50th game this weekend, well deserved extension. He surpassed my expectations.
Recruitment and Retention for 2026
- Thread starter Chris M
- Start date
50th game this weekend, well deserved extension. He surpassed my expectations.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Brings good energy, im not ct's biggestfan, id love someone who can get it down in the corner with some zipzip and better in the air... but probably our 2nd best winger and we need 2.. with doubts over whether Lawson will make it yet, and the contract status of Sione, and ive no idea whats going on with Rumble, Williams, Kirk longer term, but none of them are screaming for selection any time soon.
Eric
Staff
I thought Lawson was playing well. Entire NSW Cup team actually though I know it's often a case of only being as good as the opposition lets you. Would like to see Buchanan centre or Flegg centre and Rumble in the NSW Cup run on 13.
AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
Dragons re-sign Christian Tuipulotu
The Dragons are pleased to announce a one-year contract extension for winger Christian Tuipulotu.
www.dragons.com.au
Dragons re-sign Christian Tuipulotu
The Dragons are pleased to announce a one-year contract extension for winger Christian Tuipulotu.
www.dragons.com.au
Dragons re-sign Christian Tuipulotu
AuthorDragons.com.audragons.com.auTimestampThu 10 Apr 2025, 07:57 AM
The Dragons are pleased to announce a one-year contract extension for winger Christian Tuipulotu.The 24-year-old Otahuhu Leopards junior has been in career-best form to start 2025, with five tries, 19 tackle busts and an average 181 run metres in four appearances so far.
“We’re really pleased with Christian’s development this year,” said Dragons Head Coach Shane Flanagan.
“His strong carries from the backfield are just as important as his finishing and we’re glad to be able to extend his stay at the club.”
The new deal keeps the two-time Tonga representative in the Red V until at least the end of the 2026 season.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Supposedly Latu spotted touring the knights centre of excellence.. This next week or 2 is going to be hard going..
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Why can't they take lawrie instead
AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
Newcastle to me are going nowhere in the next few years, wouldnt waste my time going there.
And can someone tell POS that he is a POS and to leave our players alone.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Won’t matter if newy offer him silly money he can’t refuse, I do think he’ll stay and it’s pleasing to read that Flanno desperately wants to keep him. Don’t think my heart could take it if Latu and LKT are wearing Newcastle jerseys next year.
They’ve already pinched Dylan Lucas and Kyle McCarthy from the Illawarra, I’ll say it again. If POS is sniffing around a player it means that player has got something about em
They’ve already pinched Dylan Lucas and Kyle McCarthy from the Illawarra, I’ll say it again. If POS is sniffing around a player it means that player has got something about em
Money try celebration could return if Dragons hit form
St George Illawarra winger Christian Tuipulotu says he'll bring back his money try celebration at the right time, but wants to focus on winning games first.
Stellar start to the season. Nearly a top 5 winger in the comp but some fans want him dropped lol.
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
Newcastle won't be able throw silly money at him. Dragons just have to outbid them. It should be easy even if the rest of the team after Ponga and Brown are on a minimum wage.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
LKT would be parra right, would they be willing to offer him a starting first grade 6 jersey for next year? Being outside Moses is as good a chance as you'd get in terms of easy transition to first grade.. and we just signed Atkinson who is assumably our 6 for a number of years.
Latu could have a number of clubs after him.. again it depends what the queue is like I reckon.. I was doing the analysis earlier, he really needs to jump over Stewart and LPT to be getting that #17 jersey any time soon.. but there are a few older guys who may or may not still be here in 2026 like JDB, Klemmer, Sele and we are still after a big name prop.. not all will necessarily stay on.. but between them and the 2 older kids.. he will have to wait for a few injuries to get in... mind you...... I actually think he might be good enough though to nudge in front of Stewart & Tonga with his impact.. if hes not missing tackles, hes gonna change a game more than Stewart for example.... and in only a few flegg games and now cup games.. his stats keep going up.. hes handling each step up.. very very well.
Latu could have a number of clubs after him.. again it depends what the queue is like I reckon.. I was doing the analysis earlier, he really needs to jump over Stewart and LPT to be getting that #17 jersey any time soon.. but there are a few older guys who may or may not still be here in 2026 like JDB, Klemmer, Sele and we are still after a big name prop.. not all will necessarily stay on.. but between them and the 2 older kids.. he will have to wait for a few injuries to get in... mind you...... I actually think he might be good enough though to nudge in front of Stewart & Tonga with his impact.. if hes not missing tackles, hes gonna change a game more than Stewart for example.... and in only a few flegg games and now cup games.. his stats keep going up.. hes handling each step up.. very very well.
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Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Agreed I think latu could jump Stewart or Egan this time next year if he stays with us. His ball running + ball playing is unreal, if he defends like he did in the parra NSW cup game he’ll get a debut sooner rather than later
jodragon40
Staff
I thought he was just as good if not better than both Egan and Stewart, perhaps my old coaches eyes are failing me
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
His ceiling is absolutely off the charts, higher than those 2 boys.
But potential means nothing if you don’t keep working on your game and improving. That’s the challenge and It’s more likely he hits it than misses IMO
But potential means nothing if you don’t keep working on your game and improving. That’s the challenge and It’s more likely he hits it than misses IMO
jodragon40
Staff
Not Dragons related but don't be surprised if DCE is wearing Titans colours next season if my information is correct
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Shonkies replacement lock is a much better 5/8 than our 19 year-old reserve grade 5/8 who is doing fine without dominating. If LKT is let go without being given a decent chance in first grade.... well FFS, I'm already off Flanno completely so not much I can say if it happens.
Eric
Staff
Your a hard marker. I thought Flanno did well last season with the very average roster he inherited. But yeah, so far this year, the team has gone backwards.
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Definitely agree its a very average roster to try and build off, but dont think its fair to say we've gone backwards... the difference between doing literally 1 more thing right in 1 or both of those games we let 12pt leads slip... would completely change the narrative of how were travelling...
But if we compare our position now after playing 4 games, with last season:
- 2024: 72 Points For | 100 Points Against | -28 F/A (2nd worst defence in the comp)
- 2025: 80 Points For | 84 Points against | -4 F/A (and that includes playing the top 2 teams in the comp)
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
I'm just going to say, I think this is a very optimistic take on things. I'm starting to wonder if he's decided, "I'd rather get sacked than drop Kyle." That has follow on effects. How can he make serious changes in this situation without pissing off the rest of the squad?
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
He's doing well. C+ or B-. But his recruitment and retention is a D- or E+.
I used to work with a supervisor and we couldn't stand each other. When it came to my biannual performance review instead of giving me a B or A he gave me a C++. 6 months later he was sacked. So I'm going to give Flanno a C++ for performance and D-- for recruitment and retention.