St George Illawarra Dragons approach Melbourne Rebels' Kurtley Beale

[MattYg1]

I'd be happy to sign a dickhead or two just so we might have some interesting times ahead... good or bad... i just want to feel something again :crazy:

 

[Drain the Dragon]

Historically we have never really had to chase players, as we have always been one of the clubs of choice, particularly from our juniors perspective.
Clubs like the Dogs and Sharkies have to throw the big cash at outsiders because they just can't grow their own.
Sure - we are now in a lean patch and probably times have changed, but we have pretty much always had a roster that was the envy of most other sides, without having to spend up big.
Look at the Aussie cricket side, with all their resources, even they are struggling with their roster at the moment!
It's just a cycle and the nature of sport in general these days. I'd like to see a bit of new blood injected, but if it happens, hopefully the no-dickhead policy remains.

 

[bertyg1]

Quote
We are the most popular Rugby League club in the entire galaxy or as Peter Doust would say "we are a very marketable brand"
But we are struggling to get 20,000 peoples membership.

 

[Dockets]

It's not even about the losses to me, we just aren't playing inspiring footy. It is heart breaking to watch, hopefully we end up being that nerdy dude getting neglected at the first dance who ends smashing the prom queen at the formal.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Quote
But we are struggling to get 20,000 peoples membership.

So is nearly every other NRL side. Not many with 20k memberships.

Since the merger Saints did not need big name players as they inherited McGregor, Barrett, Wishart, Craig Smith, Fitzgibbon, Patten etc. all players that would have been in demand or where later snapped up. We inherited the Illawarra juniors in Hornby, Cooper, Bailey, etc. Browny snapped up some quality signing like Withers, Soward, Ennis, Kite (from memory). Brown was good at bringing in talent. Had a great eye hence why I think he would be good to bring back. Then Bennett came along and we got some great recruits in Boyd, Costigan, Jeremy Smith who were all big names at the time. On the back of the players Browny brought in.

It's just now they are struggling due to current coach. Who would want to play under this guy. His first year was terrible second year getting worse.
Craig Young also looks to have gone offside with the players managers hence why they don't deal with us much which is also a concern.

 

[Dragons4lyf95]

i know from a good source it is true the dragons are talking to him.
he is interested in the club but waiting from his manager as other clubs
are showing interest to.

see what happens i guess

Keep us updated please!!! It sounds to good to be true, I'm praying haha

 

[Dragons4lyf95]

This guy is freakish amazing and will link with soward for sure! I will take back everything I have ever said about price and doust if we get him!

 

[nrlnrl]

As soon as another team is also linked then we have no hope. Even if Mounties show interest Saints would probably lose out to them.

of course we would, because everyone knows that the Mounties always get their man

it seems as though the people who write yarns at the Tele are Dragons fans or guys who hate them

 

[st.phil]

It's not even about the losses to me, we just aren't playing inspiring footy. It is heart breaking to watch, hopefully we end up being that nerdy dude getting neglected at the first dance who ends smashing the prom queen at the formal.

hahaha - I'm with ya

 

[Minh]

Enough talk and just sign him if available, could be become our Benji Marshall, I can see Beale and Soward tearing up the opposition.

 

[saint.nick]

Quote
We are the most popular Rugby League club in the entire galaxy or as Peter Doust would say "we are a very marketable brand"
But we are struggling to get 20,000 peoples membership.

okay, but a lot of clubs struggle to even break the 10000 figure. Only souths and brisbane are ahead at the moment, and I think we beat brisbane last year. Why souths are the best at it? I don't know, but they still have a lot of fans. In a nutshell, we'e doing very well to beat the other clubs in memberships, considering the mediocrity of our team at the moment.

 

[giboz71]

Historically we have never really had to chase players, as we have always been one of the clubs of choice, particularly from our juniors perspective.
Clubs like the Dogs and Sharkies have to throw the big cash at outsiders because they just can't grow their own.
Sure - we are now in a lean patch and probably times have changed, but we have pretty much always had a roster that was the envy of most other sides, without having to spend up big.
Look at the Aussie cricket side, with all their resources, even they are struggling with their roster at the moment!
It's just a cycle and the nature of sport in general these days. I'd like to see a bit of new blood injected, but if it happens, hopefully the no-dickhead policy remains.

Yep...totally agree with this. Everything is cyclical. But it seems it's no longer a given that local juniors automatically choose to play for the Dragons. Take the Stewart and Sims brothers, they were snapped up by other clubs. In the last 5 years or so, only Trent Merrin has reached rep level.

I just don't don't think we should bury our head in the sand, and assume our big junior base is gonna save us. If it means chasing stars like the Dogs, Rabbits and Roosters to guarantee success, then so be it.

In fact, in the last couple of years, that's exactly where we're headed. Chasing Cronk, Dugan and Jennings is evidence of this. We just don't appear to be very good at it.

 

[BennyV]

okay, but a lot of clubs struggle to even break the 10000 figure. Only souths and brisbane are ahead at the moment, and I think we beat brisbane last year. Why souths are the best at it? I don't know, but they still have a lot of fans. In a nutshell, we'e doing very well to beat the other clubs in memberships, considering the mediocrity of our team at the moment.

Broncos have monopoly over an entire city, so by all rights they should have memberships well above that of the Sydney clubs.

As for Souffs, they are a foundation club (a popular one at that) and I believe they are the only remaining foundation club to keep their original name, logo and jersey (even though they were kicked out for 2 years...lol@souffs). HOWEVER I believe I heard late last year that their membership count wasn't entirely accurate, they included Souths Leagues Club members or something along those lines that added extra numbers - would have to look up what the issue was exactly. They also sell silly memberships for pets and those types of things. That's not to say that they still wouldn't have the highest membership number anyway though...

You are entirely correct though, having the third highest memberships despite our club being in dire straits speaks volumes for the loyalty of the fans, but also means that Doust needs to have a bit more respect for those propping up the success of our club.

 

[Elias1983]

Yep...totally agree with this. Everything is cyclical. But it seems it's no longer a given that local juniors automatically choose to play for the Dragons. Take the Stewart and Sims brothers, they were snapped up by other clubs. In the last 5 years or so, only Trent Merrin has reached rep level.

I just don't don't think we should bury our head in the sand, and assume our big junior base is gonna save us. If it means chasing stars like the Dogs, Rabbits and Roosters to guarantee success, then so be it.

In fact, in the last couple of years, that's exactly where we're headed. Chasing Cronk, Dugan and Jennings is evidence of this. We just don't appear to be very good at it.

Yep, I've said it a couple of times and I'll say it again. Highs and lows. It has to happen. Although I agree how the lows are managed is of the upmost importance.

We have some bright young talent coming through still, Guys like Crook, cummins, stockwell, quinlan, Tod Ryan to name a few....if these guys are developed properly we can have a gun side in a couple of years.

Time will tell.

 

[Fire]

Sign him, we need a creative spark in the halves...and if I can't drink with Doogs or TC at Saints Leagues, this guy sounds like a good alternative.

That only leaves a centres then.

Doust and Young have got dis.

 

[Big man]

i know from a good source it is true the dragons are talking to him.
he is interested in the club but waiting from his manager as other clubs
are showing interest to.

see what happens i guess

You have no chance, his manager is Issac Moses who is Jennings manager, and he wouldn't let Jennings come to the dragons because he was concerned it would stunt his career so I don't think he will allow an international convert wanting to make his name in the NRL come to the Dragons.

 

[Johnny-b-Goode]

Sign him, he has mongrel, talent and fills the gap.... We do need to wait until (if) the aru rips up his contract but if they do then throw the lot at him to come... 5 yrs play him at 5/8 ..

On a side note I have to agree with slippery about brownie, he was popular and was able to attract players..

 

[STG-Dragon]

If I was a club negotiating with an agent for a player and he mentioned the Dragons were also interested, I would laugh and instantly decrease my offer!

 

[nrlnrl]

Yep, I've said it a couple of times and I'll say it again. Highs and lows. It has to happen. Although I agree how the lows are managed is of the upmost importance.

We have some bright young talent coming through still, Guys like Crook, cummins, stockwell, quinlan, Tod Ryan to name a few....if these guys are developed properly we can have a gun side in a couple of years.

Time will tell.

I can see Cummins leaving because he hasn't been given a chance. He & others will leave because of the uncertainty over the Dragons future. This might sound harsh, but they would prefer playing at a club that has a successful / promising coach. As a result, those clubs are attracting a good mix of current SOO players & rising stars to give them a contending team now & over the next 5 years.

Given the lack of direction at the Dragons, it's not a hard decision for 18 to 22 year old players to make.

 

[Country Dragon]

I can see Cummins leaving because he hasn't been given a chance. He & others will leave because of the uncertainty over the Dragons future. This might sound harsh, but they would prefer playing at a club that has a successful / promising coach. As a result, those clubs are attracting a good mix of current SOO players & rising stars to give them a contending team now & over the next 5 years.

Given the lack of direction at the Dragons, it's not a hard decision for 18 to 22 year old players to make.

Hasn't Cummins been injured?