2025 recruitment & retention

[Shoe1]

We mainly let gun players go. Gutho, hynes, latu in a couple of years. Preston.

 

[mave]

We have followed the Storm model of paying big money to 3 or 4 guys - usually in the spine.

To be fair most clubs generally do.

Some just do it better than others.

We have 2 out of 4 of our biggest earners in the spine.

Storm have 4 out of 4.

It is not the same model, not even close.

 

[Rocky]

We have 2 out of 4 of our biggest earners in the spine.

Storm have 4 out of 4.

It is not the same model, not even close.

i said we have followed the storms model of paying 3 or 4 guys big money..

i didnt say all of ours were in the spine...

Bored?

 

[mave]

How is your maths then.... Who was the last gun player we bought???... when have we bought a game changer.....Forget about the money tied up with the T Brothers, every club has those players (+ some), Mr Penn has let this club stew. Yes we are in the final 8, out of 17, but even Trent got us to that.

Well, I would argue that Luke Brooks was our most recent high profile signing. (Gun is subjective..., no-one had high hopes for washed up Ben Kennedy, for example).

The fact that he, as our full time 5/8th, doesn't make our top 4 earners in the squad, ......respectfully, I would argue that is an outcome of the imbalance problem that has been highlighted.

 

[mave]

i said we have followed the storms model of paying 3 or 4 guys big money..

i didnt say all of ours were in the spine...

Bored?

Huh?

You yourself said, some teams do it better than others.....I was reinforcing that by pointing out the Storm model revolved around the 4 spine players, whilst we have chosen a different path.

 

[JenEagle]

One of the reasons we bought Luke Brooks and let the fainus go was that the club thinks we are in a premiership window. They have said this for a few years. Hence why we are not investing in young players and playing for the short term.

We came 7th this year. How is that in a premiership window. We didn’t even come in the top 4.

So my issue is what’s our plan going forward so we don’t end up like the tigers.

The turbos and Dce are now at the back ends of their careers. Lehi looks like a replacement for turbo.

We have let humphries go. Brandy’s son and the other young half we signed from rugby are good but they are in year 12.

I will be very interested in how we go next year and what our recruitment looks like.

 

[Ohgeez]

We mainly let gun players go. Gutho, hynes, latu in a couple of years. Preston.

I agree that we have to do better with the juniors but this argument is honestly pointless. tell me 1 team that hasn’t let ‘gun juniors’ go? It’s apart of the game & always will be. Especially when you are using Gutho & Hynes as examples that have both been gone for almost 10 years… I wonder how Dragons feel about losing Garrick + Saab, or Parra with Oka, or tigers with Paseka etc…

 

[Ohgeez]

One of the reasons we bought Luke Brooks and let the fainus go was that the club thinks we are in a premiership window. They have said this for a few years. Hence why we are not investing in young players and playing for the short term.

We came 7th this year. How is that in a premiership window. We didn’t even come in the top 4.

So my issue is what’s our plan going forward so we don’t end up like the tigers.

The turbos and Dce are now at the back ends of their careers. Lehi looks like a replacement for turbo.

We have let humphries go. Brandy’s son and the other young half we signed from rugby are good but they are in year 12.

I will be very interested in how we go next year and what our recruitment looks like.

One of the positives we have is that Turbo & Jake are off contract the same year DCE will most likely retire. That’s going to be around $3 million, so plenty to spend on the best off contract half or best upcoming junior. Of course if Hopoate keeps on this trajectory a lot of the money will go to an upgrade for him too. Jake is massively overpaid so with that money could sign any lock/prop in the comp.

This is all years away so I guess all we can do until then is hope Turbo has some injury free years & we sign a gun bargain price lock or left 2nd rower like eels did with Hopgood a couple years ago

 

[Heckenberg]

One of the positives we have is that Turbo & Jake are off contract the same year DCE will most likely retire. That’s going to be around $3 million, so plenty to spend on the best off contract half or best upcoming junior. Of course if Hopoate keeps on this trajectory a lot of the money will go to an upgrade for him too. Jake is massively overpaid so with that money could sign any lock/prop in the comp.

This is all years away so I guess all we can do until then is hope Turbo has some injury free years & we sign a gun bargain price lock or left 2nd rower like eels did with Hopgood a couple years ago

I can guarantee you we will buy a top line half as soon as dce retires and we would already be lining this up.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

One of the positives we have is that Turbo & Jake are off contract the same year DCE will most likely retire. That’s going to be around $3 million, so plenty to spend on the best off contract half or best upcoming junior.

Did somebody say "war chest"?

A big part of me wants this generation of players, especially Jurbo and Turbo, to finish their careers with a premiership. Another part of me just can't see it happening and will be excited for us to make a fresh start. Eventually.

 

[Ohgeez]

NRL 2024: Every player currently off-contract and available to sign | Sporting News Australia

The all-important November 1 free agency is alive and kicking, with some of the NRL's biggest names set to hit the open market and test their value.

www.sportingnews.com

Who’s the best options? Matt Croker, Jack Williams & Blake Steep IMO would be handy for 2025

 

[Disco]

NRL 2024: Every player currently off-contract and available to sign | Sporting News Australia

The all-important November 1 free agency is alive and kicking, with some of the NRL's biggest names set to hit the open market and test their value.

www.sportingnews.com

Who’s the best options? Matt Croker, Jack Williams & Blake Steep IMO would be handy for 2025

Blake Steep 100%

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Who’s the best options? Matt Croker, Jack Williams & Blake Steep IMO would be handy for 2025

Would love Jack Williams at this club. Great leg speed and work rate. His game at Brookvale should have been a good enough audition, but I've been very impressed every time I've seen him play.

 

[The Who]

Blake Steep 100%

Is he the black sheep of his family?

 

[Nordburg]

Tuitavake either released or not re-signed by the Dragons(wasn’t sure on his contract status so gave both options). Fifita still there.Thats this weeks Tuitavake and Fifita update

 

[Disco]

Tuitavake either released or not re-signed by the Dragons(wasn’t sure on his contract status so gave both options). Fifita still there.Thats this weeks Tuitavake and Fifita update

But but but Manly threw away their future letting these two go or something something.....😂

 

[double hoops]

Id like to say no news is good news and you can all be confident our club is looking to replace the Shoe by leveraging a big name high quality young edge on getting a release. But after years of just craving even just depth at hooker. We all know it just ain't Gunna happen:-(

 

[Nordburg]

Id like to say no news is good news and you can all be confident our club is looking to replace the Shoe by leveraging a big name high quality young edge on getting a release. But after years of just craving even just depth at hooker. We all know it just ain't Gunna happen:-(

To be fair,not many clubs have 2 “big name high quality” edge players.Most have one eg Manly/ Olakau’atu.Penrith have Martin/Sorensen,but Sorensen is more of a product of very good coaching rather than a super star

 

[double hoops]

IMO club are hoping Burbo makes it his own. He just hasn't nailed it down in 24. Half way into the season I would have said Burbo must be our best centre. When thrown in dame he went well. Starting not so much.

 

[double hoops]

Jackson Ford. He is still signed for another year, but some talk around he's free to explore his options.