2025 recruitment & retention

[47MVEagle]

Valentine Holmes has just been told he can go to market to test his worth. Would look good in maroon and white. Out of our league price wise I'd say. Will probably end up on the golf course with Uncle Nick.

Is he not still under contract so the Cowboys would pick up some of his (reported) $1m contract?

That said, I agree with others that backs are not our problem, we need a back rower & a prop IMO.

 

[Nordburg]

I think we still need some quality centres....as shown on Saturday night, we are really light on. It’s a real weak spot(s) for the team. What we have is not premiership winning class. IMO. Experience would help with the young blokes development. Jack Bird could be a cheap option, that may beone of those buys of the year. Lets face it, we love buying old cheap players and its worked with Nathan Brown

So you’re saying the club needs “quality centres” then suggest Jack Bird?? The club has invested in Koula,,Garrick,Hopoate,Talau and Faulalo,all players that can or could at a pinch,play centre and are all younger and faster than Bird.As for the Nathan Brown example,he was desperate and only given one season to impress.Bird hasn’t asked the Dragons for the opportunity to look around for a one season gig nor would he be looking to be bought on the cheap.Not to mention the fact Bird isn’t premiership class anymore,in any position,let alone centre

 

[Nordburg]

Is he not still under contract so the Cowboys would pick up some of his (reported) $1m contract?

That said, I agree with others that backs are not our problem, we need a back rower & a prop IMO.

They would have to pay some of his salary,but that would be for only one season,so you’d then have to foot the bill from then on

 

[ManlyGM]

I think we still need some quality centres....as shown on Saturday night, we are really light on. Its a real weak spot(s) for the team. What we have is not premiership winning class. IMO. Experience would help with the young blokes development. Jack Bird could be a cheap option, that may beone of those buys of the year. Lets face it, we love buying old cheap players and its worked with Nathan Brown

Outside back depth is one of our strong points after the emergence of Lehi and Clayton whose gonna be on a top 30 deal next season. We need to invest in our forward pack, its not up to scratch with any of the best sides week in week out.

 

[Frogz]

Outside back depth is one of our strong points after the emergence of Lehi and Clayton whose gonna be on a top 30 deal next season. We need to invest in our forward pack, its not up to scratch with any of the best sides week in week out.

Neither are our centres I beleive

 

[Frogz]

So you’re saying the club needs “quality centres” then suggest Jack Bird?? The club has invested in Koula,,Garrick,Hopoate,Talau and Faulalo,all players that can or could at a pinch,play centre and are all younger and faster than Bird.As for the Nathan Brown example,he was desperate and only given one season to impress.Bird hasn’t asked the Dragons for the opportunity to look around for a one season gig nor would he be looking to be bought on the cheap.Not to mention the fact Bird isn’t premiership class anymore,in any position,let alone centre

None of those mentioned will get us anywhere, soon. We need experienced centres, and we havent had any for years.

 

[Nordburg]

None of those mentioned will get us anywhere, soon. We need experienced centres, and we havent had any for years.

Bird is not the answer

 

[LeonardCohen]

Bird is not the answer

can you imagine if Saints had an opportunity to sign Garrick or Koula? They’d be over the moon! They’re way ahead of Jack Bird.

 

[Rocky]

None of those mentioned will get us anywhere, soon. We need experienced centres, and we havent had any for years.

we need experienced centers?

Tell that to the two best teams in the comp Penrith and Melbourne. They run out with Casey Mclean, Izack Tago, Nick Meaney and Jack Howarth.

Not exactly household names or experienced.

 

[LeonardCohen]

I’ve been thinking about our recruitment and retention and realise that it’s as much about not going backwards as it is about going forwards…

I believe there is an issue with our middles…they’re not up to it. So why did we just resign them?

Maybe it’s because we have no real prospect of signing something better because of the cap and/or availability. So we can tell Aloiai or Paseka to walk but the reality could be that we end up with no other option than to sign Blake Lawrie (not suggesting he is actually off contract or been told to look around, just using him as an inferior example).

Clubs play Russian roulette. We could look to strengthen our middles but let’s be real, we are not about to land Payne Haas or Lindsay Collins so what choice do we have?

It’s easy to identify problem areas and potential replacements but sometimes (like say Canberra for example) a club must accept that what they have might be the best they can get under the circumstances. I’m not suggesting apathy or that a good player cannot be recruited, just pointing out that Paseka and Aloiai are probably the best available for the current room we have in the cap and what is on the market.

 

[Ohgeez]

I still think our best back line would be
1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Taulu
4. Koula
5. Garrick

The tough thing is every time you are ready to give up on the Garrick to centre experiment he has a really good game so he gets more time

 

[ManlyGM]

Neither are our centres I beleive

Both Lehi and Faulalo have played majority of there football at fullback and centre so they would be definitely be in the mix.

 

[Rocky]

I’ve been thinking about our recruitment and retention and realise that it’s as much about not going backwards as it is about going forwards…

I believe there is an issue with our middles…they’re not up to it. So why did we just resign them?

Maybe it’s because we have no real prospect of signing something better because of the cap and/or availability. So we can tell Aloiai or Paseka to walk but the reality could be that we end up with no other option than to sign Blake Lawrie (not suggesting he is actually off contract or been told to look around, just using him as an inferior example).

Clubs play Russian roulette. We could look to strengthen our middles but let’s be real, we are not about to land Payne Haas or Lindsay Collins so what choice do we have?

It’s easy to identify problem areas and potential replacements but sometimes (like say Canberra for example) a club must accept that what they have might be the best they can get under the circumstances. I’m not suggesting apathy or that a good player cannot be recruited, just pointing out that Paseka and Aloiai are probably the best available for the current room we have in the cap and what is on the market.

If Paseka is your second best prop and Aloiai is a bench forward then things are pretty good.

Our problem is they are our best and maybe second best.

I think this is then compounded by having Jake at 13.


I would run out with the following for the rest of the year to give some starting aggression and have a mobile bench.

8. Paseka
9. Croker/Simpkins
10. Jake
11. Haumole
12. Lawton.
13. Brown

Bench
14. Bully
15. Ben T (to cover an injury or HIA to a backline player)
16. Simpkins/GCKT
17. Aloiai

 

[ManlyGM]

I still think our best back line would be
1. Turbo
2. Saab
3. Taulu
4. Koula
5. Garrick

The tough thing is every time you are ready to give up on the Garrick to centre experiment he has a really good game so he gets more time

Part of it with Garrick is he’s just a really good player. His form at centre for most the season hasn’t reflected how good he actually is.

I agree that Garrick on the wing and Talau centre would be our best backline though. However, hopefully he can continue to improve as he gets more games under his belt there.

 

[Frogz]

we need experienced centers?

Tell that to the two best teams in the comp Penrith and Melbourne. They run out with Casey Mclean, Izack Tago, Nick Meaney and Jack Howarth.

Not exactly household names or experienced.

We havent got Bellamy or Ivan either, nor do we have their factories..... Look I know we have young guys, but they are a few years off being guns They aren't even regular centres.

 

[Frogz]

Both Lehi and Faulalo have played majority of there football at fullback and centre so they would be definitely be in the mix.

They will be in time, that's all well and good if they actually make it...... but honestly, Im sick of waiting waiting...

 

[Nordburg]

I’ve been thinking about our recruitment and retention and realise that it’s as much about not going backwards as it is about going forwards…

I believe there is an issue with our middles…they’re not up to it. So why did we just resign them?

Maybe it’s because we have no real prospect of signing something better because of the cap and/or availability. So we can tell Aloiai or Paseka to walk but the reality could be that we end up with no other option than to sign Blake Lawrie (not suggesting he is actually off contract or been told to look around, just using him as an inferior example).

Clubs play Russian roulette. We could look to strengthen our middles but let’s be real, we are not about to land Payne Haas or Lindsay Collins so what choice do we have?

It’s easy to identify problem areas and potential replacements but sometimes (like say Canberra for example) a club must accept that what they have might be the best they can get under the circumstances. I’m not suggesting apathy or that a good player cannot be recruited, just pointing out that Paseka and Aloiai are probably the best available for the current room we have in the cap and what is on the market.

I look at it like this,does the club get into a bidding war over Utoikamanu,for example,win the war and pay maybe $700K+ or pay considerably less for Aloiai?Whilst props are highly sort after,you need close to 5-6 of them that are first grade quality and paying one of them that much,doesn’t help

 

[Ben]

I have full faith we will sign the right 2nd rower at the right price. Most of Seibs signings have been very good for value and are in form. We were interested in Angus Crichton but we didn’t want to pay overs which I applaud us for. Looking to be making a lot of the right moves locking down the core long term to gain great value down the track.
I like where we are positioned for the future with only 1 or 2 more shrewd signings needed to turn us into a a real force.
We have 2 more good years with DCE so this offseason is crucial signing wise.

 

[joeboy]

Jake been out marquee forward is a huge issue, yes he has heart and yes he will tackle all day, but when was the last time you saw him pop an offload, break a tackle, get a quick play the ball or smash the ball out if someone with a huge under the ribs tackle. These deficiencies in his game are actually how i would’ve described him as a player not that long ago.

He was brilliant, now he is a tireless worker only, which is fine (and required in all packs) but not as your highest paid forward

And What about his awesome Short balls inside and outside to Tom, another nice memory, hadn’t happened in about 5 years.

Surely he hasn’t lost the skills, and surely it hasn’t been coached out of him. What gives

 

[Dion Johnson]

I look at it like this,does the club get into a bidding war over Utoikamanu,for example,win the war and pay maybe $700K+ or pay considerably less for Aloiai?Whilst props are highly sort after,you need close to 5-6 of them that are first grade quality and paying one of them that much,doesn’t help

Alioia when he signed on originally was 650K, not sure on the remuneration with the extension.

In this specific case with Alioia I don’t think his extension was necessary, if he extended for 650K the club could have the funds to go after Utoikamanu or another mid range front rower, Alioia has had multiple injuries and hasn’t had the consistency in his game to warrant the extension in my opinion.

There are some good players off contract next season, Willison as an example would be a good one to go after with 500-600 a season.