Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[FrodoTBaggin]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

Sorry when did the story become we got suckered into paying 600k a year over 4? It has always been 500k a yr over 4 with Stg chipping in significantly.

Edit: To add more, how about we actually wait and see how they all play this year before we decide what the pecking order is? I doubt many here have actually watched any of these guys play a full 80 minutes in any grade before.

 

[tigermate]

Sorry when did the story become we got suckered into paying 600k a year over 4? It has always been 500k a yr over 4 with Stg chipping in significantly.

Edit: To add more, how about we actually wait and see how they all play this year before we decide what the pecking order is? I doubt many here have actually watched any of these guys play a full 80 minutes in any grade before.

From my reading.

$2.2M - 4 year deal.

Dragons not chipping in anything.

Unless you have an article that suggests otherwise.

And yes I agree it would be better to wait - but sometimes you miss the window to transact - the dragons need a half now.

 

[Groundup]

Flab does not get you injured.

I remember the game sped up and Groat just never had the pace to keep up. Oh how I wish we kept Fifita instead.

All said Groat proves what we have learned again and again for the last 10 years, The next "new talent" doesn't mean they will work in first grade. I was fortunately wrong re Bula, it seemed a shot in the dark. It worked out. Galvin could work out in first grade OR he could totally suck, likewise Fainu. Anyone who scores 3 tries in reggies has a blank slate in first grade.

But hey, try the "next big thing", Bula worked out incredibly well. Just have a fallback plan and don't re-arrange your entire team to accomodate any talent.

Galvin hasn’t played men yet so who knows but fainu defended like a hardened first grader when he came on for tonga

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

What...

I mean
Aloiai has been a "good" forward. Nothing exceptional.
Matterson has been a money grubby forward. Even Parramatta would want to punt him after he knocked back a $4000 fine to sit out 2 rounds. Sure at 350K he was a great buy for us, then we upgraded to 500k... Then he wanted 750k.... Parra brought him for 800k or something similar and

Ok Moses has been a very good halfback and helped Parra make the finals. It's only Moses, Taupau and Tedesco that I regret loosing in recent times.

You are absolutely right about Tedesco, and If we go further back: Koroibate, A Fifita LaFfranchi, Prince ..

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

Why are majority of our fanbase continuing to write off Sullivan? the guy is 22 years old & has actually shown he can play at an NRL level whereas Fainu & Galvin have pretty much only played against people their age. Let’s not forget that the Dragons moved Hunt to 9 so they could try & fit him in their side…. give the guy a chance

 

[Vicious]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

The ball is our court.
Sullivan could very quickly live up to his enormous potential and become very valuable to us.
I assume we will see how season 2024 plays out before even considering releasing a player of his potential.

 

[gregjm87]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

In short no.
I think he is most likely of the 4 halves to be partnering Luai next year. Additionally, whilst I think Fainu could perform at first grade a couple years learning his craft in reserve grade would do him well and I think Galvin based just on his physique, (not watching him play) probably is 2 years off first grade (as a half).
It would not shock if Sullivan was eventually pushed out of the club but I certainly don't think it will be any time soon.
Tend to agree with the earlier comment of give them some time to play, especially the kids who are yet to debut, before suggesting Sullivan is surplus to needs.

 

[Mistymuzzle]

Why are majority of our fanbase continuing to write off Sullivan? the guy is 22 years old & has actually shown he can play at an NRL level whereas Fainu & Galvin have pretty much only played against people their age. Let’s not forget that the Dragons moved Hunt to 9 so they could try & fit him in their side…. give the guy a chance

Fainu has played 9 games in NSW Cup, including a semifinal. 5 of those games at 7, 3 at 6.

 

[Camel2281]

I agree, but under assumption that we could not keep Moses, Aloiai and Matterson.

Aloiai was not a loss. He's a fat lazy heap

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Fainu has played 9 games in NSW Cup, including a semifinal. 5 of those games at 7, 3 at 6.

That’s why I said pretty much meaning generally

 

[tigermate]

I think everyone has mistaken my comments about Sullivan.

I would 100% prefer to keep him this year and see how he goes.

But I also think if he doesnt perform well or gets injured we will struggle to offload a 3 year contract at $550K. (if he plays a full year with us)

Also if we keep Sullivan for the full 4 years - even 3 - then we will def lose some juniors (maybe a good thing)

I just think it's good business to de-risk our salary cap now considering when we got Sullivan when we didnt have Luai.

That's all.

People thinking that because we've got options now we should ride them out.

Leverage changes very quickly - i just think whilst we have options we should explore them.

The good thing is that I trust Benji and Richo to make the right call (unlike the last admin) so it doesnt really matter what i think. lol

 

[gregjm87]

I think everyone has mistaken my comments about Sullivan.

I would 100% prefer to keep him this year and see how he goes.

But I also think if he doesnt perform well or gets injured we will struggle to offload a 3 year contract at $550K. (if he plays a full year with us)

Also if we keep Sullivan for the full 4 years - even 3 - then we will def lose some juniors (maybe a good thing)

I just think it's good business to de-risk our salary cap now considering when we got Sullivan when we didnt have Luai.

That's all.

People thinking that because we've got options now we should ride them out.

Leverage changes very quickly - i just think whilst we have options we should explore them.

The good thing is that I trust Benji and Richo to make the right call (unlike the last admin) so it doesnt really matter what i think. lol

I don't believe that we will have an issue moving on Sullivan should we need to.
There's about 10 halves the wrong side of 30 expected to start round 1 this year. There will be clubs looking to take him.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

For a change we have depth in the halves at a time when there is a shortage of halves across the NRL. Let's enjoy that there will be competition for spots and that our recruitment has been very good.

 

[Vicious]

I think everyone has mistaken my comments about Sullivan.

I would 100% prefer to keep him this year and see how he goes.

But I also think if he doesnt perform well or gets injured we will struggle to offload a 3 year contract at $550K. (if he plays a full year with us)

Also if we keep Sullivan for the full 4 years - even 3 - then we will def lose some juniors (maybe a good thing)

I just think it's good business to de-risk our salary cap now considering when we got Sullivan when we didnt have Luai.

That's all.

People thinking that because we've got options now we should ride them out.

Leverage changes very quickly - i just think whilst we have options we should explore them.

The good thing is that I trust Benji and Richo to make the right call (unlike the last admin) so it doesnt really matter what i think. lol

I can see your point of view, but if we chose to release any of our potential stars now to eliminate the chance they might not be as valuable this time next year if things don’t go to plan this season, would mean we also take the risk that we offload the wrong player and that player goes on to become a star elsewhere.
Every player recruitment and retention decision is a risk, but I believe it makes more sense to find out who is the best of our current crop of emerging stars before even considering releasing any of them.
Who knows, we may even find two halves who quickly become superior to Jerome Luai.
The Dragons are seemingly getting desperate for quality halves, particularly with the ageing Ben Hunt supposedly moving on at the end of 2024.
But they might have their own hidden gem, I distinctively remember Andrew Johns who should be a decent judge on good halves stating on radio late last year that he had just watched a Jersey Flegg game and The Dragons halfback Ashton Ward was extremely impressive.

 

[balmain boy]

Tupou originally from Canberra was a junior rugby union player (rep honours) and then converted over to league playing against adults in rugby league as a 17/18 year old. He played wing, centre and fullback and was killing it .. very safe under the high ball and made heaps of line breaks running the ball back as a fullback or centre .. !! I was hoping we were able to hang on to him .. as the kid has plenty of ability. But it is what it is .. and the Fins have offered him more than what we could have .. and they have also promised him a new role (position) that we should have .

Unfortunately for Tupou we went out looking for potential centres and came up with .. Alaimalo .. Faataape .. and now Olam .. all to compete with Naden .. To'a .. Feledy .. and Saukuru. Lachlan Galvin is also one to watch .. he is developing well .. and is often slotting in out wide at training. Stand outs so far have been the two new guys Alaimalo and Faataape << this kid is something special .. so impressive when hits the line .. strong and deceptively fast .. !!

I think part of the issue with Tupou is his personality. He's just silent and distant. He needs to talk a lot more on the field, especially if he were to play centre. I'm not sure he'll ever find a voice. He's got some talent with ball in hand but he needs to do more without the ball. That's why you wouldn't pay him big bucks just yet IMO

 

[balmain boy]

This. We want people who want to be here. If the $100k difference is true, and he has walked after we gave him his start, which elevated his earnings, do we want to keep a bloke like that?

That is not how you build a premiership roster. It's born out of people wanting to be here. Buying into Benji's vision and being with your mates. Particularly relevant to the juniors who get their start in our jersey.

And if you give him the extra 100k he's asking for, you need to give everyone else the extra 100k too or else the squad gets upset at unequal treatment.

 

[teddy23]

Dragons desperately calling clubs on the availability of their outside backs.

Manly have rejected the Dragons approach for Christian Tuipulotu. If there was any club dumb enough to take on Nofa’s contract it’ll be them.

Would be shocked if a call doesn’t come through soon…..

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Dragons desperately calling clubs on the availability of their outside backs.

Manly have rejected the Dragons approach for Christian Tuipulotu. If there was any club dumb enough to take on Nofa’s contract it’ll be them.

Would be shocked if a call doesn’t come through soon…..

Do you think our offer for Turuva would increase if we managed to offload Nofa?

 

[Don Kershane]

Dragons desperately calling clubs on the availability of their outside backs.

Manly have rejected the Dragons approach for Christian Tuipulotu. If there was any club dumb enough to take on Nofa’s contract it’ll be them.

Would be shocked if a call doesn’t come through soon…..

Flanagan desperate but not stupid.

 

[fibrodreaming]

Also if we keep Sullivan for the full 4 years - even 3 - then we will def lose some juniors (maybe a good thing)

If we kept Sullivan for the duration of his contract and allowed a junior to leave (because his path was blocked), is that a problem?

That suggests to me that Sullivan was such a success that the junior could not displace him.

I'm struggling to see the issue. May the best player win.