The Rumours Thread

[possm]

I believe the Dragons are again not fit enough this season. Our team selections are not made on who is the best fit in the team; however, or last game against the Eels showed Holmes and Gutherson are far below their best. This is a big surprise to me given their experience. I am sure they understood the need to produce their best.

Again, Coach Flanagan selected Lawrie and Kylle in the top 17. They should both be dropped to reserve grade. I was glad to see an improvement in Gulet and Suli.

In my opinion, Atkinson is a running five-eighth who has a good passing game and a very good kicking game, but he does not have good game management skills. The halves combination should be Reed 7 and Atkinson 6. A more experienced halfback could have been recruited during the off-season but was not mainly lto prevent competition with Kyle for a sport in the halves. In our backline, we need:

A new fullback
Two new wingers
A new centre
Reed to be our halfback

In the forwards, we need a marquee prop to lead the pack in 2026 and then join KK in 2027. Until we do this, we need to move Leilua to the prop rotation, replacing him with Halangahu until Egan becomes available.

 

[Flinstone]

I doubt we will see any changes anytime soon, my reading of the coach is the effort is there, the players are capable but some poor decisions and errors have proved too costly.
Doesn't sound like he thinks players need to be dropped or move positions.

 

[twinkletoes]

Add insult to injury...both Couchmans out, Ryan for weeks and weeks, Tony for 1 due to HIA

 

[Flinstone]

Just great that means Lawrie or Kerr will start in the front row.
Maybe Halangahu in place of Ryan.
not sure what happened to Sele

 

[Hound of Dracula]

I believe the Dragons are again not fit enough this season. Our team selections are not made on who is the best fit in the team; however, or last game against the Eels showed Holmes and Gutherson are far below their best. This is a big surprise to me given their experience. I am sure they understood the need to produce their best.

Again, Coach Flanagan selected Lawrie and Kylle in the top 17. They should both be dropped to reserve grade. I was glad to see an improvement in Gulet and Suli.

In my opinion, Atkinson is a running five-eighth who has a good passing game and a very good kicking game, but he does not have good game management skills. The halves combination should be Reed 7 and Atkinson 6. A more experienced halfback could have been recruited during the off-season but was not mainly lto prevent competition with Kyle for a sport in the halves. In our backline, we need:

A new fullback
Two new wingers
A new centre
Reed to be our halfback

In the forwards, we need a marquee prop to lead the pack in 2026 and then join KK in 2027. Until we do this, we need to move Leilua to the prop rotation, replacing him with Halangahu until Egan becomes available.

You can be the fittest team in the NRL, but if you’re constantly cleaning up your own unforced errors, you’re going to red-line.

We may be lacking agility and speed but we aren't "unfit"—we are gassing ourselves by defending back-to-back sets because of dumb mistakes.

We had Parra stuffed then shot ourselves in the foot.

It's even harder to watch when the errors are from your bloody, so-called, 'marquees'.

 

[possm]

You can be the fittest team in the NRL, but if you’re constantly cleaning up your own unforced errors, you’re going to red-line.

We may be lacking agility and speed but we aren't "unfit"—we are gassing ourselves by defending back-to-back sets because of dumb mistakes.

We had Parra stuffed then shot ourselves in the foot.

It's even harder to watch when the errors are from your bloody, so-called, 'marquees'.

We always seem to fall away in the last 10 minutes of each half.

 

[Illusion]

We always seem to fall away in the last 10 minutes of each half.

Because they can't keep playing Flanno's style of footy ........ For us to win everything has to go their way , soon as a team goes 2 tries in front they don't have any game breakers that can go 90 m to score everything has to be in the oppositions quarter and without the aid of a penalty or a 6 again they can't score ........ Most of the time they are kicking from half way on the 5th tackle ....... Too big to slow .......

 

[thebigredv]

Add insult to injury...both Couchmans out, Ryan for weeks and weeks, Tony for 1 due to HIA

At least we still have Toby.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Some whispers that we have signed a prop from the Dogs for next year.

 

[dragonfire]

We always seem to fall away in the last 10 minutes of each half.

Last week poor defence allowed the Grant try before the break and Gutho going off HIA we lost direction.
this week sin binned player end of first half and thought we were coming home strong but no footy smarts to get the win. Watch the Gutho step back to the inside when a pass out we are 4 on 2

 

[Stewartliddle]

Add insult to injury...both Couchmans out, Ryan for weeks and weeks, Tony for 1 due to HIA

Perfect excuse to cover Flannos ass for a few more weeks.

 

[Huggies]

Kamikamica has good impact

Every time I watch him in longer minutes he does looked gassed behind play though and leaning over getting his breath

tough one

keep Guler if his improvement arc starts to climb or look at Kamikamica?

I’m guessing we are sold sold on the starting options in the middle being -

KK
Couchman
Stewart

Super mobile and rugged with smarts

Perfect excuse to cover Flannos ass for a few more weeks.

Coachs team selections today will make or break him
If only the one change for Toby a loss this weekend you heard it here He will be sacked next week !!!

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Some whispers that we have signed a prop from the Dogs for next year.

Sam Hughes goes all right.
Plus a big mobile body up front to join KK.

 

[saints4ever]

Both couchmans are out
means Guler and Lawrie starting props

we are f**ked again

 

[BIG RIG]

Some whispers that we have signed a prop from the Dogs for next year.

Any names ?

 

[Dragonslayer]

Any names ?

Given the current state of the forum, I'm hesitant to even suggest any names, however, all I've heard is that it's not let's say an 'A' level player atm.
I think you can work a short list out from there.

Everything seems very tight-lipped atm, as I said this is a whisper with no one actually shouting from the rooftops, if you know what I mean, so it may even be false.

Sorry. BR that's as best as I can do. People are hungry for a rumour, so there you go.

 

[BIG RIG]

Given the current state of the forum, I'm hesitant to even suggest any names, however, all I've heard is that it's not let's say an 'A' level player atm.
I think you can work a short list out from there.

Everything seems very tight-lipped atm, as I said this is a whisper with no one actually shouting from the rooftops, if you know what I mean, so it may even be false.

Sorry. BR that's as best as I can do. People are hungry for a rumour, so there you go.

Haha no completely understand , everything is a grain of salt until we see the graphic on the website

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Zyon Maiu'u

The NRL profile of Zyon Maiu'u including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.bulldogs.com.au

Lipoi Hopoi

The NRL profile of Lipoi Hopoi including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.bulldogs.com.au

Guessing these two boys might have been of interest ?

we need another nuggety fast shorter props to replace any of Lawrie, Guler, Sele that may move on end of 2026?

we have our tall and taller props and the middles starting in KK, TCouchie and Stewart take up the higher parts of the salary cap

LPT, Kerr very tall props

the way the game is officiated it is moving so fast that your faster mobile props really have a level playing field to the traditional bash and barge large props

my guess is

Bulldogs Sign Boom Forward to Bolster Pack

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are excited to announce the immediate signing of boom youngster Zyon Maiu’u.

www.bulldogs.com.au

ex rugby centre or winger from memory ? Before coming across to League as a middle ? He is a bull and would help for sure and we do need “moooooooorrrreeeee”

 

[redandwhite4evr]

If it was me I'd be targeting Bula ...... If nothing else move Holmes to fullback Gutho to 5/8 Buchanan to the centre ....... Coach needs to start mixing things up , a scrum 30 m out from opposition line throw big Luciano at 5/8 he can ball play and definitely have the opposition in two minds , this is something Flanno doesn't do ........

Definitely go after Bula but I suspect the Bullgrubs will be his first choice- what I saw from Gutho on the weekend doesn't convince me our game management will be any better with him at 5/8. I thought he was indecisive and slow at full-back as well and wouldn't be surprised if Val or possibly Fale gets the nod for FB soon.

Also owen three- so time to face facts and bring in O'Neill or Reed at 7 and shift Atko to 6. Now that we've lost the Couchmen- our two best defenders- we can use Kyle's best attribute- his front on defence- as starting 13.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Sam Hughes goes all right.
Plus a big mobile body up front to join KK.

Plays low minutes- I've heard that is why he's on the outer