Recruitment and Retention for 2026

Dave03

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
Excellent yardage & good try scorer, rep player, athletic & in the prime age. He ticks a lot of boxes. He'd be a great recruit, linking up with Holmes again so a bit of chemistry already. I think he may have also played with Sua & Luch for Samoa.
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
I guess Cowboys have Dearden, Drinkwater, Taumalolo on as much as Holmes and Nanai on more than the next highest paid Dragons player. Something has to give. They let him go or lose Purdue.
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
Here is the rumour (not really, just a wish list)
Taulagi and Kolomatangi signed by the Dragons and released by their clubs with immediate effect before the Christmas-New Year holiday is over. Then it would all be on the halves whether we are one of the top teams or not.
 
R

redv13

SGI Jersey Flegg
Eric said:
Here is the rumour (not really, just a wish list)
Taulagi and Kolomatangi signed by the Dragons and released by their clubs with immediate effect before the Christmas-New Year holiday is over. Then it would all be on the halves whether we are one of the top teams or not.
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Be a very merry Christmas if those two ended up in the red V
 
Mailroomsgi

Mailroomsgi

SGI NSW Cup
Purdue’s gonna go to Melbourne 2027 I reckon, their big fans of him.

The draw of playing for Melbourne drops when Bellamy steps away though and it’ll be fairly soon. IMO Bellamy will coach 2026 and 2027 and then retire
 
Ryan

Ryan

SGI NSW Cup
Mailroomsgi said:
Purdue’s gonna go to Melbourne 2027 I reckon, their big fans of him.

The draw of playing for Melbourne drops when Bellamy steps away though and it’ll be fairly soon. IMO Bellamy will coach 2026 and 2027 and then retire
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If that's the case, it probably means NQ will have money for Taulagi. Where would Purdue play for Melbourne? He says he wants to be a 5/8. The centre Melbourne lost early in the GF is very good and Meany is solid. Don't think Bellamy would get rid of Meany for a big money recruit. I think Melbourne might be more interested in Tino or another forward.
 
Mailroomsgi

Mailroomsgi

SGI NSW Cup
By the time Purdue gets down there Hughes or Munster will go or be a year away from leaving+ Purdue won’t cost an arm and a leg. He wasn’t very impressive as a half this year. He looked much better at centre but I think long term he’s a Spine player

Players take less to play for ‘winning’ clubs
 
Ryan

Ryan

SGI NSW Cup
Mailroomsgi said:
By the time Purdue gets down there Hughes or Munster will go or be a year away from leaving+ Purdue won’t cost an arm and a leg. He wasn’t very impressive as a half this year. He looked much better at centre but I think long term he’s a Spine player

Players take less to play for ‘winning’ clubs
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Perth say their hunt for Munster is over. He's staying in Melbourne. Hughes still has a few years left. Unless Bellamy sees him as a fullback but they have Fa'alogo and apparently they have a very high opinion of the Jersey Flegg fullback from this year.

But maybe Bellamy has a plan. I don't know anything about him other than I think he played first grade when he was 18. So you'd think by the time he's 22, he'll be very good.
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
It's almost Christmas. It's ok to dream a bit. Imagine if we got Lawrie and Sloan off the books and got Kolomatangi and Taulagi on the books for next season!
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
think we were after Faalago at one point, but pappie leaving has flow on effects that would mean 0 chance to pull him for 2026..

rly does feel like musical chairs, and we usually are the last one to miss out on the dregs sadly..

still hopeful but it shouldnt be this tough... mind you would rather Koula x20 @fullback if hes an option...
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
Dave03 said:
chuck it into chat gpt and have fun with it
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Someone forgot to tell the chat bot Koloamatangi is a prop now.

Here’s a clear, balanced look at how the hypothetical swap — Blake Lawrie + Tyrell Sloan out, Keaon Koloamatangi + Murray Taulagi in for 2026 — would likely affect the St. George Illawarra Dragons.


⭐ Overall Impact​


If this scenario occurred, the Dragons would almost certainly improve their squad quality and competitiveness, especially in forward power, edge strike, and backline finishing. The trade would bring in two current State of Origin–level players in exchange for two solid but inconsistent or limited performers.


Below is the breakdown.


🔴 What the Dragons Lose​

1. Blake Lawrie (Prop)​


Strengths:
  • High work rate, reliable tackler, strong motor
  • Club stalwart and culture contributor
Limitations:
  • Not a damaging ball-runner (low post-contact metres)
  • Offers limited second-phase or attacking spark
  • Not a metre-eater compared with elite props
Impact of losing him:
  • Depth and effort go down a bit
  • But the Dragons do not lose strike or athleticism — because he didn’t provide it

2. Tyrell Sloan (Fullback)​


Strengths:
  • Exceptional speed and natural attacking flair
  • Very dangerous in open space
Limitations:
  • Inconsistent defence, especially under high ball
  • Struggles with contact and yardage coming out of trouble
  • Occasional decision-making lapses
Impact of losing him:
  • Lose some X-factor
  • But removes a defensive liability and inconsistency in a crucial spine position

🟢 What the Dragons Gain​

1. Keaon Koloamatangi (Edge forward)​


What he brings:
  • Representative-level back-rower
  • Elite power running and tackle-breaking ability
  • Excellent line-running near the try line
  • Solid defensive presence
  • 80-minute capability
Impact:
  • HUGE upgrade on the edge
  • Adds intimidation, go-forward, and reliability
  • Immediately becomes one of the Dragons’ best forwards


2. Murray Taulagi (Winger/Centre)​


What he brings:
  • Queensland Origin winger
  • Strong carries out of trouble ("yardage winger")
  • Great finishing ability
  • Strong defensive reads for a winger
  • Very good aerial game
Impact:
  • Major boost to set starts
  • More reliable finishing on attacking shifts
  • Tightens up edge defence


🔥 Tactical Improvement​

1. Forward Pack​

Adding Koloamatangi gives the Dragons:
  • A genuine strike forward they currently lack
  • Better edge combinations for their halves
  • More physicality and a higher ceiling in attack

2. Backline​


Taulagi improves:
  • Yardage sets (Dragons currently struggle here)
  • Edge defence
  • Completing backline movements with high finishing percentage

3. Structure & Consistency​


Replacing two inconsistent performers with two proven representative players lifts the baseline quality of the team.


📈 Projected On-Field Improvement​


Attack:​

Significant boost

  • Taulagi adds finishing and carries
  • Koloamatangi provides an attacking edge threat that draws defenders and opens space

Defence:​


Moderate to strong improvement
  • Koloamatangi solidifies the edge
  • Taulagi strengthens backline defence and kick-chase
  • Removing Sloan reduces back-end vulnerabilities

Culture & Leadership:​

  • Koloamatangi, in particular, brings a strong work ethic
  • Both are Origin-level professionals used to high standards

🎯 Final Verdict​

If the Dragons replaced Lawrie and Sloan with Koloamatangi and Taulagi for 2026:

**➡ The Dragons improve markedly in strike, physicality, yardage, and consistency.​

➡ This would likely boost them from a borderline/top-12 team to legitimate finals contention — assuming the rest of the roster holds.**

This is the type of talent upgrade that meaningfully changes a club’s competitive outlook.


If you’d like, I can also:
🔹 Predict their likely 2026 lineup with these changes
🔹 Estimate their expected ladder position
🔹 Compare these players statistically (run metres, tackle efficiency, try involvements, etc.)
🔹 Examine salary-cap implications
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
Dragon David said:
Hi Eric

That is one big write up and you certainly put a lot of thought and effort into it. I hope that what you have said comes about.

Cheers

DD
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Thanks but that was directly lifted from Chat GPT.

I didn't see it but I heard about a coworker arguing with Chat GPT and getting really agitated because Chat GPT refused to agree with him. Moral of the story, if you disagree, take it up with Chat GPT. Though I admit, I thought it was a very good analysis. Apart from someone has yet to inform it Koloamatangi is a prop, not a backrower now.
 
R

Red T

SGI Jersey Flegg
I do not know if we can move in Blocker. But it is the last year of his contract and he won’t be renewed. He did improve last year after a disastrous 2024.

Give Sloane another chance. His defence should improve this year. But he seems on the outer with Flanno

Are we interested in Nelson ? He is probably going to rugby360. With the sux (kiwi pronunciation ) again rule big men can be found out a bit. Klemmer was too slow and so is blocker.

Parramatta are interested in Nelson but I think he has signed with rugby.

I am glad Lomax is not with Saints as I would be really ticked off if he walked out like that for a bigger paycheck….
 
K

Kim

SGI Jersey Flegg
&
TheRev said:
think we were after Faalago at one point, but pappie leaving has flow on effects that would mean 0 chance to pull him for 2026..

rly does feel like musical chairs, and we usually are the last one to miss out on the dregs sadly..

still hopeful but it shouldnt be this tough... mind you would rather Koula x20 @fullback if hes an option...
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We need a fullback and a center for 2028 when Gutherson and Holmes are done. That means either bringing on juniors to take their places, acquiring some unknowns, or hoping that some established players in those positions becomes available to negotiate on Nov 1st 2026. I cannot see any top class juniors stepping up in that time frame (happy to be corrected) so this is something DA will have to sort out in the next 12 months.
 
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