Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[Justadragon]

Ok we are nearly two thirds of the way through November and nothing of significance. Some said not to expect anything until January. Here’s my tip lads if you don’t expect anything you won’t be disappointed. Enjoy Xmas eat lots of food heaps of alcohol and that should set us up for the journey ahead or at the very least we’ll be numb and very resilient to signing no one. It’s no surprise we have done that for the last 10 years.

 

[Mug Fan]

Players we are looking at for 27 may be released for 26.
Until that is sorted we need to keep spots available.
I would not be expecting any major announcements until Jan.

Could be a loan in the jigsaw puzzle.

 

[Morgan]

Could be a loan in the jigsaw puzzle.

Sloan involved? Blake Lawrie tries so hard. 110% effort in everything he does but his leg speed is ordinary, not big for a prop, no off-load, no passing. I can't see him being top 30 for any other club. At least Sloan can score a try and find a pass even if he can't tackle.

 

[TheRev]

ppl on rumour forums keep mentioning a cows experienced outside back.. maybe its talaugi maybe another... maybe we could get em for 2026 if we could give them a Sloan or a CT or someone for the year.. thats not rly a loan though.. thats just a swap I guess..

Loan might mean were taking someone for a year and giving them back.. god knows.. will just keep waiting

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Could it be Hugo Savala?

 

[TheRev]

spose Savala could do a 1yr loan.. and try his luck again in 2027 after DCE retires.. its not the best solution for us, but spose its better than nothing also..

thing for Savala though, once hes out, he is giving Rodwell a chance to take his jersey if there are injuries to Walker or DCE..

I still cant get used to people thinking of Rodwell or Woods as starting first grade 7's though, they are really only Reeds age but a bit more experienced.. also a bit different at the Roosters just playing outside DCE or Walker isnt a big ask.. different to play with pure 5/8s like Burton or Atkinson.

 

[Eric]

spose Savala could do a 1yr loan.. and try his luck again in 2027 after DCE retires.. its not the best solution for us, but spose its better than nothing also..

thing for Savala though, once hes out, he is giving Rodwell a chance to take his jersey if there are injuries to Walker or DCE..

I still cant get used to people thinking of Rodwell or Woods as starting first grade 7's though, they are really only Reeds age but a bit more experienced.. also a bit different at the Roosters just playing outside DCE or Walker isnt a big ask.. different to play with pure 5/8s like Burton or Atkinson.

I hope I'm not wrong but from what I've seen of Woods, SG Ball GF, U19s SOO X 2, Aus Schoolboys vs PNG U19s, he's unbelievably overrated.

As for Savala, is he another Ilias? Atkinson was recruited to play halfback. I think we have to put our trust in him and count on Reed not being overrated.

 

[DragonsTragic]

I hope I'm not wrong but from what I've seen of Woods, SG Ball GF, U19s SOO X 2, Aus Schoolboys vs PNG U19s, he's unbelievably overrated.

As for Savala, is he another Ilias? Atkinson was recruited to play halfback. I think we have to put our trust in him and count on Reed not being overrated.

Overrated? Had a bulldogs supporter tell me he is the next Australian no 7.

 

[Eric]

Overrated? Had a bulldogs supporter tell me he is the next Australian no 7.

From the 4 games I've seen him play, I'm not saying so much he's overrated but outright rubbish. But I've only seen 4 games so maybe that Bullgrubs supporter is right.

 

[Mug Fan]

ppl on rumour forums keep mentioning a cows experienced outside back.. maybe its talaugi maybe another... maybe we could get em for 2026 if we could give them a Sloan or a CT or someone for the year.. thats not rly a loan though.. thats just a swap I guess..

Loan might mean were taking someone for a year and giving them back.. god knows.. will just keep waiting

More than likely Drinkwater who I mentioned a while back.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

dragons meeting with kolo this week

As in this Kolo,

Keaon Koloamatangi​

Our latest Kangaroo. Can we afford him and tell me why he'd snub the Eels for us.

 

[Dragons Chris]

More than likely Drinkwater who I mentioned a while back.

Cowboys might let Drinkwater go? Surprising. I thought he's right up with Dearden for their best player.

 

[Xuiz]

Cowboys might let Drinkwater go? Surprising. I thought he's right up with Dearden for their best player.

On par with Sloan in defence

A lot of criticism on that side of the game, elite attacking player though

 

[TheRev]

I'm not sure what to think re: drinkwater, but I reckon thats a 2026 signing or possibly not worth it due to age..

def see a world where the cows want to focus on Purdue, but maybe they want to make sure hes extending first?

 

[Justadragon]

More than likely Drinkwater who I mentioned a while back.

On par with Sloan in defence

A lot of criticism on that side of the game, elite attacking player though

That’s great one turnstile for another.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

The difference is Drinkwater is an offensive juggernaut, he and dearden are the reason Todd Payten hasn’t been queuing up at Centrelink for the last 3-4 years

Can’t believe he’s 29 next year

 

[TheRev]

Feel like either Campbell or Drinkwater would work as a fullback solution.. I'd rather Campbell because of his younger age and I think he has more raw skill in every dept.. best is still to come potentially.. but if Perth r throwing 1.2m x 5yrs, its a tough one to beat off.. Drinkwater would be cheaper but he probably only has 3-4yrs left in him.. and he prob will only get slower.

That 2028 cap increase though, noone is rly factoring that in.. its a couple of hundred k inflation that these contracts are factoring in already.

 

[Illusion]

24K views · 254 reactions | The Bruce Gordon Centre promises to make the Dragons one of the leading clubs for player performance and recovery. WIN News right there as the players and staff got their first look inside the new high performance facilit

The Bruce Gordon Centre promises to make the Dragons one of the leading clubs for player performance and recovery. WIN News right there as the players and staff got their first look inside the new...

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[Ryan]

Never again with that flog

At risk of being digitally shouted down, I'd love to get Lomax back but only after we have some genuine speedsters at fullback, on the other wing and at least one centre.

 

[Justadragon]

At risk of being digitally shouted down, I'd love to get Lomax back but only after we have some genuine speedsters at fullback, on the other wing and at least one centre.

Yeah Ryan I get it. But for me there would be no way. He’s a loose cannon. He was good aerially but I didn’t think he possessed any great speed. I liked that he competed on every play though. I really don’t know what I would be saying right now if we still had him and he announced his R360 plan. I would put him in the same sphere as Hunt. And that’s not a good place.