. LKT showed to me in one game he is a better option but Flanno begs to differ. That's fine. He's probably right. But we need Kyle to repay the faith his dad has in him.
 

Ryan

SGI Jersey Flegg
Anyone know for sure if Loko’s extension is to 2027 or 2028? Hopefully the latter
I think a few of these young forwards like Loko, Latu and Halangahu are going to be commanding huge money in a few years. Won't be able to keep them all. Unfortunately.
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
Lets give Kyle a break until the start of the season. Then he had better be better than last year. Or Flanno must drop him. Not in round 15 but in round 3 or 4. LKT showed to me in one game he is a better option but Flanno begs to differ. That's fine. He's probably right. But we need Kyle to repay the faith his dad has in him.
I'm giving him a break. That was lifted from Fairfax newpapers. I didn't provide the link because the article was talking about every club wish-list.
 

Red T

SGI Jersey Flegg
Kyle was always getting a new contract with Daddy doing the job interviews….Especially as he is committed—-to paying off the mortgage on his big new house.

He has bulked up a bit I hear. He will need to be better but maybe he can do that. You could argue that the biting incident cost Saints a finals birth.

Does anyone know if Ra Ra recruit Lawson now takes the last spot on the roster ?
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
Kyle was always getting a new contract with Daddy doing the job interviews….Especially as he is committed—-to paying off the mortgage on his big new house.

He has bulked up a bit I hear. He will need to be better but maybe he can do that. You could argue that the biting incident cost Saints a finals birth.

Does anyone know if Ra Ra recruit Lawson now takes the last spot on the roster ?
He's on a development contract. Not sure what that means. I think he is available for first grade after the first several rounds.
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
Kyle was always getting a new contract with Daddy doing the job interviews….Especially as he is committed—-to paying off the mortgage on his big new house.

He has bulked up a bit I hear. He will need to be better but maybe he can do that. You could argue that the biting incident cost Saints a finals birth.

Does anyone know if Ra Ra recruit Lawson now takes the last spot on the roster ?
In Kyle's defence, most of the money for that big house came from the Bulldogs. I think they were paying him about 600k a year.
 

Eric

Staff
Has Flanno decided he is satisfied with Sele, Lawrie, JDB, Couchmans, Frank Molo and LPT? Because all these otehr clubs are throwing around big money for props but not a peer from the Dragons in a while. And Lodge is still off contract. Is he so toxic that Flanno won't go near him? Manly wanted to keep him so maybe he's not so toxic these days. And stickily speaking about what he does on the field, he's a pretty good prop.
 

Red T

SGI Jersey Flegg
I think Blake Lawrie and Rava were given permission to negotiate with other clubs but have decided to stay and see out their contracts. Lawrie has been not really adapted to the six again game which is a lot faster. If Flanno gets him fit and he loses some weight and holds on to the football he might improve this season. Same for Rava.

Lodge might still be an option but Flanno might want to keep the last roster spot open and see who becomes available. He has some youv talent coming through including the Couchmans who are both set to play more first grade this year.
 

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
The Grubs have swooped in late and taken Thompson from the Raiders grasp. How does Gould keep doing this , is he a bloody magician or something . And why didnt we chase this bloke. Money contraints? Having said that, his stats dont spell 'superstar', but he sure as hell is better than any of our current has been middles.
 

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Well a stink has left Kogarah and Win in the form of a certain Ben Hunt. Thank goodness after seven long years we no longer have to put up with this over rated, ungrateful, disloyal individual.
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
Ever since the worst kept secret of Gutho and Illias signing, hardly a peep out of the Dragons. Like Dragons were one of the top teams last year. Is Flanno just very confident in the team he has, is there no one else worth chasing for now or is the Dragons salary cap tapped out?
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
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