GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
27 yet to play first grade shows time is not on his side but our wingers are so bad at present. As a matter of fact, as is even though he's wasted to some extent on the wing, I'd go with Buchanan centre and Val on the wing.
Recruitment and Retention for 2026
- Thread starter Dragons Chris
- Start date
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
I still have my doubts about Buchanan, I wish him all the best and proves me very wrong.
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
I was impressed by Buchanan in first grade late last year. A bigger, stronger Buchanan has a lot of potential.
dragonheart
SGI Junior League
Buchanan could end up being a Matt Cooper type defence centre, but we still need attack and speed. Losing Tamale and S.Finau has bewildered me a bit, I really liked Tamale and what we saw of both looked good, much to work on at such an age. So now we have 2 other NSW cup winger/centres coming in who have 1x NRL game between them well let's hope D.Anderson has got this right
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
I liked Tamale as well but it seems to me Buchanan is fast off the mark and in the clear.Buchanan could end up being a Matt Cooper type defence centre, but we still need attack and speed. Losing Tamale and S.Finau has bewildered me a bit, I really liked Tamale and what we saw of both looked good, much to work on at such an age. So now we have 2 other NSW cup winger/centres coming in who have 1x NRL game between them well let's hope D.Anderson has got this right
the irony that tamale is exactly what we need for next yearBuchanan could end up being a Matt Cooper type defence centre, but we still need attack and speed. Losing Tamale and S.Finau has bewildered me a bit, I really liked Tamale and what we saw of both looked good, much to work on at such an age. So now we have 2 other NSW cup winger/centres coming in who have 1x NRL game between them well let's hope D.Anderson has got this right
Edward
SGI NSW Cup
Imagine how good Jack Bostock would be or how much he is needed.the irony that tamale is exactly what we need for next year
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Dragons extend Kade Reed
The Dragons are pleased to announce that teenage half Kade Reed has re-signed with the club until the end of 2028.
www.dragons.com.au
Reed into top 30 from 27 excellent news
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Dragons extend Kade Reed
The Dragons are pleased to announce that teenage half Kade Reed has re-signed with the club until the end of 2028.
Reed into top 30 from 27 excellent news
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
Yep you can certainly see all our eggs are in the youth basket this season and from now on. If we hadn't let our pathways flounder for years how good would we have been. I applaud DA and the executive team for making this a priority. The mismanagement of our youth over the years was deplorable and the fact our juniors stood by and watched the club continually employ journeymen and hasbeens would have been a hard pill to swallow, not to mention mercenaries whose only motive to play for the Dragons was money, no love for the club or team mates or fans, just show me the money. Gutho was an exception to the rule, yes he is on big money and maybe a contract that is one year too long, but he came with the right attitude and wanted to bye into the Dragons way, well done Gutho you are an exception to the rule. I'll say it once more , give our juniors the development they deserve, because most of them have already got the love for the club and you will have your marquee player. Have a look at the players we got or were even chasing that have turned out to be duds compared to the youth we have lost over the years. Yes we need some experience we have Cook, Liddle and Su'a for the forwards and Gutho and Holmes for the backs. Rant Over 
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
Nice one Justa. Youth is certainly the way to go. The Dragons Pathway for them has been laid out for their future long term journey.Yep you can certainly see all our eggs are in the youth basket this season and from now on. If we hadn't let our pathways flounder for years how good would we have been. I applaud DA and the executive team for making this a priority. The mismanagement of our youth over the years was deplorable and the fact our juniors stood by and watched the club continually employ journeymen and hasbeens would have been a hard pill to swallow, not to mention mercenaries whose only motive to play for the Dragons was money, no love for the club or team mates or fans, just show me the money. Gutho was an exception to the rule, yes he is on big money and maybe a contract that is one year too long, but he came with the right attitude and wanted to bye into the Dragons way, well done Gutho you are an exception to the rule. I'll say it once more , give our juniors the development they deserve, because most of them have already got the love for the club and you will have your marquee player. Have a look at the players we got or were even chasing that have turned out to be duds compared to the youth we have lost over the years. Yes we need some experience we have Cook, Liddle and Su'a for the forwards and Gutho and Holmes for the backs. Rant Over
Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
It's not a rant. It makes a lot of sense.Yep you can certainly see all our eggs are in the youth basket this season and from now on. If we hadn't let our pathways flounder for years how good would we have been. I applaud DA and the executive team for making this a priority. The mismanagement of our youth over the years was deplorable and the fact our juniors stood by and watched the club continually employ journeymen and hasbeens would have been a hard pill to swallow, not to mention mercenaries whose only motive to play for the Dragons was money, no love for the club or team mates or fans, just show me the money. Gutho was an exception to the rule, yes he is on big money and maybe a contract that is one year too long, but he came with the right attitude and wanted to bye into the Dragons way, well done Gutho you are an exception to the rule. I'll say it once more , give our juniors the development they deserve, because most of them have already got the love for the club and you will have your marquee player. Have a look at the players we got or were even chasing that have turned out to be duds compared to the youth we have lost over the years. Yes we need some experience we have Cook, Liddle and Su'a for the forwards and Gutho and Holmes for the backs. Rant Over
Mailroomsgi
SGI Jersey Flegg
Mick Molo to the titans
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
Thanks Chris, I appreciate it. It's just that I get so frustrated with the way things have been. Our club used to be feared across all grades. but somewhere along the line we lost our focus and started to bring players in to give us that short term fix and success. Maybe it started with Bennett but he knew what he was doing and brought in the exact players we needed, unlike the rest of the numpties that we have had bring in these sporadic players on big money at the end of their careers under the bullshit excuse that we need the experience to mentor our youth, what youth, we had virtually let our pathways die. Now the rectification process is in place, its the start of our future. As Cooper said in one of his messages, that things are finally changing for the better and he firmly believes that the Dragons fans have finally something to be excited about, we can really build a team around these young blokes whilst the pipeline is in place for the next 3-5 years, have a look at some of the posts
Mug Fan has been displaying, we are certainly targeting some bright young talent,,,,,,,,finally !!!!
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Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
I thought he was ok, but I understand he needed to go as well, we have too many juniors lined up wanting a chance.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Nothing against Su'A. He's been good the last 2 years. But with all these young backrowers, Nick T, Halangahu, Egan and a couple more just behind them, would it be better to let Su'A go at the end of next season? Thinking in terms of value for money rather than form which as I said, has been good.
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
Thats a tough one mate, I'm on the fence with this, I'm ok if he stays and ok if he goes.
Imo this season will be the perfect opportunity to judge his value to our team. I mean maybe those younger players aren't ready or aren't successful which happens or they might exceed expectations. Maybe Su'a is needed in the middle on occasions like Keon from Souths. Su'a might gun it too. I hope we don't rush to a decision on him. It's also potentially his last big money contract, so that's a factor too.
dragonheart
SGI Junior League
I'm a big fan of the young forwards in our team and coming through, but we still need good experienced forwards with size and nous. Sua, Liddle, Sele (stay fit for once) and Leilua (if his weight is really down and stays off) add to that lets hope we buy Kolomatangi for 27. It wont be Tino