2018 and beyond, our squad and recruitment.

[coast_dragons]

Kenty on NRL360 hinted that it might happen as Roberts wants to return to Sydney.

Kent is a f**king wanker he doesn't know shit from sugar.

 

[Drag Queen]

Kent is a f**king wanker he doesn't know shit from sugar.

We actually agree on something.

 

[Coffs dragon]

Kenty on NRL360 hinted that it might happen as Roberts wants to return to Sydney.

Except knowing our luck , it will be Ben Roberts!!

 

[emu62]

Except knowing our luck , it will be Ben Roberts!!

Or Knowing our club it will be Ian Roberts

 

[Redhoopz]

If we can sign Alex Johnston, Junior Paulo, Sandor Earl, Kasiano and Bird we can build a squad around them as long as we get Hassler or Cleary as Coach.

In the event that you're actually serious about that... Sandor Earl and build a squad around, don't belong in the same sentence, ever.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Listening to Millwards recruitment update today he states we have 26 players signed and we require 4 more to complete the necessary 30 (plus 6 development players = total 36).
Now, according to ZT we have 25 players signed for 2018 those being:
LAM, Aitken, JDB, Dufty, Field, Frizell, Garrick, Herbert, Host, Hunt, Kerr, Lafai, Lawrie, Leilua, McDonald, Mann, McInnes, Nightingale, Periera, Robson, Sele, Sims, J Thompson, Vaughan and Widdop. That's 25.
Who is #26? one of Hutch, Dodd, Hind, I Thompson maybe?
If that is so ie, one of the above and we want to add a prop taking to 27, signing the remaining 3 would get us to 30. Unless of course someone like Marketo is still in the frame (maybe that's why he's been seen in the Tuesday 21) as a utility. Interestingly, Matthews name didn't come up when mentioning forwards only that we had Leilua.
The 6 development players, who could be the 6? Well, my thoughts are:
Masters, Sailor, Z Lomax, M Johns, Payne and 1 of the Clune bros. I'm pretty confident about at least Masters, Sailor and Lomax the other 3 are a guess.

 

[watatank]

One of those development players will be considered a part of the first grade squad. I think Lomax would be it.

 

[Life's Good]

With player development, has it been mentioned we are over the cap for this year hence why some of the juniors can't get a run?? Just interested to know if we have exhausted the 2nd tier cap and that is why its slim pickings eg Dufty.

 

[coast_dragons]

Listening to Millwards recruitment update today he states we have 26 players signed and we require 4 more to complete the necessary 30 (plus 6 development players = total 36).
Now, according to ZT we have 25 players signed for 2018 those being:
LAM, Aitken, JDB, Dufty, Field, Frizell, Garrick, Herbert, Host, Hunt, Kerr, Lafai, Lawrie, Leilua, McDonald, Mann, McInnes, Nightingale, Periera, Robson, Sele, Sims, J Thompson, Vaughan and Widdop. That's 25.
Who is #26? one of Hutch, Dodd, Hind, I Thompson maybe?
If that is so ie, one of the above and we want to add a prop taking to 27, signing the remaining 3 would get us to 30. Unless of course someone like Marketo is still in the frame (maybe that's why he's been seen in the Tuesday 21) as a utility. Interestingly, Matthews name didn't come up when mentioning forwards only that we had Leilua.
The 6 development players, who could be the 6? Well, my thoughts are:
Masters, Sailor, Z Lomax, M Johns, Payne and 1 of the Clune bros. I'm pretty confident about at least Masters, Sailor and Lomax the other 3 are a guess.

Mathews had been told he can look elsewhere at this stage so has Marketo.

From what I read today they may not even sign a prop according to Mary so it seems yet again he and Millward are not on the same page.

The 6 development players maybe be Sailor, Lomax, Willis, Johns, Marsters and Uele.

 

[coast_dragons]

With player development, has it been mentioned we are over the cap for this year hence why some of the juniors can't get a run?? Just interested to know if we have exhausted the 2nd tier cap and that is why its slim pickings eg Dufty.

I'd like to know how especially the amount of players inside the top 25 to 30 players who have no played first grade this year.

 

[Life's Good]

I'd like to know how especially the amount of players inside the top 25 to 30 players who have no played first grade this year.

Thinking about it some more I can't see that we've exhausted the 2nd tier cap so that can't be an excuse for not trying a few players. It's not like we haven't had opportunities(form, injury, SOO). Really puts us on the back foot for 2018 I reckon.

 

[Overseas dragon]

FMD, here we go again.....

Fmd what does that mean CRUSH .is that a derogatory term .

 

[coast_dragons]

Fmd what does that mean CRUSH .is that a derogatory term .

Are you trying to be funny serious question here.

 

[Overseas dragon]

Are you trying to be funny serious question here.

Yes

 

[coast_dragons]

Yes

thanks for the clarification.

 

[Frank Facer]

I was very happy with Dufty's debut and think he can be our long term fullback. That begs the question as to where does that leave Field and Marsters, who both have very big wraps on them and both have also been earmarked for our future fullback?

With Widdop and Hunt both signed up long term, that means that Field will only be getting an opportunity in the halves if one of the above two get injured. Field is one of the most exciting juniors we have had come through and I don't want us to lose him, but I am now struggling to find a future permanent position for him. He is signed up long term for us and I would not be releasing him. Maybe he could take Widdop's position by 2020?

I have only seen Marsters play one game, it was at fullback. I thought he looked like he could be a good centre, or winger. I hope that he can push his way into first grade in one of those positions. I also have Lomax earmarked as one of our centres by 2019 at the latest. I actually like the idea of a centre pairing of Lomax and Marsters in 2019. I like the idea of a backline in 2019 of

1 Dufty
2 McDonald
3 Marsters
4 Lomax
5 TBC Someone with speed and size would be ideal, someone like Vunavalu.
6 Widdop
7 Hunt

I want us to have wingers with a bit of size, so they can bring the ball back instead of Dufty and so they can play an extra forward role, when coming out of our own territory. I would not have Kurt Mann as one of our wingers with Dufty or Field at fullback.

I have previously said that we do not need to buy an backs and am more confident now that we don't have to buy and backs.

I will also say that I was impressed with Host today. I am not a big fan of Thompson. I think Host is now ready to take his position and will be even more ready next year. Host looks like a real good edge forward. We still need to buy a really good big dominate prop to partner Vaughan. I think we could be now building towards having one of the best squads in the comp by 2019 we could have something like

1 Dufty
2 TBC
3 Masters/Lafai
4 Lomax
5 McDonald
6 Widdop
7 Hunt
13 DeBelin
12 Frizzell
11 Host
10 Vaughan
9 McInnis
8 TBC We should have bib money to spend of a top prop

14 Field/Aikten
15 Sele
16 Lawrie
17 TBC another good big dominate prop

I have not been this enthusiastic and positive about our club for a very long time.

I just edited this post. For some reason I had Field at fullback instead of Dufty. I don't know why. I still have high hopes for Field and would not be letting him go. Maybe Field could take Widdop's spot in 3 or 4 years time?

 

[Como Connection]

I was very happy with Dufty's debut and think he can be our long term fullback. That begs the question as to where does that leave Field and Marsters, who both have very big wraps on them and both have also been earmarked for our future fullback?

With Widdop and Hunt both signed up long term, that means that Field will only be getting an opportunity in the halves if one of the above two get injured. Field is one of the most exciting juniors we have had come through and I don't want us to lose him, but I am now struggling to find a future permanent position for him. He is signed up long term for us and I would not be releasing him. Maybe he could take Widdop's position by 2020?

I have only seen Marsters play one game, it was at fullback. I thought he looked like he could be a good centre, or winger. I hope that he can push his way into first grade in one of those positions. I also have Lomax earmarked as one of our centres by 2019 at the latest. I actually like the idea of a centre pairing of Lomax and Marsters in 2019. I like the idea of a backline in 2019 of

1 Dufty
2 McDonald
3 Marsters
4 Lomax
5 TBC Someone with speed and size would be ideal, someone like Vunavalu.
6 Widdop
7 Hunt

I want us to have wingers with a bit of size, so they can bring the ball back instead of Dufty and so they can play an extra forward role, when coming out of our own territory. I would not have Kurt Mann as one of our wingers with Dufty or Field at fullback.

If that is the case re centres, Mann easily plays in one of the spots.
CC

 

[Frank Facer]

If that is the case re centres, Mann easily plays in one of the spots.
CC

No

 

[Frank Facer]

I was talking to a mate yesterday who is a Saints fan from way back, I was telling him about our very exciting backs coming through the juniors. My mate mentioned that he is friends with Lafia on Facebook. Apparently Lafai said something to him like, We have some really good juniors coming through and that he (Lafai) may have trouble holding his spot in a couple of years or so.

 

[Overseas dragon]

I was very happy with Dufty's debut and think he can be our long term fullback. That begs the question as to where does that leave Field and Marsters, who both have very big wraps on them and both have also been earmarked for our future fullback?

With Widdop and Hunt both signed up long term, that means that Field will only be getting an opportunity in the halves if one of the above two get injured. Field is one of the most exciting juniors we have had come through and I don't want us to lose him, but I am now struggling to find a future permanent position for him. He is signed up long term for us and I would not be releasing him. Maybe he could take Widdop's position by 2020? Frank what happened to dufty mate he's on list 1 but removed list 2nd

I have only seen Marsters play one game, it was at fullback. I thought he looked like he could be a good centre, or winger. I hope that he can push his way into first grade in one of those positions. I also have Lomax earmarked as one of our centres by 2019 at the latest. I actually like the idea of a centre pairing of Lomax and Marsters in 2019. I like the idea of a backline in 2019 of

1 Dufty
2 McDonald
3 Marsters
4 Lomax
5 TBC Someone with speed and size would be ideal, someone like Vunavalu.
6 Widdop
7 Hunt

I want us to have wingers with a bit of size, so they can bring the ball back instead of Dufty and so they can play an extra forward role, when coming out of our own territory. I would not have Kurt Mann as one of our wingers with Dufty or Field at fullback.

I have previously said that we do not need to buy an backs and am more confident now that we don't have to buy and backs.

I will also say that I was impressed with Host today. I am not a big fan of Thompson. I think Host is now ready to take his position and will be even more ready next year. Host looks like a real good edge forward. We still need to buy a really good big dominate prop to partner Vaughan. I think we could be now building towards having one of the best squads in the comp by 2019 we could have something like

1 Field
2 TBC
3 Masters/Lafai
4 Lomax
5 McDonald
6 Widdop
7 Hunt
13 DeBelin
12 Frizzell
11 Host
10 Vaughan
9 McInnis
8 TBC We should have bib money to spend of a top prop

14 Field/Aikten
15 Sele
16 Lawrie
17 TBC another good big dominate prop

I have not been this enthusiastic and positive about our club for a very long time.