Recruitment and Retention for 2025

[Edward]

Dont see them as props. Too mobile and not sufficient bulk, be more effective elsewhere. Ditto Finau Latu. I see LPT and Jake Halangahu as our future long term bookends. Have FL and JH been extended past '26 yet. If not pull out the proverbial finger BOD.

They are big enough to be props. Have the right skills to be props. One of them could come on after 20 min and one could switch to lock after JDB retires. But there is Latu to play lock. I know Fox commentators were blustering about how he was a light weight-prop but light weight or not, the performance was impressive. Good run metres, offloads, lot of effective tackles.

They are never going to be Payne Haas type props who use size and mobility for a lot of PCMs and fast play the balls but will use mobility, passing, offloads and footwork to be even better. Blokes like Gular and maybe Klemmer can use size to just charge the ball forward.

 

[TheRev]

I think these young ones (including couchmans) are best with a simple gameplan for the first ~2yrs or so in 1st grade.. the pace and brutality is hard enough without having them distracted by literally anything else.. when they are doing that really comfortably, then we can look at giving them extra duties to focus on.

I dont like talking about Latu because he could be gone this season.. could be a waste of our excitement... but hes very much in the mould of a prop.. he looks very comfortable up against big bodies already at his young age, think hes ~18 maybe nearly 19... so he is only going to get better (and bigger) from this point on... by 21yrs of age hes probably a beast.

Stewart is the one I would like to see go back to reserve grade in his preferred position and get to work.. hes much bigger than last year (to my eye), but I still dont know what he is.. is he a 2nd rower, a lock, a prop.. no idea.. he has the size now for 1st grade... but I dont feel like I 'get him' as a player.. like I dont know what his strengths and weaknesses are because he hasnt put a consistent series of games together in any grade so far.. I feel like hs finding himself still.... and tbf he probably gets moved around to suit other players.....but I dont rly want to see him in first grade, but I think hes going to take a year or so longer than the others.. if he makes it... I should also point out that he is 20 I believe.. still a baby.. its just that hes a baby with a Top30 contract spot.

 

[GCRV]

I think these young ones (including couchmans) are best with a simple gameplan for the first ~2yrs or so in 1st grade.. the pace and brutality is hard enough without having them distracted by literally anything else.. when they are doing that really comfortably, then we can look at giving them extra duties to focus on.

I dont like talking about Latu because he could be gone this season.. could be a waste of our excitement... but hes very much in the mould of a prop.. he looks very comfortable up against big bodies already at his young age, think hes ~18 maybe nearly 19... so he is only going to get better (and bigger) from this point on... by 21yrs of age hes probably a beast.

Stewart is the one I would like to see go back to reserve grade in his preferred position and get to work.. hes much bigger than last year (to my eye), but I still dont know what he is.. is he a 2nd rower, a lock, a prop.. no idea.. he has the size now for 1st grade... but I dont feel like I 'get him' as a player.. like I dont know what his strengths and weaknesses are because he hasnt put a consistent series of games together in any grade so far.. I feel like hs finding himself still.... and tbf he probably gets moved around to suit other players.....but I dont rly want to see him in first grade, but I think hes going to take a year or so longer than the others.. if he makes it... I should also point out that he is 20 I believe.. still a baby.. its just that hes a baby with a Top30 contract spot.

I think Stewart is a prop. I hope he or Tonga are in the 17 from round 1 even if Klemmer is signed. I thought he went ok in the trials and will only get better. Offers much more in the middle than RFM. No, I don't think RFM is a useless plodder or anything like that, just think that in the middle Stewart is better. On an edge, RFM is probably better.

 

[TheRev]

I think Stewart is a prop. I hope he or Tonga are in the 17 from round 1 even if Klemmer is signed. I thought he went ok in the trials and will only get better. Offers much more in the middle than RFM. No, I don't think RFM is a useless plodder or anything like that, just think that in the middle Stewart is better. On an edge, RFM is probably better.

I think Stewart is popular with Flanno, but I really wanna see him prove that he can easily generate 100-150m each week in cup first, someone of his physique/experience can be directly compared to either Couchman at his age... both of which were putting on >200m per game in cup.. note: you can halve those metres in first grade...the stats give you a really good guide of their readiness imo.

Also Stewart had 2 errors in the 2nd half against a weak opposition.. thats enough to lose a 1st grade game.. gotta work that stuff out... Tonga im more confident about with his sheer size, but hes even less experienced, some time in cup would be really good for him also... as it is im not even sure will have room for RyanC &/or Sele on the bench yet.. so I dont think this is a week 1 problem to work out.

 

[GCRV]

I think Stewart is popular with Flanno, but I really wanna see him prove that he can easily generate 100-150m each week in cup first, someone of his physique/experience can be directly compared to either Couchman at his age... both of which were putting on >200m per game in cup.. note: you can halve those metres in first grade...the stats give you a really good guide of their readiness imo.

Also Stewart had 2 errors in the 2nd half against a weak opposition.. thats enough to lose a 1st grade game.. gotta work that stuff out... Tonga im more confident about with his sheer size, but hes even less experienced, some time in cup would be really good for him also... as it is im not even sure will have room for RyanC &/or Sele on the bench yet.. so I dont think this is a week 1 problem to work out.

No room for Ryan C and/or Sele along with Stewart? I don't understand that, TBH. Is Flanno going to go with RFM, Eisenhuth and BMM?

I think Ryan C has to be locked in and Flanno himself said one of Stewart, Tonga, Egan will be in the 17.

Good news is only have 6 days left to see what exactly Flanno is thinking.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Wasn't there talk that Stewart might be tried as a 13 in the Isaaih Yeo mould, i don't think he is a prop, not full time anyway, does Stewart become like a Shaun Lane type player, he is hard to pin down in a position.
Latu is a must keep i would be shocked and disappointed if he left us, surely a player wants to be shown a pathway to first grade, we have invested time and money into him and a pathway provided, and the family supposedly has moved down to Wollongong, why leave?

 

[Mailroomsgi]

It would be another Garrick/Robson situation where we have a clearly elite talent and just let them go for the daftest of reasons and they excel somewhere else.

I think if he was offered a contract he’d prefer to stay settled in the gong with his family than move his family AGAIN

 

[TheRev]

• Robson was gutting.. at the time though most dragons fans were critical of his early 1st grade games...
  (I always saw his potential.. but we atleast had McInnes as our hooker.. or should have had him)..
• Bostock is the one im cranky about, we had no decent outside backs blocking him.. he could have walked into NSW Cup and would have been 1 injury from 1st grade... and he still left...and im not sure what caused it.. probably sweet nothings from Wayne Bennett vs millward & our coach at the time that couldnt sell him a future....
• Garrick wasn't a standout for me at the time (still an odd player tbh), I was happy to see him go.. the one for me at the time iirc was Patty Herbert.. I thought he was the big prospect.
• If Latu goes it will be because there is truth in the long-standing rumours that the Roosters (or perhaps others by now) are in his ear.. even though they arent supposed to be able to talk to him yet... that and/or our offer just isnt high enough. There will be a reason.. its not like we haven't tried to extend him.... and tbh if it is purely about maxxing his cash.. this will be a repeating pattern every contract upgrade.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

• Robson was gutting.. at the time though most dragons fans were critical of his early 1st grade games...
  (I always saw his potential.. but we atleast had McInnes as our hooker.. or should have had him)..
• Bostock is the one im cranky about, we had no decent outside backs blocking him.. he could have walked into NSW Cup and would have been 1 injury from 1st grade... and he still left...and im not sure what caused it.. probably sweet nothings from Wayne Bennett vs millward & our coach at the time that couldnt sell him a future....
• Garrick wasn't a standout for me at the time (still an odd player tbh), I was happy to see him go.. the one for me at the time iirc was Patty Herbert.. I thought he was the big prospect.
• If Latu goes it will be because there is truth in the long-standing rumours that the Roosters (or perhaps others by now) are in his ear.. even though they arent supposed to be able to talk to him yet... that and/or our offer just isnt high enough. There will be a reason.. its not like we haven't tried to extend him.... and tbh if it is purely about maxxing his cash.. this will be a repeating pattern every contract upgrade.

I’d be shocked if he went to the roosters, with all their young forwards coming through. I do worry about a Canterbury/Panthers/Parra out west where he’s from making an offer. Gus Gould would be all over someone like Latu

 

[TheRev]

No room for Ryan C and/or Sele along with Stewart? I don't understand that, TBH. Is Flanno going to go with RFM, Eisenhuth and BMM?

I think Ryan C has to be locked in and Flanno himself said one of Stewart, Tonga, Egan will be in the 17.

Good news is only have 6 days left to see what exactly Flanno is thinking.

If we don't have Klemmer/Frank sorted then we are down our highest paid prop.. that's not good.. .. but if we can sort it.. it would be some variation of:

• Starting: 8. Toby 13. JDB. 10. Guler
• Bench: 14. Liddle 15. Klemmer 16. Eisenhuth 17. RFM/Ryan/Sele

The other factors involved:

• If Sele is 80% fit he is a lock on the bench.. but he may not be... so maybe he doesnt make Round 1.. maybe its Round 2 or 3 he returns..
• I think it'll be weeks before Lawrie is fit/available, even longer for BMM..
• I think Flannos wording re Stewart/LPT/Egan was that they were competing for a bench spot, which is true.. but I dont think it will be Round 1, I think it will it come off injury opportunities... and I dont even think Flanno will know his final squad until next week when he can have a look at the fitness of a few of his forwards, and if we have resolution on Frank... that might not be Round 1 either..

 

[RedV01]

• Robson was gutting.. at the time though most dragons fans were critical of his early 1st grade games...
  (I always saw his potential.. but we atleast had McInnes as our hooker.. or should have had him)..
• Bostock is the one im cranky about, we had no decent outside backs blocking him.. he could have walked into NSW Cup and would have been 1 injury from 1st grade... and he still left...and im not sure what caused it.. probably sweet nothings from Wayne Bennett vs millward & our coach at the time that couldnt sell him a future....
• Garrick wasn't a standout for me at the time (still an odd player tbh), I was happy to see him go.. the one for me at the time iirc was Patty Herbert.. I thought he was the big prospect.
• If Latu goes it will be because there is truth in the long-standing rumours that the Roosters (or perhaps others by now) are in his ear.. even though they arent supposed to be able to talk to him yet... that and/or our offer just isnt high enough. There will be a reason.. its not like we haven't tried to extend him.... and tbh if it is purely about maxxing his cash.. this will be a repeating pattern every contract upgrade.

• Robson: Letting go of him was a crime but Mary wanted his favourite McInnes.
• Bostock: Would walk straight into the Dragons backline but not that good.
• Garrick: Similar to Bostock.
• Latu: Would be worse than Robson.

 

[RedV01]

If we don't have Klemmer/Frank sorted then we are down our highest paid prop.. that's not good.. .. but if we can sort it.. it would be some variation of:

• Starting: 8. Toby 13. JDB. 10. Guler
• Bench: 14. Liddle 15. Klemmer 16. Eisenhuth 17. RFM/Ryan/Sele

The other factors involved:

• If Sele is 80% fit he is a lock on the bench.. but he may not be... so maybe he doesnt make Round 1.. maybe its Round 2 or 3 he returns..
• I think it'll be weeks before Lawrie is fit/available, even longer for BMM..
• I think Flannos wording re Stewart/LPT/Egan was that they were competing for a bench spot, which is true.. but I dont think it will be Round 1, I think it will it come off injury opportunities... and I dont even think Flanno will know his final squad until next week when he can have a look at the fitness of a few of his forwards, and if we have resolution on Frank... that might not be Round 1 either..

You think Eisenhuth and RFM might be in the 17!!?? Eisenhuth didn't even play in the trials. Is Flanno going rush him back like he is a star playmaker in a sudden death finals game?

I try not to be negative but FFS, that would be ridiculous!

 

[TheRev]

You think Eisenhuth and RFM might be in the 17!!?? Eisenhuth didn't even play in the trials. Is Flanno going rush him back like he is a star playmaker in a sudden death finals game?

I try not to be negative but FFS, that would be ridiculous!

Tom was out with a HIA right? So his fitness would be ok.. but ofcourse all these guys are in the mix, im not sure why this is such a surprise to everybody on thie forum.. these are players Flanno could easily turn too.. all im trying to get through is that there are several options for that bench.. as such I dont think it will be a rookie in round 1 atleast...

Personally id have Ryan ahead of most of the prospects, but its possible he doesnt make it.. depends on Klemmer and Seles fitness.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

its not like we haven't tried to extend him....

Robson was always going, purchased property in FNQ way before he left.
He wasn't a junior so he had no loyalty to us.

Bostock money 10k v 80k

Garrick wasn't rated, I still don't rate him looks good off Turbo terrible centre FB

Herbert big incident at Xmas party

Latu we haven't offered yet

All this highlights fans know stuff all about dealings, sometimes it's club fault and plenty of times it other reasons

 

[TheRev]

Appreciate that.. rly shocked tbh we havent offered to Latu, unless weve all just decided hes going to market first (or atleast play some trials and reserve grade) to value himself.

And 100% there are so many factors in these things, its not just stupidity as is assumed.

The other thing I meant to say about Bostock was he was a local kid.. his family and sister are in the system.. he sould have been easier to keep happy.. Latu is not our kid right.. the bond isnt as strong.

 

[RedV01]

Tom was out with a HIA right? So his fitness would be ok.. but ofcourse all these guys are in the mix, im not sure why this is such a surprise to everybody on thie forum.. these are players Flanno could easily turn too.. all im trying to get through is that there are several options for that bench.. as such I dont think it will be a rookie in round 1 atleast...

Personally id have Ryan ahead of most of the prospects, but its possible he doesnt make it.. depends on Klemmer and Seles fitness.

I don't know what the problem was. I guessed Flanno wanted to give better players a chance. If he's picked for round 1 but Stewart or Egan or LPT let alone Ryan Couchman isn't, I might make a voodoo doll and HIA will be the least of his problems.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

• Robson was gutting.. at the time though most dragons fans were critical of his early 1st grade games...
  (I always saw his potential.. but we atleast had McInnes as our hooker.. or should have had him)..
• Bostock is the one im cranky about, we had no decent outside backs blocking him.. he could have walked into NSW Cup and would have been 1 injury from 1st grade... and he still left...and im not sure what caused it.. probably sweet nothings from Wayne Bennett vs millward & our coach at the time that couldnt sell him a future....
• Garrick wasn't a standout for me at the time (still an odd player tbh), I was happy to see him go.. the one for me at the time iirc was Patty Herbert.. I thought he was the big prospect.
• If Latu goes it will be because there is truth in the long-standing rumours that the Roosters (or perhaps others by now) are in his ear.. even though they arent supposed to be able to talk to him yet... that and/or our offer just isnt high enough. There will be a reason.. its not like we haven't tried to extend him.... and tbh if it is purely about maxxing his cash.. this will be a repeating pattern every contract upgrade.

We never lost Reece Robson we lost Reece Robinson ask Mcgregor
Bostock we lost cause in my opinion we got complacent and O'Sullivan swooped in.
Garrick was solid (rough diamond) and as you said Herbert was the gun, outstanding at Fullback/Five Eight and a regular as a centre, was also captainand a real leader from all reports. I was doing some work down at Kirrawee and saw this business back in the day, thought it was an omen for both of them

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Latu has everything going for him, hopefully we aren't a stepping stone for him to get to another club, but as i said previously find it hard to believe all the effort of the Dragons and also his family to uproot etc, they decide to leave that behind and do that again at another club..

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Appreciate that.. rly shocked tbh we havent offered to Latu, unless weve all just decided hes going to market first (or atleast play some trials and reserve grade) to value himself.

Latu next contact is important and we have to get it right.
We were under pressure with them all coming thru at the same time.

Loko we got right he was older and bigger so was a easier call
Cy and Jake we got right too.
Finau I think we got wrong should of been 1 year supp the 30.

We now have 5 games v men to judge him and get the offer right, if we do I don't thnk it will matter if others offer overs. Mick is a reasonable manager to deal with.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

But there is Latu to play lock. I know Fox commentators were blustering about how he was a light weight-prop but light weight or not, the performance was impressive. Good run metres, offloads, lot of effective tackles.

You referring to Latu here or Toby C re Fox comms..

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Cy and Jake we got right too.

Not sure I agree on CT and even Jake before Finau. So what are current contracts of our best juniors as we peasants only have speculation to go on. Last I heard all three of our Aussie schoolboys had been contracted to '26. Is that correct.