Transfers

[Eric]

PLAYER DRAFT

The draft model, in particular a rookie draft, has been floated but would require a more centralised approach to junior pathways taking away some of a club’s power in developing junior talent in their region.

McInnes believes rugby league has a rich junior pathways system that should be maintained.

“[A rookie draft] takes away from the history of the game,” he said. “You get your die-hard fans that turn up to Harold Matts and SG Ball to watch the kids coming through. I understand the world is changing but some bits of history are worth preserving.”

FAN FRUSTRATIONS

McInnes understands the frustration of fan more than most.

He was a Roosters fan when Tricolours playmaker Craig Wing, sitting next to Russell Crowe, announced mid-season he was joining the Rabbitohs in 2008.

“When Craig Wing went back to Souths … he signed that fairly early and there was an infamous press conference where he was in Souths colours even though he was a Roosters player but that didn’t mean I stopped going for the Roosters,” McInnes said.

“I’ve just come from St George Illawarra to Cronulla Sharks, and I have no doubt the fans of the Dragons are ready to boo me when I play them, but that’s how it should be.

“No one is bigger than the club, so I don’t think one player leaving or news of them going early should make a difference.

“We all have a short time in whatever jersey we are wearing and we gave our all while we are in it. We only rent the jersey, we don’t own it.

---

I like the idea of a draft but not a rookie draft because we have been, and I'm confident Griffen and his team will make us again a development club.

As for St George fans booing McInnes, he shouldn't flatter himself. I'm glad the Shonkies signed him for that long and that much money.

 

[Eric]

I was just looking at this. Found it interesting in that Saints have so few players coming off contract and most who are, are nearing the end of their careers.

---

NRL PLAYERS OFF-CONTRACT IN 2022

FULLBACK: Matt Dufty, Steven Marsters, David Mead

WING: Kane Bradley, Christian Crichton, Herbie Farnworth, Moala Graham-Taufa, Dean Ieremia, George Jennings, Robert Jennings, Tui Katoa, Jacob Kiraz, Edrick Lee, Josh Mansour, Corey Oates, Jaxson Paulo, Junior Ratuva, Jorge Taufua

CENTRE: Zane Bijorac, Jack Bird, Brendan Elliot, Mawene Hiroti, Delouise Hoeter, Reece Hoffman, William Kei, Connelly Lemuelu, Esan Marsters, Taylan May, Taane Milne, Tautau Moga, Marcelo Montoya, Brayden Musgrove, Solomone Naiduki, Kevin Naiqama, Tom Opacic, Tommy Talau, Isaiah Tass

FIVE-EIGHTH: Kieran Foran, Anthony Milford, Kodi Nikorima, Matt Frawley, Ben Hampton, Lachlan Lam, Matt Moylan, Hayze Perham, Jaeman Salmon, Simi Sasagi, Billy Walters

HALFBACK: Ashley Taylor, Phoenix Crossland, Kurt Falls, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Cooper Johns, Albert Kelly, Jock Madden, Sean O’Sullivan, Brandon Wakeham, Sam Williams

HOOKER: Jayden Berrell, Manase Fainu, Temple Kalepo, Freddy Lussick, Jayden Nikorima, Mitch Rein, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin

LOCK: Matthew Eisenhuth, J’maine Hopgood, Corey Horsburgh, Max King, Pride Petterson-Robati, Sauaso Sue, Siosiua Taukeiaho

PROP: Daniel Alvaro, Eddie Blacker, Morgan Boyle, Herman Ese’ese, Poasa Faamausili, Sione Fainu, Andrew Fifita, Tom Gilbert, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Royce Hunt, Ryan James, Rhys Kennedy, Josh McGuire, Jordan McLean, Thomas Mikaele, Jirah Momoisea, Franklin Pele, Emry Pere, Pasami Saulo, Lindsay Smith, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Ryan Sutton, James Tamou, Martin Taupau, Aiden Tolman, Paul Vaughan, Jarrod Wallace

SECOND-ROW: Billy Burns, Michael Chee-Kam, Angus Crichton, Andrew Davey, Matt Doorey, Mitchell Dunn, Tom Eisenhuth, Adam Elliott, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Jackson Ford, Luke Garner, Jack Gosiewski, Wade Graham, Chris Lewis, Ryan Matterson, Jack Murchie, Briton Nikora, Keenan Palasia, Kevin Proctor, Tariq Sims, Chris Smith, Joe Stimson, Jackson Topine, Kelma Tuilagi, Jack Williams

---

The Jack Bird situation is well-known. Alvaro and Faamausili won't be resigned. Billy Burns was due back in round 1, then round 2, then round 3, now round 4 so when he finally comes back let's see if he gets a chance or whether he's well and truly on the outer. Ford and Gosiewski are going to get a chance sooner rather than later. As in tomorrow. Finally, the Sims situation is also well-known.

---

NRL PLAYERS OFF-CONTRACT IN 2023

FULLBACK: Corey Allan, Jesse Arthars, Selwyn Cobbo, Adam Doueihi, Scott Drinkwater, Bailey Hodgson, Albert Hopoate, William Kennedy, Daine Laurie, Moses Mbye, Nick Meaney, Latrell Mitchell, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Sean Russell, Will Smith, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Starford To’a, Kaeo Weekes

WING: Braidon Burns, Xavier Coates, Sosefo Fifita, Reuben Garrick, Thomas Jenkins, Sione Katoa, Asu Kepaoa, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Edward Kosi, Brenko Lee, Greg Marzhew, Laitia Moceidreke, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jayden Okunbor, Jordan Pereira, Ethan Quai-Ward, Jordan Rapana, Jason Saab, Xavier Savage, Maika Sivo, Charlie Staines, Murray Taulagi, Corey Thompson, Brian To’o, Daniel Tupou, Will Warbrick

CENTRE: Euan Aitken, Paul Alamoti, Jake Averillo, Waqa Blake, Jed Cartwright, Stephen Crichton, Oliver Gildart, Morgan Harper, Patrick Herbert, Peta Hiku, Hymel Hunt, Matt Ikuvalu, Brian Kelly, Brent Naden, Tesi Niu, Justin Olam, Brad Parker, Will Penisini, Adam Pompey, Jesse Ramien, Billy Smith, Harley Smith-Shields, Izack Tago, Jenson Taumoepeau, Valynce Te Whare, Enari Tuala, Viliami Vailea, Dominic Young

FIVE-EIGHTH: Dylan Brown, Tyson Gamble, Jackson Hastings, Adam Keighran, Kurt Mann, Cameron Munster, Paul Turner, Cody Walker

HALFBACK: Jakob Arthur, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Luke Brooks, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Clifford, Adam Clune, Kyle Flanagan, Ben Hunt, Drew Hutchison, Lachlan Ilias, Shaun Johnson, Soni Luke, Lachlan Miller, Cory Paix, Jonah Pezet, Brad Schneider, Blake Taaffe, Braydon Trindall, Sam Walker, Tyran Wishart

HOOKER: Erin Clark, Damien Cook, Joshua Cook, Lachlan Croker, Harry Grant, Jake Granville, Siliva Havili, Kobe Hetherington, Jacob Liddle, Jeremy Marshall-King, Andrew McCullough, Chris Randall, Reece Robson

LOCK: Mitch Barnett, Nathan Brown, Tyrone Peachey, Victor Radley, Hame Sele, Joseph Tapine, Jazz Tevaga, Connor Watson

PROP: Bunty Afoa, Josh Aloiai, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Renouf Atoni, Ethan Bullemor, George Burgess, Thomas Burgess, Thomas Flegler, Jordan Grant, Wiremu Greig, Emre Guler, Jack Hetherington, David Hollis, Corey Jensen, Tui Kamikamica, Josh Kerr, Josh King, David Klemmer, Liam Knight, Blake Lawrie, Spencer Leniu, Matthew Lodge, Tepai Moeroa, Griffin Neame, Joe Ofahengaue, Chris Patolo, Aaron Pene, Ava Seumanufagai, Tukimihia Simpkins, Toafofoa Sipley, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Leo Thompson, Luke Thompson, Alec Tuitavake, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Aaron Woods

SECOND-ROW: Fletcher Baker, Shawn Blore, Egan Butcher, Bryce Cartwright, Ben Condon, David Fifita, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Tyson Frizell, Tyrell Fuimaono, Jacob Host, Josh Jackson, Jack Johns, Brodie Jones, Shaun Lane, Trent Loiero, Liam Martin, Sam McIntyre, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Riley Price, Harry Rushton, Alex Seyfarth, Bayley Sironen, Scott Sorensen, Siosifa Talakai, Ben Trbojevic, Joseph Vuna, Corey Waddell, Teig Wilton

---

Of course they overlooked Amone whose situation is well known among Dragons fans. Hunt and McCullough almost certainly won't be resigned. The latter to retire, the former to play for a year or two more elsewhere. Josh Kerr probably won't be resigned. Lawrie is a maybe. Woods will probably retire. Fuimaono might be resigned.

Other than that, Fifita would be a handy pick up but not for 1 mil+ a year. Ditto for Thompson but not for 800k+ a year.

 

[GCRV]

I was just looking at this. Found it interesting in that Saints have so few players coming off contract and most who are, are nearing the end of their careers.

---

NRL PLAYERS OFF-CONTRACT IN 2022

FULLBACK: Matt Dufty, Steven Marsters, David Mead

WING: Kane Bradley, Christian Crichton, Herbie Farnworth, Moala Graham-Taufa, Dean Ieremia, George Jennings, Robert Jennings, Tui Katoa, Jacob Kiraz, Edrick Lee, Josh Mansour, Corey Oates, Jaxson Paulo, Junior Ratuva, Jorge Taufua

CENTRE: Zane Bijorac, Jack Bird, Brendan Elliot, Mawene Hiroti, Delouise Hoeter, Reece Hoffman, William Kei, Connelly Lemuelu, Esan Marsters, Taylan May, Taane Milne, Tautau Moga, Marcelo Montoya, Brayden Musgrove, Solomone Naiduki, Kevin Naiqama, Tom Opacic, Tommy Talau, Isaiah Tass

FIVE-EIGHTH: Kieran Foran, Anthony Milford, Kodi Nikorima, Matt Frawley, Ben Hampton, Lachlan Lam, Matt Moylan, Hayze Perham, Jaeman Salmon, Simi Sasagi, Billy Walters

HALFBACK: Ashley Taylor, Phoenix Crossland, Kurt Falls, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Cooper Johns, Albert Kelly, Jock Madden, Sean O’Sullivan, Brandon Wakeham, Sam Williams

HOOKER: Jayden Berrell, Manase Fainu, Temple Kalepo, Freddy Lussick, Jayden Nikorima, Mitch Rein, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin

LOCK: Matthew Eisenhuth, J’maine Hopgood, Corey Horsburgh, Max King, Pride Petterson-Robati, Sauaso Sue, Siosiua Taukeiaho

PROP: Daniel Alvaro, Eddie Blacker, Morgan Boyle, Herman Ese’ese, Poasa Faamausili, Sione Fainu, Andrew Fifita, Tom Gilbert, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Royce Hunt, Ryan James, Rhys Kennedy, Josh McGuire, Jordan McLean, Thomas Mikaele, Jirah Momoisea, Franklin Pele, Emry Pere, Pasami Saulo, Lindsay Smith, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Ryan Sutton, James Tamou, Martin Taupau, Aiden Tolman, Paul Vaughan, Jarrod Wallace

SECOND-ROW: Billy Burns, Michael Chee-Kam, Angus Crichton, Andrew Davey, Matt Doorey, Mitchell Dunn, Tom Eisenhuth, Adam Elliott, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Jackson Ford, Luke Garner, Jack Gosiewski, Wade Graham, Chris Lewis, Ryan Matterson, Jack Murchie, Briton Nikora, Keenan Palasia, Kevin Proctor, Tariq Sims, Chris Smith, Joe Stimson, Jackson Topine, Kelma Tuilagi, Jack Williams

---

The Jack Bird situation is well-known. Alvaro and Faamausili won't be resigned. Billy Burns was due back in round 1, then round 2, then round 3, now round 4 so when he finally comes back let's see if he gets a chance or whether he's well and truly on the outer. Ford and Gosiewski are going to get a chance sooner rather than later. As in tomorrow. Finally, the Sims situation is also well-known.

---

NRL PLAYERS OFF-CONTRACT IN 2023

FULLBACK: Corey Allan, Jesse Arthars, Selwyn Cobbo, Adam Doueihi, Scott Drinkwater, Bailey Hodgson, Albert Hopoate, William Kennedy, Daine Laurie, Moses Mbye, Nick Meaney, Latrell Mitchell, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Sean Russell, Will Smith, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Starford To’a, Kaeo Weekes

WING: Braidon Burns, Xavier Coates, Sosefo Fifita, Reuben Garrick, Thomas Jenkins, Sione Katoa, Asu Kepaoa, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Edward Kosi, Brenko Lee, Greg Marzhew, Laitia Moceidreke, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jayden Okunbor, Jordan Pereira, Ethan Quai-Ward, Jordan Rapana, Jason Saab, Xavier Savage, Maika Sivo, Charlie Staines, Murray Taulagi, Corey Thompson, Brian To’o, Daniel Tupou, Will Warbrick

CENTRE: Euan Aitken, Paul Alamoti, Jake Averillo, Waqa Blake, Jed Cartwright, Stephen Crichton, Oliver Gildart, Morgan Harper, Patrick Herbert, Peta Hiku, Hymel Hunt, Matt Ikuvalu, Brian Kelly, Brent Naden, Tesi Niu, Justin Olam, Brad Parker, Will Penisini, Adam Pompey, Jesse Ramien, Billy Smith, Harley Smith-Shields, Izack Tago, Jenson Taumoepeau, Valynce Te Whare, Enari Tuala, Viliami Vailea, Dominic Young

FIVE-EIGHTH: Dylan Brown, Tyson Gamble, Jackson Hastings, Adam Keighran, Kurt Mann, Cameron Munster, Paul Turner, Cody Walker

HALFBACK: Jakob Arthur, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Luke Brooks, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Clifford, Adam Clune, Kyle Flanagan, Ben Hunt, Drew Hutchison, Lachlan Ilias, Shaun Johnson, Soni Luke, Lachlan Miller, Cory Paix, Jonah Pezet, Brad Schneider, Blake Taaffe, Braydon Trindall, Sam Walker, Tyran Wishart

HOOKER: Erin Clark, Damien Cook, Joshua Cook, Lachlan Croker, Harry Grant, Jake Granville, Siliva Havili, Kobe Hetherington, Jacob Liddle, Jeremy Marshall-King, Andrew McCullough, Chris Randall, Reece Robson

LOCK: Mitch Barnett, Nathan Brown, Tyrone Peachey, Victor Radley, Hame Sele, Joseph Tapine, Jazz Tevaga, Connor Watson

PROP: Bunty Afoa, Josh Aloiai, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Renouf Atoni, Ethan Bullemor, George Burgess, Thomas Burgess, Thomas Flegler, Jordan Grant, Wiremu Greig, Emre Guler, Jack Hetherington, David Hollis, Corey Jensen, Tui Kamikamica, Josh Kerr, Josh King, David Klemmer, Liam Knight, Blake Lawrie, Spencer Leniu, Matthew Lodge, Tepai Moeroa, Griffin Neame, Joe Ofahengaue, Chris Patolo, Aaron Pene, Ava Seumanufagai, Tukimihia Simpkins, Toafofoa Sipley, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Leo Thompson, Luke Thompson, Alec Tuitavake, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Aaron Woods

SECOND-ROW: Fletcher Baker, Shawn Blore, Egan Butcher, Bryce Cartwright, Ben Condon, David Fifita, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Tyson Frizell, Tyrell Fuimaono, Jacob Host, Josh Jackson, Jack Johns, Brodie Jones, Shaun Lane, Trent Loiero, Liam Martin, Sam McIntyre, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Riley Price, Harry Rushton, Alex Seyfarth, Bayley Sironen, Scott Sorensen, Siosifa Talakai, Ben Trbojevic, Joseph Vuna, Corey Waddell, Teig Wilton

---

Of course they overlooked Amone whose situation is well known among Dragons fans. Hunt and McCullough almost certainly won't be resigned. The latter to retire, the former to play for a year or two more elsewhere. Josh Kerr probably won't be resigned. Lawrie is a maybe. Woods will probably retire. Fuimaono might be resigned.

Other than that, Fifita would be a handy pick up but not for 1 mil+ a year. Ditto for Thompson but not for 800k+ a year.

Will need to re-sign a few of those forwards. If only as depth signings. Remember another team entering the comp. None who are below 30 should be ruled out.