Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[clontarfkid]

Paseka went from our SG Ball team so wasn't really 'with us' and Aloiai was plenty committed with us. I don't think you're on the money here. Did Kelma Tuilagi become more committed? Is Aitasi James still sitting in reserve grade now more committed? Aaron Woods too.

Paseka felt he was ready for nrl and got peeved that he wasn't being picked.?
And he wasn't ready at that time,but playing gr8 at Manly
Aloi now more disciplined...kelma never had it anywhere he's been,and Woods has long lost it
Tommy a much better attitude than when with us,Brooks benefiting from dce
Paseka and aloi regrettable losses...we've replaced them with 2 imports on almost double the $ and arguably no better

 

[balmain boy]

I had read somewhere that if the N.R.l did buy out the superleague there would be some sort of partner club programme where each team would have a permanent team in superleague they could send the best youngsters to to develop before coming into first grade

And the super league would totally reject this concept as it's just cheapens their whole comp into a reserve grade for the NRL.
They want to compete with the NRL, not be subservient to them

 

[The Chad]

Sounds good in theory but convincing any of the juniors to go over to England for a year would be a massive task

I'm not 100% sure it would be that tough.

Say, for instance, that the Tigers didn't think TDS was ready to play 1st grade. But, they had to re-sign him because his contract was up, or let him go. Another club- say, the Titans, offer him the chance of 1st grade to leave. This is how clubs lose their juniors now.

Now, lets say same scenario- but the Tigers offer TDS based off his potential, an upgraded contract at the same value as say, the Titans. But instead of the offer of a chance at breaking into the 1st team, you offer him a year loan, at his full contract value, to play regular 1st team football, at an associated club in England. Whay young player would turn down exposure to 1st team football? Then he comes back, a year later, developed, just as Api pulls the pin. He steps into the 1st grade side, ready to roll. This should be seen as part of their development, not punishment. Not quite ready to play regular 1st grade, too good to be in KOE.

For mine, more than helping out a club in terms of it's 1st grade selections, this is how clubs like Penrith, Brisbane, Warriors etc- who develop a large amount of junior talent only to lose them elsewhere under the lure of '1st team football' (which really translates to "more cash to play")- can maintain, and even 'overpay' young players to remain in their system until the natural opening into the 1st team becomes available.

This COULD help to take away the buying power of clubs that put little into junior development & actively promote the nurturing of junior players, clubs & systems by all the NRL clubs.

 

[The Chad]

And the super league would totally reject this concept as it's just cheapens their whole comp into a reserve grade for the NRL.
They want to compete with the NRL, not be subservient to them

They already buy the NRL factory seconds.

This is actually providing them better quality players. The Bevan French's, Blake Austin's etc would populate the KOE while guys like Latu Fainu & TDS star.

The development of their own players needs to be considered. I'd suggest each NRL club could probably provide 3-4 maximum loans all up. This doesn't dominate their league, but it does give them the chance to expose their own players to higher quality NRL players coming against them.

 

[Needaname]

He'll have to beat his court case first. And the matter
is adjourned until March 10, 2025 as well. I think
the reason they want to terminate the contract is
in order to get salary cap relief, that's just a guess

But they get it anyway don’t they under the no fault stand down rule?

 

[Kaito]

But they get it anyway don’t they under the no fault stand down rule?

Yeah they do, but it's only a small amount. Terminating
his contract definitively would help their application.
instead of 150k apply for 300k haha. Who knows

 

[Needaname]

Yeah they do, but it's only a small amount. Terminating
his contract definitively would help their application.
instead of 150k apply for 300k haha. Who knows

Fair enough. I thought their entire salary was exempt from the Salary cap as in the case of Jack DeBellin remaining with St George.

 

[Camel2281]

Ah yep.

So back 5 of Bula, Staines, Iro, Olam & Turuva... Turuva wing or centre?

Doueihi maybe on the radar pending knee but I doubt will have the speed for the backline.

Luke Lualilii will be in the mix next year too

 

[Kaito]

Fair enough. I thought their entire salary was exempt from the Salary cap as in the case of Jack DeBellin remaining with St George.

Yeah, it's not an nominal amount. Depends on salary,
and how many games left in the season. Clubs have
to apply for relief if the player is stood down. There
could be 3 rounds left in the season but you could
still apply technically, they'd give you a gift card lol.
Penrith just resigned May too. Rough position 4 them

I just found this:

"Under NRL rules, clubs can apply for pro rata salary cap relief when a player is stood down awaiting a court verdict. Any exemption for spending to replace May would apply to his current salary and not the $500,000-a-year extension he signed for 2025 and 2026.
With 13 games left in the NRL season, any cap relief for Penrith to replace May would come in between $100,000-150,000 based on an estimation of his wage this season".

 

[magpies forever]

And the super league would totally reject this concept as it's just cheapens their whole comp into a reserve grade for the NRL.
They want to compete with the NRL, not be subservient to them

Wasn't there some talk a little while ago about the NRL buying out the ESL?

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

And the super league would totally reject this concept as it's just cheapens their whole comp into a reserve grade for the NRL.
They want to compete with the NRL, not be subservient to them

They don’t have any vision like that that was the vision of 2000s….

They aren’t able to compete with Union which takes most of their better players.
Their cashflow is struggling big time, the player market retention is ordinary and they buy our 2nds/retirment options who look like superstars in their comp.

 

[innsaneink]

Really hate strengthening another clubs roster who are ahead of us mid season. We have done it three years running now and I see no value in it for us given our position.

Shows no forward planning, it actually hihites just what the coaches don't know ie: things obviously panning out differently to what they thought.
It's reactionary, not proactive and I see it as taking two or three big steps backwards while everyone else keeps going forward

 

[Tom Shines]

They have won a couple of more games

Three times as many…

The Dragons are way better than iWT in 2024... they have improved a lot since last year …like the Bulldogs

 

[crazycat]

I actually like what we are doing now.

Punting Jake Simpkin to give time to either TDS or Fainu/Sullivan in the halves.

Nothing against Jake, but he never became anything more then a fringe/occasional first grader.

 

[426Tlgerland]

I love all our passion and ideas for the club , non of us really know what’s going on regarding purchase of new players and who we are looking to unload , it’s all based on media , and we all know how much crap they spin , plus there seems to be negative with media that just likes to have pot shots at us all the time , reason we don’t win many games and we are heading backwards again , Richo coming on board should fix a lot of our issues , he seems to be on the front foot with our roster , we have 2 good players coming for 2025 , we need probably another 2 or 3 solid players to push up the ladder , we do have some good young players coming but they probably need a year or 2 more yet before they start in the top grade .
positives = 2 new first grade quality players coming
positives = Sam our new back rower who has stepped up nicely
positives = Simpkins and Papi moving on
positives = trying to unload Dead wood , Naden , Sullivan , Seyfarth
positives = offering Step A fair long term deal
positives = Richo looking all over for better player options

negatives = not winning games
negatives = NRL 360 , General media , Ruff end of calls by refs

we will improve if the club can secure some quality players , and I believe we will they are out there Rico and Benji will get them ,
if we can some how move Naden , Sullivan , Seyfarth , Simpkins , Pappi we will improve as they have done very little for us this year , just need to find those hungry players like young Sam who has been great , 5 replacements like him we are much stronger , just my rant

 

[Stevec]

What about Sam Fainu?
We also have Latu coming back which will always be nice.
Pole is a class player.
Dragons don't have a whole team that are making the sides in top teams, thats why they aren't one. IF we play out cards right we should win this

I like samuela and pole but was using the term "top class " as opposed to just good
Even if the 5 was 7 or 8 we are struggling with this roster

 

[liltiger]

And the super league would totally reject this concept as it's just cheapens their whole comp into a reserve grade for the NRL.
They want to compete with the NRL, not be subservient to them

Hypothetically, if the N.R.L did buy out the superleague, there wouldn't be much they could do about it, the superleague is used now as a super fund top up from Aussie players. Our reserve grade players would compete there fine without damaging the game it's pretty much at that level. If anything I think it would improve the game over there with the steady flow of young talent. They seem to create great forwards over there but backs are few and far between. I reckon our juniors would light the superleague up.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Shows no forward planning, it actually hihites just what the coaches don't know ie: things obviously panning out differently to what they thought.
It's reactionary, not proactive and I see it as taking two or three big steps backwards while everyone else keeps going forward

Can I ask how releasing someone 4 months early is 2 - 3 steps backwards?

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

They have won a couple of more games

Last year Dragons were 2 - 10. This year they are 6 - 6.

They have gone from a 0.16% win rate to a 50% win rate.

 

[Tucker]

Can I ask how releasing someone 4 months early is 2 - 3 steps backwards?

Unless we negotiate something extra due to us boosting a rival it shows weakness.