2022 Squad: Gains, Losses & Re-signings.

[Inisai Toga]

Simms has been a warrior but the reality for me is his body is showing the years and injuries have taken it's toll.Great stuff to make SOO last year and the extra dollars must have been handy but after it he was playing like a 300k a year player but on 700. No confidence at all that he can play consistently well but the better players around him may inspire him to greater deeds. I see him post Origin as a bench and a good one at that, with Burgess and Bird.

 

[Inisai Toga]

I see him post Origin as a bench player and a good one at that, with Burgess and Bird.

 

[Unsainty79]

Sullivan would have only re-signed if he thought there was a pathway to play. Given that Hunt has 2 more years, it is intriguing to see where they will all fit in. Although, given the injury attrition and HIA's that we've seen, you could be a third-stringer and still get 15 games.

Remember Amone has been touted to move to the back-row, so maybe we may see him line-up there in the trials, or at least get a run there later in the year?

If Bird starts at lock, it is hard to see us not playing 3 props and M'bye off the bench.

I will say though, even though we haven't signed huge names, this is the first time in a long time that I can remember that our signings have been wrapped up before pre-season.
Molo and Su'a are great additions, if we can get Suli firing he will be brilliant, M'bye solves our #14 dilemma (and adds depth) and adding Burgess, Woods and Moga as back-ups is great; for once, it feels like if we have an injury or two, the season won't capitulate.

 

[thebigredv]

Not sure if the club has been chasing those shopping themselves around but history has shown that the club tends to do business out of the publics eye.

That's fine and true. We don't seek the spotlight. It's not the spectacle , the rumours and the media frenzy we are after. We just want the best players in the positions we haven't covered properly in the past.

End of this year we were left with the leftovers to assemble a squad with. I know Hook will be building an organic squad with a band of juniors for the future strength, I'm ok with that but we simply need an impact forward and hooker for 2023 of the highest echelon.

 

[Illusion]

Sullivan would have only re-signed if he thought there was a pathway to play. Given that Hunt has 2 more years, it is intriguing to see where they will all fit in. Although, given the injury attrition and HIA's that we've seen, you could be a third-stringer and still get 15 games.

Remember Amone has been touted to move to the back-row, so maybe we may see him line-up there in the trials, or at least get a run there later in the year?

If Bird starts at lock, it is hard to see us not playing 3 props and M'bye off the bench.

I will say though, even though we haven't signed huge names, this is the first time in a long time that I can remember that our signings have been wrapped up before pre-season.
Molo and Su'a are great additions, if we can get Suli firing he will be brilliant, M'bye solves our #14 dilemma (and adds depth) and adding Burgess, Woods and Moga as back-ups is great; for once, it feels like if we have an injury or two, the season won't capitulate.

For me Sullivan did a great job at 9 the few games he had there ..... With him signing on it gives us options and the kid IMO is as tough as any for his size ......

 

[thebigredv]

For me Sullivan did a great job at 9 the few games he had there ..... With him signing on it gives us options and the kid IMO is as tough as any for his size ......

Hmm. I haven't really considered Sullivan for the permanent role but that could be the next best thing for us as no doubt he will be an attacking weapon. With more size and experience he can sharpen up defensively and make a gun hooker, not a bad idea.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

I'd say the Dragons spine would look much sharper with:

1. Sloan
6. Amone
7. Sullivan
9. Hunt

14. Mbye - who can cover all four positions

I'd need to be convinced that Sullivan's game management and kicking game is up to guiding the team around the park for 80 minutes without an experienced partner. That is why I prefer Hunt at 7 and Sullivan coming on at 14 as he did last year and adding the zip and creativity out of dummy half. We know his defence is first class as well. Mbye might be a great clubman but I'm not convinced that he has that spark we need after Macca leaves the field.

 

[George Dragon]

I'd need to be convinced that Sullivan's game management and kicking game is up to guiding the team around the park for 80 minutes without an experienced partner. That is why I prefer Hunt at 7 and Sullivan coming on at 14 as he did last year and adding the zip and creativity out of dummy half. We know his defence is first class as well. Mbye might be a great clubman but I'm not convinced that he has that spark we need after Macca leaves the field.

And how do you expect him to get the experience or see if he is up to it if you have him playing 20min at 9 each week.
If the plan for him were to be a 14 and a back up 9 he wouldn't of extended.

He is 7 in first or 7 in ressie that's it.

 

[randomdragon]

And how do you expect him to get the experience or see if he is up to it if you have him playing 20min at 9 each week.
If the plan for him were to be a 14 and a back up 9 he wouldn't of extended.

He is 7 in first or 7 in ressie that's it.

Could he play 6 for 1sts?

 

[thebigredv]

And how do you expect him to get the experience or see if he is up to it if you have him playing 20min at 9 each week.
If the plan for him were to be a 14 and a back up 9 he wouldn't of extended.

He is 7 in first or 7 in ressie that's it.

When did Sullivan become free of injury last year? It seems with Hunt injured and Corey Norman playing like Corey Norman it would have been a better time to blood him in the halves then. An oversight on account of the coach. A real big boo boo if you ask me.

 

[jak]

When did Sullivan become free of injury last year? It seems with Hunt injured and Corey Norman playing like Corey Norman it would have been a better time to blood him in the halves then. An oversight on account of the coach. A real big boo boo if you ask me.

what and when was Corey Norman playing ?

 

[Inisai Toga]

When did Sullivan become free of injury last year? It seems with Hunt injured and Corey Norman playing like Corey Norman it would have been a better time to blood him in the halves then. An oversight on account of the coach. A real big boo boo if you ask me.

Could be wrong tbrv but pretty sure Sullivan was injured at the same time. Vaguely recall me cursing the timing last year…?

 

[Illusion]

And how do you expect him to get the experience or see if he is up to it if you have him playing 20min at 9 each week.
If the plan for him were to be a 14 and a back up 9 he wouldn't of extended.

He is 7 in first or 7 in ressie that's it.

George yes he may be a 7 as you say and signed with us for that reason but for now I would definitely have him in the 14 some where either off the bench or starting ..... He needs game time as do all the young blokes......

 

[denis preston]

Hmm. I haven't really considered Sullivan for the permanent role but that could be the next best thing for us as no doubt he will be an attacking weapon. With more size and experience he can sharpen up defensively and make a gun hooker, not a bad idea.

Nooooooo!! Let him try to be an elite 7 rather than a good hooker.

 

[Gippsy]

Sullivan's spot is the no. 7, and he's going to be a very good one. So, why burn him out playing no. 9?
If anything, Hunt would be a lot more durable than Sullivan and better suited to 9. Hopefully, Sullivan at 7 and Hunt at 9 will happen at some point during the season.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

And how do you expect him to get the experience or see if he is up to it if you have him playing 20min at 9 each week.
If the plan for him were to be a 14 and a back up 9 he wouldn't of extended.

He is 7 in first or 7 in ressie that's it.

We all have our opinions and probably Mbye will be Hook's choice at 14 replacing Macca as you imply. However, I'd be hoping whoever is coming on will spark our attack and link up well with the other elements of our spine- two of whom (Sloan and Amone) are likely to be from that SG Ball winning side that contained Sullivan as well.

I would also argue that a dummy half's role these days has a game management element to it. Cameron Smith was the ultimate exponent of choosing the right option of pass, run or kick.

The other factors that may increase Sullivan's experience are Hunt's availability and fitness. I would expect Sullivan would replace Hunt during Origin. Hunt was a very durable player when he first came to the Dragons but age may be catching up with him. He suffered both a broken arm and broken fibula in separate incidents last year and was out for some time.

 

[Illusion]

Sullivan's spot is the no. 7, and he's going to be a very good one. So, why burn him out playing no. 9?
If anything, Hunt would be a lot more durable than Sullivan and better suited to 9. Hopefully, Sullivan at 7 and Hunt at 9 will happen at some point during the season.

Agree but the kid needs to be around the top grade some where for now.....

 

[getsmarty]

Injuries won't slow McCullough down

Dragons hooker Andrew McCullough speaks about how his body is feeling and what his first impressions of this year's team are.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[getsmarty]

McCullough says Dragons kids will benefit from tough initiation

Veteran Red V rake Andrew McCullough says the experience gained by young guns Jayden Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan and Talatau Amone was the big positive to come out of the horror run that saw the Dragons lose eight in a row to plummet out of finals contention in 2021.

www.nrl.com

 

[getsmarty]

Sullivan chases Dragons NRL halves role

St George Illawarra playmaker Jayden Sullivan says he has trained exclusively in the halves as he eyes the...

www.theleader.com.au