Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[jodragon40]

Most stats are misunderstood and not viewed in the context of the game

Unless your a stats expert like me

 

[TheRev]

If we are seriously chasing a 7 (and this is a recent mindset given we didnt seem at all interested in chasing someone like Fogarty), then yeah we definitely need to clear a few halves out of our squadspace... Ilias & Glover would be the 2.. its no disrespect to Glover though he is improving so well, but there is just no room, Kade Reed needs to be in cup next year, even if its not Round 1, I think LKT will start Rd1 in NSW Cup also.

25 so far.. but there are still a few in flux in Ravalawa, Lawrie, Sloan, Sele..

And lastly we have potential extensions to JDB & Klemmer... I think a lot comes back to whether we can sign the alpha prop we were after... I know the Storm r trying to offload atleast 1.. I think its between Kamikamica and NAS.. but NAS is on a damn long contract, so would he even want to come here.. but Kamikamica was I believe offered to the Broncos specifically.. again is Wollongong a place he would want to go.. no idea.. do think we could do with 1 quality middle though, we cant fall apart with 1 or 2 bad injuries like we are in 2025.

 

[jodragon40]

Guler really?
Sele Who?
JDB slowing down but still have him on bench
Couchmans good
LPT developing nicely
Stewart good as well but not a #8/10
With all those bar LPT there is no fear factor or oomp

Absolutely correct we badly need a big bodied experienced prop to help develop LPT.

 

[GCRV]

Absolutely correct we badly need a big bodied experienced prop to help develop LPT.

Gular and Klemmer are big bodied props.

 

[jodragon40]

If we are seriously chasing a 7 (and this is a recent mindset given we didnt seem at all interested in chasing someone like Fogarty), then yeah we definitely need to clear a few halves out of our squadspace... Ilias & Glover would be the 2.. its no disrespect to Glover though he is improving so well, but there is just no room, Kade Reed needs to be in cup next year, even if its not Round 1, I think LKT will start Rd1 in NSW Cup also.

25 so far.. but there are still a few in flux in Ravalawa, Lawrie, Sloan, Sele..

And lastly we have potential extensions to JDB & Klemmer... I think a lot comes back to whether we can sign the alpha prop we were after... I know the Storm r trying to offload atleast 1.. I think its between Kamikamica and NAS.. but NAS is on a damn long contract, so would he even want to come here.. but Kamikamica was I believe offered to the Broncos specifically.. again is Wollongong a place he would want to go.. no idea.. do think we could do with 1 quality middle though, we cant fall apart with 1 or 2 bad injuries like we are in 2025.

Common sense prevails. We need an enforcer prop and an experienced 7 until Reed is ready

 

[jodragon40]

Gular and Klemmer are big bodied props.

Yep with absolutely no mongrel now. The opposition don't shake in their boots when either take hit ups 1 and 2 . We need to remedy that.

 

[GCRV]

Yep with absolutely no mongrel now. The opposition don't shake in their boots when either take hit ups 1 and 2 . We need to remedy that.

Agree but who else is there?

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Sandon Smith firming to the cows apparently

Strangely they see him as their Robson replacement

If we are looking for a 7 with all the current options laid out on the table and assuming Sandon goes to the cows, I think Toby Sexton is the best of the remaining #7’s available

 

[GCRV]

Sandon Smith firming to the cows apparently

Strangely they see him as their Robson replacement

If we are looking for a 7 with all the current options laid out on the table and assuming Sandon goes to the cows, I think Toby Sexton is the best of the remaining #7’s available

What was Atkinson recruited for?

 

[Morgan]

Is it? Might be but depends on a lot of things. What big name players were interested in coming? How much overs should the club be willing to pay and for how long?

A lot of talk about props but so far the club has missed out on RCG and AFB. RCG is barely first grade standard now let alone in another 2 years. AFB is still one of the best props but for the money he is on he'd better be. And is sliding already. Which makes sense if you consider his age. IMO Flanno dodged a bullet missing both of those.

Missing Tyrell May was bad. Though I'm not sure if there were any talks. If not for Couchmans injury and the way LPT is playing well and getting better, I don't think the club needs to worry about anymore props. Needs to instead concentrate on keeping the ones we have. Only go to the market for one if the reserve grade props at the club, Gular, Sele, Lawrie, can be passed off to another club or the ESL.

Tom Dearden would have been a coup but I don't think it ever got the stage of a meeting. He was determined to stay at NQ. Who else was the club in contention for?

Recruitment and retention has been a debacle. Pathways has been very good. I don't know who is to blame for what and how much but it is what it is. That is, a debacle.

 

[blacksafake]

Sandon Smith firming to the cows apparently

Strangely they see him as their Robson replacement

If we are looking for a 7 with all the current options laid out on the table and assuming Sandon goes to the cows, I think Toby Sexton is the best of the remaining #7’s available

Savala??

 

[blacksafake]

What was Atkinson recruited for?

To play 6

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Nope, has a big boot and a big body and not much else.

There’s a reason clubs are chasing Sandon Smith and not Savala

 

[GCRV]

To play 6

So LKT signed an extension to play reserve grade?

 

[Dave03]

Add winger, fwd and half to our needs.

 

[Dave03]

Would Connor Tracey be a good comparison for atko?

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Nah, Tracey’s more Dylan Edward’s like

Atkinson reminds me a lot of Fletcher Sharpe actually, quite unorthodox and hard to tackle

 

[blacksafake]

So LKT signed an extension to play reserve grade?

Likely unless the plan is to play Atkinson 7 but to me he’s a running 6. Kyle is the fly in the ointment though.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Nah, Tracey’s more Dylan Edward’s like

Atkinson reminds me a lot of Fletcher Sharpe actually, quite unorthodox and hard to tackle

He was 18th man last night....... Would rather sit on the bench for them than come to us a year early. Or a few months early now.

 

[Justadragon]

He was 18th man last night....... Would rather sit on the bench for them than come to us a year early. Or a few months early now.

I dont think its up to him, its up to the Sharks to let him go if they think they dont need him. But if you agitate hard enough who knows, look at Galvin.