2022 Squad: Gains, Losses & Re-signings.

[Dragon David]

On paper we have a better squad signed for 2022 so there’s cause for optimism. Norman & Dufty are gone which frees up the opportunity for Amone & Sloan to really shine.

I’m still concerned about Griffin’s selection strategy though, Mbye could easily be the next Corey Norman & I don’t see an immediate role for Jack Bird. But these are issues for discussion next year.

I just hope that Hook doesn't play favourites but play players who are performing. With an improvement in depth next year, all players will need to be firing - no excuses otherwise, down the line you go and someone else better to take over.

I'm resting my judgement on how successful or not we will be next year after at least 4-5 games and not saying anything about the new players who have been signed up because they haven't joined the squad and not even had a run. So wait until the preseason trials next year for comment as far as I am concerned. They all have potential and experience to do good things, so I'll see.

 

[Maddragon99]

I just hope that Hook doesn't play favourites but play players who are performing. With an improvement in depth next year, all players will need to be firing - no excuses otherwise, down the line you go and someone else better to take over.

I'm resting my judgement on how successful or not we will be next year after at least 4-5 games and not saying anything about the new players who have been signed up because they haven't joined the squad and not even had a run. So wait until the preseason trials next year for comment as far as I am concerned. They all have potential and experience to do good things, so I'll see.

I tend to agree, impossible to make judgments until we see how things play out next year.

Griffin’s selections in 2021 do have me worried but hopefully Griffin’s learned a few lessons from the experience, after all he hasn’t coached for a couple of years.

 

[qld redvee]

pretty well agree with you mad and dave . If hook picks on form and we can limit our injuries and SUSPENSIONS then we do have a better team ( on paper anyway than 21) if our forwards can get more metres then our back 5 have a better chance to attack. competition in the forwards will be good hopefully we have reserve grade for fitness and progression by juniours and the ball lands firmly in hooks lap .. It would be nice to get a new assisstant that is younger and outside the saints network . maybe cayless who has left the rorters could be worth a look to help hook , he at least comes from a successful club

 

[Dragon David]

I tend to agree, impossible to make judgments until we see how things play out next year.

Griffin’s selections in 2021 do have me worried but hopefully Griffin’s learned a few lessons from the experience, after all he hasn’t coached for a couple of years.

I agree. The unfortunate thing with Griffin is that in 2021 he was a bit over the place with where players should play but once the fiasco of the bbq resulted in all of the suspensions and Vaughan getting sacked, his job just got harder. Hopefully, he has the full squad each week to choose the best from next year.

I'm hoping that next year the competition will be such that at the end, the top 8 are not broken up with the top 4-5 being streets ahead on points like it was this year, so that if a team who finishes 7th for instance would be just 4 points away from the 4th team. That team I hope will be the Dragons.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Players like Fui can play centre as can Bird. That would lessen the 'gap' to 14/15.

We have a couple of backs coming through the system, although i doubt they'd get a run in firsts next year, you never know. These players are:
Treigh Stewart - plays fullback
Alexander Lobb - plays wing and goal kicks.

If I recall correctly, George Dragon nominated Lobb as being tall, having the speed of Saab but a gun goal kicker as well. I've already expressed my concern that we are short on specialist wingers so I'm not going to bang on about that any further except to say that I hope that Lobb does progress quickly as he has all the attributes of a winger we currently lack.

I also seem to remember a Brett Lobb who played for Penrith as a pretty good winger/full-back in the 80s- wonder if they're related?

 

[Dragon David]

pretty well agree with you mad and dave . If hook picks on form and we can limit our injuries and SUSPENSIONS then we do have a better team ( on paper anyway than 21) if our forwards can get more metres then our back 5 have a better chance to attack. competition in the forwards will be good hopefully we have reserve grade for fitness and progression by juniours and the ball lands firmly in hooks lap .. It would be nice to get a new assisstant that is younger and outside the saints network . maybe cayless who has left the rorters could be worth a look to help hook , he at least comes from a successful club

Agreed!

 

[denis preston]

Ok are we saving ONE space for the big signing that the club was alluding to a couple of months back ? Hope it is a forward.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Ok are we saving ONE space for the big signing that the club was alluding to a couple of months back ? Hope it is a forward.

We have until June 30 next year to fill that spot. A lot of activity going on atm behind the scenes at many clubs, especially now with the Dolphins entering the comp. Nov1 will see a frenzy of player agents scrambling to get their player a spot, eepecially the high profile ones. The Dolphins basically have to build a squad from the ground up, and after looking at their current ISC team, they'll need to sign just about 30 players. This of course wont happen on Nov1, but the other 16 teams will be also trying to protect their stars as well, us included.

So, I think our focus has changed, we will be looking at re-signing players, Bud being one, where possibly, we will have to kick their '22 salary's up.

For example: IF, we have 900k spare for next year andcwe want to retain say 5 players who are coming off contract and you bump each by 100k to ward off any prospective agent, that leaves only 400k. That puts the 'high profile' player out of our range for '22.

Off-contract in 2022:
Alvaro, Bird, Burns, Mat F, Max F, Faamasili, Ford, Lawrie, Maguire, Sims, Sullivan, (Woods, Moga, Gosiewski).

 

[Saints Forever]

We have until June 30 next year to fill that spot. A lot of activity going on atm behind the scenes at many clubs, especially now with the Dolphins entering the comp. Nov1 will see a frenzy of player agents scrambling to get their player a spot, eepecially the high profile ones. The Dolphins basically have to build a squad from the ground up, and after looking at their current ISC team, they'll need to sign just about 30 players. This of course wont happen on Nov1, but the other 16 teams will be also trying to protect their stars as well, us included.

So, I think our focus has changed, we will be looking at re-signing players, Bud being one, where possibly, we will have to kick their '22 salary's up.

For example: IF, we have 900k spare for next year andcwe want to retain say 5 players who are coming off contract and you bump each by 100k to ward off any prospective agent, that leaves only 400k. That puts the 'high profile' player out of our range for '22.

Off-contract in 2022:
Alvaro, Bird, Burns, Mat F, Max F, Faamasili, Ford, Lawrie, Maguire, Sims, Sullivan, (Woods, Moga, Gosiewski).

There is a reasonable chance that Sullivan may be the only player retained from that group.

Hopefully the Fegai brothers get a chance to impress the coach and press for a contract extension.

 

[Crush]

These fox sports “best 2022 lineup” teams they are borderline ridiculous. We laughed at the dragons one with Bird at fullback etc but I’ve just seen the Sharks one, deadset they have about 5 positions wrong there!
Their journalism is sloppy.

 

[SBD82]

These fox sports “best 2022 lineup” teams they are borderline ridiculous. We laughed at the dragons one with Bird at fullback etc but I’ve just seen the Sharks one, deadset they have about 5 positions wrong there!
Their journalism is sloppy.

To be fair, that far exceeds par for journalistic standards across Murdoch press.

 

[Walpole]

These fox sports “best 2022 lineup” teams they are borderline ridiculous. We laughed at the dragons one with Bird at fullback etc but I’ve just seen the Sharks one, deadset they have about 5 positions wrong there!
Their journalism is sloppy.

It seems like these "best lineups" are written by people who've never watched a game.

 

[Maddragon99]

There is a reasonable chance that Sullivan may be the only player retained from that group.

Hopefully the Fegai brothers get a chance to impress the coach and press for a contract extension.

It could be fair to say the Feagai’s haven’t lived up to the hype just yet. The club went out & bought Suli & Moga which might confirm this.

I think Ramsey will get first crack at left wing which puts Mat & Max in reserves.

Mat performed pretty well in the later stages of 2021 but he’s not a speedster & Max missed most of the second half of the season with that head knock.

Suli’s tackle busts combined with Ramsey’s speed could be a very potent combination in ‘22.

 

[Reddragon]

They forgot about Lomax completely for the Dragons squad.

 

[BIG RIG]

Confirmed on website - Aaron Woods, Tautau Moga and Jack Gosiewski have signed

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

Confirmed on website - Aaron Woods, Tautau Moga and Jack Gosiewski have signed

Welcome boys.
I’m probably in the minority but I actually think Woods will be very good for us.
Brings an offload which we need for our backline to do there magic. Great defence in the middle too.

 

[Dragonslayer]

All 3 on Perform or Perish deals at base salary rates.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

These fox sports “best 2022 lineup” teams they are borderline ridiculous. We laughed at the dragons one with Bird at fullback etc but I’ve just seen the Sharks one, deadset they have about 5 positions wrong there!
Their journalism is sloppy.

There is no way they know our team as much as all us regulars on here do. Which is pretty average because I’d swap them my job as a sparky any day of the week and put in some research if in their position.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Welcome boys.
I’m probably in the minority but I actually think Woods will be very good for us.
Brings an offload which we need for our backline to do there magic. Great defence in the middle too.

Agree, the competition for spots is getting hot and some good players will probably end up in reggies. If we had this depth this season we probably make the finals.

 

[TruSaint]