Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Chipofftheoldblock]

Can’t agree on this , Bateman Leads by example , tackles his arse off and takes the dirty hit ups straight into there forwards wearing them down , yes you can see disappointment in his face sometimes but he doesn’t drop his bundle , well worth every cent and hopefully as mentioned the young guys follow his lead ,

I agree. The coaching staff need to understand how to utilise Bateman. I thought he played pretty well against the Warriors. He took the hard hit ups, didnt crab across field and was tough in defence apart from that bad miss for the 1st try.
He leads by example, and i love his competitive nature. More should play like him and if his legacy is changing the culture then i am all in on him. He is 100% player. He will make mistakes but he will never give up.
If we could grab Morgan Smithies from Wigan, then i would much happier than if we got Thompson from the Bulldogs.

 

[Spartan117]

Thompson from the Bulldogs - Dud

We don't need him.

 

[Spacecub]

Can’t agree on this , Bateman Leads by example , tackles his arse off and takes the dirty hit ups straight into there forwards wearing them down , yes you can see disappointment in his face sometimes but he doesn’t drop his bundle , well worth every cent and hopefully as mentioned the young guys follow his lead ,

Fair enough, I respect your opinion

 

[Spacecub]

Thompson from the Bulldogs - Dud

We don't need him.

I hope Fulton and co were watching Thompson yesterday arvo dead set ordinary

 

[Telltails]

He was in a match on tv a couple of months ago playing for the Magpies and he was terrible.
The only thing he was interested in was kicking stones just like Mitch Moses.
Well, it seems he kicked enough stones for WT to let him go back to Penrith, which is a shame as he has shown us what he is capable of in the last couple of games.

Mate all season the club has been trying to buy new halves and played depth players ahead of him - even though he trained pre season in the halves. Kicking stones, more than likely - when the coach has as much as written him off with no interest in re signing him. His form was terrible in ressies but you can't absolve the coachs role in putting him there and the poor management of bringing out the best in him. After this week's performance it leaves you shaking your head. In some ways I wished they had left him there..

 

[jrtiger]

let's ease up on John Bateman. the bloke didn't get a preseason and was given 2 weeks to acclimatise before being thrown in the deep end. from minute 1 against the Dogs he was excellent and while he's had his moments, his effort or desire hasn't wavered. he is a culture signing, a guy that was brought across to instill a level of toughness and willingness. the young boys will learn plenty off him.

I understand that he's been battered a little bit and there's been moments that he's struggled, but it is getting to the end of a very long season where he wasn't able to prepare properly for it. let's see what happens next year before jumping to any conclusions.

 

[Tom Shines]

Tumeth like a few of our younger players will be in the 30 due to interest from other clubs. In the NRL trial games Tumeth handled the transition well and defended strongly. He is very early in his career and young forwards take time to mature. As I wrote previously, we expect too much from our young players, especially our forwards who will take time to mature.

Like I said before … there isn’t a junior at the club that you don’t like … amazingly the club isn’t dominating reserve grade and the junior competition with all this tremendous talent waiting in the wings…

 

[Tom Shines]

let's ease up on John Bateman. the bloke didn't get a preseason and was given 2 weeks to acclimatise before being thrown in the deep end. from minute 1 against the Dogs he was excellent and while he's had his moments, his effort or desire hasn't wavered. he is a culture signing, a guy that was brought across to instill a level of toughness and willingness. the young boys will learn plenty off him.

I understand that he's been battered a little bit and there's been moments that he's struggled, but it is getting to the end of a very long season where he wasn't able to prepare properly for it. let's see what happens next year before jumping to any conclusions.

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?

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

let's ease up on John Bateman. the bloke didn't get a preseason and was given 2 weeks to acclimatise before being thrown in the deep end. from minute 1 against the Dogs he was excellent and while he's had his moments, his effort or desire hasn't wavered. he is a culture signing, a guy that was brought across to instill a level of toughness and willingness. the young boys will learn plenty off him.

I understand that he's been battered a little bit and there's been moments that he's struggled, but it is getting to the end of a very long season where he wasn't able to prepare properly for it. let's see what happens next year before jumping to any conclusions.

Needs a 10 minute break in second half . Having to cover the defensive issues in the back line is tiring him out dulling his skills

 

[Spacecub]

Just a question has that Sullivan from the drags actually signed yet

 

[jrtiger]

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?

no doubt he'll need to be managed, but I'm confident he will be. leaving him out there for 80 isn't ideal for anyone, so I think you'll probably see his minutes reduced over time to maximise his output.

 

[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