I think '26 will see the rise of a fair few of our juniors, really challenging for that prized position they want to play. Many have already tasted 1st grade and now know what is required. They have also felt the disappointment of losses, which, in it;s proper form, stimulate them into not wanting that feeling again.
We are slowly getting rid of the passengers, the roadblocks and the pension planners. We are looking to youth, energy and skills, far beyond what we have previously had masquerading as 1st graders. The Egans, Stewart, LPT and the Couchman boys are now the blueprint. Add in Truck, NT and Buchanon and there's 8 of a possible starting 13 already with the taste.
Yeah, there will be the remaining who are maybe entrenched in seeing out their contracts, but most will be gone at season '26 end. I don't really have to say who they are, I think most already know.
But, as this threads title suggests, maybe those who have been tapped, will start thinking about their own future (as in the latest rumour of Blocka to ESL). We've signed Atkinson, a bit of an unknown given his (deliberate?) lack of game time at the Sharks this year, and Kerr, who we know can get an offload away.
There's also the 'pool' of available players which is really filled with 'the fish that JW rejects'. None of off-contract players give me any feels about them improving our squad. We really can't afford to sign someone just for the sake of signing someone, that's basically been our recruitment philosophy for the past 12 years.
I hate the word 'improvement', it's so subjective. So, I won't use it to describe what '26 will be. What I will say is that we will see growth. Growth and development. Will we play finals football? If we can show the desire and form that had us beating the Raiders and Sharks, then yeah, maybe a possibility, but again it's subjective.
What I really want to see is a paradigm shift in the way the Dragons are managed and represented in the football world. No more 'Dargons", no more 'jobs for the boys', no more thinking close enough is good enough. We've started this process already, hiring a new CEO and Recruitment Manager, and letting go of a few fossils such as Millward. I'll even go as far as saying that Carr getting the HC role in the ESL, will be a blessing in disguise. Hopefully, if the rumour is also correct, DY will take up an assistant role at Newie. Hiring Ennis, I think will be a masterstroke, and if above is proven a truth, then surly Talau should get promoted up. We just have to be very selective in who replace the HC roles in both JF and Cup (although Willie may do a dual role scenario). And don't forget the COE, where we will come together as 1 club, not 2 separate identities operating out of 2 separate offices (no wonder people got away with so much previously, go figure)
Lastly, I don't see many changes to the team (main squad) for '26. Gutho will still be fullback, CT (hammy permitting) and a choice of Feagai or Sloan as the other winger (I think Williams may be a smokey though at least for a debut at some stage). Val and Suli as the centres. The biggest change will be Atkinson as the 7 and (waiting for the groans) KFlan as the 6. Not defending this by any means, but he's a far better defender than LKT at this stage, and we leaked points through that avenue this year. LKT will partner Reed in Cup, which I am very ok with (more groans). I think 12 months of developing their game plans and identifying each other's style of play will put us in good stead in the years to come. Cook will be starting 9 (his last year) and Lids will stay at 14. The forwards will sort themselves out by themselves with what I've mentioned already.
So, that's my take, apologies for being long winded in its content. Season '26 = growth and development, the real test is the lead into and the actual of season '27.
Stay strong Dragons fans!
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