Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[earl]

He isn’t the biggest problem at the club by any means…but jeez… three more years to go… how “battered“ will he be by then?

He is a big dollar signing on a long term contract. We need more from him. It's not that he has been bad. He just hasn't been great and we need that.

 

[hsvjones]

So just to confirm no one has been announced other then Fainu brothers?
A lot of talk for nothing confirmed.

Anyone know when will be announced but would assume Dragons might have to announce Sullivan's release first.

 

[Tito Santana]

I can, and wouldn't take it back either.

Mate he is a good player. I just don’t think he’s a fullback. He’s better suited at 5/8.

I reckon he’d be a great 14 off the bench late in each half.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

So just to confirm no one has been announced other then Fainu brothers?
A lot of talk for nothing confirmed.

Anyone know when will be announced but would assume Dragons might have to announce Sullivan's release first.

That is correct. The only 'official' signings from external for next season are the Fainu brothers & only 'official' recent extension/retention is Api.

Dragons will need to release Jayden Sullivan first & nothing official yet either on Aiden Sezer.

No word on re-signing any players off-contract - Staines, Seyfarth, Tuki Simpkins, Lomi Saukuru, Wakeham. The only likely candidates there are Staines & Seyfarth.

No word on extending contracts for those off-contract next season & able to negotiate with other clubs 1-Nov - Utoikamanu (mutual option for '25 though), Tupou, T'oa, Blore, Twal, Tumeth & 6 others.

No 'official' word on Lachlan Galvin or Brandon Mansfield joining top 30 next season although mentioned elsewhere. I'm pretty sure club has communicated Feledy into top 30.

I understand there are i's to dot and t's to cross but how hard is it for our club administration to finalise a contract and communicate to members & fans.

 

[Moh]

Bateman has been great for our club and I shake my head at the criticism directed at him. He leads on the field and we are starting to see our younger players go with him. He is also from Yorkshire and families are very close in the north. It is only human to want to catch up with family at Christmas.

Tend to lean this way RE Bateman.

It's just frustrating because he can come up with some dumb plays, sideways running and ridiculous attempts at miracle plays. It's more desperation than anything most of the time.

 

[Needaname]

Just did a count, teams that play us are 5 wins 12 losses the next round this season (didn’t count matches followed by a bye round). Warriors better be worried!

Actually it’s 13-5 and funny enough the Panthers have a similar record but in reverse where as teams are 14w and 4w the week after playing the Panthers (not including matches following bye rounds).
Even more interesting is the two teams in the next match are Manly whom were beaten by the Panthers and the Warriors whom beat us.
I wonder which record stands after this week.?.?

 

[hank37w]

Anybody still think that paying 750K and a transfer of 200k for Batman was worth it, has had 2 good games, he is COOKED, his body language and play on the weekend was well below average, and saying at least he tries hard doesn't cut it. To be earning that type of money, your elite in that position, what a waste

I'm all in favour of him going home for Christmas and not coming back

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Fair dinkum if the club gets rid of Blore for Luke Thompson I might not have the strength to keep sticking by the club. It would be just poor decision after poor decision.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

So just to confirm no one has been announced other then Fainu brothers?
A lot of talk for nothing confirmed.

Anyone know when will be announced but would assume Dragons might have to announce Sullivan's release first.

Our very aggressive recruitment drive is working wonders by the looks of things

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

Fair dinkum if the club gets rid of Blore for Luke Thompson I might not have the strength to keep sticking by the club. It would be just poor decision after poor decision.

Has there been any further about this in the media?

I would like to say that replacing Blore with Thompson at 3x the salary would be our dumbest recruitment decision ever but this is the club that refused to release Talau for Ado-Carr and signed McQueen after neck surgery.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Fair dinkum if the club gets rid of Blore for Luke Thompson I might not have the strength to keep sticking by the club. It would be just poor decision after poor decision.

Be a terrible decision.
Thompson lateral movement is one of the worst for props in the nrl

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Not really to be honest.
The only player that would be decent purchase would be Tom Johnstone - Winger - Catalan Dragons. Fast, big, strong winger.
26 years old - 6'1" - 92KG - 24 tries this season. Enjoy watching him play. I think he would be really good.

I hope we're one of the NRL clubs showing interest @Chipofftheoldblock

https://www.zerotackle.com/super-league-winger-attracting-nrl-interest-155928/

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Jayden Sullivan's manager Mario Tartak has just posted an Insta story with Jayden signing a document on NRL letterhead.

 

[The Chad]

In regards to Bateman- for a smaller guy, he's actually generating far more run metres per game than i thought. There's a lot of 'dirty carries' in his game, so probably flies under the radar a bit.

He's quite agile, and seems to beat or break tackles fairly often.

It's hard to be too critical of the forwards, despite not being a perfect mix, in my opinion. The effort they have put in all year, in a mostly unhappy season, I think says something about building the culture.

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Has there been any further about this in the media?

I would like to say that replacing Blore with Thompson at 3x the salary would be our dumbest recruitment decision ever but this is the club that refused to release Talau for Ado-Carr and signed McQueen after neck surgery.

Not sure mate. I do remember a similar situation around 12 years ago when Sheens released a young/up & coming Andrew Fifita for Adam Blair, looks like history might repeat itself.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Bateman has been great for our club and I shake my head at the criticism directed at him. He leads on the field and we are starting to see our younger players go with him. He is also from Yorkshire and families are very close in the north. It is only human to want to catch up with family at Christmas.

I have absolutely no issue with a player going home for holidays, though I cannot deny that I think the team needs a little bit more from him, even if he is our only forward with any real mongel and gets in the face of the opposition.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Not sure mate. I do remember a similar situation around 12 years ago when Sheens released a young/up & coming Andrew Fifita for Adam Blair, looks like history might repeat itself.

The difference this time being Benji has the final say. Can't see him letting Blore go.

 

[jadtiger]

The difference this time being Benji has the final say. Can't see him letting Blore go.

Hope you are right because we need some sanity from our coaching staff

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Can anyone in the know confirm that John Bateman wants to return to the UK at end of season ? Heard it from a friend involved at a different club

If and only if this did eventuate, Morgan Smithies or Josh Curran to fill the void.

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Can anyone in the know confirm that John Bateman wants to return to the UK at end of season ? Heard it from a friend involved at a different club

His partner & mother of his child recently opened up a Law Firm with her Father. I don't think he's leaving anytime soon.