2021 - Squad, Signings, Re-signings

[saintly1996]

TBH, if we don’t sign anyone ( of note) in next 3 weeks, then I think the ship may have sailed for any decent signings. The whole JDB saga has been an massive distraction and I fear we are not ready if decision goes against him.
I was hoping for top 8 next year, but at this moment I doubt we will be anywhere near that.
The only slim hope is Santa brings us an early Christmas present or two.....otherwise we will be cannon fodder for teams next year.
Surely Hook and Co, have signed up to one of the toughest jobs in the NRL.

I hope there is a strategy, but I fear there is none

 

[Dragon David]

Are not the Dragons after guys who are dead set keen to play for us and at not over the top prices?

There was a time that guys wanted to come to the Dragons no matter what, but unfortunately, those days are gone as they probably don't see the attraction of the Wollongong/Kogarah locations and our past 8 years record.

The new coaches are yet to show what they can actually do to our guys to make them into a top 8 team.

I am hoping that there are a couple of "goodies" out there still wanting to play for us and at reasonable prices and once they become more established and help us get to top 8 status, then they would have their pays increased.

When other possible signings see what has developed in the Saab matter, we could find ourselves in some difficulty in getting who we want and not any Tom, Dick or Harry.

 

[Dragonslayer]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/0758e9871b662ec8c7cbed284d406a17

Not a very interesting article tbh until you get to the last paragraph which states:

"Not all hope is lost, however, with the NRL still to finalise the salary cap and roster size for clubs"

What!!!! We (the NRL clubs) are already into pre-season with players being signed and re-signed at different clubs but the NRL still doesn't know the cap or player #'s for 2021. Unbelievable!

May explain to some extent why we are sitting on our hands so to speak and not budging on what we want.

If this is true there could be some interesting fire sales coming up.

 

[RedV Resurgence]

Are not the Dragons after guys who are dead set keen to play for us and at not over the top prices?

There was a time that guys wanted to come to the Dragons no matter what, but unfortunately, those days are gone as they probably don't see the attraction of the Wollongong/Kogarah locations and our past 8 years record.

The new coaches are yet to show what they can actually do to our guys to make them into a top 8 team.

I am hoping that there are a couple of "goodies" out there still wanting to play for us and at reasonable prices and once they become more established and help us get to top 8 status, then they would have their pays increased.

When other possible signings see what has developed in the Saab matter, we could find ourselves in some difficulty in getting who we want and not any Tom, Dick or Harry.

One guy that wanted to play for us was Host. Bennet has scoped him up and we will be asking ourselves in 2021how we let him go. I blame McGregor and Young for that.

 

[Dragon David]

One guy that wanted to play for us was Host. Bennet has scoped him up and we will be asking ourselves in 2021how we let him go. I blame McGregor and Young for that.

Host is a player who loves the Dragons. He has had to turn his back on us for very poor use of him during the Mary era. His time at Souths will be good for him and under Bennett will show us what he can do.

So there we have it, a player who loves the Dragons but actually left us. How ironic.

 

[SaintPeter]

Don't clubs plan for the future?
Say, two or three years ahead, including if a marquee player/s leaves (e.g. Widdop, Frizzel).
The availability or non availability of NRL standard players (especially front rowers) to buy, swap, transfer or whatever for the 2021 season must have been discussed by professional club boards and management (of most clubs) multiple times during planning meetings. Its what they do. isn't it ?? Probably in 1999.
So, why are SGI still fluffing around when we knew Tyson was going, we knew Widdop was gone and we knew Jack was iffy?
So, there is noone available. They knew that before bloody November 2020!

 

[saintly1996]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/0758e9871b662ec8c7cbed284d406a17

Not a very interesting article tbh until you get to the last paragraph which states:

"Not all hope is lost, however, with the NRL still to finalise the salary cap and roster size for clubs"

What!!!! We (the NRL clubs) are already into pre-season with players being signed and re-signed at different clubs but the NRL still doesn't know the cap or player #'s for 2021. Unbelievable!

May explain to some extent why we are sitting on our hands so to speak and not budging on what we want.

If this is true there could be some interesting fire sales coming up.

There will be more roster movement for sure, but to be getting to the christmas break with 4 spots and lets be clear they are 4 key spots for positions in the top 17 to still fill, is a show of poor management.

Most clubs are now only looking to fill positions 20-30 in their rosters, so gives us hope that if someone decent comes along there wont be much competition.

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

Host is a player who loves the Dragons. He has had to turn his back on us for very poor use of him during the Mary era. His time at Souths will be good for him and under Bennett will show us what he can do.

So there we have it, a player who loves the Dragons but actually left us. How ironic.

You can add Luciano Leilua to the Jacob Host list.
Both not used correctly under Mary and lost to the Dragons.
Ironically if we still had both guys our back row stocks would look good.
Leilua had a very good season under Maguire at the Tigers and played 80 minutes each week.
We are now looking for a ball playing big unit on the edge and there just isn’t much quality available.

 

[SIR LANCELOT]

Embarrassing isn't it. But who would want to play with us.Cannot see any takers on the horizon.Only the bums of the many who have left.Not looking good.

 

[possm]

I hope there is a strategy, but I fear there is none

Maybe our cap management is in such a MESS that there is no room to recruit any player of significance for 2021.

 

[possm]

Don't clubs plan for the future?
Say, two or three years ahead, including if a marquee player/s leaves (e.g. Widdop, Frizzel).
The availability or non availability of NRL standard players (especially front rowers) to buy, swap, transfer or whatever for the 2021 season must have been discussed by professional club boards and management (of most clubs) multiple times during planning meetings. Its what they do. isn't it ?? Probably in 1999.
So, why are SGI still fluffing around when we knew Tyson was going, we knew Widdop was gone and we knew Jack was iffy?
So, there is noone available. They knew that before bloody November 2020!

The NRL should intervene and add a standard clause to their player contract used by the Clubs.

A clause stating that under any breach of contract or if a contract is terminated early, the party that causes the breach or requests the termination MUST pay the remaining value of the contract out in full.

 

[Dragon David]

Don't clubs plan for the future?
Say, two or three years ahead, including if a marquee player/s leaves (e.g. Widdop, Frizzel).
The availability or non availability of NRL standard players (especially front rowers) to buy, swap, transfer or whatever for the 2021 season must have been discussed by professional club boards and management (of most clubs) multiple times during planning meetings. Its what they do. isn't it ?? Probably in 1999.
So, why are SGI still fluffing around when we knew Tyson was going, we knew Widdop was gone and we knew Jack was iffy?
So, there is noone available. They knew that before bloody November 2020!

All three you mentioned SaintPeter plus James Graham were known to be either leaving or uncertain of future (JDB) and the person on the Dragons payroll in charge of planning and recruitment/retention many many, many months ago should have seen the danger signs and got the ball rolling to line up and sign replacements who would have now been in our system ready to fire in 2021.

Who knows what goes on at the Dragons to keep us in a mess?

 

[possm]

All three you mentioned SaintPeter plus James Graham were known to be either leaving or uncertain of future (JDB) and the person on the Dragons payroll in charge of planning and recruitment/retention many many, many months ago should have seen the danger signs and got the ball rolling to line up and sign replacements who would have now been in our system ready to fire in 2021.

Who knows what goes on at the Dragons to keep us in a mess?

Millward had trouble working his XL spreadsheet and aftre buying a huge white board found he still did not have enough room to plan 5 years in advance.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Embarrassing isn't it. But who would want to play with us.Cannot see any takers on the horizon.Only the bums of the many who have left.Not looking good.

All good mate, if you build it they will come as they say. If Hook can get Hunt, the young guns and a few Kerr, Lawries and Blackers of the world up to potential and we perform above expectations we will start to get a few over I reckon.

 

[TruSaint]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/0758e9871b662ec8c7cbed284d406a17

Not a very interesting article tbh until you get to the last paragraph which states:

"Not all hope is lost, however, with the NRL still to finalise the salary cap and roster size for clubs"

What!!!! We (the NRL clubs) are already into pre-season with players being signed and re-signed at different clubs but the NRL still doesn't know the cap or player #'s for 2021. Unbelievable!

May explain to some extent why we are sitting on our hands so to speak and not budging on what we want.

If this is true there could be some interesting fire sales coming up.

The reason for not finalising cap and other related issues was Covid.

Now with the pandemic under control here, and vaccines imminent, they can move forward.

Understable.

 

[getsmarty]

LOL...coming in here and reading the Doomsday messages...We are looking...people need to chill...would they rather the club just fill the spots with players we don't actually need ? As @TruSaint correctly stated above, Covid has had an impact as well as not wanting to pay "Overs " for some players....

P.S We are also looking at players for the end of next year....They are actively looking.

 

[SIR LANCELOT]

LOL...coming in here and reading the Doomsday messages...We are looking...people need to chill...would they rather the club just fill the spots with players we don't actually need ? As @TruSaint correctly stated above, Covid has had an impact as well as not wanting to pay "Overs " for some players....

P.S We are also looking at players for the end of next year....They are actively looking.

Yeah and Jesus second coming is supposed to be on the agenda also.Don't forget a lot of us Dragon supporters are getting on in years.Why wouldn't we be getting impatient.Time is passing us by.Recruitment please lads.Recruitment!!!!

 

[George Dragon]

St George Illawarra Dragons recruit Jack Bird could replace Jack de Belin in 2021
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin is already preparing for life without Jack de Belin in 2021 - and he has a shock lock replacement.

Nick Walshaw
December 2, 2020 - 6:00AM

Rugby League: The jury for Jack de Belin's case has been discharged after failing to reach a unanimous verdict.


Jack Bird’s return from an ACL injury will be closely monitored by St George Illawarra over summer, with the Dragons recruit emerging as a potential candidate for the No.13 jersey if Jack de Belin’s rape saga drags deep into a third year.

While the de Belin case returns to Wollongong District Court on Wednesday, the Dragons are already making preparations for a range of scenarios which could include playing the entire 2021 season without their NSW Origin star.


While initially signed as a centre, Bird is now among a shortlist of players new coach Anthony Griffin will consider for the Dragons back row spot, although much will depend on how quickly his body proves ready to handle the workload.

During three injury-plagued seasons with Brisbane, the 2015 Dally M Rookie played just 17 games – which included missing all of this year with a busted ACL.

As a result, Griffin is expected to ease the 25-year-old into pre-season training and, potentially, a utility role off the interchange bench.

Other contenders for the No.13 jersey include Jackson Ford, Blake Lawrie, even Roosters import Poasa Faamausili.

Certainly, de Belin’s future remains clouded after the jury in his sexual assault case, which also involves Callan Sinclair, could not reach a unanimous decision on Monday.

As a result, the pair will now learn on Wednesday if there is to be a retrial — which may not be until late next year — or if the Director of Public Prosecutions chooses not to pursue the charges.


While de Belin’s contract with St George Illawarra has officially expired, the back rower has been granted permission by the NRL to begin pre-season training and also continue being paid by the club.

The Dragons can also name the NSW Origin forward in its 30-man NRL squad for the upcoming season, however his contract – which has already been agreed to in principle — will not be registered until the court case is concluded.

It will be up to the Dragons how much the choose to pay de Belin as an employee of their club.

It is understood the new contract, a three-year extension, does have clauses which would prevent the footballer — who has maintained his innocence throughout the case after pleading not guilty to the charges — being paid in full if he doesn’t play next year.

An NRL spokesperson suggested the Dragons would also be allowed to seek salary cap relief and, if required, sign an extra player to the usual NRL 30-man roster.

Despite Bird’s ability to play in the centres, halves or even fullback, there are also plenty of good judges who have long believed his best position would be lock

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...1/news-story/f28f1b932b7c8767a429ecf81c573493

 

[Dragons4me]

The recent upload of Dragons stats that someone posted recently doesn’t support that view, however.
I’ll stand corrected, but I think the Dragons were ‘No 1’ in the NRL for most metres gained from kicks. Stats can be deceptive I know; the reason that they may be kicking deep for meterage is because the forward pack has not made enough ground in the first place, still that’s what the data said. Maybe the halves are doing ok in this area?

Good post. May be no. 1 for most metres gained but how many went straight to the opposing fullback or winger.

 

[George Dragon]

It might appear the club is losing in the race for big-name signatures, but Griffin says it’s quite the opposite.

“We’ve still got some capacity but we aren’t going to rush into just bringing anyone in just for the sake of it,” Griffin said.

“We had an opportunity to pick up a couple of guys over the last month which we didn’t, we didn’t think they were a good fit for us.

“We’ve got terrific young forwards in Lawrie, Ford, Kerr, Tariq Sims, Trent Merrin had an interrupted season and never quite got right, we’ll get him right, and Paul Vaughan.”

Griffin’s approach is risky but he’s confident he can jag a signing or two before 2021 kicks off.

Again, he’s in no rush.

“To really fill our list up I think we’ve got two maybe three spots forward-wise, and we’ve still got a nice capacity salary cap, so we’re just going to wait and make sure we get the right people,” he added.

“We turned one down last week, we just didn’t think they were the right person for us. My opinion is, if you are patient the right thing shows up.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...t/news-story/cd83e2d7c577848147c5418a97edba87