Recruitment Situation

[Dr Fruitbasket Returns]

I, too, am keen to hear Dr Fruitbaskets thoughts on signing Packer...

He's all right I suppose. But he's solid rather than any sort of solution to our problems. I would have preferred Watmough, along with every other proper forward that's been on the market this year and been bought by other teams.

It seems to me that when your pack is as bad as ours it's a Fifita, a Watmough, a Procter, a Hoffman or a Grant that you need. In fact you need a minimum of two of them. Not another solid first grader. The fact that our recruitment and cap management have been so poor that we've barely been competitively in the market for any of those players is a whole other dispiriting story.

So really, when I think about it I'm basically "whatever" about signing him. He makes a bit of difference to an appalling pack. We need a lot of difference.

 

[dungay dragon]

Keep hearing mutterings that the Dogs are still trying to squeeze out A TOLMAN :shock:
We could do worse than consider him , judging on whats about

 

[jenninga]

He's all right I suppose. But he's solid rather than any sort of solution to our problems. I would have preferred Watmough, along with every other proper forward that's been on the market this year and been bought by other teams.

It seems to me that when your pack is as bad as ours it's a Fifita, a Watmough, a Procter, a Hoffman or a Grant that you need. In fact you need a minimum of two of them. Not another solid first grader. The fact that our recruitment and cap management have been so poor that we've barely been competitively in the market for any of those players is a whole other dispiriting story.

So really, when I think about it I'm basically "whatever" about signing him. He makes a bit of difference to an appalling pack. We need a lot of difference.

Dude,he would be a step in the direction we have been lacking.
Mongrel.
You are correct in what you say,but he would add something different to a pack which has been too one dimensional.

 

[TheViking]

Keep hearing mutterings that the Dogs are still trying to squeeze out A TOLMAN :shock:
We could do worse than consider him , judging on whats about

Highly doubt it seeing he re-signed for 4 years just last year.

That and Des & James Graham both seem to absolutely love him.

Though with Tolman, Graham, Kasiano, Klemmer, Tim Browne, Lloyd Perrett prop is one position we are very well served. All wrapped up too bar Lloyd who is said to be re-signing on a 3-4 year deal.

 

[rainman44]

Highly doubt it seeing he re-signed for 4 years just last year.

That and Des & James Graham both seem to absolutely love him.

Though with Tolman, Graham, Kasiano, Klemmer, Tim Browne, Lloyd Perrett prop is one position we are very well served. All wrapped up too bar Lloyd who is said to be re-signing on a 3-4 year deal.

They all stay as the dogs are like the roosters and broncos, they do what they want.

 

[FlameThrower]

Will story in media is Ben Hannant not wanted by any Club? Surely it's worth a try a a decent Prop??

 

[Mr Red]

Imagine the sight of P Doust tip toeing out to Lithgow prison to see Packer .:shock:
Would be rare as Dousty is relatively settled in his bullet / bomb proof bunker at Dragons Leagues away from his adoring followers

:lol:

 

[TheViking]

Will story in media is Ben Hannant not wanted by any Club? Surely it's worth a try a a decent Prop??

If Dragons can't afford Mason they sure can't afford Hannant.

 

[getsmarty]

Jack Bird's move to Cronulla a blow for Dragons

By MITCH JENNINGS

Sept. 24, 2014, 9:09 p.m.
RUGBY LEAGUE


Jack Bird in State of Origin action for the NSW under 20s. Picture: GETTY IMAGES

Coach Ben Hornby admits watching Jack Bird lead the Dragons' charge towards an under 20 grand final is bittersweet now the 'next big thing' is the 'one that got away'.
In a week in which the future of two of the Dragons finest local juniors, Brett Morris (Kiama) and Trent Merrin (Shellharbour), have come under a cloud, the announcement Bird will depart to fierce rivals Cronulla at season's end provided a further blow.
The loss of one the club's most highly-touted juniors highlights the difficult task faced by new top-grade coach Paul McGregor as he looks to manage an NRL roster while still holding on to the juniors produced by the rich Illawarra production line.
Bird's departure to take up a two-year deal with the Sharks' top-grade squad comes just a year after another junior star, Jackson Hastings, left the club to take up a three-year deal with the Roosters.
Ironically it was the Sharks lamenting the one that got away earlier this season when the Bulldogs swooped on NYC Team of the Year hooker and Cronulla-Caringbah junior Michael Liccha with a three-year deal.
Hornby admitted it will be sad to see Bird depart but said that losing local juniors to rival clubs was part and parcel of the modern game.
"It's always disappointing when you lose good juniors but that's where footy's at at the moment," Hornby said.
"If you've got a lot of good juniors then club's are going to come in and try and take them.
"Sometimes there's not much you can do about it.
"It's sad to see Jack leave but I'm sure he'll get a good opportunity up there and show everyone what he can do."
The Dragons have re-signed eight players from the NYC squad that will contest Friday's preliminary final, including skipper Addin Fonua-Blake, standout half Drew Hutchison and star fullback Matt Dufty. But the loss of Bird is a bitter pill for Dragons fans to swallow following an outstanding season from the Berkeley Eagles junior.
Having spent most of his time in the back row, Bird has shown his class in recent performances in the backs, producing a star turn at fullback in the Dragons' 58-18 thrashing of the Broncos in round 25.
He backed it up in the 30-22 qualifying final win over Newcastle two weeks ago when switched to the centres in the absence of fellow under-20s Origin rep Euan Aitken and produced two tries.
He'll returns to his more familiar back-row position on Friday.


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2583295/bird-loss-big-blow-to-clubs-strategy/?cs=302

 

[getsmarty]

Just ran into another Dragon's tragic. Claims we have signed George Rose??? Anyone have any info on this? Also stated the Chooks have signed a high profile union player.(That's the cap working Lol)
Find this hard to believe unless we are going for our usual bunch of 2nd string signings.

 

[gonz]

Also the Bmoz rumour gets stronger !

 

[nrlnrl]

Just ran into another Dragon's tragic. Claims we have signed George Rose??? Anyone have any info on this? Also stated the Chooks have signed a high profile union player.(That's the cap working Lol)
Find this hard to believe unless we are going for our usual bunch of 2nd string signings.

It was mentioned in Rugby LEague Week last week.

It seems to be we're going for the bargain bin approach that Storm & Sea Eagles have used, but the big difference is they've had rep forwards in their pack & use the cheapies as bench players / depth. Plus the bargain buys they get have a 90% rate of contributing. The bad sign for the Dragons is that George Rose was just about their only failure in this area.

I've also heard these guys mentioned - Lee Mossop & Ben Spina. At the moment, we're like the 24 hour pub that people only drop into when all the others are closed.

 

[TheViking]

I think you guys should be going and getting Packer, Mason and Takarangi. Rose is below average for NRL. Don't think he will help all that much.

Would strengthen your pack to at least make it a competitive pack, even if not a top pack it would be serviceable usually.

Just don't know where the money comes from yet. Obviously more will be leaving. Hopefully for the Dogs. Morris

 

[Get2dachopper!]

I think you guys should be going and getting Packer, Mason and Takarangi. Rose is below average for NRL. Don't think he will help all that much.

Would strengthen your pack to at least make it a competitive pack, even if not a top pack it would be serviceable usually.

Just don't know where the money comes from yet. Obviously more will be leaving. Hopefully for the Dogs. Morris

We'll let Morris go when we are ready......you can have him when his 35

 

[nrlnrl]

I think you guys should be going and getting Packer, Mason and Takarangi. Rose is below average for NRL. Don't think he will help all that much.

Would strengthen your pack to at least make it a competitive pack, even if not a top pack it would be serviceable usually.

Just don't know where the money comes from yet. Obviously more will be leaving. Hopefully for the Dogs. Morris

Yeah, you'll be happy when Brett joins up with Josh, some talk the Dragons are trying to get a Bulldogs players ( have heard Kasiano & Williams ) as part of the early release, but Kasiano doesn't sound like he wants to play for the Dragons & Hasler is a massive fan of Williams, so forget them.

Dragons have to lodge a contract with the NRL & then wait to see when they'll register Packer as a player again. It might be mid 2015?.

I think Mason will go to Manly, Takairangi - who knows ?

 

[blacksafake]

Heard Peter Tunks on talkin sport today say he had good info that b Moz is a done deal for the dogs next year.Apparently Nighty is on big$ as well.B Moz has been very quiet which makes me think it is true & the signing of Nabuli this week may confirm it.:x

 

[TheViking]

We'll let Morris go when we are ready......you can have him when his 35

If the reports are true, he will be long gone before then perhaps 2016!

 

[TheViking]

Heard Peter Tunks on talkin sport today say he had good info that b Moz is a done deal for the dogs next year.Apparently Nighty is on big$ as well.B Moz has been very quiet which makes me think it is true & the signing of Nabuli this week may confirm it.:x

Was also said Hoffman to Dogs.

Will be interesting if true.

 

[TheViking]

Yeah, you'll be happy when Brett joins up with Josh, some talk the Dragons are trying to get a Bulldogs players ( have heard Kasiano & Williams ) as part of the early release, but Kasiano doesn't sound like he wants to play for the Dragons & Hasler is a massive fan of Williams, so forget them.

Dragons have to lodge a contract with the NRL & then wait to see when they'll register Packer as a player again. It might be mid 2015?.

I think Mason will go to Manly, Takairangi - who knows ?

The whole Kasiano story was put to bed awhile ago. With the Pritchard one.

Williams one is completely new to me.

As I said a few times if it happens I think you will find it is money. Much like Dogs got from Broncos.

Agree re Packer.

Mason could be right. Not 100%

Will be interesting.

 

[rainman44]

The whole Kasiano story was put to bed awhile ago. With the Pritchard one.

Williams one is completely new to me.

As I said a few times if it happens I think you will find it is money. Much like Dogs got from Broncos.

Agree re Packer.

Mason could be right. Not 100%

Will be interesting.

Saints will get someone from the dogs, that's what I got told. We will find out soon.