Flanno's New Signings

[maestro1]

Hope he brings Sandon Smith with him

 

[Dragon David]

Anderson is signed, he’ll be on board sorting out our mess very soon.

Will it take just Anderson to turn this club right around and make the club really successful or will we jump up the ladder by a couple of positions to show that we have improved? What miracles will he bring about?

If Anderson can actually get us players that are not rejects and journeymen then that would be a great start.

Just, please no more journeymen and rejects. We have bought too many of these for years and years.

 

[Dragon David]

Anderson is signed, he’ll be on board sorting out our mess very soon.

Not that I don't believe you redV06 but I will wait for confirmation of this on the Dragons website before I can rejoice.
Cheers DD

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Hope he brings Sandon Smith with him

Was reading the Ressie's Wrap on Fox Sports earlier today.
It said that Smith had a big game v the Dragons on Sunday.
Hope Flanagan was at the game.
A Smith/Atkinson combination would be a big plus for our spluttering attack in 2026.

 

[blacksafake]

Hope he brings Sandon Smith with him

Now there’s a 14 if not a starter

 

[TheRev]

Hmm Sandon & Rodwell were both pretty quiet on the weekend.. they really only livened up right at the end when the game was over.

But yes Sandon seems like a big step up in quality from our current lot, but whether he is a 7 at this level I dunno.. also not sure if Atko is.. but does a genuine 7 exist on the market.. or can we make a 7 out of one of those 2 players.. hopefully yes...

We will also know more about LKT by end of year also, I wasnt too big on him as a player, but seeing him get better as the year goes on makes me happy.. thats what ur looking for as they go up the grades..

 

[maestro1]

If LKT works on his kicking repoiture, especially his long kicking game, he could easily develop into a fantastic 7. His short kicking game is already very good.

 

[possm]

What an utterly depressing state of affairs our recruitment has been until this point.
Tragic.

Can't win games, can't sign B grade players without a protracted back and forth.
Once a great club you'd be killing to play for has become a trainwreck.

Don't worry, next year this will be all behind us.

 

[possm]

Hmm Sandon & Rodwell were both pretty quiet on the weekend.. they really only livened up right at the end when the game was over.

But yes Sandon seems like a big step up in quality from our current lot, but whether he is a 7 at this level I dunno.. also not sure if Atko is.. but does a genuine 7 exist on the market.. or can we make a 7 out of one of those 2 players.. hopefully yes...

We will also know more about LKT by end of year also, I wasnt too big on him as a player, but seeing him get better as the year goes on makes me happy.. thats what ur looking for as they go up the grades..

LKT and Atkinson will fight it out for the five-eighth spot in 2026.
Sandon Smith is likely to be our 7. Can he kick long and can he kick field goals?
Kyle to 14
Cook to NSW Cup
Liddle to 9.

 

[TheRev]

If LKT works on his kicking repoiture, especially his long kicking game, he could easily develop into a fantastic 7. His short kicking game is already very good.

I've been contemplating that.. Lyhkan played a little 7 in NSW Cup in 2023.. partnering Zach Herring who was the other prospect at the time (note that Herring did not infact go on to play 1st grade as was feared at the time).

I think in lower grades Lyhkan was a bonified 6.. but as he ages he may become a 7.. but I dont think its something you could rush at all.. that said.. when I watch Kade Reed play.. he has an insane kitbag of kicks along with his running game.. and a larger than average boot.. he just drops the ball and it gets whacked.. he doesnt need to wind up like Kyle and co do... but Reed is atleast 2yrs out id suggest.. plenty to learn as he found out last week when the big roosters pack dominated us.

The other thing is the chatter.. Lykhan seems super chilled.. and you dont want that in your 7.. you want them loud (Reed does a lot of talking).. doesnt mean Lyhkan cant grow into it.. but the more I think about it.. the more I dont think he would end up a 7.. cause we need one now and Reed is probably the Cup 7 moving forward..... but its not out of the qn.. for right now though Lyhkan just needs to ensure he keeps getting better.. and doesnt plateau... if he does he will have a gig somewhere.

 

[Dragon David]

I've been contemplating that.. Lyhkan played a little 7 in NSW Cup in 2023.. partnering Zach Herring who was the other prospect at the time (note that Herring did not infact go on to play 1st grade as was feared at the time).

I think in lower grades Lyhkan was a bonified 6.. but as he ages he may become a 7.. but I dont think its something you could rush at all.. that said.. when I watch Kade Reed play.. he has an insane kitbag of kicks along with his running game.. and a larger than average boot.. he just drops the ball and it gets whacked.. he doesnt need to wind up like Kyle and co do... but Reed is atleast 2yrs out id suggest.. plenty to learn as he found out last week when the big roosters pack dominated us.

The other thing is the chatter.. Lykhan seems super chilled.. and you dont want that in your 7.. you want them loud (Reed does a lot of talking).. doesnt mean Lyhkan cant grow into it.. but the more I think about it.. the more I dont think he would end up a 7.. cause we need one now and Reed is probably the Cup 7 moving forward..... but its not out of the qn.. for right now though Lyhkan just needs to ensure he keeps getting better.. and doesnt plateau... if he does he will have a gig somewhere.

Yes the plateauing by players seems to be happening to several of them - one of them being Sloan I think. They don't appear to be getting better with the amount of game time given to them.. We and I think the coaches see a lot of potential with many players but give them time in first grade some will really improve and go up another level while others just stagnate and not be able to reach a level they were expected to reach. I am sure some of you guys would know which ones and I mentioned one.

LKT looks like he has improved but I cannot see him being a marquee half and that is what we want - one or two of our younger players to reach that status preferable to signing someone on big money like we did with Hunt who was above average but not a world beater to me.

I cannot see the benefit of signing a guy like DCE at his age - he would have been massive for us if we signed him 6 years ago but not now. A home grown wizard is the best way for us to go and hopefully Reed might be the answer but the plateau effect might take over - who knows?

 

[mattw5]

Not that I don't believe you redV06 but I will wait for confirmation of this on the Dragons website before I can rejoice.
Cheers DD

Tim Watsford literally told me on Sunday at the fan day.

 

[Dragon David]

Tim Watsford literally told me on Sunday at the fan day.

That's good mattw5. So why hasn't it been posted on the website if Tim can tell people but not confirm it where it is actual evidence in writing? Does he think that by telling you all followers of the Dragons will be informed by you throughout the world?

 

[TheRev]

That's good mattw5. So why hasn't it been posted on the website if Tim can tell people but not confirm it where it is actual evidence in writing? Does he think that by telling you all followers of the Dragons will be informed by you throughout the world?

im sure once everything is ready on both ends (us and the rorters) they will make a formal statement.. there is no need to be rushing it out... but things are sounding good if the info came from Tim himself.

Note that most jobs have a 4-week notification period, but because this is a conflict of interest situation.. normally they would march you out the door that day... but im sure there will be some dignity here.

 

[I'm Hornby]

That's good mattw5. So why hasn't it been posted on the website if Tim can tell people but not confirm it where it is actual evidence in writing? Does he think that by telling you all followers of the Dragons will be informed by you throughout the world?

Just one of those pretend conversations in @mattw5's head

 

[mattw5]

That's good mattw5. So why hasn't it been posted on the website if Tim can tell people but not confirm it where it is actual evidence in writing? Does he think that by telling you all followers of the Dragons will be informed by you throughout the world?

Because they didn’t want to announce it the week of the game against them & they are working things out on when they can get him in Roosters won’t let him start until October

 

[possm]

I've been contemplating that.. Lyhkan played a little 7 in NSW Cup in 2023.. partnering Zach Herring who was the other prospect at the time (note that Herring did not infact go on to play 1st grade as was feared at the time).

I think in lower grades Lyhkan was a bonified 6.. but as he ages he may become a 7.. but I dont think its something you could rush at all.. that said.. when I watch Kade Reed play.. he has an insane kitbag of kicks along with his running game.. and a larger than average boot.. he just drops the ball and it gets whacked.. he doesnt need to wind up like Kyle and co do... but Reed is atleast 2yrs out id suggest.. plenty to learn as he found out last week when the big roosters pack dominated us.

The other thing is the chatter.. Lykhan seems super chilled.. and you dont want that in your 7.. you want them loud (Reed does a lot of talking).. doesnt mean Lyhkan cant grow into it.. but the more I think about it.. the more I dont think he would end up a 7.. cause we need one now and Reed is probably the Cup 7 moving forward..... but its not out of the qn.. for right now though Lyhkan just needs to ensure he keeps getting better.. and doesnt plateau... if he does he will have a gig somewhere.

Ideally, we need a marquee 7 to bridge the gap until Reed is Reed for first grade. Kyle is not the solution, Glover is moving on, and Flanno has been reluctant to recruit a talented 7 to replace Kyle. In 2026, nothing changes except that both LKT and Atkinson will fight it out for the five-eighth spot.

At the Dragons, we seem to off-load a highly paid player for a low-quality player and wonder why things aren't working. For example, Hunt goes, Ilias takes his place, but proves to be not up to it, then Kyle unsuccessfully takes his place.

We need to place a priority on recruiting marquee players for the following:
Our spine
Our halves
Our front row.

In the short term:
We need to recruit a marquee prop.
Ramsey or a new fullback to replace Gutherson.
Cutherson to replace Suli at Center.
Suli to replace Leilua on the edge.
Leilua to join the prop rotation.
We need wingers who are quick and who can take a high ball but most of all who can defend.

 

[Dragon David]

Because they didn’t want to announce it the week of the game against them & they are working things out on when they can get him in Roosters won’t let him start until October

Thanks mattw5 for this info. Good work.

 

[possm]

Yes the plateauing by players seems to be happening to several of them - one of them being Sloan I think. They don't appear to be getting better with the amount of game time given to them.. We and I think the coaches see a lot of potential with many players but give them time in first grade some will really improve and go up another level while others just stagnate and not be able to reach a level they were expected to reach. I am sure some of you guys would know which ones and I mentioned one.

LKT looks like he has improved but I cannot see him being a marquee half and that is what we want - one or two of our younger players to reach that status preferable to signing someone on big money like we did with Hunt who was above average but not a world beater to me.

I cannot see the benefit of signing a guy like DCE at his age - he would have been massive for us if we signed him 6 years ago but not now. A home grown wizard is the best way for us to go and hopefully Reed might be the answer but the plateau effect might take over - who knows?

When I think of how many games Sloan has lost us through poor defense and a lack of ability to take a high ball, I don't understand why Flanno persists with him.

 

[mattw5]

Thanks mattw5 for this info. Good work.

Can only go off what he said its a done deal but it leaked out a few days earlier