Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[TheRev]

"Cody Ramsey and Hamish Stewart in origin camp with blues as extra numbers." is this right?

Huge praise for the kids if it is... Cody might be there for inspiration and just good on him.. but obviously they see something in Hamish... maybe Egan would have been close also if not injured. Toby was the other one ppl have been calling for to get around the boys in blues camp.. but I think its early.

 

[Wild383]

"Cody Ramsey and Hamish Stewart in origin camp with blues as extra numbers." is this right?

Huge praise for the kids if it is... Cody might be there for inspiration and just good on him.. but obviously they see something in Hamish... maybe Egan would have been close also if not injured. Toby was the other one ppl have been calling for to get around the boys in blues camp.. but I think its early.

Yup appears to be, is being reported by multiple sources today that; "Adam Doueihi, Cody Ramsey, Hamish Stewart and Jacob Preston have been called into Blues camp as extra training bodies" which I think is outstanding for our young guys. Have no doubt Toby and Egan would've been considerations as well had they not been injured but stoked for them to get to experience that environment. Would love to see some socials from the NSW camp with them involved.

 

[Dave03]

Yup appears to be, is being reported by multiple sources today that; "Adam Doueihi, Cody Ramsey, Hamish Stewart and Jacob Preston have been called into Blues camp as extra training bodies" which I think is outstanding for our young guys. Have no doubt Toby and Egan would've been considerations as well had they not been injured but stoked for them to get to experience that environment. Would love to see some socials from the NSW camp with them involved.

That's awesome news. I think they must also be good at doing opposed. In the case of Doueihi & Ramsey they're probably also their for the inspirational stuff, both coming back from injuries. Hamish should be chewing Yeo's ear off. Honestly, he's impressed me soo much. I think him & preston are future origin players.

 

[Dave03]

No doubt Dean Young being an assistant of the blues has had influence over Ramsey & Stewart inclusions in the training camp.

 

[GCRV]

No doubt Dean Young being an assistant of the blues has had influence over Ramsey & Stewart inclusions in the training camp.

Stewart keeps on getting better at the "meteoric" speed he is, won't be long at all until he's in camp for much more than opposed training.

 

[dragonheart]

Really pleased to see Cody going well, he definitely has that attacking difference that others don't for the Dragons, very intelligent footballer. If his body could take it, would love to see him in the 1sts as cover for V. Holmes during Origin.

 

[GCRV]

Really pleased to see Cody going well, he definitely has that attacking difference that others don't for the Dragons, very intelligent footballer. If his body could take it, would love to see him in the 1sts as cover for V. Holmes during Origin.

Maybe next year. Don't think his body can handle it this year.

 

[dragonheart]

One thing about Cody is he's hungry for the try line and sets up others with ease. Not sure N.Lawson can set up others yet.

 

[Edward]

One thing about Cody is he's hungry for the try line and sets up others with ease. Not sure N.Lawson can set up others yet.

Lawson certainly doesn't have a passing game like Ramsey but centres and wingers don't have to be able to pass as good as fullbacks.

They are both good but fingers crossed Cody doesn't have any more health issues, he might be back in first grade in about a year.

 

[jodragon40]

One of the names that recently came on the market is Sandon Smith.. he would be an upgrade on our current 'Seven', but I think ultimately hes not the one to invest in.. but he would be an improvement... maybe he could be a 6 with Atkinson 7.. but I thought we might shoot for a huge kicking 7 if we were gonna go external.

The guy I wanted last year who was available all year is Tanah Boyd.. like every failed half plenty of fans hate on him, but he was a junior gun for Australia, hes smart and has a huge boot on him.. its literally all we needed... has the warriors #1 in cup, one of the only teams to beat us.. and beat us 40-12 too.. wasted behind Metcalf.

Edit: Another left field idea would be Latu swapped for Hutchinson.. not a very inspiring choice though, not sure if hes a big improvement over what we already have? The difference is he could come in immediately.

Yes I watched that game and Boyd was a standout and should have been with his 1sts experience . He managed that game extremely well and has a decent kicking game.

 

[jodragon40]

Yup appears to be, is being reported by multiple sources today that; "Adam Doueihi, Cody Ramsey, Hamish Stewart and Jacob Preston have been called into Blues camp as extra training bodies" which I think is outstanding for our young guys. Have no doubt Toby and Egan would've been considerations as well had they not been injured but stoked for them to get to experience that environment. Would love to see some socials from the NSW camp with them involved.

Future looks very bright in the engine room

 

[jodragon40]

Any news in regards to Liddle?

 

[TheRev]

Any news in regards to Liddle?

I'm still waiting to see it confirmed also, a couple of unofficial sources are making it sound like he has decided to stay... possibly it was even in the 10-day cooling off.. but until its confirmed I don't want to assume anything and be disappointed!

Really hoping that the Broncos game helped fine-tune the blueprint for why this is the best club for him to stay put and get his 60mins per week... some others have also raised that if he extends just a year.. it might open up a Bears option for 2027 also if he was interested.

 

[jodragon40]

I'm still waiting to see it confirmed also, a couple of unofficial sources are making it sound like he has decided to stay... possibly it was even in the 10-day cooling off.. but until its confirmed I don't want to assume anything and be disappointed!

Really hoping that the Broncos game helped fine-tune the blueprint for why this is the best club for him to stay put and get his 60mins per week... some others have also raised that if he extends just a year.. it might open up a Bears option for 2027 also if he was interested.

Thank you. I would rate him in the top 5 bench impact players this season be a shame to lose him.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

I'm still waiting to see it confirmed also, a couple of unofficial sources are making it sound like he has decided to stay... possibly it was even in the 10-day cooling off.. but until its confirmed I don't want to assume anything and be disappointed!

Really hoping that the Broncos game helped fine-tune the blueprint for why this is the best club for him to stay put and get his 60mins per week... some others have also raised that if he extends just a year.. it might open up a Bears option for 2027 also if he was interested.

If Liddle takes up his option for next year, we could still be screwed in 2027 with both Cook( retiring) and Liddle (Bears potentially) leaves us very vulnerable, currently we don't have anything in the KOE cup that is pushing for a 1st grade spot and i don't want Kyle as our first choice hooker, so decisions need to be made as to whether we let Liddle go, bring in someone like Tallyn and say, you will take over from Cook, or we renegotiate with Liddle for a longer contract.
Decisions Decisions, would love to be a fly on the wall at these meetings....

 

[TheRev]

If Liddle takes up his option for next year, we could still be screwed in 2027 with both Cook( retiring) and Liddle (Bears potentially) leaves us very vulnerable, currently we don't have anything in the KOE cup that is pushing for a 1st grade spot and i don't want Kyle as our first choice hooker, so decisions need to be made as to whether we let Liddle go, bring in someone like Tallyn and say, you will take over from Cook, or we renegotiate with Liddle for a longer contract.
Decisions Decisions, would love to be a fly on the wall at these meetings....

100% mate.. it could either be just the 1yr, possibly on more coin.. or we try to back him for 2-3yrs.. I dunno what Flanno is thinking exactly.. hes never seemed to see Liddle as a priority for us, but a bit like Lomax.. his form now i think is finally turning Flannos head as Lomaxes did but it was too late.. and if we had to chase Liddle out of cooling off period (assumably with an upgrade).. seems like something must have shifted in our recruitment direction.. could also be the bears though telling him to stay on market come Nov 1.

Regardless.. Im most worried about 2026.. we have some time to come up with something for 2027.. Liddle will be 30.5 by the 2027 season.. still ok but maybe in the back end.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I have no faith in Flanagan and Haran negotiating a deal for a top tier Hooker

They burn far too many and don’t understand players worth

We’ll have to recruit a young gun instead of an established hooker

If only Asher Chapman was a couple years older because he looks the goods

 

[TheRev]

I have no faith in Flanagan and Haran negotiating a deal for a top tier Hooker

They burn far too many and don’t understand players worth

We’ll have to recruit a young gun instead of an established hooker

If only Asher Chapman was a couple years older because he looks the goods

I rly hope Watsford will get onto that ahead of next season.. he starts on June 2 (12 days time), give him a chance to get his feet under the table, but hes got to get onto recruitment managers and/or GM's and get some quality onboard ahead of 2026.

I do agree around the value of a player, I feel like Flanno comes from the point of view of a premiership winning coach where he holds the power... and how to screw the last dollars out of every deal to 'win it', which leads to the best roster possible.. and the best clubs can do it... but we are just not that club... and the problem is we can sign that young hooker u refer too.. and then lose them in 2-3yrs anyway.. just like we could lose any one of our young forwards when they hit the big time and need a new contract..

We are I think relying on Couchies and Egan and local boys not wanting to leave as our Plan A, B & C, but as we saw with Latu, if u let ppl go to market, u need to be prepared for the consequences.. we got lucky with the couchies... even Stewart who literally grew up inside the dragons training facilities and as dragon as they come... was ready to abandon ship after 1 dinner with charming Wayne Bennett.. ffs.

I am really hoping Flanno is learning though with every miss.. but he needs help.. he needs someone who wont blow up relationships in the process.. i.e. someone who can keep their charm/cool when a player manager is being a prat... u know those guys.. they can be firm but friendly even under heavy fire.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I just laugh when I think of Gus as the GM for bulldogs and then compare it to Haran

Like the difference in levels is so big, we can’t get the contract length right mostly nor can they get the money right for most players

Like look at the warriors today extending Halasima and Vaimuga til 2029

What are we actually doing? Go extend our best and brightest so the bears and PNG teams can’t even talk to our boys

 

[Eric]

I have no faith in Flanagan and Haran negotiating a deal for a top tier Hooker

They burn far too many and don’t understand players worth

We’ll have to recruit a young gun instead of an established hooker

If only Asher Chapman was a couple years older because he looks the goods

What about Kyan Hj.....son? He's been injured for a while but from what (admittedly little) I saw of him in the lower grades, I thought he was very good. Is his defence a problem? His service from dummy half and running game seemed to be very good.