Recruitment and Retention for 2025

[Chris M]

Parra were without their halfback but with their "superstar" fullback for a lot of last year. Results showed why they want to get rid of the fullback. Why they are desperate to get rid of the fullback. The talk about them not paying any of his salary is complete BS. Otherwise he would have already been released. Good ol Flanno on the market for yet another journeyman veteran. If this goes through 3 things will happen:

1. Dragons will get the spoon next year.
2. Flanno won't be extended.
3. Flanno won't admit signing Corey Allen was a mistake.

I'm stunned signing Gutho is even being considered.

FLANNO YOU DUMB f*ck, WE NEED A f*cking HALFBACK NOT A THIRD OR FOURTH FULLBACK!​

If he can play 5/8 and fullback and Parra pay some of his salary, he might be ok. Don't throw LKT in the deep end and keep Sloan on his toes. In a perfect world I'd say keep pressure on Kyle Flanno but as we all know, that's the last thing Flanno wants.

 

[Dave03]

Apparently Douehi offered a 2yr contract.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Little inside word that May is off to Parra. Had a meeting with Ryles at the start of the week.

May has been in England for 2 weeks .

 

[Chris M]

Apparently Douehi offered a 2yr contract.

From what I've seen of him, he's underrated. Can play centre, 5/8, fullback and is pretty good in all 3. I wonder if he could be turned into a halfback.

 

[jodragon40]

Douehi has been offered a 2 yr contract

 

[TheRev]

im not against Douehi in place of Feagai or Allan, but I hope hes not our starting 6 next year.. thats our last free slot also.

Edit:
o It means our halves are Kyle/Douehi/LKT.. could easily see an injury or 2 meaning like Glover is stepping up? I just feel we will surely buy 1 more bloke.. ...
o There should also be 400-500k free'd up from swapping (hunt to douehi), so he must have something in mind, either he does want a 2nd prop.. or he does still want to shoot for Atkinson (or equivalent), its just that we need someone to leave first.

 

[Chris M]

im not against Douehi in place of Feagai or Allan, but I hope hes not our starting 6 next year.. thats our last free slot also.

Is Allan on the outer? Have heard a lot about Blocka and Rava being shopped with not much interest but nothing about Allan.

 

[TheRev]

Is Allan on the outer? Have heard a lot about Blocka and Rava being shopped with not much interest but nothing about Allan.

I havent heard anything, I think hes staying (and he might be a great buy yet.. its just that we need more top30 spots).

His injury was an ACL done around Jan 14, so hes probably just back running recently? I dont know if anyone knows what we will get from him...

 

[Chris M]

I havent heard anything, I think hes staying (and he might be a great buy yet.. its just that we need more top30 spots).

His injury was an ACL done around Jan 14, so hes probably just back running recently? I dont know if anyone knows what we will get from him...

He'd be back in full training by now. If Dragons were really in a bind and in the finals, he might have been able to play. Usually it takes 9~10 months to fully recover.

 

[TheRev]

Carayannis seems to have backtracked a little (SEN Quote below), I think we did offer 2yrs to Douehi, but maybe we have some other options suddenly come in:

Despite being contracted to the Wests Tigers, a potential move to the St George Illawarra Dragons has gained significant momentum especially after the Dragons and halfback Ben Hunt parted ways.

“It’s not a done deal yet,” Carayannis said on Doueihi’s rumoured move to the Dragons.

“With everything that has happened with Hunt, the Dragons will take a moment now just to scour the open market.

“The name’s that have been linked are Lachlan Ilias and Doueihi. Those are the names that are at the top of the list for 2025.

“For 2026 and beyond, Daniel Atkinson from the Cronulla Sharks is at the top of the list for the Dragons.”

 

[Edward]

Carayannis seems to have backtracked a little (SEN Quote below), I think we did offer 2yrs to Douehi, but maybe we have some other options suddenly come in:

He might go ok at 1/2. I think he's much more suited to 5/8 but might go ok as a half like Nicho Hynes. Probably not long term but for a season or two, might work. I hope so anyway. How good would it be if he excelled and Hunt struggled wherever he ends up?

 

[Eric]

Good news is that at least in the media, no one seems to be paying any attention to the Couchmans.

 

[RedVictory]

May has been in England for 2 weeks .

Yes, I’d assume over zoom. Same way he got released.

 

[RedVictory]

Trindall and Xavier Willison have both been Re-signed this afternoon.

 

[DragonsTragic]

Looks like Atkinson will be the next target then..

 

[jodragon40]

Has anyone information about our young prop with the bung knee Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga? Did he undergo any surgery? Is he a chance of coming off the bench as 1st rotation for our bookends? Have high hopes for this kid. And yes I know he is probably too young but we just haven't signed any bookend of note yet although I have seen Lodge name mentioned in other posts.

 

[TheRev]

If not Lodge we will get someone, I dunno who will play 13, but I think the props look like:

8. Lodge (or similar)
10. JDB
13. Sele
15. FMolo
16. TCouch/RCouch/Tonga

(NSWCup: Lawrie, Fifita, MMolo, Latu, Stewart)

I dunno if we will run 2 or 3 props off the bench.. Flanno liked running a 2nd rower in RFM.. but its a new year.. we shall see..

I mean 1-2 injuries and Tonga could already be up.. kinda crazy tbh..

 

[Edward]

If not Lodge we will get someone, I dunno who will play 13, but I think the props look like:

8. Lodge
10. JDB
13. Sele
15. FMolo
16. TCouch/RCouch/Tonga

(NSWCup: Lawrie, Fifita, MMolo, Latu, Stewart)

I dunno if we will run 2 or 3 props off the bench.. Flanno liked running a 2nd rower in RFM.. but its a new year.. we shall see..

I mean 1-2 injuries and Tonga could already be up.. kinda crazy tbh..

Prefer one of the Couchman's starting and Sele on the bench.

JAC being linked with the Dragons again. For 2 years, I think he'd be a good buy for 750k over the two years.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Has anyone information about our young prop with the bung knee Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga? Did he undergo any surgery? Is he a chance of coming off the bench as 1st rotation for our bookends? Have high hopes for this kid. And yes I know he is probably too young but we just haven't signed any bookend of note yet although I have seen Lodge name mentioned in other posts.

I can't see him coming off the bench from rd 1 , i would prefer he has a season or 3/4 in KOE cup and see how he goes, as for signing any props, today is the 1st day "officially" we can approach players, so no need to stress, we have time to get players in..

 

[GCRV]

I can't see him coming off the bench from rd 1 , i would prefer he has a season or 3/4 in KOE cup and see how he goes, as for signing any props, today is the 1st day "officially" we can approach players, so no need to stress, we have time to get players in..

First grade is hard for 19 year old props but Haas and a few others did it. His form is the only thing which should matter. Hopefully he soon makes it very hard for Flanno to keep him out.