Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Allan would be a great pickup put him at fullback in Reggie's kicks goals and can cover wing and centre
Dunno about that. Injury prone and Dragons fans talk about him like we talk about Naden.

Can’t believe I’m saying this but I think AJ Kepaoa is a better option.
 
Absolute waste of a roster spot imo. I'd rather have Mapaplangi, Tui'tupou and Tavana on NSW Cup/Dev deals than waste a top 30 spot on Corey Allan... Seriously, the guy is only making the Dragons side due to injuries.

Skelton, May, To'a and Turuva with Makasini, Laulilii, Mapapalangi, Tui'tupou and Tavana to cover our wing and centre spots is good enough for me. Need the top 30 spots used elsewhere in the team.
I’d do both. Have Mapalangi, Tavana & Tui’tupou on T&Ts plus just think we need a ready-made NRL depth centre if May and/or To’a go down.

Look at the value that Marion Seve, Delouise Hoeter, Mawene Hiroti, Max Feagai etc, these types provide when called upon 3 or 4 times a season.

Maybe AD will be this player, maybe Bird will be trained at centre in the pre-season or maybe Naden will be extended. But if not, Corey Allen come on down lol
 
I’d do both. Have Mapalangi, Tavana & Tui’tupou on T&Ts plus just think we need a ready-made NRL depth centre if May and/or To’a go down.

Look at the value that Marion Seve, Delouise Hoeter, Mawene Hiroti, Max Feagai etc, these types provide when called upon 3 or 4 times a season.

Maybe AD will be this player, maybe Bird will be trained at centre in the pre-season or maybe Naden will be extended. But if not, Corey Allen come on down lol
It's a 30 man squad with a salary cap, you can't have 3-4 back ups for each singular position its not plausible. Most those guys (except Hoeter who has only played 2 games in 3 years) are first man up for their squads in the outside back positions. I couldn't think of a bigger waste of a top 30 spot than Corey Allan...

Worst case scenario where both To'a and May went down, you have Makasini to go straight in and Laulilii (at either centre, or to wing with Turuva moving to centre). We are way better off playing and developing the young guys for a few games than Corey Allan. Corey Allan does nothing for the development of the squad and the young guys. Could you imagine the uproar on this forum if a young gun left because they were stuck behind Corey bloody Allan.

Beyond that, and somehow 3 go down, you have guys like Mapalangi and Tui'tupou who are capable enough and have First grade experience to cover a couple games. A guy like Allan does nothing at all. Mapalangi and Tui'tupou offer just as much, while on lower salaries and complimenting the development of the young guys.
 
It's a 30 man squad with a salary cap, you can't have 3-4 back ups for each singular position its not plausible. Most those guys (except Hoeter who has only played 2 games in 3 years) are first man up for their squads in the outside back positions. I couldn't think of a bigger waste of a top 30 spot than Corey Allan...

Worst case scenario where both To'a and May went down, you have Makasini to go straight in and Laulilii (at either centre, or to wing with Turuva moving to centre). We are way better off playing and developing the young guys for a few games than Corey Allan. Corey Allan does nothing for the development of the squad and the young guys. Could you imagine the uproar on this forum if a young gun left because they were stuck behind Corey bloody Allan.

Beyond that, and somehow 3 go down, you have guys like Mapalangi and Tui'tupou who are capable enough and have First grade experience to cover a couple games. A guy like Allan does nothing at all. Mapalangi and Tui'tupou offer just as much, while on lower salaries and complimenting the development of the young guys.
Agree to disagree. It’s all opinion based anyway CC. You and I both have no idea what Allan could offer a young backline.

I just think a player of his experience who is both solid in defence and attack can be a valuable squad member. I’ll leave it at that.
 
I'm not sure Corey Allan provides anything that Naden, Mapapalangi, Tu'itupou, Saukuru or Heath Mason don't already offer.

Could be as simple an issue as, if the depth at centre gets tested, Adam Doueihi or Jack Bird need to fill in.

I think May, To'a & Makasini along with Doueihi, Bird, Mason, Saukuru, Mapapalangi, Tu'itupou or moving Turuva or Lualili'i inside for a few games offers enough depth. I think there is a world where Brent Naden is decent value on the roster as a result.

Or, you give Latu some training at centre as well and round out his versatility.

If I'm recruiting from outside- find a backrower that can play some centre. Is Talakai still being shopped around?
 
Mason is a dwarf who cannot catch and cannot tackle. There's nothing there to develop. Keeping him on is a worse decision that Tumeth and co
We just extended him, I wouldn’t have, and, hopefully you’re wrong, and they can develop him.
I’m not betting on it.
But Diane Laurie the 2nd had the same problems without the ability to listen and learn. Mason will never cost us as much either. I wouldn’t have resigned him but we have, and DL would worse long term imho.
 
In terms of filling obvious gaps in our Roster should we be shopping in the outside backs bargain bin when a starting Middle and/or Lock seems the more pressing issue
Currently in our playing roster for 2026 we only have Makasini and Luke Laulilli as genuine cover for the outside backs.
I know we have others such as Doueihi and Bird who have played plenty of NRL as a centre, but I really think their days of playing centre are behind them and there is a chance Bird might not be part of our playing roster for 2026.
Throw in the fact that To’a and Skelton would not be guaranteed starting players at any other NRL team and there are no guarantees that either Makasini or Laulilli will be ready to be NRL quality centres by 2026 and it’s clear to see we are one quality outside back short.
Yes we could say it’s the same story for our middle forwards, a similar story for our depth at number 9 and a similar concern that although we have heavily recruited in way of edge second rowers, are we still lacking one with the athleticism and explosive speed of someone like Jacob Preston ?
 
I'm not sure Corey Allan provides anything that Naden, Mapapalangi, Tu'itupou, Saukuru or Heath Mason don't already offer.

Could be as simple an issue as, if the depth at centre gets tested, Adam Doueihi or Jack Bird need to fill in.

I think May, To'a & Makasini along with Doueihi, Bird, Mason, Saukuru, Mapapalangi, Tu'itupou or moving Turuva or Lualili'i inside for a few games offers enough depth. I think there is a world where Brent Naden is decent value on the roster as a result.

Or, you give Latu some training at centre as well and round out his versatility.

If I'm recruiting from outside- find a backrower that can play some centre. Is Talakai still being shopped around?


Talakai said no to us last time he mite have had a change of heart he would be perfect for us fills the gaps in the roster
 
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