Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Seems like everyone's throwing in there recruitment plan so I may as well throw mine in too. I'm seeing a lot of people suggest players like Sean Keppie, Connor Tracey, Drew Hutchinson, Adam Clune, Blake Taafe and Jake Clifford. Not doubting there ability by any means, however unfortunately that's just quite simply not enough to turn this team around.

Biggest priority within recruitment has to be our halves combination moving forward, word around town is that Latu Fainu will be at the club in 2024 as our long term 6 prospect. Fortunately, he's regarded as the best 6 prospect to come through the grades in a while. He obviously also fits the bill in regards to all our flashy juniors coming up who have enormous potential/talent, so I'd consider our 6 position to be locked up very soon in a positive way.

Now I'm not saying let's target the big fish and go all out for the Ben Hunt, Tino, Dylan Edwards, Joey Manu, David Fifita and Jarome Luai's that'll all be available as with the current status of our team it'll be hard to pry them away. However, the tier below is not as unlikely as some make out.

Couple of players I'd be going hard for:

Mitchell Pearce: Pearce is exactly what we need at this moment of time, seems like we really lack a general out there who can get our team around the park well. There isn't anyone as experienced and can do that better than Pearce through his time at the Roosters/NSW and he also has Wests Tigers in his DNA through his dad. He can still lead a team around for a good 2 years and that's all we really need, with the expected arrival of Fainu along with Bula and TDS having a mentor like Pearce help guide these boys around next to Api would be extremely beneficial. We aren't looking for a game breaker in this position... just someone with experience who can compose our team and finish off our sets consistently. Doubt the Roosters will want him back and honestly doubt he'd want to go back knowing how they dropped him. We should go all in.

Zac Lomax: Probably the best centre target for us out there right now, people forget how good Zac Lomax truly is. He's aggressive with an incredible offload and can also kick goals consistently. Without Wakeham we actually don't have a GK so he'd offer a lot of value. He can also provide a spark for us in attack... the idea of him and To'a as a centre combination moving forward is scary in my eyes as both are 23. He's been told to look elsewhere and was not long ago considered for SOS, was close to signing with us before and was a massive fan of us who idolised Benji growing up. The idea of being coached by Benji will be a big pull in regards to Lomax. I think you'll find the links between both parties will come out soon.

Josh Curran: Probably one of the most underrated players in the NRL right now, seems like he isn't getting much game time at the Warriors under Webster (don't know why) and he has obvs been dealing with that charge. However, I believe he's an incredible talent and can really offer a lot for us. He's originally from Sydney as well, I think you'll find that the Warriors have made him available. He's also only 24 with huge upside and is an absolute workhorse. He can tighten us up defensively.


Xavier Savage: X factor machine.... his combination of speed, strength and athletism is unmatched. He has serious serious talent and I think the idea of him being a future winger/centre is definitely an option. We have lacked spark in attack for a while and he certainly provides that, he's also only 21. Simpkins for Savage would imo get it done.


Jack De Belin: This is a little left field, however I would pay this man whatever he wants I really really rate him as a footballer. He's available to talk to clubs November 1st. He's on around 700k a year, I'd look at giving him anywhere from 800-900k easily. The bloke can go 80 mins at prop and give you 60 tackles and 0 missed, plus he can bend the line a little and offloads pretty well. He's the only one who turns up for the Dragons weekly.
 
Seems like everyone's throwing in there recruitment plan so I may as well throw mine in too. I'm seeing a lot of people suggest players like Sean Keppie, Connor Tracey, Drew Hutchinson, Adam Clune, Blake Taafe and Jake Clifford. Not doubting there ability by any means, however unfortunately that's just quite simply not enough to turn this team around.

Biggest priority within recruitment has to be our halves combination moving forward, word around town is that Latu Fainu will be at the club in 2024 as our long term 6 prospect. Fortunately, he's regarded as the best 6 prospect to come through the grades in a while. He obviously also fits the bill in regards to all our flashy juniors coming up who have enormous potential/talent, so I'd consider our 6 position to be locked up very soon in a positive way.

Now I'm not saying let's target the big fish and go all out for the Ben Hunt, Tino, Dylan Edwards, Joey Manu, David Fifita and Jarome Luai's that'll all be available as with the current status of our team it'll be hard to pry them away. However, the tier below is not as unlikely as some make out.

Couple of players I'd be going hard for:

Mitchell Pearce: Pearce is exactly what we need at this moment of time, seems like we really lack a general out there who can get our team around the park well. There isn't anyone as experienced and can do that better than Pearce through his time at the Roosters/NSW and he also has Wests Tigers in his DNA through his dad. He can still lead a team around for a good 2 years and that's all we really need, with the expected arrival of Fainu along with Bula and TDS having a mentor like Pearce help guide these boys around next to Api would be extremely beneficial. We aren't looking for a game breaker in this position... just someone with experience who can compose our team and finish off our sets consistently. Doubt the Roosters will want him back and honestly doubt he'd want to go back knowing how they dropped him. We should go all in.

Zac Lomax: Probably the best centre target for us out there right now, people forget how good Zac Lomax truly is. He's aggressive with an incredible offload and can also kick goals consistently. Without Wakeham we actually don't have a GK so he'd offer a lot of value. He can also provide a spark for us in attack... the idea of him and To'a as a centre combination moving forward is scary in my eyes as both are 23. He's been told to look elsewhere and was not long ago considered for SOS, was close to signing with us before and was a massive fan of us who idolised Benji growing up. The idea of being coached by Benji will be a big pull in regards to Lomax. I think you'll find the links between both parties will come out soon.

Josh Curran: Probably one of the most underrated players in the NRL right now, seems like he isn't getting much game time at the Warriors under Webster (don't know why) and he has obvs been dealing with that charge. However, I believe he's an incredible talent and can really offer a lot for us. He's originally from Sydney as well, I think you'll find that the Warriors have made him available. He's also only 24 with huge upside and is an absolute workhorse. He can tighten us up defensively.


Xavier Savage: X factor machine.... his combination of speed, strength and athletism is unmatched. He has serious serious talent and I think the idea of him being a future winger/centre is definitely an option. We have lacked spark in attack for a while and he certainly provides that, he's also only 21. Simpkins for Savage would imo get it done.


Jack De Belin: This is a little left field, however I would pay this man whatever he wants I really really rate him as a footballer. He's available to talk to clubs November 1st. He's on around 700k a year, I'd look at giving him anywhere from 800-900k easily. The bloke can go 80 mins at prop and give you 60 tackles and 0 missed, plus he can bend the line a little and offloads pretty well. He's the only one who turns up for the Dragons weekly.
A lot of ex-cons in that list but all very good footballers, and yes seemingly all quite achievable.
The amount of hype that Josh Curran had as a young bloke (like 18 or so) when he debuted for the Chooks was immense. Looks like he's just starting to realise that potential, is a very good edge forward think he would be a great 13 as well.
 
Seems like everyone's throwing in there recruitment plan so I may as well throw mine in too. I'm seeing a lot of people suggest players like Sean Keppie, Connor Tracey, Drew Hutchinson, Adam Clune, Blake Taafe and Jake Clifford. Not doubting there ability by any means, however unfortunately that's just quite simply not enough to turn this team around.

Biggest priority within recruitment has to be our halves combination moving forward, word around town is that Latu Fainu will be at the club in 2024 as our long term 6 prospect. Fortunately, he's regarded as the best 6 prospect to come through the grades in a while. He obviously also fits the bill in regards to all our flashy juniors coming up who have enormous potential/talent, so I'd consider our 6 position to be locked up very soon in a positive way.

Now I'm not saying let's target the big fish and go all out for the Ben Hunt, Tino, Dylan Edwards, Joey Manu, David Fifita and Jarome Luai's that'll all be available as with the current status of our team it'll be hard to pry them away. However, the tier below is not as unlikely as some make out.

Couple of players I'd be going hard for:

Mitchell Pearce: Pearce is exactly what we need at this moment of time, seems like we really lack a general out there who can get our team around the park well. There isn't anyone as experienced and can do that better than Pearce through his time at the Roosters/NSW and he also has Wests Tigers in his DNA through his dad. He can still lead a team around for a good 2 years and that's all we really need, with the expected arrival of Fainu along with Bula and TDS having a mentor like Pearce help guide these boys around next to Api would be extremely beneficial. We aren't looking for a game breaker in this position... just someone with experience who can compose our team and finish off our sets consistently. Doubt the Roosters will want him back and honestly doubt he'd want to go back knowing how they dropped him. We should go all in.

Zac Lomax: Probably the best centre target for us out there right now, people forget how good Zac Lomax truly is. He's aggressive with an incredible offload and can also kick goals consistently. Without Wakeham we actually don't have a GK so he'd offer a lot of value. He can also provide a spark for us in attack... the idea of him and To'a as a centre combination moving forward is scary in my eyes as both are 23. He's been told to look elsewhere and was not long ago considered for SOS, was close to signing with us before and was a massive fan of us who idolised Benji growing up. The idea of being coached by Benji will be a big pull in regards to Lomax. I think you'll find the links between both parties will come out soon.

Josh Curran: Probably one of the most underrated players in the NRL right now, seems like he isn't getting much game time at the Warriors under Webster (don't know why) and he has obvs been dealing with that charge. However, I believe he's an incredible talent and can really offer a lot for us. He's originally from Sydney as well, I think you'll find that the Warriors have made him available. He's also only 24 with huge upside and is an absolute workhorse. He can tighten us up defensively.


Xavier Savage: X factor machine.... his combination of speed, strength and athletism is unmatched. He has serious serious talent and I think the idea of him being a future winger/centre is definitely an option. We have lacked spark in attack for a while and he certainly provides that, he's also only 21. Simpkins for Savage would imo get it done.


Jack De Belin: This is a little left field, however I would pay this man whatever he wants I really really rate him as a footballer. He's available to talk to clubs November 1st. He's on around 700k a year, I'd look at giving him anywhere from 800-900k easily. The bloke can go 80 mins at prop and give you 60 tackles and 0 missed, plus he can bend the line a little and offloads pretty well. He's the only one who turns up for the Dragons weekly.

I've got it on very good authority from a former Dragon that Jack DeBelin is the last person you want around our young players. On the flip side, apparently Lomax is one of the better characters and works his ass off. He gets let down by being the odd man out. So I agree with Lomax and Curran, not sold on Savage and massive no to DeBelin. Pearce only as a last resort.
 
Absolute proof we don't know what we are doing with recruitment
We sign Pellow and Cherrington and a couple of months release them
The trial and error goes on .
Problem the clubs racks up the errors and the fans suffer the trial ! LOL

Those 2 may have asked for releases because they didn't do as well as they had hoped and wanted to move back home.
 
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I've got it on very good authority from a former Dragon that Jack DeBelin is the last person you want around our young players. On the flip side, apparently Lomax is one of the better characters and works his ass off. He gets let down by being the odd man out. So I agree with Lomax and Curran, not sold on Savage and massive no to DeBelin. Pearce only as a last resort.
Makes sense.... as a footballer he's incredible imo but off the field I'm unsure of his impact around young players but that wouldn't help. He's very left field for me - but I've always been a fan of him as a footballer so a little biased.
 
Absolute proof we don't know what we are doing with recruitment
We sign Pellow and Cherrington and a couple of months release them
The trial and error goes on .
Problem the clubs racks up the errors and the fans suffer the trial ! LOL
The only thing there is that these players never signed NRL contracts.
 
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Makes sense.... as a footballer he's incredible imo but off the field I'm unsure of his impact around young players but that wouldn't help. He's very left field for me - but I've always been a fan of him as a footballer so a little biased.

I hate him. He lost me the day he was prancing around Wollongong in red speedos walking his dog while going through rape charges. Now I know that's not a crime, but any decent human going through a rape case wouldn't walk around the suburbs in just speedo's, it wasn't along the beach. Guy is a grub.
 
A lot of ex-cons in that list but all very good footballers, and yes seemingly all quite achievable.
The amount of hype that Josh Curran had as a young bloke (like 18 or so) when he debuted for the Chooks was immense. Looks like he's just starting to realise that potential, is a very good edge forward think he would be a great 13 as well.
I think he'd be our ideal 13
 
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