Widdop or Dugan? and who replaces them?

[Frank Facer]

Canterbury signed Woods and Foran for big money deals. They also just missed out on Tedesco, we were not even mentioned as a club who was in the running for his signature. Canterbury did not appear to be a club with a lot of cap space, but they may have players off contract this year, but it is really about 3rd party payments. I thought we had heaps of caps space. I know that we have signed Hunt for big money, but I thought we could have been in the running for Teddy's signature. I know that it was Canterbury and Easts who we would have been up against, those 2 along with Brisbane usually if not always look to be operating on a much bigger salary cap than us. It makes me feel very disheartened, like we are just making up the numbers for the TV rights. My moral as a Saints fan has been at an all time low over the past years. I am still not even excited about this year even though we are leading the comp. I still do not see a premiership on the horizon for us. I still think we need a top fullback with X factor, ball playing ability, speed, try scoring ability etc to make us a real premiership threat. Teddy would have been that player, Tom Turbo is another, Slater and Stewart were those players.

As for having the money for Widdop and Dugan, I think we should have quite a bit of salary cap space for our 5/8 and fullback, if we keep them and decide to play them in those positions.

I am still not a fan of Dugan at fullback, I think he limits our game as a fullback and I do think spending 750K of salary cap on a center is good cap management with our limited cap.

Widdop is going well this year after a very poor year last year. He may compliment Hunt well, but I am still not convinced of Widdop either.

The problem is now that Widdop and Dugan look like our best options for 5/8 and fullback now that the likes of Foran, Tedesco, Moses, Bird, Holmes, Trbojevic and co have all been signed up for next year.

 

[2010]

Packer is being looked at by the tigers, so duges and widdop are unsigned. Millward better get going and wrap the three up.

 

[Minh]

In all seriousness who would want to go to the Tigers right now they are a mess and seems like a career killing move.....

 

[blacksafake]

What if or when either or both go happens to the morale of the players.
Does all the good work then turn to sh*t especially with the tension between Mary & Millward.

 

[thebigredv]

In all seriousness who would want to go to the Tigers right now they are a mess and seems like a career killing move.....

And yet it seems if they get offered $1000 more, they'll go.

R.I.P loyalty.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I agree the handling of Dugan and Widdop has been poor. In my opinion Millward doesn't really want Dugan retained .

To answer the question who replaces Dugan and Widdop ? . The answer is nobody from within . They are 2 seasoned international players and to think Mann ( who I rate highly as a winger or centre ) can replace Widdop as a first grade 5/8 is garbage . And as for Field replacing Dugan as a Fullback that's just plain ludicrous the kid doesn't even play that position for the 20's .

I ask anybody going to the Anzac game to watch the work Dugan does at the back . And seriously ask yourself if a slightly built 19 year old kid who isn't even used to playing first grade let alone playing the hardest position on the field can replace him .

Nailed it!

Losing a brace of quality, experienced internationals and then hoping that a couple of promising (but untried) juniors can fill their big shoes is both absurd and unrealistic.

Should Dugan and Widdop leave...and I haven't seen anything to the contrary that they won't...it will set back team development a further five-years at a minimum.

It really is that simple.

Hopefully the source about Widdop staying is accurate, but I severely have my doubts.

If (and when) it's confirmed he's leaving, the next captain should be Fritzell.

 

[dragonrickjs]

And yet it seems if they get offered $1000 more, they'll go.

R.I.P loyalty.

Loyalty is a 2 way street. Clubs don't show any loyalty to the player so I will never blame a player taking more money over staying loyal to a club. And anyone who wouldn't take the cash are kidding themselves.

 

[SaintElroy]

I'm reserving all judgement until Widdop and duges have signed or left. Until now I think our recruiting and retention under millward has been good. Retained our best juniors and acquired some great buys. We can't give everyone 1million. If we successfully shave 100-200k off duges and Widdop and keep them then that can be used to put towards Mann (who seems to be the flavour of the month in here , who I also rate) or resign McInnes who is going great guns and is off contract at the end of next year.

If we lose both I will burn the grandstand with the rest of you.

6months ago everyone wanted these two gone. Let's hope they keep up this form after they have signed.

 

[RazorRam0n]

So...IF the dragons end up losing both Widdop and the Doogs...

Would you be keen to see the Morris boys back?

 

[Red V for life]

So...IF the dragons end up losing both Widdop and the Doogs...

Would you be keen to see the Morris boys back?

A no from me.

Both have been great players and I wished both had stayed at the Dragons, but the past is the past and we need to look to the future.

 

[RazorRam0n]

They could end up at the tigers with the money the dogs need to reallocate

 

[SaintElroy]

The Morris of 2010 I love. The Morris who kissed the Bulldogs emblem is dead to me

 

[rasaint]

Guys and Gals let's settle down.

Everyone thinks you can just 'lock up' players and get in early etc.All the players agents have been telling their client good players to hold off as the Salary Cap was supposed to rise up to $10million next year. It's not that easy. Even before all the recent outbreak of player movements Dugan has been saying he is worth a $1 million plus or he goes to Union or America blah blah and publicity banged the club for not giving Benji greater dough than $300k a fair offer. So Josh believes he is worth heaps good luck. No one will pay that much for a player who is good but not great. Are the Sharks hopeless in recruiting for not tying up Bird? No, it's the market.

Millard has done a good job. Signed big Vaughan, Simms, McInnes. Bought one of the genuine top line halfbacks in Hunt. Let Duges go to whoever if he doesn't like the offer and I'm happy we are not paying overs.

Gareth is the keeper. Very good goal kicker, great runner, genuinely fast ( not too many run him down) sublime passer of the ball particularly left side. Hey he would even be a great fullback.

 

[Vinnie]

Today's paper reports we are circling in on Dane Gagai should we lose Widdop or Dugan or both ??? I see him as a specialist centre so i have to ask WHY ??? We let Milne go and may possibly lose Mann and are looking to sign Gagai at a higher price i would think !!! Correct me if i'm wrong but i just don't see Gagai as a F/B or 5/8 to replace either Dugan so somebody help me because im totally confused.
Id rather have Mann, Nightingale,Field or Dufty at F/B than Gagai and Mann, Field or even Hodginson in the halves than Gagai so i see this as a waste of money and fruitless exercise. But hey there might be something im missing so somebody please help me out ???

 

[Drakon]

Gagai is a good footballer indeed but it's a bit surprising if true that they are chasing him.

Vinnie - I'm assuming you mean Hutchison and not Hodgkinson! Hutch could be a nice surprise packet on his return from injury. If he hadn't been injured, we could possibly be singing his praises right now as part of a winning team.

 

[Vinnie]

Gagai is a good footballer indeed but it's a bit surprising if true that they are chasing him.

Vinnie - I'm assuming you mean Hutchison and not Hodgkinson! Hutch could be a nice surprise packet on his return from injury. If he hadn't been injured, we could possibly be singing his praises right now as part of a winning team.

Yes Drakon i meant Hutchinson and i agree Gagai is a quality player but as a centre or winger that's where he's always played. Not a replacement for F/B or 5/8 and we have plenty of centre's and wingers on our books at the moment.

 

[Crush]

I'm reserving all judgement until Widdop and duges have signed or left. Until now I think our recruiting and retention under millward has been good. Retained our best juniors and acquired some great buys. We can't give everyone 1million. If we successfully shave 100-200k off duges and Widdop and keep them then that can be used to put towards Mann (who seems to be the flavour of the month in here , who I also rate) or resign McInnes who is going great guns and is off contract at the end of next year.

If we lose both I will burn the grandstand with the rest of you.

6months ago everyone wanted these two gone. Let's hope they keep up this form after they have signed.

Honestly, Millward has done an outstanding job on recruitment.
Vaughan- tick
Hunt- tick
Sims- tick
McInnes- tick
MacDonald- jury still out
Also, at the end of last year everyone was ready to burn the place down if he didnt retain Luciano Leilua! Remember? dogs were going to get him? Millward retained him. TICK!!!
I bet if Widdop and Dugan get re-signed the haters will move onto the next thing to sook about and continue to rip into Millward.
Never Happy.

 

[BrissyRedV]

With ridiculous money being thrown about due to the NRLs appalling management over next years salary cap and complete ignorance of the rorting of third party agreements, I believe it might be time to throw all our eggs in one basket and attempt to at least retain one of the Dugan and Widdop. The longer it drags out, the more likely we start lose players like Packer, Lafai, Mann etc. Next year with Hunt coming, we can be a true premiership threat so long as we maintain some experience in the backline as well. Although we all want to see our juniors and young stars get a go, it will be too much to expect a number of them at one time to instantly come up to speed in 1st grade next year and could put our premiership challenge at risk.

Personally, I do not believe that either Dugan or Widdop have signed with anyone else at this stage. The longer it drags however, we run the risk of losing them both and potentially others. From my point of view, I believe prioritising Widdop over Dugan at this stage would be better for the 2018 team with the view of elevating either Field, Dufty or Mann to first grade fullback for 2018. Hunt/Widdop would be a lethal combo whilst retaining a goal kicker which we do not have at this stage.

 

[twinkletoes]

This weeks Anzac day match will tell us whether we have what it takes this year. With all the distractions this week re player movements within our club we will see if the players can focus on the football side of things. In the past our players have been easily distracted by outside influences.

I'm hearing that the Tigers are throwing everything at Dugan now that Tedesco has left.

 

[willzy91]

This weeks Anzac day match will tell us whether we have what it takes this year. With all the distractions this week re player movements within our club we will see if the players can focus on the football side of things. In the past our players have been easily distracted by outside influences.

I'm hearing that the Tigers are throwing everything at Dugan now that Tedesco has left.

There's a reason Dugan wanted to go to the rorters....they have the ability to play finals football and push for a premiership....Tigers on the other hand, are years off at least playing finals football, so this late in his career it would make absolutely no sense for him to join the tigers. But if he does choose the money, its not about the game of rugby league at all, and he has his family in mind, which in that case good on him and i wish him the best in the future.