Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[RedV01]

The are duds are the ones we have brought in on big money that have given nothing over the last 5 years. Lets start with Mr Norman, I'm sure you can figure out the rest, there are plenty to choose from.

I thought he was talking about the current crop of forwards. Blake is a dud, maybe Gular as well but the only other contender is Luch himself.

 

[Justadragon]

I thought he was talking about the current crop of forwards. Blake is a dud, maybe Gular as well but the only other contender is Luch himself.

I was the one that started the dud thing, but yes you are right, I was trying to point out that Luch has been a dud, and now its up to him to do something about it. He has been taking big money for 2 years, I'm still waiting on some sort of return.

 

[jodragon40]

I'm not an expert but I often hear "core strength" talked about. To play first grade for as long as Luch has makes him tough enough but something missing. Is it "core strength" which makes Su'A and Egan for example who are smaller, probably not as fast but seem to cause defenders much more trouble than Luch?

Core strength is a players ability to strengthen his torso, giving stability to his spine and middle body sections. This allows you to transfer your body power from upper to lower and visa versa. LL has been for many years far too heavy and this has greatly affected his power running. He has big core strength issues.

 

[jodragon40]

I was the one that started the dud thing, but yes you are right, I was trying to point out that Luch has been a dud, and now its up to him to do something about it. He has been taking big money for 2 years, I'm still waiting on some sort of return.

Hes been allowed to do that

 

[Eric]

Core strength is a players ability to strengthen his torso, giving stability to his spine and middle body sections. This allows you to transfer your body power from upper to lower and visa versa. LL has been for many years far too heavy and this has greatly affected his power running. He has big core strength issues.

Would that be why Su'A and Egan for example seem to be much harder to tackles than Luciano and Josh Kerr? Like the former two have much better "core strength". As the latter to are substantially bigger and I'd bet faster as well.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

but if there is one position more than any other we are stacked for, it's lock.

Dunno bout that. Gimme some names. Lock is a specialist position with a wide skill set expected. Jack had the whole bunch, great defender, fearless carrying the ball to the line, using second phase too. But for me what set him apart from most locks was his ability to chime in as a receiver and add spark to our attack when we were flat. It is these combined skills I see in Stewart. He couldnt have had a better mentor.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Who are the other duds?

Not sure who Jd meant, but I meant Blocka, BMM, Fatalia-Mariner. Other than stick the ball under the wing and run, not a skill between them. Unlike Luch.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

, but how have his performances been since his arrival, he's a professional player he should understand what the requirements are,

I agree in that he let his size balloon due to lazy training from a poor attitude which, yes, does show a lack of professionalism. Does too from our much vaunted fitness guro Dan Lawson who evidently was unable to get Luch and Blocka too, fit and trim for a new season as both still carried visible gut flab which slowed their agility. Poor old Blocka didnt have much agility to start with to be honest but Luch did look fitter when he returned, than last yr.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Dunno bout that. Gimme some names. Lock is a specialist position with a wide skill set expected. Jack had the whole bunch, great defender, fearless carrying the ball to the line, using second phase too. But for me what set him apart from most locks was his ability to chime in as a receiver and add spark to our attack when we were flat. It is these combined skills I see in Stewart. He couldnt have had a better mentor.

Stewart, Couchman's, Cook played a lot of minutes there last year, I think Egan might make a good lock. That's 5.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Not sure who Jd meant, but I meant Blocka, BMM, Fatalia-Mariner. Other than stick the ball under the wing and run, not a skill between them. Unlike Luch.

Only Blocka remains.

 

[Xuiz]

Coby black has left the Broncos, not sure where he is going

 

[KogarahDragon10]

Coby black has left the Broncos, not sure where he is going

Raiders

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Raiders elite recruitment and retention again

Casually win the race for one of the most coveted young halves in the game despite having Ethan Sanders and Ethan Strange in their ranks

 

[Justadragon]

Not sure who Jd meant, but I meant Blocka, BMM, Fatalia-Mariner. Other than stick the ball under the wing and run, not a skill between them. Unlike Luch.

I meant all the duds the Dragons have recruited RVH over the years, go to the thread I created, its very therapeutic

 

[RedVictory]

Raiders elite recruitment and retention again

Casually win the race for one of the most coveted young halves in the game despite having Ethan Sanders and Ethan Strange in their ranks

Makes me sick

 

[Justadragon]

Raiders elite recruitment and retention again

Casually win the race for one of the most coveted young halves in the game despite having Ethan Sanders and Ethan Strange in their ranks

Yep you have to wonder what makes a kid go there when those 2 are in front of him.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

The coaching/infrastructure and the success they’ve had this year helps

Their also very ambitious, when teams like Canberra have done what they’ve done in the last 10 years it shows you the ‘based in Wollongong’ brigade are just Full of sh1t

 

[Morgan]

Raiders elite recruitment and retention again

Casually win the race for one of the most coveted young halves in the game despite having Ethan Sanders and Ethan Strange in their ranks

Isn't he a halfback? Flanno wants to give someone else every chance to succeed, much more than anyone else, but then call on Kade Reed in the second half of the season if his preferred option doesn't work. Doesn't work again. Someone needs to tell Flanno the definition of insanity.

 

[Justadragon]

The coaching/infrastructure and the success they’ve had this year helps

Their also very ambitious, when teams like Canberra have done what they’ve done in the last 10 years it shows you the ‘based in Wollongong’ brigade are just Full of sh1t

I would have loved to see them do something this year, going out in straight sets wouldn't have helped but still way better than what we did.

 

[Edward]

I honestly don't know but aren't we all over-reacting a bit? Broncos have given him permission to sign elsewhere. They don't want him. I know they recruited Pezet and I know he's better than any of our halfback a for a number of years but I still didn't think he was that good. Wishart who is about the same age has been the preferred option when one of Melbourne's halves were unavailable.