Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
I agree. Would be far from the worst signing.
Recruitment and Retention for 2025
- Thread starter Eric
- Start date
Just a Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Volkman has not signed a contract with us and is not coming to the club.
You're right the story is vague because is a confidential settlement.
They just assume it's with Dragons.
The RLPA negotiated a confidential settlement on behalf of Volkman, it could be with us Warriors or NRL.
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
Ok. So much for that. The search for a long-term halfback continues. It must be Aston Ward or younger still, Reed.
Just a Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
I said this a long time ago, I believe we made a mistake promoting 4 junior forwards to top 30.
The roster is unbalanced, even if we offload Rava and Bird they need to be replaced by backs.
We have lost Max Jesse Nu Zac Sav form top 30 in Val and Allen back
Edward
SGI Jersey Flegg
Too many? Interesting. I thought it's an old pack now. A large influx of youth is exactly as needed.
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
There were a few years there where our junior stocks werent nearly as strong.. Flanagan wasnt established yet and we were spoon contenders.. we probably rushed guys like Stewart & Egan (though there was outside interest im told)... things look quite different now, on top of the success the young SG Side(s) had.. its amazing how its all relative.. some of the young backs and forwards we were so excited about.. the new breed comes through and they are instantly better prospects.. its a real dog eat dog rise to the top thing going on in Flegg, every year 2xSG teams pushing up and pressuring the kids from the year before..
We must have actively chased those young Dragons SG forwards.. probably too many of them, but tbf that grand final win is wonderful for future recruitment, and the absolute cream will rise.. Tonga is the perfect example.. hes not even going to get a Development jersey.. hes so good hes straight into the 30 @19yrs old.... and I think hes up for it next year at some point.. perhaps has some defensive things to learn first.. I mean a year in reserve grade wouldnt have hurt.. but unlike Stewart or Egan, I think his Top30 spot is good.
The Couchies also bypassed development jerseys.. but tbf again they are ready now, probably did a few too many games in their first year.. its really hard we are making calls on some of these kids very early... and its a hard one if you call it wrong and clog up those precious Top30 positions. I do like atleast now we seem to have some of those forwards more staggered over 25/26/27.
But yes 100% we've ended up with very few young backs and halves remotely 1st grade ready.. and with so many young props we could get into real strife if we have a run of injuries in those backs... its why it would be really nice to move on Lawrie & Fifita atleast.. arguably MMolo could be moved on too, but maybe thats in 2026 when more of those young boys are playing NSW Cup.
We must have actively chased those young Dragons SG forwards.. probably too many of them, but tbf that grand final win is wonderful for future recruitment, and the absolute cream will rise.. Tonga is the perfect example.. hes not even going to get a Development jersey.. hes so good hes straight into the 30 @19yrs old.... and I think hes up for it next year at some point.. perhaps has some defensive things to learn first.. I mean a year in reserve grade wouldnt have hurt.. but unlike Stewart or Egan, I think his Top30 spot is good.
The Couchies also bypassed development jerseys.. but tbf again they are ready now, probably did a few too many games in their first year.. its really hard we are making calls on some of these kids very early... and its a hard one if you call it wrong and clog up those precious Top30 positions. I do like atleast now we seem to have some of those forwards more staggered over 25/26/27.
But yes 100% we've ended up with very few young backs and halves remotely 1st grade ready.. and with so many young props we could get into real strife if we have a run of injuries in those backs... its why it would be really nice to move on Lawrie & Fifita atleast.. arguably MMolo could be moved on too, but maybe thats in 2026 when more of those young boys are playing NSW Cup.
Just a Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
But that only works if you are offloading the older players one for one.
In Egan Loko Finau Hamish and Cook, plus still looking at a old expirenced middle.
Out BMM D Russ Tom, can you not see the imbalance in the squad.
Edit we shouldn't have extended M Molo and if it was part of Frank's deal we shouldn't have extended him.
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Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
I'm shocked they are still looking to move on Bird but not another player who was apparently signed to be the back up hooker. Not shocked that's what the coach wants for reasons other than form and ability but stunned the head office and fans aren't making the coaches wishes impossible.
In hindsight releasing Zac but resigning the molos was a bad move. I wasn't in favour of releasing zac in the first place.
TheRev
SGI Jersey Flegg
Frankie had 1 cracking game to start the season, was off-contract.. and clubs were descending like vultures.. would have been really nervous times to lose him straight away before we had signed JDB and Su'a and Cook.. especially given how hard it was proving for us to sign players.
But yah in hindsight.. he went off the boil after that game pretty much.. still better than Lawrie, Fifita, BMM, MMolo.. but we were probably hoping for more from almost a marquee signing... pretty sure Michael was what closed the deal.. but i think we will look to move them both on at some point next year perhaps (I think both are sellable).. having 2 couchmans holding their own now.. makes it much easier to just recruit/keep some quality around them.
Zac is a whole nother conversation, but im glad we have a replacement sorted.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
I remember that. Can't remember which game but I remember thinking how good it id someone has finally managed to fire him up. Hardly done a thing since.
Apart from JDB & Couchmans, a few of this years middles should be playing a lot of NSW cup next season.
Starting: Saifiti/Couchman/JDB
Bench: Couchman/Loko/Sele/Liddle
That's a very strong pack imo, we've got experience & youth along with different body shapes. They'll compliment each other very well. I hope JDB can maintain his form next year. He's been very good recently.
Compared
Roosters
Starting: Collins/May/Butcher
Bench: Leniu/Whyte/Wong/Smith
Storm
Starting: Kamikaca/Utoikamanu/Loiero
Bench: NAS/King/Lazarus/Wishart
Panthers
Starting: Leota/Smith/Yeo
Bench: Papali/Geyer/Henry/Cole
Our pack will be very competitive if we can nail either Saifiti or RCG.
Starting: Saifiti/Couchman/JDB
Bench: Couchman/Loko/Sele/Liddle
That's a very strong pack imo, we've got experience & youth along with different body shapes. They'll compliment each other very well. I hope JDB can maintain his form next year. He's been very good recently.
Compared
Roosters
Starting: Collins/May/Butcher
Bench: Leniu/Whyte/Wong/Smith
Storm
Starting: Kamikaca/Utoikamanu/Loiero
Bench: NAS/King/Lazarus/Wishart
Panthers
Starting: Leota/Smith/Yeo
Bench: Papali/Geyer/Henry/Cole
Our pack will be very competitive if we can nail either Saifiti or RCG.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Our pack is very formidable vs some of the best teams from this year!!
Edward
SGI Jersey Flegg
Saifiti, Cook, JDB
Su'A, Leilua
Couchman
Bench: Couchman, Liddle, Frank Molo, Sele
Best pack Dragons have had in a long time.
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
Tigers probably going to sign Bird. Not a huge loss but I can't believe or understand him being pushed out.
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Lol surely your just trolling at this point, you cannot be seriously trying to tell people we should be rioting because the club would rather offload a busted old Jack Bird instead of a genuine half/hooker option. The dudes broken and can barely stay on the field, at this point in his career he's a decent utility/backup and nothing more, and this is coming from someone who likes Birdy. I'm one of the few who thought he actually deserved to have fair crack at centre after breaking his body for us for years under shit coaching in the various positions he had to fill and bulk up for. He is simply past his time in an already very tight roster and if he goes he goes, hopefully he gets a few more years somewhere else but i dont see it being with us. Sorry but once again your bias against the kid is clouding any common sense.
Ryan
SGI NSW Cup
No doubt you know better than me but after watching the Tigers v Manly tonight, I think promoting young forwards or backs is a good move. I'd just be careful about halves as they might get trampled and lose their confidence.
Too many forwards and not enough backs? Should find a way to keep Max if he is willing to sign one year at a time. Hopefully by 2026, we have a number of good young backs as well. Buchanan, Kirk, Williams, Rumble. Buchanan hopefully next year.
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Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
I knew that would set you off. Who are you really? What's your relationship to Kyle?
Funny how a "busted" old Bird has other clubs interested but as for your "genuine half/hooker option", crickets.
Why is that?
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
You get the feeling Shane Flanagan is building something special in Wollongong. He took the Sharks from second last on the ladder to premiers in six seasons and he did it thanks to some big-name signings.James Maloney, Mick Ennis and Ben Barba just to name a few. If Flanagan is going to deliver the Dragons first premiership since 2010 then he’s going to need some special players like Walker. It would be an enormous coup for the club but Flanno is considered one of the best recruiters in the game - just look at the Ben Hunt saga he completely reversed.
Disagree with this. I think Sam Walker is overrated. For the right money he'd be a decent signing but for 1mil or more a year? No way. If the Roosters rate him, they won't let him go.
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
Looks like Dragons are less likely to sign Saifiti but more likely to sign RCG.