The Rumours Thread

[Dragon David]

To be honest this Anderson thing all sounds a bit odd to me. If he's so good why have the Roosters signed Carbone? Why are they seemingly willing to lett him go only a few months after he actually returned to work following his accident? Is it because they feel he is no longer able to complete his role productively? But they don't look like the bad guys by actually firing him?

Presumably the recruitment role involves being in and around numerous football grounds across the local area and nationally, to watch players. Not all of them are particularly wheelchair accessible, I know a few in my local area that are difficult for disabled family members, let alone for a quadriplegic.

I'm not trying to be discriminatory in any way, just questioning his capacity to fulfill a role of this nature. After all we are trying to get the very best person for the job. If I'm wrong then no problem.

Your questioning has merit The Word.

It would be extremely hard for Anderson to get out and about without someone on hand at his beck and call to take him to meetings, venues like footy games, negotiations etc on a regular basis. I would think then that the Club would need to have a scout like Kyle Stanley and others to look at guys that they deem to have what is needed for the club and they refer to Anderson then to arrange meetings with the players and their managers or family members for recruitment purposes.

I know I am all supposition on this as I am only trying to make some sense of it as well.

While the Roosters did employ him and he did a good job when he was not confined to the wheelchair, they have realised that it would be better if their recruitment guru is able to get about readily and do his own scouting etc without any hindrances or delays so that they can get that man signed up quickly. Carbone looks to be a good replacement for Anderson at the Roosters. I hope Anderson is good for us, if of course we actually hire him.

 

[Dragon David]

You should fact check
Joel Carbone isnt replacing or taking over Andersons role, he is taking over Clint Zammitt who left a few weeks ago to join the Cowboys..
Anderson hasnt been back a few months.

Game unites to help Anderson adjust to 'new normal'

Daniel Anderson has returned to work with Sydney Roosters but the former NRL coach needs ongoing support after a bodysurfing accident left him a quadriplegic

www.nrl.com

Thanks Ayios. I should have checked stuff as well.

 

[Flinstone]

That McEwan bloke talks too much, but anyway key quotes for me from Flanno:

"Jacob Halangahu's gonna play soon"
"We need some genuine big dogs up front. That's the market we're in. That's where we're looking - the middle part of the field"
"And maybe an elite winger if we can find one"
"We've gone to the Sharks numerous time this year to ask if they'll release Atkinson early since he's not playing and every time they say no"

Also interesting that he didn't really confirm Watsford's suggestion that they're searching for a so-called marquee halfback. He talked about the 4 halves on the books for next year - Atkinson, LKT, Flanagan and Ilias.

Definitley need some middles.
I think Watsford saying their in the market for a marquee halfback was more to ease pressure off Kyle and lets fans know Kyle is not the long term halfback.
Atkinson surely will play in the halves next year and if it doesn't turn out well they have covered themselves by saying we're in the market for marquee half (not many available).
If Atkinson goes well then i doubt they will be in the market for a half.

 

[Draginzaaar]

To be honest this Anderson thing all sounds a bit odd to me. If he's so good why have the Roosters signed Carbone? Why are they seemingly willing to lett him go only a few months after he actually returned to work following his accident? Is it because they feel he is no longer able to complete his role productively? But they don't look like the bad guys by actually firing him?

Presumably the recruitment role involves being in and around numerous football grounds across the local area and nationally, to watch players. Not all of them are particularly wheelchair accessible, I know a few in my local area that are difficult for disabled family members, let alone for a quadriplegic.

I'm not trying to be discriminatory in any way, just questioning his capacity to fulfill a role of this nature. After all we are trying to get the very best person for the job. If I'm wrong then no problem.

You know Alex McKinnon is a recruitment guy too yeah?

 

[Dragsters]

Your questioning has merit The Word.

It would be extremely hard for Anderson to get out and about without someone on hand at his beck and call to take him to meetings, venues like footy games, negotiations etc on a regular basis. I would think then that the Club would need to have a scout like Kyle Stanley and others to look at guys that they deem to have what is needed for the club and they refer to Anderson then to arrange meetings with the players and their managers or family members for recruitment purposes.

I know I am all supposition on this as I am only trying to make some sense of it as well.

While the Roosters did employ him and he did a good job when he was not confined to the wheelchair, they have realised that it would be better if their recruitment guru is able to get about readily and do his own scouting etc without any hindrances or delays so that they can get that man signed up quickly. Carbone looks to be a good replacement for Anderson at the Roosters. I hope Anderson is good for us, if of course we actually hire him.

You know Alex McKinnon is a recruitment guy too yeah?

As I understand it the recruitment manager also has scouts that attend grade and regional games to assist with talent identification...

 

[denis preston]

Your questioning has merit The Word.

It would be extremely hard for Anderson to get out and about without someone on hand at his beck and call to take him to meetings, venues like footy games, negotiations etc on a regular basis. I would think then that the Club would need to have a scout like Kyle Stanley and others to look at guys that they deem to have what is needed for the club and they refer to Anderson then to arrange meetings with the players and their managers or family members for recruitment purposes.

I know I am all supposition on this as I am only trying to make some sense of it as well.

While the Roosters did employ him and he did a good job when he was not confined to the wheelchair, they have realised that it would be better if their recruitment guru is able to get about readily and do his own scouting etc without any hindrances or delays so that they can get that man signed up quickly. Carbone looks to be a good replacement for Anderson at the Roosters. I hope Anderson is good for us, if of course we actually hire him.

We have a lot of people in the club needing to be moved on but Kyle Stanley is certainly not one of them, in fact we need to ensure he is happy. His pull with the Islander community is certainly a plus in regards to getting these young players to the contract table.

 

[blacksafake]

That McEwan bloke talks too much, but anyway key quotes for me from Flanno:

"Jacob Halangahu's gonna play soon"
"We need some genuine big dogs up front. That's the market we're in. That's where we're looking - the middle part of the field"
"And maybe an elite winger if we can find one"
"We've gone to the Sharks numerous time this year to ask if they'll release Atkinson early since he's not playing and every time they say no"

Also interesting that he didn't really confirm Watsford's suggestion that they're searching for a so-called marquee halfback. He talked about the 4 halves on the books for next year - Atkinson, LKT, Flanagan and Ilias.

I’m sure I heard Flanno say yeah when talk of a marquee half was mentioned?

 

[denis preston]

Flanno on Dragons Den
Arty

The Dragons Den - Shane Flanagan - The Dragons Den

We are on the home stretch for the 2025 NRL Season and it's time for a check in with head coach Shane Flanagan. Shane opens up on what's working, what's not and what's next. There's no doubt that the Dragons are in a transition period, Flanno talks us through the decisions around Jack de Belin...

bit.ly

My take on this is generally positive but Flanno may be a bit too fixated with the cap. All the more reason that we have a real hard go at 3rd party ( through non club attached interests)

 

[hook hook]

I’m sure I heard Flanno say yeah when talk of a marquee half was mentioned?

Correct he said he would love one

 

[jak]

can anyone tell me how the Centre of excellence is going

 

[TheRev]

I dont think Flanno sees a half as a priority (tbf its probably 2nd or 3rd in our queue of priorities), but a marquee half if it came available, it sounds like the club is in.. but its not easy to pull off.. noting that our recruitment manager is hopefully about to come in the door... im sure going through the roster will be his first task.

He did mention Atkinson though as a bit of a forgotten man in terms of next years halves.. he said they tried to pull him out of the sharks several times this year because the sharks have left him in cup etc.. but sharks keep saying no.. he really should have been here this year, shame for his development.. and shame for our season... but what do you do....

 

[The Word]

As I understand it the recruitment manager also has scouts that attend grade and regional games to assist with talent identification...

In that case the scouts would need to be the very best at identifying talent as presumably our recruitment efforts would be based on their player reports.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

You're pretty much wrong with the entire comment.
Anderson was not replaced by Carbone.
Carbone replaced Zammit
Anderson has been back at work for 2 years and he has no trouble getting to games.

"Anderson has stuck by Va’a and his brother ever since they put pen to paper, attending almost every game from Harold Matthews to NSW Cup, even after suffering a life-changing spinal injury."

Game unites to help Anderson adjust to 'new normal'

Daniel Anderson has returned to work with Sydney Roosters but the former NRL coach needs ongoing support after a bodysurfing accident left him a quadriplegic

www.nrl.com

That’s what this club NEEDS.

Some f**king HEART!

 

[2012....Sharks Year]

can anyone tell me how the Centre of excellence is going

They’ve decided not to proceed as the terms Excellence and the Dragons seem to be far too contradictory. I’ll see myself out. Good luck for the remainder of the season guys.

 

[saints4ever]

Due for completion April or May 2026

 

[ground zero]

Due for completion April or May 2026

How about some drone update progress.

 

[shiloh dc]

We already have a Centre of Excellence - Val Holmes.

 

[steerlerbab]

We do not have problem with identifying and developing juniors. Our problem has been retention of juniors. That has more to do with NRL rules and player agents. Our club does not have a clue how to play the RL administration game. You look at teams like Storm, Roosters, Dogs and you wonder how can they fit so many marquee players in their roster. It all has to do with their administrators starting with the board. Take dogs as an example. When they had a void in their admin, they ran last. They got Gus who knows how to play the game of RL administration and they have recovered.

 

[Willow]

can anyone tell me how the Centre of excellence is going

Mid-2026, according to the club.

Construction officially begins on Dragons Community and High Performance Centre

Construction officially began today on the $65m Dragons Community and High Performance Centre at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus.

www.dragons.com.au

Due for completion April or May 2026

That might be a bit ambitious.

 

[jak]

Thanks mate