Interesting to see how a well run club has a succession plan and not ad hoc approach to recruitment.
The Storm have just announced they have signed Jerome Hughes from the Cowboys and also the junior kiwi hooker, Brandon Smith to replace Cameron Smith over time.
They seem to have a plan, Dragons don't seem to know who or what they want or need. Also see Marshall is negotiating with other clubs now..this maybe PR from his manager to bump his price up.
Great comment.
The Storm are securing their spine for the future. Hughes > Slater : Smith > Smith : Nikorima (probably) > Cronk and Munster > Green.
These are not hacks or fringe players, they already show huge potential and great signing for the future of the club.
Dragons : ? > Dugan (expected move to the centres) : ? > Benji : ? > Rein : I think Widdop will be around for a while but again ? to replace him.
Again and again we seem to prefer to buy "experienced" fringe players and expect them to become superstars under Mary's coaching.
I understand the methodology and thinking, just take a look at the Cowboys, they have turned some average players into great players, but they have a coach!
We need to extract the proverbial digit from our backside, stop pretending that the "brand" will attract quality players and start looking at our long term future.
If our recruitment in the past has negotiated contracts with back-ended deals or other promises, then we will all have to expect that our Dragons will hover between 13-8th for the next 3 -5 years.
Sad that we have come to this.
