Recruitment & Retention 2027

Dragons faithful

Dragons faithful

SGI Jersey Flegg
TheRev said:
As for Gutho, it would be odd to keep him all year on the extended bench and get no game time.. but thats what we're looking at.. the only way I can see him providing purpose is as Drinkwaters injury replacement... but id be rly nervous to play him there cause he would totally change the make up of the squad.. but someone has to be our injury cover, whos it going to be? Drinkwater gets injured in preseason, whos doing a year @ fullback?
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That is scary tbh who is our cover for fullback 18 year old Burton ain’t no way they would risk that - Peckham Harris? Who else do we actually have Atkinson I personally don’t think he is a very good cover at all.. Maybe in a game he is sitting on extended bench and you have to play someone. That’s why I personally think Sloan will stay and be cover
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
its a hard one, Burton is probably 1yr off being injury cover.. its one thing to do a few games late in the season, another to be first drop injury cover... on top of that it does look more like left ctr will be his position.

I had forgotten about Atkinson, hard to imagine we carry him and Gutho next year.. Atko atleast has younger legs and I still think there is a player in him but have lost a lot of faith.. and Gutho I still love the man.. if were paying him anyway he can atleast be around the player group but his confidence/position will go if hes not in the 17 most weeks...

Ultimately if Gutho is going and were getting nothing back.. its only useful if we have another player in mind and we have some funds.. but can he even run is the other thing.. cant rly understand how thats not a medical retirement.. maybe were not there yet though.
 
RufusRex

RufusRex

SGI NSW Cup
Dragons faithful said:
That is scary tbh who is our cover for fullback 18 year old Burton ain’t no way they would risk that - Peckham Harris? Who else do we actually have Atkinson I personally don’t think he is a very good cover at all.. Maybe in a game he is sitting on extended bench and you have to play someone. That’s why I personally think Sloan will stay and be cover
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Well right now if we cannot get rid of him Gutherson is our cover for fullback. I think Young did well to have a look at Atkinson at the end of the season and that should be enough for him to say "Yeah Nah"

TPH is interesting, would really need to have a better kicking game and kick chase than we have had recently otherwise TPH will be bombed relentlessly and he struggles there given his height.

Sloan if he stayed could be an option, it just feels like we need to shed someone to keep him and we cant manage that.

Holmes? Take out his defensive "efforts"
 
Dragons faithful

Dragons faithful

SGI Jersey Flegg
TheRev said:
its a hard one, Burton is probably 1yr off being injury cover.. its one thing to do a few games late in the season, another to be first drop injury cover... on top of that it does look more like left ctr will be his position.

I had forgotten about Atkinson, hard to imagine we carry him and Gutho next year.. Atko atleast has younger legs and I still think there is a player in him but have lost a lot of faith.. and Gutho I still love the man.. if were paying him anyway he can atleast be around the player group but his confidence/position will go if hes not in the 17 most weeks...

Ultimately if Gutho is going and were getting nothing back.. its only useful if we have another player in mind and we have some funds.. but can he even run is the other thing.. cant rly understand how thats not a medical retirement.. maybe were not there yet though.
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I think he could be an outstanding fullback but not yet he is to young and he needs to learn his craft and to do that and to get a crack dragons need centres I think that’s Anderson’s idea with Burton for now but your right he looks very capable and comfortable hits the defensive line and don’t slow down can jump and attack
 
J

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
TheRev said:
its a hard one, Burton is probably 1yr off being injury cover.. its one thing to do a few games late in the season, another to be first drop injury cover... on top of that it does look more like left ctr will be his position.

I had forgotten about Atkinson, hard to imagine we carry him and Gutho next year.. Atko atleast has younger legs and I still think there is a player in him but have lost a lot of faith.. and Gutho I still love the man.. if were paying him anyway he can atleast be around the player group but his confidence/position will go if hes not in the 17 most weeks...

Ultimately if Gutho is going and were getting nothing back.. its only useful if we have another player in mind and we have some funds.. but can he even run is the other thing.. cant rly understand how thats not a medical retirement.. maybe were not there yet though.
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Just thinking of something left field here Rev, we could have offered Gutho an assistants position.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Justadragon said:
Just thinking of something left field here Rev, we could have offered Gutho an assistants position.
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I'm sure we could come up with a role for him.. I guess he has to want to retire though.. and he doesnt seem like a bloke who has 'give up' in his nature...

The longer this takes the more of his salary we have already paid out.. but it could be a sweet bonus slot that opens up early 2027?
 
RufusRex

RufusRex

SGI NSW Cup
It doesnt help our cap unless we medically retire him .. we need his dollars more than his spot in the roster.
He gets paid his contracted amount regardless of if he plays or not.

The rules around medical retirement are pretty restrictive for us because if you sign under some kind of injury/limitation it is very hard to use that as an excuse. Something new/unrelated is required.
 
Dragons faithful

Dragons faithful

SGI Jersey Flegg
RufusRex said:
It doesnt help our cap unless we medically retire him .. we need his dollars more than his spot in the roster.
He gets paid his contracted amount regardless of if he plays or not.

The rules around medical retirement are pretty restrictive for us because if you sign under some kind of injury/limitation it is very hard to use that as an excuse. Something new/unrelated is required.
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So what’s Hayden Buchanan’s contract status, Is it only to 2027 so he could negotiate Nov 1st
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
TheRev said:
its a hard one, Burton is probably 1yr off being injury cover.. its one thing to do a few games late in the season, another to be first drop injury cover... on top of that it does look more like left ctr will be his position.

I had forgotten about Atkinson, hard to imagine we carry him and Gutho next year.. Atko atleast has younger legs and I still think there is a player in him but have lost a lot of faith.. and Gutho I still love the man.. if were paying him anyway he can atleast be around the player group but his confidence/position will go if hes not in the 17 most weeks...

Ultimately if Gutho is going and were getting nothing back.. its only useful if we have another player in mind and we have some funds.. but can he even run is the other thing.. cant rly understand how thats not a medical retirement.. maybe were not there yet though.
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Might have to be aggressive in regard to promoting Burton to first grade. Rumble is also on a development contract, isn't he? You think Heidke might play NRL next year? I know he's been injured a lot but a full preseason might see him ready for NRL. Do you know the status of Jesse Williams? Is he off the radar for NRL for now?

I read a comment a few months ago, not sure who from but the person said the situation in the lower grades with the backs now is like it was with the forwards a few years ago. Might be able to promote a couple of them sooner rather than later. I can still barely believe Flanno when he arrived saying the Couchmans were promoted into first grade too soon. Utter rubbish. They were the next best forwards after JDB and Su'A when Griffin promoted them. Can't be that passive with these outside backs, IMO. At least give a couple a chance to see what they can do.
 
D

Dragon David

SGI NSW Cup
Eric said:
Might have to be aggressive in regard to promoting Burton to first grade. Rumble is also on a development contract, isn't he? You think Heidke might play NRL next year? I know he's been injured a lot but a full preseason might see him ready for NRL. Do you know the status of Jesse Williams? Is he off the radar for NRL for now?

I read a comment a few months ago, not sure who from but the person said the situation in the lower grades with the backs now is like it was with the forwards a few years ago. Might be able to promote a couple of them sooner rather than later. I can still barely believe Flanno when he arrived saying the Couchmans were promoted into first grade too soon. Utter rubbish. They were the next best forwards after JDB and Su'A when Griffin promoted them. Can't be that passive with these outside backs, IMO. At least give a couple a chance to see what they can do.
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I agree with your last sentence Eric Eric
 
R

RandomDragon

SGI Jersey Flegg
Would not surprise me at all to see Deanos with the big penos play Burton or Heidke in round 1. He has always given the young juniors a chance, whether that changes now that the job is his for 2 years we will find out, but if theyre good enough theyre old enough. I'd like to see Burton on the wing, he is good in the air and will keep him away from the big backrowers/centres.
 
J

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
RandomDragon said:
Would not surprise me at all to see Deanos with the big penos play Burton or Heidke in round 1. He has always given the young juniors a chance, whether that changes now that the job is his for 2 years we will find out, but if theyre good enough theyre old enough. I'd like to see Burton on the wing, he is good in the air and will keep him away from the big backrowers/centres.
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Only until he has to return the ball from a kick.
 
RufusRex

RufusRex

SGI NSW Cup
RandomDragon said:
Would not surprise me at all to see Deanos with the big penos play Burton or Heidke in round 1. He has always given the young juniors a chance, whether that changes now that the job is his for 2 years we will find out, but if theyre good enough theyre old enough. I'd like to see Burton on the wing, he is good in the air and will keep him away from the big backrowers/centres.
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i actually think that the big backrowers/centres will be less of a problem for him than we think .. His decision making and timing in defence is pretty damn good and he is a strong lad. I think left centre is his spot to debut and it gives him the backline touches he will need to perfect when promoting his winger. The Purdue pathway.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Eric said:
Might have to be aggressive in regard to promoting Burton to first grade. Rumble is also on a development contract, isn't he? You think Heidke might play NRL next year? I know he's been injured a lot but a full preseason might see him ready for NRL. Do you know the status of Jesse Williams? Is he off the radar for NRL for now?
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I think whoever remains healthy and has a strong off-season is every bit a chance to push for a spot.. I doubt its early season.. but its not impossible..

Burton is the only sure thing.. just a qn of whether a year in NSW Cup comes first.. or atleast half of it.. he will just be 18 by next season but thats the bare minimum. Perspective shifts if we have injuries of course.. like what if Val and Suli r injured, then what? Gutho/Atko?

Heidke is a chance with a big preseason but im trying not to think about it.. barely played footy all season.. and didnt dominate upon his return, which is to be expected.. but still.. need him rly performing in Flegg or Cup to earn a 1st grade shot... he has fallen behind Burton now in the pecking order.. but its only due to injuries.. hes like 2-3yrs older and pretty solid.

Williams seems a mile off if he is even returning... Toby Rumble is in front of him now by some margin.. probably just as quick tbh... Morkos another though we dont know if he will still be here.. im not sure if hes still a ctr or just a big Flanno style winger.. just havent seen enough of him to judge.

As for what contracts they all have.... I kind of feel like we need to wait for next year to be sure.. we have spots to fill, not much cash.. so do we have anyone else coming or not? Maybe some kids get promotions based on their preseasons...
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
TheRev said:
I think whoever remains healthy and has a strong off-season is every bit a chance to push for a spot.. I doubt its early season.. but its not impossible..

Burton is the only sure thing.. just a qn of whether a year in NSW Cup comes first.. or atleast half of it.. he will just be 18 by next season but thats the bare minimum. Perspective shifts if we have injuries of course.. like what if Val and Suli r injured, then what? Gutho/Atko?

Heidke is a chance with a big preseason but im trying not to think about it.. barely played footy all season.. and didnt dominate upon his return, which is to be expected.. but still.. need him rly performing in Flegg or Cup to earn a 1st grade shot... he has fallen behind Burton now in the pecking order.. but its only due to injuries.. hes like 2-3yrs older and pretty solid.

Williams seems a mile off if he is even returning... Toby Rumble is in front of him now by some margin.. probably just as quick tbh... Morkos another though we dont know if he will still be here.. im not sure if hes still a ctr or just a big Flanno style winger.. just havent seen enough of him to judge.

As for what contracts they all have.... I kind of feel like we need to wait for next year to be sure.. we have spots to fill, not much cash.. so do we have anyone else coming or not? Maybe some kids get promotions based on their preseasons...
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Hopefully at least one, preferably 2 of Heidke, Rumble, Burton are playing regular NRL by mid-season. Suli would be better taking turns training at centre and in the forwards. He'd be good to have on the bench. If there are no injuries in the backs, he might stay on the bench for 80 min.

So would need Heidke or Burton to be in the centres and probably Rumble on the wing. As a player, I obviously rate Burton and Heidke higher but as a winger, I think Rumble might turn out to be very good. That would give us a complete team without any weakness and right in the mix for the premiership, IMO.
 
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