2012 Gains and Losses and possible squad

[Minh]

Thinking ahead to 2012 and beyond to date these are our current gains and losses.

Losses: Boyd (massive loss), Gasnier (big loss), Tagive, Bosden, Jon Green, McKinnon.

Gains: Tim Moltzen ( potential star), Chase Stanley, Danial Vidot, Josh Miller, Leeson Ah Mau, Will Matthews, Atelea Vea, Jeremy Latimore

Off Contract: Emmett, Gower, Marketo, Penese and Cuthbertson

I think going off the balance sheet that our gains potentially out weigh our losses, the loss of Darius Boyd is a big one he is a top class player, Mark Gasnier was great but i think he made the right decision to retire if his heart is not there and I think either Stanley brothers would slot in nicely enough. I think without a doubt our best signing to date has been Tim Moltzen, I was very encouraged by what I saw from him and will be a very decent replacement for Boyd, I think Moltzen has more silky ball skills than Boyd.

My top 17 would be as follows:

1. Tim Moltzen
2. Nightingale
3. Kyle Stanley
4. Cooper
5. Morris
6. Soward
7. Hornby
8. Hunt
9. King
10. Merrin
11. Scott
12. Creagh
13. Dean Young

Reserves

14. Josh Miller
15. Prior (Cuthbertson if he stays)
16. Atelea Vea/ Jeremy Latimore/ Leeson Ah Mau (one of these 3 players)
17. Mitch Rein

20 players listed in total assuming Cuthbertson stays.
The other five players I would have in a top 25 squad are:

21. De Belin
22. Chase Stanley
23. Daniel Vidot
24. Will Mathews
25. Bronx Goodwin

I think we can still be mighty strong next year and beyond.

 

[nrlnrl]

you left Weyman out !

Also, has Michael Greenfield re-signed ? I thought he had.

Agree re Moltzen's ball skills, that'd come from his time spent in the halves. As people know, Boyd has improved since moving in from his early NRL days mostly spent on the wing. He's developed a solid passing game & added an improving kicking game that resulted in a few tries this year. Does anyone know if Moltzen can kick ? - always good to have that extra option.

 

[Minh]

you left Weyman out !

Also, has Michael Greenfield re-signed ? I thought he had.

Oops Weyman for sure in the top 17, thanks, I would have him ahead of Prior.

 

[gypsy]

No room for Nathan Fien either?
I see the club signed him for another couple of years as well didn't they.

We needed to bite the bullet more with our recruitment. We need a centre, not a utility centre/backrower, we have plenty of those. We needed a strike centre, in the Lawrence, Reed mould. I don't think either of the Stanley's are centres.

Re-signing Fien for a few years when we have 3 other hooker options is ridiculous.
I really hope we didn't spend too much on Vidot, he'll be lucky to play 3 games all year, I don't rate him at all.

Agree Moltzen will be a good buy, he's a lot lighter than Boyd, and plays a less robust style of game. I think Boyd's physical presence at the back was the best thing about him.
Moltzen though, will play more like a half, and will provide another option in attack.

 

[Father Ted]

Centre now yes but soon we need to look around for a halfback prospect

 

[Daniel Dragons]

With Rein coming on nicely and King ready to come into the team in 2012, i'm not sure if re-signing Fien for 2 further years was the right decision.

9. King/Rein
13. Young
14. Rein/King
18. Fien

 

[InThatNumber]

Centre now yes but soon we need to look around for a halfback prospect

Halfback yes that is a concern. Could Soward step into the position to accomodate Kyle Stanley at 6?

 

[Minh]

No room for Nathan Fien either?
I see the club signed him for another couple of years as well didn't they.

We needed to bite the bullet more with our recruitment. We need a centre, not a utility centre/backrower, we have plenty of those. We needed a strike centre, in the Lawrence, Reed mould. I don't think either of the Stanley's are centres.

Re-signing Fien for a few years when we have 3 other hooker options is ridiculous.
I really hope we didn't spend too much on Vidot, he'll be lucky to play 3 games all year, I don't rate him at all.

Agree Moltzen will be a good buy, he's a lot lighter than Boyd, and plays a less robust style of game. I think Boyd's physical presence at the back was the best thing about him.
Moltzen though, will play more like a half, and will provide another option in attack.

Fien in the top 25 squad , I must be still tired from the exhilirating game last night and a bit down because we lost, I was too concentrated on the new signings.

 

[Minh]

Centre now yes but soon we need to look around for a halfback prospect

I think Stanley or even Moltzen will cover half in the years after Hornby, we will probably be in a position to make a play for a couple of strike players by then, Hopoate, Dugan, Josh Morris one of these guys.

 

[nrlnrl]

With Rein coming on nicely and King ready to come into the team in 2012, i'm not sure if re-signing Fien for 2 further years was the right decision.

9. King/Rein
13. Young
14. Rein/King
18. Fien

King has a background of lock & 5/8 from juniors & has the size to play backrow if needed ( like Dean Young ). Even though he didn't play any NRL this year, should be in the top 17 from early on in 2012.

 

[Mattfaz]

Id be happy for the Dragons to let Fien move on.
Mitchy Rein has been sensational. Looking forward to King coming back.

I would like to see Saints throw De Belin into a bench position next year think he can be a really god forward he is a big boy for 20.

 

[InThatNumber]

I would like to see Rein and King starting as hooker and lock with Young backing up on the bench next year. If Rein goes off King can go to hooker and Young to Lock or vice versa. I think the time has come to blood Kyle Stanley in the halves (now that we have Moltzen for FB).. Style always looks self assured and comes across as a natural playmaker... time we let him develop in the role rather than stagnate as a utility.

 

[Father Ted]

I think Stanley or even Moltzen will cover half in the years after Hornby, we will probably be in a position to make a play for a couple of strike players by then, Hopoate, Dugan, Josh Morris one of these guys.

Well we need to find out sooner rather than later and a good half will cost us if we have to go into the market. Under the salary cap I think perhaps the strike players will have to come from our juniors.

NSW under16's 2011
PLAYER - CLUB
Dylan Russell - Illawarra
Alex Johnston - South Sydney
Dee Jay Harris - Illawarra
Michael Morgan - Bulldogs
John Fomai - Parramatta
Drew Hutchison - Illawarra
Brendan Cox - Bulldogs
Jack Bird - Illawarra
Tepai Moeroa - Parramatta
Blake Harrison - Manly
Jake Kamire - Bulldogs
Brad Deitz - Roosters
Matt Lodge - Penrith
Zac Dockar-Clay - Parramatta
Addison Demetriou - Bulldogs
Brett Solomon - Canberra
Euan Aitken - CRL
Luke Yates - Newcastle

An article of future new talent also named


Samisoni Langi:
He was the man of the match for the Catholics in the final and is the standout as far as I'm concerned. Contracted to the Bulldogs.

Curtis Sironen:
The son of Balmain legend, Paul Sironen, he is already signed by the Tigers. A pivot, he was the captain of the Combined Catholic Colleges team.

Taylor Brown:
The Dragons have signed him up. I'm not the only one that sees something in this kid.

Lloyd Perrett:
The brother of Sam Perrett, he has been consistently good for the Queenslanders.

George Jennings:
Like big brother Michael, he is contracted to the Panthers and is a speedy outside back.

Adam Elliott:
A year younger than a lot of the other boys. Played well all week and was another standout in the final for the Catholics.

Evander Cummins:
A fullback, one of several young stars for Combined High Schools.

Jake Trbojevic/David Klemmer:
Quality front-rowers.

Tuiala Togitasi:
A front rower from Benji Marshall's school, Keebra Park High

Nene MacDonald:
An exciting winger

Kane Elgey/Jamal Fogarty:
The Palm Beach Currumbin halves struck up a good combination.

 

[nontime111]

I could even handle this for a backline next year....

1.Hornby
2.morris
3.Moltzen
4.Cooper
5.nights
6.style
7.Soward

Any thoughts?
i think Hornby is great but not a half?

 

[dragondad]

I think Evander Cummins could easily play half. It'll be interesting to see what plans the Club has for him.

 

[Dragon2010]

Can Doust please throw Cuthbo a contract already.....He would be a great re-signing!

 

[rasaint]

Sorry to be a negative but we have bought a bunch of relative unknowns and are hoping that the so far injury prone Stanley brothers will get on the park regularly. Tim Moltzen is not that great. Our durable players like Darius boyd(world class) is gone, Hornby, Coops, Fein etc are all going to be 33 year olds.We need a Ben Barba or Billy Slater somewhere. I have heard that Evander Cummins is slick but very young.
Good luck Steve Price it looks bleak but no matter what I will cheer on anyone in the red v.

 

[gypsy]

Sorry to be a negative but we have bought a bunch of relative unknowns and are hoping that the so far injury prone Stanley brothers will get on the park regularly. Tim Moltzen is not that great. Our durable players like Darius boyd(world class) is gone, Hornby, Coops, Fein etc are all going to be 33 year olds.We need a Ben Barba or Billy Slater somewhere. I have heard that Evander Cummins is slick but very young.
Good luck Steve Price it looks bleak but no matter what I will cheer on anyone in the red v.

I agree with these comments. I'd rather us have gone all out to sign a specialist centre or specialist half.

Would rather see us pay overs to get a Keiran Foran, rather than a few bits and pieces players.

I couldn't understand at the time how the Dragons let both Kane Linnett and Dean Whare go at the same time a few years ago. We had a good 20's side, of which they were a huge part. Just one of many strange decisions our management have made of late.

 

[Minh]

I agree with these comments. I'd rather us have gone all out to sign a specialist centre or specialist half.

Would rather see us pay overs to get a Keiran Foran, rather than a few bits and pieces players.

I couldn't understand at the time how the Dragons let both Kane Linnett and Dean Whare go at the same time a few years ago. We had a good 20's side, of which they were a huge part. Just one of many strange decisions our management have made of late.

I think Dean Whare went to Manly and he has been unsighted there and Linnett had one good year last year and was not so good this year.

 

[gypsy]

I think Dean Whare went to Manly and he has been unsighted there and Linnett had one good year last year and was not so good this year.

I think most young centres would be unsighted if they were behind Lyon and Matai to be fair.

Linnett has struggled with injury. My point though is there are two genuine centres we've let go, and we look likely to plug a centre spot with a utility.