Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[Eric]

I was hoping that Tyrell would have built up much more and tried harder in defence in the last couple of seasons. We know he is a weapon in attack when space has been created for him to sprint to the try line. Even still though I have yet to se him dive over in the corner like many other wingers and plant the ball over the line before being pushed into touch like that Roosters ex union guy Mark Nawaqanitawase - he is something else. Much taller and much stronger than Sloan. This is the reason why when you compare, Sloan doesn't really cut it on the wing and we know what his bad points are when he plays fullback.

All I know is that he loves the Dragons but that wont count for him being able to remain a Dragon come 2027 if he decides to see out his contract next year.

Tyrell has been such a disappointment but even with his vaunted added bulk, he's still slight for an outside back in the NRL. But the most frustrating thing is when on the rare occasion he runs fast and hard, he's isn't hammered and driven back.

Though I'd still like to know what the plan is for wingers next year. At this stage it'll be CT and Feagai.

 

[jodragon40]

Thank the Lord the pommies signed Rav, he will go well over there and more importantly off our books

 

[TheRev]

Though I'd still like to know what the plan is for wingers next year. At this stage it'll be CT and Feagai.

Does seem like left wing is between those 2.. Lawson is also there but he would have to really improve... Williams maybe late in the year if he keeps improving and stays healthy. Val is always an option also, but not without a gun left ctr to take his spot which seems unlikely at this stage.

Right side.. the club has said a few times we r chasing a 1st grade standard winger.. so lets see if we can land that.. easier now that Ravalawa has gone, and assume Allan too (probably).. I was pretty sure we would have pulled a young fullback as a priority... as we could sweeten the deal by giving him that right wing spot until Gutho goes.. but if Sloan is staying maybe that dream has passed us by.. might end up being Sloan playing there again which is quite incredible tbh.

Still... 4 spots to be filled yet, possibly 5 if Ilias goes.. so who knows what we end up with =)

 

[RedVictory]

Does seem like left wing is between those 2.. Lawson is also there but he would have to really improve... Williams maybe late in the year if he keeps improving and stays healthy. Val is always an option also, but not without a gun left ctr to take his spot which seems unlikely at this stage.

Right side.. the club has said a few times we r chasing a 1st grade standard winger.. so lets see if we can land that.. easier now that Ravalawa has gone, and assume Allan too (probably).. I was pretty sure we would have pulled a young fullback as a priority... as we could sweeten the deal by giving him that right wing spot until Gutho goes.. but if Sloan is staying maybe that dream has passed us by.. might end up being Sloan playing there again which is quite incredible tbh.

Still... 4 spots to be filled yet, possibly 5 if Ilias goes.. so who knows what we end up with =)

Would really love to sign Semi Valemei from the cows for that wing spot. Off contract for next year and would be a nice addition.

 

[Dave03]

‘I’m open to anything’: Daine Laurie could be on the move again in 2026 with no deal on the table at the Panthers

‘I’m open to anything’: Panthers gun at risk of being squeezed out of club

www.foxsports.com.au

He was good in a losing side.

 

[GCRV]

Would really love to sign Semi Valemei from the cows for that wing spot. Off contract for next year and would be a nice addition.

Not bad but would prefer Khan Perera from the Titans. In a good set up I think he could be really good. All he needs now is to go in looking for work a bit more and learn to read the play better in defence.

 

[RedVictory]

Not bad but would prefer Khan Perera from the Titans. In a good set up I think he could be really good. All he needs now is to go in looking for work a bit more and learn to read the play better in defence.

I feel like Pereira is very similar to Sloan.

 

[TheRev]

I dont know Pereira well enough, his highlights r amazing.. hes a dedicated winger probably a decent upgrade on Sloan in that sense.. more athletic in the air and as a finisher.. but if he cant be trained to tackle I guess its a waste of cap space.. im useless at judging other teams players in defence.. a) I dont watch enough of them and b) you have to really look deeply to see ifs genuinely the wingers fault or someone inside him.. and c) can they be re-trained in a new system that works.. I mean look at how much crap Val copped at the cows, but his defence isnt too bad as long as the system is working.

 

[Justadragon]

‘I’m open to anything’: Daine Laurie could be on the move again in 2026 with no deal on the table at the Panthers

‘I’m open to anything’: Panthers gun at risk of being squeezed out of club

www.foxsports.com.au

He was good in a losing side.

Laurie was also good in the halves when he played there.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Does seem like left wing is between those 2.. Lawson is also there but he would have to really improve... Williams maybe late in the year if he keeps improving and stays healthy. Val is always an option also, but not without a gun left ctr to take his spot which seems unlikely at this stage.

Right side.. the club has said a few times we r chasing a 1st grade standard winger.. so lets see if we can land that.. easier now that Ravalawa has gone, and assume Allan too (probably).. I was pretty sure we would have pulled a young fullback as a priority... as we could sweeten the deal by giving him that right wing spot until Gutho goes.. but if Sloan is staying maybe that dream has passed us by.. might end up being Sloan playing there again which is quite incredible tbh.

Still... 4 spots to be filled yet, possibly 5 if Ilias goes.. so who knows what we end up with =)

We would generally leave 1 spot for a "JustIn Case" player

 

[Dave03]

Imo it'd be smart to keep a free roster spot or even 2 spots going into the start of next season for any late injuries. A lot of hope is pinned on Atko & our fwds improving for next year. Marky Mark is off-contract, wishful but if you don't ask you won't receive.

 

[RedVictory]

Imo it'd be smart to keep a free roster spot or even 2 spots going into the start of next season for any late injuries. A lot of hope is pinned on Atko & our fwds improving for next year. Marky Mark is off-contract, wishful but if you don't ask you won't receive.

Marky is off contract for 2027. Still contracted for next year.

 

[RedVictory]

Phillip Sami being told he is free to leave. Another good option for us.

 

[Dragon David]

So will it be a case of out go our rejects and in comes other clubs rejects!!??

 

[RedVictory]

So will it be a case of out go our rejects and in comes other clubs rejects!!??

Well at least for next year certainly so. 95% of players are already under contract for 2026.

 

[GCRV]

So will it be a case of out go our rejects and in comes other clubs rejects!!??

There are quite a few like Val whose clubs would like to keep but can't due to cap pressure.

 

[TheRev]

Few ppl throwing around Tommy Talau's name, would he be a quality right winger for us? Anyone been keeping an eye on him this year?

 

[Dragon David]

Few ppl throwing around Tommy Talau's name, would he be a quality right winger for us? Anyone been keeping an eye on him this year?

We need a winger who is fast and tall and can leap high to take catches and can dive and reach out to score tries in the corner - or better still score under the posts (sounds like a guy they call Superman). Both the Roosters wingers in Nawaqanitawase and Tupou are being trained by Brett Morris and as we can see both have been prolific try scorers this year - moreso of course Nawaqanitawase who will win 2025 Dally M most try scorer medal and possibly be selected to represent Australia in the upcoming tests against the Poms.

Wingers like those two are hard to get I know and we had one in Bostock but he is locked in at the Dolphins up to the end of 2027.

So, as it stands now, we have CT and Sloan playing tonight - would Talua be any better than those two on the wing. He isn't as fast as Sloan but he has more determination and power to run hard and his tackling efficiency better than Sloan. We also need a winger who can take the ball up the field to help the forwards out so CT has that ability and Sloan not so much.

My thought then is that Talau would be better than Sloan and with his dad being at the Dragons might help provided that there is no nepotism shown like you know who. Sloan has been told he can talk to other clubs but I see him wanting to stay on because he still has a contract to the end of 2026 and a good back up if needed at fullback or wing.

I'm not too sure about any of the juniors coming through - do any fit the Tupou/Nawaganitawase mould?

 

[DragonsTragic]

We need a winger who is fast and tall and can leap high to take catches and can dive and reach out to score tries in the corner - or better still score under the posts (sounds like a guy they call Superman). Both the Roosters wingers in Nawaqanitawase and Tupou are being trained by Brett Morris and as we can see both have been prolific try scorers this year - moreso of course Nawaqanitawase who will win 2025 Dally M most try scorer medal and possibly be selected to represent Australia in the upcoming tests against the Poms.

Wingers like those two are hard to get I know and we had one in Bostock but he is locked in at the Dolphins up to the end of 2027.

So, as it stands now, we have CT and Sloan playing tonight - would Talua be any better than those two on the wing. He isn't as fast as Sloan but he has more determination and power to run hard and his tackling efficiency better than Sloan. We also need a winger who can take the ball up the field to help the forwards out so CT has that ability and Sloan not so much.

My thought then is that Talau would be better than Sloan and with his dad being at the Dragons might help provided that there is no nepotism shown like you know who. Sloan has been told he can talk to other clubs but I see him wanting to stay on because he still has a contract to the end of 2026 and a good back up if needed at fullback or wing.

I'm not too sure about any of the juniors coming through - do any fit the Tupou/Nawaganitawase mould?

Have we given up on Lawson?

 

[George Sancti]

We need a winger who is fast and tall and can leap high to take catches and can dive and reach out to score tries in the corner - or better still score under the posts (sounds like a guy they call Superman). Both the Roosters wingers in Nawaqanitawase and Tupou are being trained by Brett Morris and as we can see both have been prolific try scorers this year - moreso of course Nawaqanitawase who will win 2025 Dally M most try scorer medal and possibly be selected to represent Australia in the upcoming tests against the Poms.

Wingers like those two are hard to get I know and we had one in Bostock but he is locked in at the Dolphins up to the end of 2027.

So, as it stands now, we have CT and Sloan playing tonight - would Talua be any better than those two on the wing. He isn't as fast as Sloan but he has more determination and power to run hard and his tackling efficiency better than Sloan. We also need a winger who can take the ball up the field to help the forwards out so CT has that ability and Sloan not so much.

My thought then is that Talau would be better than Sloan and with his dad being at the Dragons might help provided that there is no nepotism shown like you know who. Sloan has been told he can talk to other clubs but I see him wanting to stay on because he still has a contract to the end of 2026 and a good back up if needed at fullback or wing.

I'm not too sure about any of the juniors coming through - do any fit the Tupou/Nawaganitawase mould?

I like your superman analogy Dave, and of the wingers I have seen Nawaganitawase is easily the closest. I do want Sloan to see out his contract with the Dragons and hopefully 2026 will produce a more robust and aggressive version, and if not, we needn't offer an extension. Whilst it would be good to recruit a winger (a couple of rungs down from superman status), our efforts (and money) must be focused on recruiting a marquee prop and a top halfback.