Recruitment & Retention 2027

[TheRev]

But all 3 are off contract so it makes no difference to the Dragons salary cap position.

Ai but it's still nice to hear and it also means they aren't going to be on our 2027 roster =)

 

[RufusRex]

yep ... the fear is that like this season we didnt complete the 30 man roster the way we wanted so made silly hires ...
we dont want to go into next year with insufficient numbres and pick up the phone to Cake or CTe

 

[TheRev]

am rly curious what the roster will look like.. was just writing about O'Neill elsewhere and thinking he will absolutely need to be moved on.. every 30+6 spot will be valuable for keeping the up and comers from Jersey Flegg and possibly Cup wrapped up.. someone like Hammoud might take it if the guy can stay healthy :-/ and Hodges has had a break out season.. all these U21 kids are getting to an age we need to make a few decisions..

Definitely not sure what the plan is for the other spots, I can see Gutho retiring in some way, I can't see Kyle going early.. Suli im on the fence but genuinely not sure who we would replace him with at short notice.. and assume Val is staying on now.

 

[Edward]

Ai but it's still nice to hear and it also means they aren't going to be on our 2027 roster =)

Getting Gutho off contract even if Dragons have to pay 1/2 is the holy grail at this point. Free up 450k to hopefully re-sign LPT.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Slim pickings for available outside backs now with only the likes of Murray Taulagi and Will Penisini that really jump off the page.
Looking further ahead, players such as Herbie Farnworth, Bradman Best, Deine Mariner, Jojo Fifita, Paul Alamoti, Ali Leiataua could be available and would all be the exact type of player to provide outside back strike power that we desperately need. Best and Farnworth my choice but doubt we can afford what the Pommie is likely to be worth.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

So far we have signed some decent players for next year but while Gutho could be put into one of the centre spots, we do need a solid and quick centre as well. No use Drinkwater and Metcalf making a break without anyone with decent speed to back them up to the try line.

Not Gutho in the centres David. Too slow. Perhaps give Atkinson a crack there if push comes to shove and we cant land a suitable outside back for next season. Either Gutho in as a ball playing 5/8, off the bench or add him to our coaching staff.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

The re-signing of Young will now fast-track talks to lock down several of the Dragons young gun players who are due to hit the open market on November 1 according to Tim Watsford.

Hope those young guns are the Couchies, Loko, Jake as #1 priorities. Also hope that does not mean we will be unable to upgrade our other younger guns, the Meafou bros and the Papuali twins.

 

[Eric]

The re-signing of Young will now fast-track talks to lock down several of the Dragons young gun players who are due to hit the open market on November 1 according to Tim Watsford.

Hope those young guns are the Couchies, Loko, Jake as #1 priorities. Also hope that does not mean we will be unable to upgrade our other younger guns, the Meafou bros and the Papuali twins.

Hope so. All Tim has done so far is proven he is a liar. Also Halangahu but might have to lose him or LPT.

 

[jodragon40]

So now we have 6 former Dragons playing in the ESL next year. I watch ESL and the added spice of watching 6 ex Dragons will just add to the entertainment.

I would expect most of them to make an impact especially Sloan. He will be a try scoring machine over there.

So Cook, Feigai and Sloan have gone to Castleford Tigers,
Sele, Leilua to Catalan Dragons and Guler to Wakefield Trinity.

On top of that Sua to Parramatta. You wouldn't believe that CT and Lawson would be getting new contracts either.

So rightly or wrongly if those players were playing next year on their current salary I figure all 7 would equal about $3m of our salary cap.

Then Lawrie won't be resigned so we are up to $3.7m. I acknowledge we have signed already signed 6 replacements.

Be interesting to see if we have enough money left under the salary cap to keep both the Couchman's, LPT , Halangahu at the club from 2028.

So the salary cap for next year is $12.1m but because of the new broadcast rights from 2028 should increase the salary cap substantially.

My view , we will keep those we want, time will tell who Young rates.

 

[GCRV]

So now we have 6 former Dragons playing in the ESL next year. I watch ESL and the added spice of watching 6 ex Dragons will just add to the entertainment.

I would expect most of them to make an impact especially Sloan. He will be a try scoring machine over there.

So Cook, Feigai and Sloan have gone to Castleford Tigers,
Sele, Leilua to Catalan Dragons and Guler to Wakefield Trinity.

On top of that Sua to Parramatta. You wouldn't believe that CT and Lawson would be getting new contracts either.

So rightly or wrongly if those players were playing next year on their current salary I figure all 7 would equal about $3m of our salary cap.

Then Lawrie won't be resigned so we are up to $3.7m. I acknowledge we have signed already signed 6 replacements.

Be interesting to see if we have enough money left under the salary cap to keep both the Couchman's, LPT , Halangahu at the club from 2028.

So the salary cap for next year is $12.1m but because of the new broadcast rights from 2028 should increase the salary cap substantially.

My view , we will keep those we want, time will tell who Young rates.

Or which of them rate Young.

 

[Justadragon]

So now we have 6 former Dragons playing in the ESL next year. I watch ESL and the added spice of watching 6 ex Dragons will just add to the entertainment.

I would expect most of them to make an impact especially Sloan. He will be a try scoring machine over there.

So Cook, Feigai and Sloan have gone to Castleford Tigers,
Sele, Leilua to Catalan Dragons and Guler to Wakefield Trinity.

On top of that Sua to Parramatta. You wouldn't believe that CT and Lawson would be getting new contracts either.

So rightly or wrongly if those players were playing next year on their current salary I figure all 7 would equal about $3m of our salary cap.

Then Lawrie won't be resigned so we are up to $3.7m. I acknowledge we have signed already signed 6 replacements.

Be interesting to see if we have enough money left under the salary cap to keep both the Couchman's, LPT , Halangahu at the club from 2028.

So the salary cap for next year is $12.1m but because of the new broadcast rights from 2028 should increase the salary cap substantially.

My view , we will keep those we want, time will tell who Young rates.

Im glad Anderson is there this time, we might at least avoid a potential disaster.

 

[RufusRex]

Well the money we have freed up for next season has no bearing on what we can spend in 2028.
However Holmes will free up some dough for 2028 and as you say the new deal will be interesting.

I think there are a few factors that are really going to play with respect to recruitment/retention.
A south coast junior/life post code will be big on the list
I think not being involved with Crown sports will also be well regarded

That is one strike for Loko and two for Jake which annoys me ... I hope i am wrong.

Would not surprise me one bit (gut feel no mail) if we kept Loko but didnt keep Jake .. although Jakes brother changing management stables was curious.