2021 - Squad, Signings, Re-signings

[getsmarty]

Cheers. I can see both sides of the fence. If we panic buy like we have in the past and pay overs then we’re stuck in the same salary cap mess we have over the last few years. If we dig our heels in ( not bad either ) and not pander to these managers then we miss out on signings.

I’d prefer that we struggle a bit and have the cash to go after the big guns then sign average Joe Willy nilly and stay in the same rut

We haven't really missed out on anyone we desperately want....maybe C.Welch....that's it

its a new day...things are looking on the up........

Have a Good weekend @redv13

 

[Dragonslayer]

We haven't really missed out on anyone we desperately want....maybe C.Welch....that's it

its a new day...things are looking on the up........

Have a Good weekend @redv13

In the past we think of who we signed and why we signed them. Present day is who we've targeted and why we didn't sign them.

 

[redVinme]

If milward still had all the power we would of defs signed one or two of em. Glad we didn't. Would have paid slight overs for welch though to get the ball rolling.

 

[getsmarty]

If milward still had all the power we would of defs signed one or two of em. Glad we didn't. Would have paid slight overs for welch though to get the ball rolling.

The reason we didn't get Welch is the Board couldn't tell him who the next coach would be....would have been a handy signing. Oh Well.

 

[redVinme]

The reason we didn't get Welch is the Board couldn't tell him who I next coach would be....would have been a handy signing. Oh Well.

Yep. Shame on that one. The right one will come along.

 

[redv13]

We haven't really missed out on anyone we desperately want....maybe C.Welch....that's it

its a new day...things are looking on the up........

Have a Good weekend @redv13

Agree. You too mate enjoy the sun

 

[Dragonslayer]

I think some perspective is needed here. The reality is we are currently a bottom of the ladder club, a bitch for player managers and a haven for journeymen and over priced secondary players. To assume we would suddenly, almost overnight, become a desired destination for a 'top line' player is bizarre to say the least.
We will sign players, albeit not the ones desired by many, but they will live and fight for the Red V. We will promote from within, again those who want to wear the Red V.

2021 will be a crucial year for us, a whole new beginning. 2022 we are well placed to go 'shopping' for those quality players needed, if they are needed at all.

 

[redv13]

I think some perspective is needed here. The reality is we are currently a bottom of the ladder club, a bitch for player managers and a haven for journeymen and over priced secondary players. To assume we would suddenly, almost overnight, become a desired destination for a 'top line' player is bizarre to say the least.
We will sign players, albeit not the ones desired by many, but they will live and fight for the Red V. We will promote from within, again those who want to wear the Red V.

2021 will be a crucial year for us, a whole new beginning. 2022 we are well placed to go 'shopping' for those quality players needed, if they are needed at all.

Can’t complain, well said

 

[goldiesaintz]

I think some perspective is needed here. The reality is we are currently a bottom of the ladder club, a bitch for player managers and a haven for journeymen and over priced secondary players. To assume we would suddenly, almost overnight, become a desired destination for a 'top line' player is bizarre to say the least.
We will sign players, albeit not the ones desired by many, but they will live and fight for the Red V. We will promote from within, again those who want to wear the Red V.

2021 will be a crucial year for us, a whole new beginning. 2022 we are well placed to go 'shopping' for those quality players needed, if they are needed at all.

DS,
You win the chocolates for the post of the day.

 

[getsmarty]

I think some perspective is needed here. The reality is we are currently a bottom of the ladder club, a bitch for player managers and a haven for journeymen and over priced secondary players. To assume we would suddenly, almost overnight, become a desired destination for a 'top line' player is bizarre to say the least.
We will sign players, albeit not the ones desired by many, but they will live and fight for the Red V. We will promote from within, again those who want to wear the Red V.

2021 will be a crucial year for us, a whole new beginning. 2022 we are well placed to go 'shopping' for those quality players needed, if they are needed at all.

Good post...not correct in regards to the bolded area...that is why we didn't sign a number of players in the last few weeks. Club now has Hand....since the former coach is no longer here....

Things are turning around slowly....onward and upward. Let's all give Hook & co a chance to turn the ship around...what after 8 years of mediocrity, things don't exactly change overnight.

 

[Crush]

I think people are getting way too overexcited just because Mary is gone.
I'll be surprised if we aren't bottom 4 next year.
We have lost key players and signed nobody.
At first I was positive but given we haven't signed anybody of note I am resigned to the fact that 2021 is another bottom 4 prospect.
We need to sign somebody, our forwards are terribly thin.

 

[Gareth67]

I think people are getting way too overexcited just because Mary is gone.
I'll be surprised if we aren't bottom 4 next year.
We have lost key players and signed nobody.
At first I was positive but given we haven't signed anybody of note I am resigned to the fact that 2021 is another bottom 4 prospect.
We need to sign somebody, our forwards are terribly thin.

I believe that Griffin’s idea at this point in time is to get the team playing for one another , to believe in each other - aka Wayne Bennett when he was at the Dragons . Of course the difference is that he also brought in a number of players in key positions that could cement the team as a whole .

He has himself stated that season 2021 will be a rebuilding year and basically the young stock that the Dragons have now , shall be playing 1st grade if their from warrants it . As the season progresses these same youngsters will gain confidence and also maturity and will form the nucleus of a strong outfit that will only get better in 2022 .

That is the season - imo that Griffin will be expecting real results , a real step up towards the final 8 , in fact into the final 8 . By then we will have acquired a few more players of note that shall give the Big Red V that armor coating which will see the team almost on par with competition heavyweights .

Purely my take on things of course , however I certainly do expect the Dragons to progress further up the ladder this season - not into the 8 , but in the right direction at least .

 

[Crush]

I believe that Griffin’s idea at this point in time is to get the team playing for one another , to believe in each other - aka Wayne Bennett when he was at the Dragons . Of course the difference is that he also brought in a number of players in key positions that could cement the team as a whole .

He has himself stated that season 2021 will be a rebuilding year and basically the young stock that the Dragons have now , shall be playing 1st grade if their from warrants it . As the season progresses these same youngsters will gain confidence and also maturity and will form the nucleus of a strong outfit that will only get better in 2022 .

That is the season - imo that Griffin will be expecting real results , a real step up towards the final 8 , in fact into the final 8 . By then we will have acquired a few more players of note that shall give the Big Red V that armor coating which will see the team almost on par with competition heavyweights .

Purely my take on things of course , however I certainly do expect the Dragons to progress further up the ladder this season - not into the 8 , but in the right direction at least .

Its all good and well to believe in one another etc but if the team is getting lapped week in week out it won't amount to much.
Anyway, I sound like a sad sack.
Hope the Dragons young blokes kill it.

 

[blacksafake]

I think people are getting way too overexcited just because Mary is gone.
I'll be surprised if we aren't bottom 4 next year.
We have lost key players and signed nobody.
At first I was positive but given we haven't signed anybody of note I am resigned to the fact that 2021 is another bottom 4 prospect.
We need to sign somebody, our forwards are terribly thin.

I think we’ll be better than bottom four Crush, unless we are really hit with injuries. Hook has already stated that he’s aiming for the eight & not tossing up excuses already, unlike the last bloke.
Sure some “ big” signings would be welcomed but I’m confident Hook will eventually sign the type of players( at the right price) that he thinks will do the job. Some of those we supposedly missed out on I’m not too fussed with the exception of Welch.

 

[Gareth67]

Its all good and well to believe in one another etc but if the team is getting lapped week in week out it won't amount to much.
Anyway, I sound like a sad sack.
Hope the Dragons young blokes kill it.

Griffin will be prepared for losses , it is only to be expected until they finally become a team , one that possesses reliable combinations and also some character .

That is what he will take into 2022 , but until then , yes you are correct in that there will be some very one sided score lines , or more warts than beauty spots , but he will had formed a real team that has plenty of potential .

Still if he can get the team moving in any direction but down the ladder then he will have accomplished more in one season then the recently departed maestro did in 7 loooong , loooong years.

So smile Sad Sack and remember there every cloud has a silver lining .

 

[rasaint]

Crush those posts were sensible.

Like Crush, I haven’t got excited with the ‘hook’ coaching change. Good players make good coachs and in the last few years I have posted on the overstated influence of coaches( not saying no influence just overstated). I backed this up with direct evidence that even the best of them tank when they haven’t got the cattle in the team ( or stick to one team which has strong 3rd party deals to sign multiple top players.

The one year we had a very good all round team was 2018. Strong pack with Vaughan, Graham 32 years old, Au Mau, JDB, Tariq injury free until the Broncs semi final and Tyson still going well. MCG was coach and bar injury to Widdop and Tariq in Broncs semi we would have been Grand finalists.

Now Hook has arrived and our roster is the weakest for many years. Even Frizzel shot through even with $700k ready to come his way for another 3 years I think? We have signed 2021 a solid young second tier roosters prop and Jack Bird who has been basically in the sheds with serious injuries for the past 3 years; today still effectively in rehab. Cory N is hanging round for the last year of a huge ?$ 900k pay packet, ( so would any of us) while Gareth W is back and apparently offering cut price services.

I’m not knocking any 2021 player or coach just being realistic.

 

[possm]

Its all good and well to believe in one another etc but if the team is getting lapped week in week out it won't amount to much.
Anyway, I sound like a sad sack.
Hope the Dragons young blokes kill it.

Of course it is true that we have lost Graham and Frizell without like for like replacements. I am sure Griffin realises this and needs to address this earlier rather than later.

We have some young props in our rotation but desperately need one more experienced, tough prop to partner Vaughan in the run on 13.

The other problem revolves around the loss of Frizell and the potential loss of De Belin. Some say that Bird is the answer for one of the vacancies but I always fancied Bird as Norman's replacement either in 2021 or from 2022 on. I'd rather a robust no nonsense edge forward to take the place of Frizell and of course I would rather De Belin be in the side. This is the big problem we face right now, other problems can be sorted out during the off-season by the coaching staff.

 

[Old Timer]

I think people are getting way too overexcited just because Mary is gone.
I'll be surprised if we aren't bottom 4 next year.
We have lost key players and signed nobody.
At first I was positive but given we haven't signed anybody of note I am resigned to the fact that 2021 is another bottom 4 prospect.
We need to sign somebody, our forwards are terribly thin.

Crush
I suggest you go back and have a look at some replays of games over the last few years especially against teams we should have beaten but in fact lost to them and some quite easily in fact.

What you will see predominantly is

1. 5 hit ups and a not very good kick.
2. No offloads
3. No second phase plays
4. No set moves
5. Players out of form continually picked
6. Players picked out of position
7. Players playing busted
8. Total inability to capitalise on good field position especially in the opposition 20m
9. The most useless bench rotation imaginable
10. The emphatic ability of a coach to get the worst out of players and total inability to capitalise on their strengths.
11. The complete disregard for youth in the squad and the way that they needed to be blooded and prepared for the NRL
12. Purchasing high profile players on considerable overs and then not getting anywhere enough out of them and at the same time buying busted up hacks and journeymen.

These are all attributable directly to the idiot at the helm of a directionless ship.

These simple facts show that regardless of how good the roster was / wasn’t the players rarely played to their true potential and had their best attributes coached out of them.

We have lost Frizz and Host in our forwards who were both very poorly used so any improvement in those that remain in the squad or are purchased will see better outcomes than if we had continued on as before.

We now have a far better chance of achieving improvements and securing a brighter future and for the 1st time in 8 years understanding how good / bad our junior and development players actually are and what it is we exactly need externally to compliment our squad.

Chin up Crush whilst it won’t all be roses and chocolates at least it won’t be mindless and meaningless.

 

[goldiesaintz]

Crush
I suggest you go back and have a look at some replays of games over the last few years especially against teams we should have beaten but in fact lost to them and some quite easily in fact.

What you will see predominantly is

1. 5 hit ups and a not very good kick.
2. No offloads
3. No second phase plays
4. No set moves
5. Players out of form continually picked
6. Players picked out of position
7. Players playing busted
8. Total inability to capitalise on good field position especially in the opposition 20m
9. The most useless bench rotation imaginable
10. The emphatic ability of a coach to get the worst out of players and total inability to capitalise on their strengths.
11. The complete disregard for youth in the squad and the way that they needed to be blooded and prepared for the NRL
12. Purchasing high profile players on considerable overs and then not getting anywhere enough out of them and at the same time buying busted up hacks and journeymen.

These are all attributable directly to the idiot at the helm of a directionless ship.

These simple facts show that regardless of how good the roster was / wasn’t the players rarely played to their true potential and had their best attributes coached out of them.

We have lost Frizz and Host in our forwards who were both very poorly used so any improvement in those that remain in the squad or are purchased will see better outcomes than if we had continued on as before.

We now have a far better chance of achieving improvements and securing a brighter future and for the 1st time in 8 years understanding how good / bad our junior and development players actually are and what it is we exactly need externally to compliment our squad.

Chin up Crush whilst it won’t all be roses and chocolates at least it won’t be mindless and meaningless.

l like this post.
Spot on assessment.

 

[Dragons4me]

l like this post.
Spot on assessment.

Good post. I too have similar sentiments but I'm really looking forward to next year more than the past couple. I'm renewing my Kogarah seats for the first time in 3 years and looking forward to seeing the young guys come through. I'm not even too worried where we come because it's going to be different to the past. Then 2022 should also be better for the same reasons.
Go the Dragons!!