All true but in the backs what about Rokko Walker? And there's that big young back from Roosters - Hali-something? Plenty to choose from, lots of competition, and some are sure to come good.
Recruitment and Retention for 2026
- Thread starter Dragons Chris
- Start date
Eric
Staff
He or Buton might have to play on the wing. Maybe it suits Burton a bit better. Or Buchanan or Heidke might have a battle for a centre spot with one of Walker or Burton being fullback and one in the centres.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Rokko and Ollie though still a long way away.. Charlie is the one whos got 2-3yrs on em.. but yes all of them could start on the wing potentially.. I just dont think Flanno thinks like that though.. he rly likes his experienced hitup guys on the wing. SFinau was ready to roll for the longest time.. injuries did prevent a lot of his selection though.. Tamale I was on the fence with but also ready.. but he tbf was still being trialled in 3 positions...
Ollie might end up quite big yet mind you.. got some big years to come... Charlie isnt small..
Someone said DA had wined and dined Keaon last week.. 5yr offer but buckleys apparently.. we are trying to land the experienced couple.. cant be all kids..
Ollie might end up quite big yet mind you.. got some big years to come... Charlie isnt small..
Someone said DA had wined and dined Keaon last week.. 5yr offer but buckleys apparently.. we are trying to land the experienced couple.. cant be all kids..
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Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
At this rate Rev it really looks like it will be.
We have Marley McLaren too in Steelers SGB only a year young than Kade, big season coming up for him.
he has kept things behind close doors mate i just know straight from the source on this one. thought i’d share with you guys as it’s a small community here
kolo’s on $900k at souths. wants an upgrade to leave, we offered a tad over that & 5 years but unfortunately eels offer blows us out of the water
i agree with what others are saying. better to re-invest that money in our young forwards & advance the spine
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
There’s no doubt everyone would love Koloamatagi at the club but for thr length of deal and price he would cost I don’t think it’s the end of the world to miss out on him
would be 29 by the time he gets to us so would the bang for buck be there on $1m a year at age 32 onwards?
I’d be happy if we had a club policy to not sign 28 and above unless they are a generational player or ‘squad player’ to fill out the roster for the most part
would be 29 by the time he gets to us so would the bang for buck be there on $1m a year at age 32 onwards?
I’d be happy if we had a club policy to not sign 28 and above unless they are a generational player or ‘squad player’ to fill out the roster for the most part
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
I guess 2027 would be the first year too.. we could go big 2027.. well beyond 1mil... but the years after that would not be ideal when our kids r hitting peak periods.. esp as Keaon is ageing..
I dont know what the answers are though.. if the eels miss him they will prob get NAS i think.. doubt they can get both.. i dont know anymore tbh.. were just gonna end up with nil i think.. which could hurt us..
At Koloamatangi's age, 29, big money is just putting him in a nice comfy chair at the retirement home with his scrapbook. I have had enough of that. Sign them up young and hungry and then let them fight it out.
Ryan
SGI NSW Cup
Probably but better than ending up with duds on big money. See Luciano. Koloamatagi isn't a dud but in 3 or 4 years, he might well be.
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
More than happy to let this guy walk. Da is doing the right thing protecting the future of the club. Our young guys will need to be upgraded soon enough. This is a business and we need to protect the longevity of it. This development and retention of our juniors over the past years has been deplorable it’s time now to right that wrong.DA is quite obviously doing that.
To say we need experience well we have that Cook Sua the Couchies Kerr Holmes Gutho. I’d much rather wear the hurt for another year watching our young guys develop rather than watch our future go down the drain with some mercinary who yells out “show me the money” and delivers f$&k all.
To say we need experience well we have that Cook Sua the Couchies Kerr Holmes Gutho. I’d much rather wear the hurt for another year watching our young guys develop rather than watch our future go down the drain with some mercinary who yells out “show me the money” and delivers f$&k all.
Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
Benji has done that with the Tigers. I think they are going to be much better next year.
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
I know Tino is better than Koloamatangi but the amount we would have to pay Tino, I think it wouldn't be great value for money. It looks like Dan Anderson was offering Koloamatangi a bit less than 1 mil a year. Judging by what Tino is getting paid now, he'd need about 1.3 mil to come to the Dragons.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
The fact that we are chasing Tino and Keaon tells you that we very much know we NEED an expensive alpha prop.. if we miss all of them im not sure what we do.. I know everyone is obsessed with value for money.. but losing is very bad for business.. very very bad.. future retention (both our own kids and externals) requires us to win footy games.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Tino is younger by a few years so will better in a couple of years but right now, I'd say not.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
True. I just have doubts, after what I've seen him do for the Titans, Tino will help us win many more games. He looks like another version of the Couchman's and I won't rule out the Cocuhman's going passed him next year. I'm probably biased but at this time, I can't see what Tino does which is a lot better than the Couchman's. Keaon doesn't get through as much work but he's more likely to bust tackles. I think that's the kind of prop we need.
you’re exactly right. it’s easy to say we back our juniors instead (which to a degree is the right thing) but you are also at risking of losing them if we continue to be bottom dwellers waiting for them to develop with successful clubs coming knocking for them. i think the pursuit of kolo & tino is more DA recognising we need just 1 needle mover i.e a luai, a bigger buy that attracts other talent and retention credibility back into your club. tigers are now looked as an ideal landing spot and have built a decent roster which all started with him. feel the club needs to take a similar educated risk here
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
You know when you check our player signings for the past decade, there were guys like Ben Hunt, James Graham, Corey Norman and recently Gutho, Cook and Holmes signed that we probably paid overs for and so far with the latter three I don't think we have got our moneys worth with them.
But overall, we haven't signed too many "show me the money" players. Those former Broncos players that Hook signed were not for big coin.
So when you look at the quality some good, some bad.
I reckon we will jag one great player at a high price who will give value for money - we have to for a change.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Holmes was injured for 1/3 the season. Not his fault. And he kicks goals. I think Cowboys were paying part of his salary as well.
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
We are caught between a rock and a hard place Rev. no way am I risking our future just to get someone in who might be what we need. Look at what Ryles has just done he told Lomax to go and then told the rest of the squad that if you don’t want to buy in or be part of the culture then piss off now. You and I both know we are not getting Tino, certainly not for 1.4 or 1.3. If we had that money to splash around we would have offered it to Kolo. It will be the same with everyone else they just want to nail less successful clubs to the wall, just so in a year or two our juniors are wanting to be upgraded and we don’t have the funds or the TPA”s to keep them.
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