Recruitment and Retention for 2026

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
I'm one of the very fans that still sees Cook as one of the best 14's going round.. with fresh legs hes as dangerous @9 as anyone, and despite the laughs about him covering ctr at origin level.. he covers backline positions better than most.. could even cover fullback.. its the perfect 14.. the 6man bench thing might put an end to needing that flexibility mind you.

I dont mind it cause im not rly convinced on Connor or Kyle making it as a first grade 9.. maybe.. but there is certainly no young gun hooker at this stage coming through.. would be a cheap contract also.. could definitely do a lot worse.. also a good experienced ex-kangaroo personality for the group on top.

Note: If we had of signed a Savala or a DCE or a Metcalf, I might have a different view because Kyle probably gets pushed to 14.. but that didnt happen.. and there is no gun halfback coming before 2028 I would think... regardless of what happens with Reed.
Nah, i dont like it Rev, KF was brought here as a 14, he's played 14 at the Dogs, was his best position. Extending Cook only allows him to stay in the halves because he certainly ain't going to ressies, we all know that.
 

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
A couple of things here Dave, I would hardly call Bird a star, and secondly why the extension ? one would have to think that extending Cook gives more emphasis to leaving KF in the halves, bad mistake !!!
It beats me Justa. Just because Cook says that he is keen to play on should not automatically bring about an extension of his stay at the Dragons as a player. It does smell of maybe Cook being the 14, Liddle the 9 and thus keeping Kyle in the halves. Shane WILL NOT think of putting his dearly beloved in the 14 spot nor in ressies.

Bird to me was pretty good when he was playing at the Sharks and won the grand final with them. Before and after that he did diddly squat. I hope though that he does OK overseas.
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup


I decided to put this clip in retention considering thats where this kid is at. Just listen to the words Hook says to him, and let me tell you he was never ready. A couple of years is a long time in RL, and now we cant even off load him. I really dont know what to say about him this year, I think its his last year if things dont change. Bit sad really, but unfortunately thats the world we live in.
 

The Word

SGI Junior League
We’re 3 months into being able to talk to players about 2027 so I would say no luck bringing in a quality replacement on reasonable money. Much easier to re-sign cooky to another year on reduced money while we wait for the pathway to provide a realistic option. Keep Kyle in haves till Reed is ready (hopefully 2027 but let’s see) unless O’Neil or LKT have standouts then switch them over.
 

The Word

SGI Junior League
Our forwards will be better next year, a year older, stronger, more experienced, hopefully less injuries. The halves will go better behind them and Kerr might make a difference. Kyle won’t be expected to lead in 2026, he’ll be a support for Atkinson who’ll be the main man. He’ll go ok this year.
 
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Dragons Chris

SGI NSW Cup
Our forwards will be better next year, a year older, stronger, more experienced, hopefully less injuries. The halves will go better behind them and Kerr might make a difference. Kyle won’t be expected to lead in 2026, he’ll be a support for Atkinson who’ll be the main man. He’ll go ok this year.
Is this preparation for Atkinson to take the heat if he and Kyle, like every other halves partner he has ever had are a bad combination? When you say Kyle won't be expected to lead, what do you mean? He won't be responsible for long kicking, thankfully even though Flanno said he has a good kicking game. What else won't he be expected to do that he was supposed to be doing last year?
 

The Word

SGI Junior League
Is this preparation for Atkinson to take the heat if he and Kyle, like every other halves partner he has ever had are a bad combination? When you say Kyle won't be expected to lead, what do you mean? He won't be responsible for long kicking, thankfully even though Flanno said he has a good kicking game. What else won't he be expected to do that he was supposed to be doing last year?
Settle down mate. I mean Atkinson will be the dominant half at our club and with that comes responsibility for game management. That's what he was brought here for and that's what he has said in interviews he wants. Blind Freddy can see that's not Kyle's strength so he will play a supporting role and let Atkinson call most of the clutch plays. Kyle will go ok in that supporting role until either LKT or O'Neill show enough, or until Reed is ready to go.
 

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
Feb 2nd is Groundhog Day, and Dragons Chris is posting about Kyle Flanagan, and Feb 2nd is Groundhog Day, and
TBF it is a touchy subject, to me he'll either prove himself or he wont, so the crappy excuses so far, Hunt was one of his partners, LKT was one of his partners, then we had crappy forwards etc etc etc. So without evidence of these excuses our only issue will be is will Flanno drop him to ressies, we shall see. For me I think he should be at 14 right now and bring LKT in.
 

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
That is two of our best young forwards we have let go and have gone to the BullGrubs, Latu now Ackers, yet another Saints junior lost to our club. Hope he remains as injury prone for them as he was with us as I hate seeing our nurtured talent go elsewhere.
 

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Just because Cook says that he is keen to play on should not automatically bring about an extension of his stay at the Dragons as a player.
So was JDB but they kicked him in the guts. A kick in the guts too for Liddle who will have to spend two more yrs as Cooks assistant. gggrrr. Just as well we extended our best hooker.
 

Dragons Chris

SGI NSW Cup
That is two of our best young forwards we have let go and have gone to the BullGrubs, Latu now Ackers, yet another Saints junior lost to our club. Hope he remains as injury prone for them as he was with us as I hate seeing our nurtured talent go elsewhere.
Ackers wasn't really cutting it. A few injuries and didn't grow as much. Fell behind a few others. Lets wait and see if Latu even plays first grade.
So was JDB but they kicked him in the guts. A kick in the guts too for Liddle who will have to spend two more yrs as Cooks assistant. gggrrr. Just as well we extended our best hooker.
He had a good run. Club treated him well. Was probably the right time to let him go. We won't have to wait long to see. He had a few below par games last year.
 

Eric

Staff
At least compare the correct players

Kerr is the klemmer replacement not JDB
Sele/Stewart stepping into the JDB role

Kerr averaged less min than klem last year but in a better front row rotation … in 25 min per game he averaged 9 runs at about 10 per run … if he can stretch out to 40 he is making very good metres for us

Sele when fit for those 3-4 games out performed JDB but the risk is injury … Stewart is the interesting one though

JDB was moved on for very good reasons most of all around whether we want him influencing our very good very naive players … he was dropping off in speed and effectiveness and that will continue this season …

Not having him there is very good for the players that will step into his role - beyond time to move him on
The rise and rise of Hamish Stewart meant JDB was never going to be the first choice lock but would you prefer JDB or Kerr on the bench as an interchange prop?

That is based only on what they do on the field. Nothing that I'm aware of that makes JDB a bad influence Couchman's singled him out as the opposite of that. But I can understand the club would be relieved to put BBQ-gate and other non-crimimal but frowned upon episodes behind it.
 

RufusRex

SGI Jersey Flegg
I dont think my soul is ready to go into round 1 having to promote internally to complete the top 28.

So much progress being made in so many areas of the club with things like CEO/pathways/COE etc just that lack of new talent coming in to augment the roster. Yes i know there is still time before round 1 but it is the one thing i honestly thought we would have made inroads into.

I guess if the players are not there they are not there.
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I dont think my soul is ready to go into round 1 having to promote internally to complete the top 28.

So much progress being made in so many areas of the club with things like CEO/pathways/COE etc just that lack of new talent coming in to augment the roster. Yes i know there is still time before round 1 but it is the one thing i honestly thought we would have made inroads into.

I guess if the players are not there they are not there.
I think we had some big 2026 targets in mind which I assume didnt come off.. so with 2 weeks to go I mean I assume we will get to 28 and try our luck early season.. im pretty sure that means we need to find/upgrade 2 more players in the next 2 weeks....

I originally thought Muhleisen was Top30 but think I was wrong, and also it would have been insanely generous given his injury.. but I think hes in for 2027.

One of the insiders did hint we had been chasing a 9/14 since Liddle got injured.. not sure if thats true.. and it seems insane on the surface given thats what Kyle will eventually be.. but we really dont have 9/14 depth.. even if Liddle and Cook stay fit.. were playing a dangerous game. Question is.. are we chasing a filler for 12mths, or are we chasing a potential longer term 9/14? The latter meaning we maybe dont keep Cook.. depends how young he is..
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Still dissapointed Savala didnt come, they saying hes the one whos been killing it @ preseason.. would have been a perfect addition for 3yrs if not longer.. its a tough period now trying to wait for Reed.. and we still need a backup behind him as I dont think he would handle a full season anyway.

Also dont really have a 9/14 coming to replace Cook anytime soon either.. nor a fullback to replace Gutho, if its via pathways.. I mean I think we would have to buy said player in.. I also dont know how seriously they are taking Connor.. or if he is more a cheap backup option for 2027.
 
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