Signings for 2020 and future looking team

[getsmarty]

CLUB NEWS

Breaking
Dragons confirm Luke signing
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Tue 19 Nov 2019, 07:55 AM

St George Illawarra have confirmed the signing of Issac Luke following the completion of all official documentation.

The veteran New Zealand international has signed a one-year deal ahead of the Dragons' 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership campaign.

Luke will enter his 14th season of first grade football, in a career that has spanned 271 NRL games with the South Sydney Rabbitohs (2007-15) and New Zealand Warriors (2016-19).

Only suspension prevented Luke from a premiership victory after South Sydney ended their 43-year grand final winning drought in 2014.

A key figure for New Zealand over the past decade, Luke has played 43 Tests for the Kiwis including their 2008 World Cup final win over Australia.

Coincidentally, the apprentice will become the master in 2020 with Luke signed to bolster the Dragons' hooking ranks beneath the club's 2019 Player of the Year Cameron McInnes; McInnes debuted at the Rabbitohs under Luke's tutelage six seasons ago.

"Everyone is already aware of Issac's career in regard to his longevity. Issac has walked the path of the NRL over a long period of time now and will be great for our squad," Director of Rugby League Pathways and List Management Ian Millward said.

"To have a really established back-up player of his calibre is exciting. Our coaching staff were keen to have him on our roster with plans in mind regarding how they'd like to play him, which have already been discussed with Issac as well as Cameron (McInnes).

"With Issac now on board, we have 25 players on our roster. 23 of them have played NRL and while that includes those who have just received their first taste of first grade like Jackson Ford and Jason Saab, we are pleased with Issac's injection of experience."


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/11/19/dragons-confirm-luke-signing/

 

[Dragonslayer]

With the Luke signing confirmed and the rhetoric aroung him coming off the bench to replace McInnes, with him moving to lock, the question is:

Who starts at lock?

If JDB is cleared surely he is an 80 minute player as a lock, so no need fod the changes mooted. If he's no cleared, then my question remains.

 

[possm]

Robson wanted a starting role, he was never going to get that here. He was also offered a 4yr deal. Luke would be happy as the back-up and very cheap. In saying that, Lovodua is probably the one who would also be ok as the utility hooker/forward role.

McInnes is going to the backrow when Luke comes on. It could have been McInnes to the backrow when Robson comes on.

 

[Dragon Revival]

Millward says that the squad is with Luke 25 players but Dr Belin, Graham and Leilua should not be included for obvious reasons. So we only have a squad of 22 players with massive gaps to fill. Johnston has definitely made the right move in getting out!

 

[True_Believer]

McInnes is going to the backrow when Luke comes on. It could have been McInnes to the backrow when Robson comes on.

Have you watched the video? Did you read the post? He wanted a starting spot and he wants to play 80 minutes. Not going to get that with us. It's going to happen quicker elsewhere.

 

[True_Believer]

With the Luke signing confirmed and the rhetoric aroung him coming off the bench to replace McInnes, with him moving to lock, the question is:

Who starts at lock?

If JDB is cleared surely he is an 80 minute player as a lock, so no need fod the changes mooted. If he's no cleared, then my question remains.

Possibly Joe. He has played Lock and Hooker. As mentioned in another post, might be a good opportunity to ease Joe into the team.

 

[Wittenberg]

Not sure I want JDB back even if he is cleared.

 

[Old Timer]

Good clubs find ways to in corporate their youth into the NRL system and seamlessly blend them into the 1st grade team.
We find ways to inhibit our youth and provide longevity to players who can't get a gig elsewhere.

 

[Wittenberg]

Still nothing official on new talent in the squad. Other teams have announced players on a train and trial basis. Did we have any new faces at training last week. Supporters need to hear some positivity

Probably haven't announced our 'new' talk because we haven't got any.

 

[possm]

Have you watched the video? Did you read the post? He wanted a starting spot and he wants to play 80 minutes. Not going to get that with us. It's going to happen quicker elsewhere.

Millward has no idea on how to seal a deal; especially a complex deal. In 2020 watch Robson and watch Luke.

 

[possm]

Good clubs find ways to in corporate their youth into the NRL system and seamlessly blend them into the 1st grade team.
We find ways to inhibit our youth and provide longevity to players who can't get a gig elsewhere.

Replace Mary with Brown for the next two years and our juniors will blossom.

 

[True_Believer]

Millward has no idea on how to seal a deal; especially a complex deal. In 2020 watch Robson and watch Luke.

So tell me, how should he have handled it?

 

[hewi]

Millward says that the squad is with Luke 25 players but Dr Belin, Graham and Leilua should not be included for obvious reasons. So we only have a squad of 22 players with massive gaps to fill. Johnston has definitely made the right move in getting out!

As I see it herein lies the problem, who will those 8 players be. Wooden spoon favourites to me.

 

[Crush]

Replace Mary with Brown for the next two years and our juniors will blossom.

Possm, you say Millward has no idea amd roast him at every chance. Then the very next post you say they should get Brown in to coach. The same Brown that took a star studded Knights to miss the 8. And prior to that won a couple of spoons.
Yeah thats the calibre of coach we need

 

[getsmarty]

Clune and Sauni-Esau join Dragons development squad.
Director of list management and rugby league pathways, Ian Millward, discusses the potential of playmaker Adam Clune, and imposing centre Shaun Sauni-Esau.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/11/20/millward-on-clune-sauni-esau-joining-development-squad/

 

[getsmarty]

Feagais, Sullivan, Lomax round out development squad
Matt and Max Feagai join Jayden Sullivan and Hayden Lomax in the Dragons development squad for season 2020. Director of Rugby League pathways and list management, Ian Millward, talks about the talented players.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/11/20/feagais-sullivan-and-lomax-round-out-development-squad/

 

[getsmarty]

CLUB NEWS


Dragons finalise NRL development player squad
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Wed 20 Nov 2019, 07:58 AM

St George Illawarra have confirmed that local junior quartet Adam Clune, Shaun Sauni-Esau and Max and Mat Feagai will join the Dragons' NRL development player squad ahead of the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership season.

The Dragons have fulfilled the maximum six-player quota as far as the development player squad is concerned, with five-eighth Jayden Sullivan and utility Hayden Lomax already confirmed for 2020.

NRL development players train full-time with the Top 30 squad, but aren't available for first grade selection before June 30. Jason Saab and Jackson Ford were examples of NRL development players who debuted in 2019.

"We use all six of our development player squad positions as it is part of our pathways' philosophy when it comes to our local juniors and our systems," Director of Rugby League Pathways and List Management Ian Millward said.

"With the advancement now of Jason Saab, Eddie Blacker and Joe Lovodua into our Top 30, we had positions within the squad to fill. All six of our development players have excitedly come through our pathways system and high performance unit.

"Jayden is a special player who recently led his team to a Koori Knockout win and someone we have a high opinion of. We have pencilled him into our future moving forward, he's someone all Dragons fans should be excited about," Millward added.

"Hayden had a really disrupted 2019 with injuries but last year's experiences will be invaluable for him as he knows the environment, how hard the training is and also how tough physically and mentally it is dealing with injuries."

The Feagai twins have signed two-year development player deals following seasons that saw them both win the SG Ball premiership with Illawarra and represent New South Wales Under-18s and the Australia Schoolboys.

Both outside backs, the Feagais also made their Jersey Flegg Under-20s debuts for St George Illawarra in 2019.

"[Max and Mat] have had an unbelievable 2019. They're originally from Leeton but have been in our pathways since Harold Matthews and have advanced from there," Millward said.

"Sometimes you want to take your time with these young players because you put a lot of effort into them, but every NRL club was all over them so we decided to advance them to our development player squad.

"They're big, strong, powerful boys who could springboard straight away to the NRL, like Jason Saab was able to do last season."



Clune and Sauni-Esau join Dragons development squad.

Long-term Dragons lower grade playmaker Clune – who spent the off-season abroad volunteering in Kenya – has been rewarded with a one-year development deal following an outstanding season for the minor-premiership-winning Dragons Canterbury Cup NSW team.

"Adam came through our junior representative teams and Under-20s a number of years ago and has featured in Canterbury Cup since, where he's been one of the competition's prominent players," Millward said.

"In 2019, he had the most try assists and was named in the competition's Team of the Year. At 24 years old, we wanted to reward Adam, who has been patient and resilient for many seasons now. There's no reason why he can't play first grade.

Sauni-Esau has been another long-standing fixture of the Dragons' junior pathways following his promotion from the St George junior representative teams into the Under-20s and Canterbury Cup in recent years. He has signed a three-year deal and is set for a Top 30 promotion ahead of the 2022 season.

"2019 saw him kick it to another level and play a number of reserve grade games. Shaun is a genuine left centre – which is rare as most centres these days prefer playing on the right – so we're particularly excited about that," Millward said.

"In a full-time environment, he'll really blossom as he gets more experience playing against men."

The Dragons have also confirmed that Jersey Flegg captain Luke Gale, Paul McGregor Under-20s Player of the Year recipient Cody Ramsey and talented playmaker Tyran Wishart will participate in their first NRL pre-seasons ahead of the 2020 season.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/11/20/dragons-finalise-nrl-development-player-squad/

 

[Dragon_psa]

Replace Mary with Brown for the next two years and our juniors will blossom.

Brownie has gone to the Warriors.

 

[BLM01]

Brownie has gone to the Warriors.

Only part time advisory role

 

[Dragonsamy]

Has Ford played centre in CC or juniors?
I know our current centres are pathetic but trying to shift a player learning his trade in the back row to fill the gap is mighty odd IMO.

OT he has covered centre in the CC cup but he is a second rower. I think in the future he could be used like tommo was. When needed due to injury during the game he can cover the centre.