2024 Squad List

[Auntie.Gerald]

looking at the experience and rep honours of our young guys and looking at the body types and attitude we have picked.............it is fair to say we are completely stacked with serious young talent in the FORWARDS.

Middles 20 to 22yrs of age = Tuitavake, Fafita, Couchman, Couchman, Coric,

Middles 17 to 19yrs of age = Liu, Loko, Stewart all cover the tall props/middles - they are big boys already at 193,194,192 cms and Liu already 113kg and Loko 122kg

Add to that a bunch of rugged middles 18 to 20 years = Ackers, Webster and Taufa, Pauli both 105kg and Manago 112kg and 192cm and young Stanley-Traill a hulking raw 17yr old who signed on for 4 years recently

Backrowers = Aust Schoolboys turning 18yrs old in Halangahu and Latu plus a couple 19/20 yr olds in Egan and Tsourangis both played NSW schoolboys

..........................

We have done a very good job to have the next wave with serious talent and body types - but that is 3 to 5 years away for FG for a fair few of them.

Equally Egan, Tuitavake, Fafita, Couchman x 2 should all be fighting for a spot in the 17 minimum. Egan more likely mid season but the kid as an energiser bunny that for 30mins off the bench maybe to hard to resist

Has that dogged cardio intensity about him and similar weight height to Victor Radley

I believe Egan is already 95kg and 182cm pretty much same as Radley

 

[Dragon David]

View attachment 83070

looking at the experience and rep honours of our young guys and looking at the body types and attitude we have picked.............it is fair to say we are completely stacked with serious young talent in the FORWARDS.

Middles 20 to 22yrs of age = Tuitavake, Fafita, Couchman, Couchman, Coric,

Middles 17 to 19yrs of age = Liu, Loko, Stewart all cover the tall props/middles - they are big boys already at 193,194,192 cms and Liu already 113kg and Loko 122kg

Add to that a bunch of rugged middles 18 to 20 years = Ackers, Webster and Taufa, Pauli both 105kg and Manago 112kg and 192cm and young Stanley-Traill a hulking raw 17yr old who signed on for 4 years recently

Backrowers = Aust Schoolboys turning 18yrs old in Halangahu and Latu plus a couple 19/20 yr olds in Egan and Tsourangis both played NSW schoolboys

..........................

We have done a very good job to have the next wave with serious talent and body types - but that is 3 to 5 years away for FG for a fair few of them.

Equally Egan, Tuitavake, Fafita, Couchman x 2 should all be fighting for a spot in the 17 minimum. Egan more likely mid season but the kid as an energiser bunny that for 30mins off the bench maybe to hard to resist

Has that dogged cardio intensity about him and similar weight height to Victor Radley

I believe Egan is already 95kg and 182cm pretty much same as Radley

Thanks for the info Auntie.Gerald. The future looks brighter with these young forwards coming through. With the best possible coaching for them I feel sure that they will be first graders sooner rather than later.

 

[Saints Forever]

Middles 20 to 22yrs of age = Tuitavake, Fafita, Couchman, Couchman, Coric

If 3 of the 5 players listed above improve significantly in the first half of 2024, we will be fine.

 

[DJDL]

I’m guessing we would be still interested in atleast two of the below players and the approx $ they may attract?

Luki $800k pa? X 3 years
Kafausi (Oregon) $750k pa? X 3 years
May (Terrell) $600k p? X 3 years
Manu (Joseph) $1.25m pa? X 4 years
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki $650k pa? x 4 years

I know Oregano only signed a 2 year at reportedly $400k pa for 2023/24 seasons…..but you would have to think come 2025 this may double to at least $750k pa ?

He is a weapon and incredible ball playing prop almost like a 13 Jason T

You're talking the same Oregon Kaufusi who is currently at the Sharks, right?
What game have you been watching? The guy is a bum.
"Incredible ball playing prop"? He averaged 0.37 offloads per game last year.
The only Sharks prop with less offloads was a rookie under strict instructions to just take his hit ups and make his tackles.

On top of that he was last in tackle breaks, hit up metres, post contact metres and pretty much any other stat a prop is measured on.

He may come good on '2024, but at this point he has shown absolutely nothing to suggest he's worth more than the $400k he's on, let alone almost double it.

Bum.

 

[Slippery Morris]

People say guys need a few years to develop in the NRL. For spine players I agree but for forwards especially front rowers, I tend to disagree, If they are that good they will hit the ground running asap. I remember Tallis' first year. He was amazing. Made a few errors here and there but mostly filled with highlights. I loved watching Gordon in his early years. He was ripping teams apart. Every time he touched the ball or hit a player was a highlight for me. Haas, Olokuat'u, Taumalolo, etc. If we get one or 2 of these guys to hit the ground running in first grade than the guys I mentioned that will be huge. And good to see Saints having some dollars aside and a premiership winning coach to be able to keep them.

 

[Dragon David]

People say guys need a few years to develop in the NRL. For spine players I agree but for forwards especially front rowers, I tend to disagree, If they are that good they will hit the ground running asap. I remember Tallis' first year. He was amazing. Made a few errors here and there but mostly filled with highlights. I loved watching Gordon in his early years. He was ripping teams apart. Every time he touched the ball or hit a player was a highlight for me. Haas, Olokuat'u, Taumalolo, etc. If we get one or 2 of these guys to hit the ground running in first grade than the guys I mentioned that will be huge. And good to see Saints having some dollars aside and a premiership winning coach to be able to keep them.

Yes, Tallis was a bull when with us and then the Broncos. Never shirked from doing the hard work in attack and defence. Would love to have a few of his type with our club going forward.

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Middles 20 to 22yrs of age = Tuitavake, Fafita, Couchman, Couchman, Coric

If 3 of the 5 players listed above improve significantly in the first half of 2024, we will be fine.

I think the Couchman brothers are in for break out seasons in 2024, and the two ex Manly forwards are not that far behind them.
Not so sure about Coric.

 

[qld redvee]

Thanks for the info Auntie.Gerald. The future looks brighter with these young forwards coming through. With the best possible coaching for them I feel sure that they will be first graders sooner rather than later.

DD you hit the nail on the head when you said "best coaching for them > this is where we have fallen flat over the last years we didnt coach the kids properly so they didnt impress when they got their chances and moved on , Now with flanno onboard and a bigger emphasis on pathways lets hope the kids improve and perform to their potential for us not other teams

 

[Dragon David]

DD you hit the nail on the head when you said "best coaching for them > this is where we have fallen flat over the last years we didnt coach the kids properly so they didnt impress when they got their chances and moved on , Now with flanno onboard and a bigger emphasis on pathways lets hope the kids improve and perform to their potential for us not other teams

Here, here qld redvee. If you aren't taught right and given the proper things to learn, you will not be successful. All of the young ones can be much better if the tutor gives them the proper training and advice. Give them the chance to become "marquee" one day.

Get them to be stronger, faster and more effective in attack and defence. Make sure that their nutrition is spot on to help development and growth.

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons knuckling down for a new year

The Dragons also have a crop of highly rated juniors coming through who are expected to be pushing...

www.theleader.com.au

 

[getsmarty]

Squad straight back to work for season 2024

The players haven't wasted any time jumping straight back into it after the holiday break.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[getsmarty]

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[Victoire]

Savelio "Hot" Tamale really living up to that nickname in his pic

 

[Saints Forever]

Savelio "Hot" Tamale really living up to that nickname in his pic

Looks like he is in great shape

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

flammable

 

[denis preston]

View attachment 83070

looking at the experience and rep honours of our young guys and looking at the body types and attitude we have picked.............it is fair to say we are completely stacked with serious young talent in the FORWARDS.

Middles 20 to 22yrs of age = Tuitavake, Fafita, Couchman, Couchman, Coric,

Middles 17 to 19yrs of age = Liu, Loko, Stewart all cover the tall props/middles - they are big boys already at 193,194,192 cms and Liu already 113kg and Loko 122kg

Add to that a bunch of rugged middles 18 to 20 years = Ackers, Webster and Taufa, Pauli both 105kg and Manago 112kg and 192cm and young Stanley-Traill a hulking raw 17yr old who signed on for 4 years recently

Backrowers = Aust Schoolboys turning 18yrs old in Halangahu and Latu plus a couple 19/20 yr olds in Egan and Tsourangis both played NSW schoolboys

..........................

We have done a very good job to have the next wave with serious talent and body types - but that is 3 to 5 years away for FG for a fair few of them.

Equally Egan, Tuitavake, Fafita, Couchman x 2 should all be fighting for a spot in the 17 minimum. Egan more likely mid season but the kid as an energiser bunny that for 30mins off the bench maybe to hard to resist

Has that dogged cardio intensity about him and similar weight height to Victor Radley

I believe Egan is already 95kg and 182cm pretty much same as Radley

It does appear that we do have some talent coming through BUT we will only know when they get the chance in NRL. The Couchmans have stood above all others & surely will be even better this season. We also need to stop throwing silly contract renewals at these players. Then again these current youngsters didn’t have nearly 2 seasons taken away by COVID just when they needed vital experience.

 

[rasaint]

Hi All, I hope that somehow Tamale gets a start in the centres from game 1 2024. Let Zac Lomax go into the pack at lock. He would go ok there.
Tamale has got bigger over the past 6 months and has genuine pace.

Finau on the wing also please.

Hope we give the young guys there chance.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

From the games I have seen of Tamale he will have a few clubs more than interested yet Tamale might not see a clear pathway here at the Dragons with Suli and Lomax in front

He has come on so quickly for a rugby junior and already made in his first year SOO under 19s

We will get to see a lot more in the next few months if he has not been pinched by another club for 2025

 

[BLM01]

Hi All, I hope that somehow Tamale gets a start in the centres from game 1 2024. Let Zac Lomax go into the pack at lock. He would go ok there.
Tamale has got bigger over the past 6 months and has genuine pace.

Finau on the wing also please.

Hope we give the young guys there chance.

You want to move Lomax already from his best position as a centre?. Crazy stuff and he is not a 13.
I want to see the young kids shine and want more speed as much as anyone but not on the expense of our best defensive and attacking centre. Can these young kids even defend on the wing yet at NRL level let alone centre. Look at Sloan how long it is taking him at a crucial position.

 

[Parko1310]

From the games I have seen of Tamale he will have a few clubs more than interested yet Tamale might not see a clear pathway here at the Dragons with Suli and Lomax in front

He has come on so quickly for a rugby junior and already made in his first year SOO under 19s

We will get to see a lot more in the next few months if he has not been pinched by another club for 2025

I'm concerned at the lack of talk about Tamale coming out of the Dragons this pre-season because it makes me think he might not be staying around. It seems to be more about Dylan Egan, Hamish Stewart, etc. As you've said a clear pathway for Tamale is probably blocked and he's off contract. I hope we can keep him, but I'm not sure we will.