Recruitment and Retention for 2025

[RedV01]

So Gutherson plays 1,. Brodie 7, Kyle 6

Makes sense out of chaos !

Sloane has not worked at fullback, but he could be a sensation on the wing if he bulks up a bit more in the offseason.

His ability to hit the ball up from dummy half may be questionable—but Gutherson and Cook would do most of that.

JAC not required !

Of course need a halfback but after that, I think a fast winger like JAC should be the No.1 target. At least we have a few young players who can play prop like Couchmans and LPT but no decent, fast wingers near first grade for next year as far as I can see.

 

[RedVictory]

Interesting. I'd have thought Couchmans, JDB and maybe Egan or Latu have lock sewn up.

All very similar body shapes though. In today’s game you want a quick nibble skillful 13 around the middle. You can see many teams doing it with a common theme of transitioning a hooker into a 13. Even south’s played cookie at lock during a large chunk of this past season and he didn’t look out of place.

 

[Ryan]

Of course need a halfback but after that, I think a fast winger like JAC should be the No.1 target. At least we have a few young players who can play prop like Couchmans and LPT but no decent, fast wingers near first grade for next year as far as I can see.

Need to new halves. That is a must. I don't mind Croft. Been around for a long time. Might work well with LKT.

 

[Chris M]

There doesn't seem to be any demand from other clubs for Gutho. Flanno is probably driving a hard bargain demanding Parra pay a large % of the first year and probably only offering 2 years. I think it's good. Unfortunately after the GC game where their very small and young fullback tore us to shreds I lost confidence in Sloan. But a halfback is top of the agenda. So if we can get Gutho for a discount and still have plenty of money for a halfback, I think it's a good result.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Matt Lodge is signed pending announcement

Not a word in the press dispatches. Not fussed either way. Yes he has some mongel but what of some skill to go with it. Say an offload for second phase play which we sadly lacked from our forwards last year.

 

[Chris M]

Not a word in the press dispatches. Not fussed either way. Yes he has some mongel but what of some skill to go with it. Say an offload for second phase play which we sadly lacked from our forwards last year.

Also got a huge amount of off-field baggage. There is no way someone with his ability keeps getting offloaded, even when he's on a minimum or near minimum wage as he is apparently on now, without a serious personality disorder.

 

[Chris M]

All very similar body shapes though. In today’s game you want a quick nibble skillful 13 around the middle. You can see many teams doing it with a common theme of transitioning a hooker into a 13. Even south’s played cookie at lock during a large chunk of this past season and he didn’t look out of place.

Cook is saying this too. It'll be something like Cook plays the opening 30min at hooker, Liddle comes on and Cook rests then comes on for the final 30 at lock. He's a bit of utility as well so I guess also injury cover for the backs.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Been around for a long time

Not that long, still in his prime at 27 and has matured since he left the NRL. Did I post a clip of him from last season. Just read this.
Leeds Rhinos Sporting director Ian Blease confirmed Croft will be part of Leeds’ squad for the 2025 season, telling the Yorkshire Evening Post: “He does have an NRL clause in his contract, but that has got to be exercised before a certain date.

Looks like we wont be able to even contemplate him being on our books before '26. Bummer. Am wondering, if he wanted was contemplating returning home why didnt he make the move before he signed with Leeds 13 months ago. Bummer. Next in line evidently is Lachlan Ilias. Even with Hunt gone, he is still messing us about.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Brodie Croft has emerged as the firm favourite to take over Ben Hunt's Dragons halfback throne, with his management attempting to get him out of his contract with English club Leeds.
Croft, 27, is keen to return home and would be the best fit of the halves available for the Red V.

Hunt was never a king. Get it done Dragons. This guy could be what we have lacked since Gareth Widdop.

You dont concur blacksafake. You not see that clip I posted.

 

[jodragon40]

Ok. About 1/3 less. Though I'm not sure what taxes and cost of living are like over there compared to

Not that long, still in his prime at 27 and has matured since he left the NRL. Did I post a clip of him from last season. Just read this.
Leeds Rhinos Sporting director Ian Blease confirmed Croft will be part of Leeds’ squad for the 2025 season, telling the Yorkshire Evening Post: “He does have an NRL clause in his contract, but that has got to be exercised before a certain date.

Looks like we wont be able to even contemplate him being on our books before '26. Bummer. Am wondering, if he wanted to return home why didnt he make the move before he signed with Leeds 13 months ago. Bummer. Next in line evidently is Lachlan Ilias. Even without Hunt he is still messing us about.

So my mate wasn't bs me

 

[Chris M]

So my mate wasn't bs me

So our hopes are on Atkinson.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

So my mate wasn't bs me

You got it. One disappointment after another. Yanks voting partially senile Donald Trump back into the Oval Office.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

So our hopes are on Atkinson.

I heard Lachlan Ilias is our second choice. Offer Croft a deal for '26 to play 5/8 where he has also played during his S L stint.

 

[Chris M]

I heard Lachlan Ilias is our second choice. Offer Croft a deal for '26 to play 5/8 where he has also played during his S L stint.

So many 5/8s, so few halfbacks. Makes Atkinson a must!

 

[TheRev]

The Gutho one is now confirmed over the internet (3yrs - no club announcement yet).

My take is:
I think we had to hitch our wagon up to someone (with our captain/marquee leaving on the spot)... maybe we regret it one day in the future.. but we've made a play now.. in a difficult situation.

I do hope the 3rd year is in that 600k type price range.. but rly not sweating it.. we will use him somewhere.. and we are allowed to have a few marquees in a roster.. no prizes for not spending our cash.

You also have to consider what it looks like if we "do nothing", and thats what weve been doing... we havent been willing to pay any overs for anyone else basically in the last 12mths, bar maybe Val... so we missed a lot of deals, you could argue that we probably cant afford to have missed Gutho when we are once again being forced to chase players to break contract just a few days out from a pre-season.

 

[Chris M]

The Gutho one is now confirmed over the internet (3yrs - no club announcement yet).

My take is:
I think we had to hitch our wagon up to someone (with our captain/marquee leaving on the spot)... maybe we regret it one day in the future.. but we've made a play now.. in a difficult situation.

I do hope the 3rd year is in that 600k type price range.. but rly not sweating it.. we will use him somewhere.. and we are allowed to have a few marquees in a roster.. no prizes for not spending our cash.

You also have to consider what it looks like if we "do nothing", and thats what weve been doing... we havent been willing to pay any overs for anyone else basically in the last 12mths, bar maybe Val... so we missed a lot of deals, you could argue that we probably cant afford to have missed Gutho when we are once again being forced to chase players to break contract just a few days out from a pre-season.

Flanno on Fox sport said club isn't in a hurry. Waiting to see where Hunt ends up and seeing who that club has to let go to accommodate Hunt. I think this is the right strategy.

 

[TheRev]

You still have to read between the lines with Flanno.. hes really keeping the media off the scent... the qn is whether that Atkinson deal is looking likely.. it might be only offered pending him agitating a release for 2025.. otherwise we need to chase someone else.

But I do like the idea of watching where Hunt goes.. problem is if it was the Roosters it wont get us anything (well.. not a half anyway).. if the Titans then yes they have some good targets for us.. and the Dolphins I dunno.. O'Sullivan could do worse for a year, but I dont think hes someone we were after.. they probably would have traded him happily to get Hunt at any point.