Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[RedVHeartbeat]

Sporting News and Zero Tackle saying the KK recruitment is now a done deal. But our website is yet to confirm it. If so, what a coup by Dan Anderson when our previous R&R bosses were unable to land us any elite forwards.

 

[jodragon40]

Sporting News and Zero Tackle saying the KK recruitment is now a done deal. But our website is yet to confirm it. What a coup by Dan Anderson when our previous R&R bosses were unable to land us any elite forwards.

Its amazing what can be achieved when you have the right person in the right position that actually is respected within the RL community and players managers and has the required qualifications.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

The best Dragons 7, I saw play was Billy Smith

Yep with you Jo. Billy was never an elite organiser but it was his outstanding partnership with Chook who was the natural game manager, that lifted him to greatness. And Chook rarely played in the halves as he was the team lock.

 

[Frank Facer]

A Dolphin and Cowboy in the radar

You all know who the Cowboy player is I want us to sign for 2027.
Farnworth wanted to play fullback. He would be a top signing to play fullback. I going to go all Possm for 2027
1 Farnworth (He would be worth it too)
2 Williams
3 Holmes
4 TBC
5 TBC
6 Purdue
7 Reed
13 Stewart
12 Su'a
11 Egan/Halangahu
10 Koloamantagi
9 Liddle
8 T Couchman

14 R Couchman
15 Halangahu/Egan
16 Kerr
17 TBC/Flanagan

 

[Frank Facer]

Benny Hornby did alright for a "manufactured halfback".

As for LKT, he's 20 years-old for god sake. Was playing last year behind a pack that was already considered weak before being injury decimated. And to top it off, we know who his halves partner was for every game. You are probably right but for gods sake give him a chance!

I thought Head was going to be our best halfback, but injuries stopped him.
When he went to Wests I was talking to my neighbour, with one of his sons there and grandson, who were all West/Tigers fans. One of them said, I like Head, then another said I like Head too, then the other one said, me too, then I said, Everyone likes Head. True story.

 

[User]

You all know who the Cowboy player is I want us to sign for 2027.
Farnworth wanted to play fullback. He would be a top signing to play fullback. I going to go all Possm for 2027
1 Farnworth (He would be worth it too)
2 Williams
3 Holmes
4 TBC
5 TBC
6 Purdue
7 Reed
13 Stewart
12 Su'a
11 Egan/Halangahu
10 Koloamantagi
9 Liddle
8 T Couchman

14 R Couchman
15 Halangahu/Egan
16 Kerr
17 TBC/Flanagan

FFS this fantasy team naming is ridiculous and best left in other forums.

 

[Frank Facer]

Benny Hornby did alright for a "manufactured halfback".

As for LKT, he's 20 years-old for god sake. Was playing last year behind a pack that was already considered weak before being injury decimated. And to top it off, we know who his halves partner was for every game. You are probably right but for gods sake give him a chance!

Yeah, he did alright as a manufactured halfback, but I was never satisfied with Hornby. It got me thinking of the Saints fan with the sign he would hold up in the crowd that said I'm Hornby

 

[Frank Facer]

FFS this fantasy team naming is ridiculous and best left in other forums.

I thought about starting a thread saying
Jaxon Purdue Signs!
It worked with Koloamatangi

 

[Dragon David]

Sporting News and Zero Tackle saying the KK recruitment is now a done deal. But our website is yet to confirm it. If so, what a coup by Dan Anderson when our previous R&R bosses were unable to land us any elite forwards.

My calculations are that the cooling off period ends next Monday 12/1/26, RVH. Based on what opinion has Zero Tackle based their opinion that KK is a done deal?

 

[Frank Facer]

We didn't have a top halfback but then you said we got lucky with soward and hornby. It's a bit contradictory.

I meant we were very lucky to win a comp with those 2 as our halves. I was never confident about winning a comp with them as our halves. In 1999 I backed us to win several comps in a row, with Barrett and Mundine. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, with Head and Barrett, I was on us to win comps at the beginning of each season for decent returns. We had a terrible run of injuries during those years. We hardly ever had our best 13 on the field at once. I don't think I was even on us in 2009. I got a little bit on us to win in 2010, but it wasn't much. It was only when Gasnier returned that I started to think we could win it in 2010. Then in 2011 I was on us for the minor premiership and the Grand Final.

 

[jodragon40]

FFS this fantasy team naming is ridiculous and best left in other forums.

There should be another thread for it. Frank Facer ill create another thread and you can talk about supercoach on that please mate

 

[Frank Facer]

Hornby was a special player originally a 6 became a 7 and is a Dragons legend. He is only the 2nd player to play 7 to cpt the Dragons to a premiership.

Manufacture is a harsh word in my view if a player lacks the natural ability to lead and game manager I've found its difficult to create or manufacture a player to perform either role.

The best Dragons 7, I saw play was Billy Smith , so it's been a while since we had the top rated 7.

Hornby debuted at fullback and my first memory of him was playing fullback. I think he was a good captain/leader. I also think he could turn out to be a good coach. If we didn't get Flanno, I would have much preferred Hornby than Young

 

[Frank Facer]

Farnworth is off contract at the end of 2027. I am certain when he signed with Redcliff he spoke of a desire to play fullback or he spoke of it while at Brisbane. He had Walsh ahead of him and Cobbo was also a potential fullback. He was probably the best centre in the comp last year. I think he signed for 800K a season. We could offer him big money and the fullback position to play for us in 28. I would, if I was Flanno or Ando. He doesn't look like getting the fullback position at Redcliff. That is thinking out of the box. I think he would make a top fullback.

 

[jodragon40]

I thought Head was going to be our best halfback, but injuries stopped him.
When he went to Wests I was talking to my neighbour, with one of his sons there and grandson, who were all West/Tigers fans. One of them said, I like Head, then another said I like Head too, then the other one said, me too, then I said, Everyone likes Head. True story.

Could kick a goal

 

[GCRV]

Farnworth is off contract at the end of 2027. I am certain when he signed with Redcliff he spoke of a desire to play fullback or he spoke of it while at Brisbane. He had Walsh ahead of him and Cobbo was also a potential fullback. He was probably the best centre in the comp last year. I think he signed for 800K a season. We could offer him big money and the fullback position to play for us in 28. I would, if I was Flanno or Ando. He doesn't look like getting the fullback position at Redcliff. That is thinking out of the box. I think he would make a top fullback.

I think you are wrong about Farnworh. He extended only late last season. He's probably the best centre on the game but I haven't seen anything to suggest he'd be a really good fullback.

 

[Kim]

Farnworth is off contract at the end of 2027. I am certain when he signed with Redcliff he spoke of a desire to play fullback or he spoke of it while at Brisbane. He had Walsh ahead of him and Cobbo was also a potential fullback. He was probably the best centre in the comp last year. I think he signed for 800K a season. We could offer him big money and the fullback position to play for us in 28. I would, if I was Flanno or Ando. He doesn't look like getting the fullback position at Redcliff. That is thinking out of the box. I think he would make a top fullback.

He is a very good centre but he was 26 in 2025, so would be 29 in 2028 and would want three yrs at that stage of his career. We do need a fullback for 2028 but I think we will fill the fullback slot with someone younger.

 

[jodragon40]

Yep with you Jo. Billy was never an elite organiser but it was his outstanding partnership with Chook who was the natural game manager, that lifted him to greatness. And Chook rarely played in the halves as he was the team lock.

I remember watching a game at Kogarah and Billy had ball in hand looked at his fb and chipped towards the tryline from 25 yards out. The fb a bloke by the name of changa ran through dived full length caught it on his fingertips and scored a 3 pointer. They had a wonderful understanding

 

[Justadragon]

Last season Gutho showed great leadership qualities, the lads always rallied around him. That is now tempered with he was showing his age, some poor defensive reads and has lost some speed. Now if that was as a result of an unknown injury or lack of fitness I can live with that but if it was an indicator that he has reached his prime then that's a concern.

I mentioned a few times last season that our return the ball from kicks was the worst in the league. The opposition were actually kicking to him with full knowledge that he wasn't going to break the tackle or scamper up the field and initiate open field plays.

That is a concern because anyone with a footballing brain , played or coached will acknowledge that the first 1 - 3 hitups following a kick return sets up the tone of your attacking options and structures and dictates just where on the field you are kicking from.

It was a concern last year, lets see if we have done our homework in that area of the game.

Note to mention as well JO that his returns were poor thanks to the pressure he was under because of lack of good field position, plus our own inept kicking game.

 

[Justadragon]

I would assume if KK was going to backflip we would have heard something by now, yes I know the cooling off hasn't finished but I'm calling it a done deal hopefully.

 

[Frank Facer]

I think you are wrong about Farnworh. He extended only late last season. He's probably the best centre on the game but I haven't seen anything to suggest he'd be a really good fullback.

ZT says he is off contract at the end of 27. He is a very dangerous runner of the ball. He can beat a man on his own. He would be very good on kick returns. He can defend. He can pass. He has pace. He has a good build for fullback. Fullback is his preferred position, so he must have played there before. I think he would be better than any fullback we have had since Brian Johnson, who I rated very highly. I would rather him than Gutho. I had a look at all the fullbacks currently in the comp and the only ones I would rather we bought than Farnworth is Walsh, who was ahead of him at Brissy. Ponga can be great, but last year he was very down on form and usually plays around 14 games a year or so. Fletcher Sharp is another one who could be better or as good as Farnworth. Teddy is too old to buy. I wouldn't want Edwards. Mitchell plays about 14 game a year on average and Farnworth would probably have a higher work rate so to speak than Mitchell. Turbo looks to be past it and has also been injury prone. I would take him over Fidow, who is Redcliff's current fullback. Iongi looks like a good prospect.

What is it about him that makes you think he wouldn't make a good fullback?