Recruitment and Retention for 2026

[Eric]

Injury prone unfortunately, one of the consequences of young adults playing against grown men im afraid

I believe at least Kyle was actually diagnosed as having some kind of congenital defeat in his ACLs. Cameron King was also supposed to be the next big thing at hooker. He also started off looking very promising, had a few consecutive injuries then when he was finally injury free, he just wasn't very good anymore.

How different would things have been in that period after Wayne left if Cameron King and the Stanley's stayed injury free and were as good as they seemed to be early on?

 

[Ryan]

Not being condescending here but im just speaking from my own personal experiences. It is in nobody's best interest to be rushing young kids into 1sts without proper grounding.

Reed is 19 made his ressies debut in round 26 last year against the Dogs. He played 5/8 because illias was the 7, they got flogged 46 - 10.

Don't forget he has signed on until 2028 so every man and his dog in positions of authority at the Dragons know what they have. Leave it to the actual experts to decide when and where the kid weaves his promising but not proven magic.

I'm not being condescending but you said:

I can't understand this sudden urge to rush Reed through his development or even trying to jump steps because he is a very good hf in juniors.

I still don't get it. Even if Atkinson isn't a good halfback, you still don't think there would be a need to rush for Reed to play first grade? Why? He'll be 20. Is that too young? Since when? Maybe he'll never be any good in first grade. But I can't understand why you don't think there would be a rush for us to find out if Atkinson isn't the answer.

My comment met with extreme skepticism about Ollie Burton or Rokko Walker taking over for Gutho, when they will both be 19 is more of what seems to me extreme and very weird nervousness about 18~21 year-olds playing first grade on this forum. I don't understand it.

 

[GCRV]

Is it time to start a recruitment and retention for 2027 thread?
Just wondering, KK is coming but

• Gular
• Lawrie
• Sele

all off contract. Will Gular be kept for another year? Or maybe Sele if he can show that he can stay fit for more than a handful of games. We know Lawrie won't be kept.

 

[GCRV]

I'm not being condescending but you said:

I still don't get it. Even if Atkinson isn't a good halfback, you still don't think there would be a need to rush for Reed to play first grade? Why? He'll be 20. Is that too young? Since when? Maybe he'll never be any good in first grade. But I can't understand why you don't think there would be a rush for us to find out if Atkinson isn't the answer.

My comment met with extreme skepticism about Ollie Burton or Rokko Walker taking over for Gutho, when they will both be 19 is more of what seems to me extreme and very weird nervousness about 18~21 year-olds playing first grade on this forum. I don't understand it.

When circumstances dictate, should take a punt on teenagers and 20 year-olds. Last year Halanganhu was only 19. He might have been 18 or just turned 19 when he debuted. Didn't let us down either. Not a bit!

LKT was only 19 when he debuted in 2024.

 

[jodragon40]

I'm not being condescending but you said:

I still don't get it. Even if Atkinson isn't a good halfback, you still don't think there would be a need to rush for Reed to play first grade? Why? He'll be 20. Is that too young? Since when? Maybe he'll never be any good in first grade. But I can't understand why you don't think there would be a rush for us to find out if Atkinson isn't the answer.

My comment met with extreme skepticism about Ollie Burton or Rokko Walker taking over for Gutho, when they will both be 19 is more of what seems to me extreme and very weird nervousness about 18~21 year-olds playing first grade on this forum. I don't understand it.

I also said just based on my own personal experiences

 

[jodragon40]

I believe at least Kyle was actually diagnosed as having some kind of congenital defeat in his ACLs. Cameron King was also supposed to be the next big thing at hooker. He also started off looking very promising, had a few consecutive injuries then when he was finally injury free, he just wasn't very good anymore.

How different would things have been in that period after Wayne left if Cameron King and the Stanley's stayed injury free and were as good as they seemed to be early on?

Injuries, the archilles heel of every player and coach. I recall my old mentor making me run laps of the oval in the middle of summer to get me out of the bsd habit I had of saying but whatif. I soon learnt my lesson.

I am just saying that young adults as a rule of thumb cannot physically compete with men especially in the forwards.

In the backs natural ability and speed will take you further. You still have to allow them the time to physically grow.

Of course there will be exceptions but look at last year's injury toll to our youngsters in the pack.

The game is much faster than in my day and Injuries are far more prevalent now.

 

[RandomDragon]

Isn’t Ollie Burton our next long term FB? Turns 17 today and signed till 2028, that’s a long deal for an at the time 16 year old, and the club made a big deal about it. The recent talk was trai fuller, club actually met with him but for some reason I believe it fell through, he would’ve been the perfect stop gap for 2-3 years until Burton was ready at age 19, either way they’re thinking about it at least

 

[No Surrender]

Isn’t Ollie Burton our next long term FB? Turns 17 today and signed till 2028, that’s a long deal for an at the time 16 year old, and the club made a big deal about it. The recent talk was trai fuller, club actually met with him but for some reason I believe it fell through, he would’ve been the perfect stop gap for 2-3 years until Burton was ready at age 19, either way they’re thinking about it at least

Rokko Walker apparently starred against the Roosters in HM Cup at Fullback. Don’t know when he turns 17. May be serious competition for Ollie.

 

[GCRV]

Isn’t Ollie Burton our next long term FB? Turns 17 today and signed till 2028, that’s a long deal for an at the time 16 year old, and the club made a big deal about it. The recent talk was trai fuller, club actually met with him but for some reason I believe it fell through, he would’ve been the perfect stop gap for 2-3 years until Burton was ready at age 19, either way they’re thinking about it at least

They are obviously thinking about and I'll trust Flanno and DA, DA in particular, but I really don't see what the issue is with Gutho for this year and next. I don't think he was that good last year but if:

• Long kicking is much better for field position.
• Line speed is much better also for field position.
• Wingers are faster so as to allow for a bit slower fullback.
• Halves do their job and set up more tries so Gutho can more pick and choose his moments in attack.

I think Gutho would not only be ok, but good for this year and next.
It might seem like that's a lot to expect but it isn't really. All 4 things happen for most of the other teams.

 

[TheRev]

Ollie is still too young to be factoring in as a first grade fullback, but you need a prospect coming through at all times.. the pipeline etc.

I also dont think the position is a lock with many of these young backs, for example Ben Rumble was KILLING it at fullback all the way to flegg basically, but that jump up to NSW Cup against men.. and maybe his body getting bigger.. it just proved his ceiling.. but.. his frame is perfect for the wing.. if he can get the errors out of his handling he could certainly make it there...

Ollie to me is pretty big for fullback, but right now he still has great speed too.. he loses a little in acceleration but he gets to tops peed quick enough, but he could easily end up in a different position by the time he makes first grade (if indeed he makes first grade)... i.e. we definitely need to be hunting a 2026/2027 fullback target for the next 3-4yrs regardless of Ollie's progression.

 

[Eric]

Ollie is still too young to be factoring in as a first grade fullback, but you need a prospect coming through at all times.. the pipeline etc.

I also dont think the position is a lock with many of these young backs, for example Ben Rumble was KILLING it at fullback all the way to flegg basically, but that jump up to NSW Cup against men.. and maybe his body getting bigger.. it just proved his ceiling.. but.. his frame is perfect for the wing.. if he can get the errors out of his handling he could certainly make it there...

Ollie to me is pretty big for fullback, but right now he still has great speed too.. he loses a little in acceleration but he gets to tops peed quick enough, but he could easily end up in a different position by the time he makes first grade (if indeed he makes first grade)... i.e. we definitely need to be hunting a 2026/2027 fullback target for the next 3-4yrs regardless of Ollie's progression.

Personally I had Ben Rumble penciled in for a long, high quality NRL career. Still have hopes his brother might. As for Ben, is he playing in QLD Cup this year? I thought I heard somewhere he went to NQ but not top 30 or development contract.

 

[RandomDragon]

Ollie has it all, great defender too

 

[jodragon40]

Ollie is still too young to be factoring in as a first grade fullback, but you need a prospect coming through at all times.. the pipeline etc.

I also dont think the position is a lock with many of these young backs, for example Ben Rumble was KILLING it at fullback all the way to flegg basically, but that jump up to NSW Cup against men.. and maybe his body getting bigger.. it just proved his ceiling.. but.. his frame is perfect for the wing.. if he can get the errors out of his handling he could certainly make it there...

Ollie to me is pretty big for fullback, but right now he still has great speed too.. he loses a little in acceleration but he gets to tops peed quick enough, but he could easily end up in a different position by the time he makes first grade (if indeed he makes first grade)... i.e. we definitely need to be hunting a 2026/2027 fullback target for the next 3-4yrs regardless of Ollie's progression.

Absolutely

 

[jodragon40]

Is it time to start a recruitment and retention for 2027 thread?
Just wondering, KK is coming but

• Gular
• Lawrie
• Sele

all off contract. Will Gular be kept for another year? Or maybe Sele if he can show that he can stay fit for more than a handful of games. We know Lawrie won't be kept.

Ok ill do that for you now

 

[jodragon40]

When circumstances dictate, should take a punt on teenagers and 20 year-olds. Last year Halanganhu was only 19. He might have been 18 or just turned 19 when he debuted. Didn't let us down either. Not a bit!

LKT was only 19 when he debuted in 2024.

Agree and last season those circumstances did eventuate. Now let us have a look at our young rising stars in the forwards injury toll as a result:
Long term:
R & T Couchman
Dylan Egan

Short Term
N Tsougranis
LPT
H Stewart

So the 4 youngsters coming out of our Academy were all injured.

As I have said consistently on this and other forums, yes definitely blood those youngster but be extremely careful with your young forwards because of the chance of injuries based on high impact collisions.

The evidence speaks for itself.

 

[GCRV]

Agree and last season those circumstances did eventuate. Now let us have a look at our young rising stars in the forwards injury toll as a result:
Long term:
R & T Couchman
Dylan Egan

Short Term
N Tsougranis
LPT
H Stewart

So the 4 youngsters coming out of our Academy were all injured.

As I have said consistently on this and other forums, yes definitely blood those youngster but be extremely careful with your young forwards because of the chance of injuries based on high impact collisions.

The evidence speaks for itself.

I think you have it backward. A typical 31 year-old is more likely to be injured than a typical 19 year-old if all other things are equal. Some things like a torn ACL are just chance. Hamstrings and soft tissue injuries are more likely to effect older players and keep them out for longer.

 

[Frank Facer]

I think you have it backward. A typical 31 year-old is more likely to be injured than a typical 19 year-old if all other things are equal. Some things like a torn ACL are just chance. Hamstrings and soft tissue injuries are more likely to effect older players and keep them out for longer.

I also know of teens who were very good, but had numerous serious injuries playing against own age group, which meant they never got to even push for first grade. There was one young 5/8, who was playing reps and had big wraps on him. His peers would say he was better than the likes of Fittler and Jason Taylor. At around 17 years old, he did his ACL at least once or twice and never got to play senior football. The heights Fitter reached, meant that the player I am talking about probably wasn't as good as Fitter. I had mates who played against Fittler in their teens who thought he was over rated.

 

[jodragon40]

I think you have it backward. A typical 31 year-old is more likely to be injured than a typical 19 year-old if all other things are equal. Some things like a torn ACL are just chance. Hamstrings and soft tissue injuries are more likely to effect older players and keep them out for longer.

I think not, you miss my point

 

[jodragon40]

I also know of teens who were very good, but had numerous serious injuries playing against own age group, which meant they never got to even push for first grade. There was one young 5/8, who was playing reps and had big wraps on him. His peers would say he was better than the likes of Fittler and Jason Taylor. At around 17 years old, he did his ACL at least once or twice and never got to play senior football. The heights Fitter reached, meant that the player I am talking about probably wasn't as good as Fitter. I had mates who played against Fittler in their teens who thought he was over rated.

Of course

 

[GCRV]

I also know of teens who were very good, but had numerous serious injuries playing against own age group, which meant they never got to even push for first grade. There was one young 5/8, who was playing reps and had big wraps on him. His peers would say he was better than the likes of Fittler and Jason Taylor. At around 17 years old, he did his ACL at least once or twice and never got to play senior football. The heights Fitter reached, meant that the player I am talking about probably wasn't as good as Fitter. I had mates who played against Fittler in their teens who thought he was over rated.

Injuries are mostly due to bad luck and how much players put their body on the line, not age.

Though older players get soft tissue injuries more.