GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Why would the Dragons be interested? As we all know, we have Kyle Flanno, LKT, Atkinson coming next year, Ilias and Reed not far off.
Recruitment and Retention for 2026
- Thread starter Dragons Chris
- Start date
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
That’s a big F U to Tom Duffy by the cowboys (who I rate), it’s a bit different to us with LKT. He’s only just turned 20 and could still spend a year or so in cup if necessary, Duffy is 22 this year and has proven he’s way too good for QLD cup
Depends on the money I suppose but if Sandon gets an offer of 500k from the cows and 500k from a Sydney club (Parramatta) I think he’ll just stay in Sydney
There’s a really talented influx of Halves that will be rearing their head from pathways to NSW and Qcup over the next 12 months
Not including Sexton/Duffy who will be looking around for a club potentially
Depends on the money I suppose but if Sandon gets an offer of 500k from the cows and 500k from a Sydney club (Parramatta) I think he’ll just stay in Sydney
There’s a really talented influx of Halves that will be rearing their head from pathways to NSW and Qcup over the next 12 months
Not including Sexton/Duffy who will be looking around for a club potentially
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Actually ur right, the main consequence of Galvin to Dogs is Eels are probably back in the market for a 6.. probably a 2 horse race though, us and them.. dont think anyone else would chase Sandon.. the Tigers maybe but their mad imo, they r well covered...
How serious are we though.. I feel like we are very reactionary.. which tbf we kind of have to be because we dont do well at targeting players we want and nailing them.. but ur kind of in the market for a half or ur not.. its a pretty big investment also.. not such a big deal if we can offload ilias though...
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
It’s been very scattergun recruitment wise hey, like all the big name guys we signed are because the clubs they were at made them available and we swooped, that being said if we got Sandon Smith i think that’s a nice little halves pairing he forms with Atkinson and it means Kyle isn’t running the side anymore
The tigers signing Sandon would be madness IMO, instantly means that the Fainus will go and Latu Fainu is a genuinely brilliant player, better than Galvin for people who pay close attention but his injuries have held him back
We have a load of deadwood we need to move out of the top 30 and there’s a number of halves in it atm. I’d say Illias is almost a must get rid before next szn
The tigers signing Sandon would be madness IMO, instantly means that the Fainus will go and Latu Fainu is a genuinely brilliant player, better than Galvin for people who pay close attention but his injuries have held him back
We have a load of deadwood we need to move out of the top 30 and there’s a number of halves in it atm. I’d say Illias is almost a must get rid before next szn
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
No, we had 30 players registered we don't have to replace them.
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
So 24 in the top 30 so far including Lawson.
Fans want Liddle, Finau and JdB extended and calls for Nick Tsougranis and Jett Liu to top 30.
That gets us to 29 so no outside signings....
It really is a juggling act isn’t it Just a Mug Fan, not as straight forward as many think.
Your thoughts on Liu and Tsougranis for 2026??
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Nick should be supplementary again and Liu T@T there are just too many juniors in front of him.
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
But isn't Flanno looking to move on a few who are under contract? Ilias, Lawrie, Sloan come to mind. Ilias and Sloan can surely get deals in the UK if not for another NRL club. Lawrie might have to see out his last year in ressies.
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Guy called BigRig on another forum is sort of a 50/50 with his rumours, Justa might argue a 5/95 kind of accuracy, but im sure a lot of the dump he just gave us will be based on something (most of it seems obvious, but couple are interesting):
- Flanno looking at bringing another forward in before June 30 , heard Marty Taupau is who he is after for 6 months also interested in Kenny Bromwich but Taupau more likely
- Club still negotiations to release Finau Latu to Doggies in either player swap or for a fee
- Club currently In talks with Souths regarding keeping Ravalawa there for the final year of his contract
- Club was briefly interested in bringing in Daniel Atkinson early but that now won’t happen
- Jacob Halangahu a chance to upgraded to top 30 immediately
- Club had Informed Michael Molo , RFM and Villiami Fifita that they will not be re-signed
- Club to decide to keep 1 of either Sione Finau or Corey Allan on a 1 yr deal
- JDB to re-sign on 1 yr deal
- Club yet to decide whether to re-sign David Klemmer
- Jacob Liddle to re-sign until 2028
- Club is extremely cashed up for 26 and is attempting to be very active in the market for forwards
- Also heard the club is set to offer a 2 yr deal to Titans Prop Josiah Pahulu
Strike one, Pahulu to Storm immediately, I guess we were never in talks.
Storm offer to Finau Latu was for this year as well, they offered us NAS as a sweetener, could he still be available to us now....
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Yeah he was talking out of his arse about that then, a day or 2 after we are ‘set to offer Pahulu a 2 year deal’ he’s signed with Melbourne which would have been lined up weeks ago
Good enough for Bellamy and Ponissi but people were saying he’s not good enough or ‘doesn’t have the motor’
The only probable truth in those bullet points is signing the ghost of Taupau or the ghost of Kenny Bromwich
Good enough for Bellamy and Ponissi but people were saying he’s not good enough or ‘doesn’t have the motor’
The only probable truth in those bullet points is signing the ghost of Taupau or the ghost of Kenny Bromwich
AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
I think it was proven a while back that Big Rigs rumours, were just sourced from social media, or getting a hold of a news article as soon as it appeared online..
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
All he said was we made a 2yr offer to Pahulu, but we knew several other clubs were chasing him.. id rather know this stuff than nothing unless it comes off.. the good thing that might come out of it though is as Justa mentioned.. now they need NAS even less..
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
I think it assumes we move a couple more on yet... guys like Lawrie, Ilias, Sloan, Rava, all 4 could go and we will be rolling in spots.. guys like Guler/Sele/Feagai could all be sold potentially and recoup most of their value, there is a lot of scope to clear space, but tbf weve never been a club that is aggressive with clean outs.
I think Liu is better than a T&T.. I mean maybe to start the year while they clear more space.. he might pick up an offer elsewhere in the meantime, esp the way our NSW Cup is turning heads.... sort of depends if we go out and buy 1or2 external props in the meantime..
Nick might be the same if he gets a taste of first grade and plays a blinder.. might find himself with offers.. he is our our other 2023 U19 blues star along with Tamale, and we know how thats panned out.
Agree Rev, I think Nick T and Liu both deserve better especially with some of the deadwood that is being carried in the 30 at present. If Saints aren’t careful they could lose both of them with better options to progress elsewhere and that would be a double whammy. I have no doubt other clubs are keeping a close eye on both of them as cup continues to fire
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
I do feel like we should try and learn something from the Raiders this year, there is a lot of speed/skill/power in that lineup, and I genuinely had them as a Bottom 2 team, but not only have they been the very opposite of a bottom 2 team, they have also somehow managed to sustain that level of performance for 3 months, which I cant believe with such a young side.. for sure I thought they would fall off a cliff... they were even winning without Tapine for a while.
Now their roster is better than I gave it credit for, but I feel like it shows you that 1 alpha prop + 1 big kicking 7, and u are half way there.. throw in some young legs/energy on top.. but its very much a power game that Flanno loves, but it works in the modern fast NRL.. I hope Flanno is adapting from the old model.
I'd love NAS, finally a proper big bopper.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Signing NAS would set us back big time, would want massive coin and his output for what he’d be getting paid isn’t worth it + he’s 30 in February
He’s a 6’7 walking red flag
He’s a 6’7 walking red flag
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Hes a huge risk I agree (NAS) but I think the money is going to rot if we dont spend it.. and im not sure who else we can land.. its not like we havent been trying.
NAS might be our step out of this.. Ideally if we could get him pre-June30.... someone needs to lead these young boys we have.. there is no big dog.
NAS might be our step out of this.. Ideally if we could get him pre-June30.... someone needs to lead these young boys we have.. there is no big dog.
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Bullemoor would be my pick, in his prime and super underrated. Zero tackle have him as out of contract in 2025 but their late to the party with extensions so who knows
Players get pushed out all the time as well, there’s always forwards that become available because a gun kid is coming through or their salary is too big so there will be players who aren’t gettable atm that in 3 months could be on the market
Players get pushed out all the time as well, there’s always forwards that become available because a gun kid is coming through or their salary is too big so there will be players who aren’t gettable atm that in 3 months could be on the market