2025 Pre-Season Challenge - Trials

[redv13]

Only 5 more sleeps before we can watch a game of NRL. I know they are only trials & in the first game we have to sit though the gummies at swamp park BUT how good is it to see footy back on the TV !! Im pumped !

Time to dust off the keyboards and get the banter in full swing. Beware the bed wetters

 

[getsmarty]

Molo’s anger at booze comment​

A supposed lighthearted comment from a member of the Dragons’ coaching staff is believed to be behind Francis Molo’s decision to want out of the club. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fteams%2Fdragons%2Fsaint-sinner-shoosh-nathan-hindmarsh-replaces-ryan-girdler-on-triple-m-radio-show%2Fnews-story%2F606279a6c2c351a961ddc135b0da5f7a&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPA-Segment-1-NOSCORE

 

[Wolfgang90]

Molo returned to training but still doesn't want to play for us. Don't want to go through this shit again, happy to cut ties with him asap & put the NRL on blast until they stop players from breaking contracts early. Whether for our benefit (Guler, Luciano, Gutho) or not (Lomax, Molo).

Make it a financial disservice to break your contract early if you've played X amount of games or are on a decent deal. I get players like Guler who want an opportunity after years of service for Raiders but it's bullshit seeing someone like Molo, AFB etc. leave.

Maybe even mandate that player not being able to play against their former team for X seasons (including finals). Something has to be done...

 

[Slippery Morris]

If you are going to punish players for getting out of the contracts early what about clubs for pushing players out of their clubs early to save salary cap space and then bring in another bloke or top up a junior. It works both ways so they should make it simple. Once the contract is signed both the player and Club need to honour the contract no matter what.

If another club makes an approach such as Parra did with Lomax then they should be fined heavily and 500k taken off their cap and paid the the club impacted's cap. So in the case of Lomax, Saints should have been forced to keep Lomax and Parra would have had to pay 500k of his remaining salary left at the Dragons. If the player does not comply deregister the player from the NRL for 2 years. Make them play in England to boost their game.

That just sounds to easy and make player managers actually do their jobs properly so it won't happen with the NRL. If so they will apply to rule to Saints only.

 

[Old Timer]

Molo’s anger at booze comment​

A supposed lighthearted comment from a member of the Dragons’ coaching staff is believed to be behind Francis Molo’s decision to want out of the club. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fteams%2Fdragons%2Fsaint-sinner-shoosh-nathan-hindmarsh-replaces-ryan-girdler-on-triple-m-radio-show%2Fnews-story%2F606279a6c2c351a961ddc135b0da5f7a&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPA-Segment-1-NOSCORE

f**k the journo’s

Nobody knows what was said but it was lighthearted

FMD just name the person and tell us the situation in which it occurred and what was said

Then I’ll assess whether it was lighthearted or not.

No doubt we all have buttons we don’t like being pressed and will take action if they are.

As I said before D Y is a cumbdunt and thinks he can say what he likes and always have the “it was all in fun” defence.

 

[Harry Bath]

f**k the journo’s

Nobody knows what was said but it was lighthearted

FMD just name the person and tell us the situation in which it occurred and what was said

Then I’ll assess whether it was lighthearted or not.

No doubt we all have buttons we don’t like being pressed and will take action if they are.

As I said before D Y is a cumbdunt and thinks he can say what he likes and always have the “it was all in fun” defence.

whether it is made up by the media or it is something that was said by a trainer or molo making it up to secure a pay day at another club does not matter it is proving to be yet another major distraction to this club!
This does not happen at the other better run clubs who no doubt have internal issues but they never see the light of day.

 

[Slippery Morris]

I tend to disagree with the last post as I feel it happens at other clubs but not reported. The media love smashing the Dragons for the smallest things that most clubs go through.

 

[Harry Bath]

I tend to disagree with the last post as I feel it happens at other clubs but not reported. The media love smashing the Dragons for the smallest things that most clubs go through.

I tend to agree that the media do target dragons however they are not just for small things, name another club who went through protracted media scrutiny that in recent times started with Brett Morris leaving the club (a very sad day), Tyson Frizzel drama went for months before he signed for Knights(still waiting for that Premiership!) ,Cameron McInnis a club captain left a year before his contract was up(he was injured in the trials and did not play a game his final year),and the well documented media dramas of another club captain in Ben Hunt(drama went for 18 months), Zac Lomax release from the last 2 years of his contract where the rumours are that he dropped $200K a season just to get out of the club!. Not to mention the drama surrounding Jack DeBelin no fault stand down for 2 years (which was the first and longest time the NRL ever imposed on a player) and the sacking of 3 coaches before their contracts ran out.
My point is that a lot of these issues with players and coaches leaving before contracts run out would have been handled a lot better by the good clubs.

 

[Old Timer]

I tend to agree that the media do target dragons however they are not just for small things, name another club who went through protracted media scrutiny that in recent times started with Brett Morris leaving the club (a very sad day), Tyson Frizzel drama went for months before he signed for Knights(still waiting for that Premiership!) ,Cameron McInnis a club captain left a year before his contract was up(he was injured in the trials and did not play a game his final year),and the well documented media dramas of another club captain in Ben Hunt(drama went for 18 months), Zac Lomax release from the last 2 years of his contract where the rumours are that he dropped $200K a season just to get out of the club!. Not to mention the drama surrounding Jack DeBelin no fault stand down for 2 years (which was the first and longest time the NRL ever imposed on a player) and the sacking of 3 coaches before their contracts ran out.
My point is that a lot of these issues with players and coaches leaving before contracts run out would have been handled a lot better by the good clubs.

We suffer from a total lack of professionalism both on and off the field.

Far too much of the “he’s a good bloke” philosophy.

We as supporters try to find a positive and talk it up to disguise the sad reality of what we are.

People trying to find a way to sheet home an indiscretion to Molo as being a sign of weakness in Molo instead of finding out the truth and dealing with the perp.

If we have a no dick head policy then it must apply to all sections of the club not just a few.

 

[denis preston]

We suffer from a total lack of professionalism both on and off the field.

Far too much of the “he’s a good bloke” philosophy.

We as supporters try to find a positive and talk it up to disguise the sad reality of what we are.

People trying to find a way to sheet home an indiscretion to Molo as being a sign of weakness in Molo instead of finding out the truth and dealing with the perp.

If we have a no dick head policy then it must apply to all sections of the club not just a few.

And yet Haran gets another 12 months.

 

[Old Timer]

And yet Haran gets another 12 months.

If the intent is for. D Y to coach they won’t do a thing to make S F’s life easier.

If anything they’ll tie more anchors around his neck.

Maybe the Molo blow up is part of the tactics?

 

[Harry Bath]

And yet Haran gets another 12 months.

it is amazing he has been GM of Football across 3 sacked coaches now!, what exactly is his role?, if coaches die by bad results then I would have though the GM of football would also have to go!

 

[Victoire]

Dragons recruit Lachlan Ilias will have his first serious hitout in 10-months, joining Clint Gutherson, Damien Cook and Valentine Holmes in his new colours in a private clash against Manly.

The special scrimmage session to be held on Friday will be the launch pad for some of the most anticipated off-season recruits and crucial combinations from both clubs prior to the 2025 season.

The 60-minute workout between St George Illawarra and Manly will be held behind closed doors at Jubilee Oval and follows on from this time last year when both clubs organised a similar hitout against each other.

“We find it’s a such a good thing to do because after so many weeks now of pre-season, it’s beneficial to be putting our hard work into practice against genuine opposition,” Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold said.

“We’ll take all of our leading players including Daly (Cherry-Evans), Jake (Trbojevic) and ‘Turbo’ (Tom Trbojevic).”

To be officiated by NRL referees Adam Gee, Dave Munro and Jon Stone, the game simulation will be played at about 70 per cent physical force of an NRL game with strict rules around protecting players from late leg tackles or high shots.

The hitout will prove hugely beneficial for Ilias, who hasn’t played rugby league since suffering a tibial fracture in his right leg when playing in the NSW Cup for South Sydney last April.

Ilias represents a vital cog in the Dragons new-look spine of Gutherson, Cook and five-eighth Kyle Flanagan.

The hitout will allow the most influential figures for the Dragons in 2025 to batten down their timing, cohesion and connectivity in attack ahead of the new season.

“It’s been a long pre-season playing games against our NSW Cup at training, so it’s good to have such quality opposition to do some things that we’ve been practising in the off-season,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.

“It’s a controlled environment, so it’s not the pressure-cooker of an NRL game.

“But no doubt it’s a good chance for them (spine) to work on that combination with a side that is up in their face and pressuring them.”

The Dragons will use the bulk of the NRL side during the scrimmage with new recruit Emre Guler, joining Jack de Belin, Jaydn Su’A, Luciano Leila and Blake Lawrie in the pack.

As for the Sea Eagles, Seibold will use the scrimmage session with a focus on solidifying his starting dummy-half selection for round one due to Lachlan Croker (knee) being unavailable until round four.

New recruits Jazz Tevaga and Siosiua Taukeiaho will also feature in the contest.

“Jake Simpkin has had a really good pre-season, Gordon Chan Tum Kong has also and obviously Jazz Tevaga can also play at nine,” Seibold said.

“They’re the guys we’re considering and I’m keen to look at.”

The Sea Eagles first official trial match is against the Rabbitohs on February 15, while the Dragons have drawn the Roosters on February 16 for their first pre-season clash.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_RED&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fdragons-manly-stars-set-to-clash-in-private-preseason-match-simulation%2Fnews-story%2F6be16bd38d99e2c29a59cb4b46f1eec7&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPB-Segment-2-NOSCORE

 

[Hound of Dracula]

it is amazing he has been GM of Football across 3 sacked coaches now!, what exactly is his role?, if coaches die by bad results then I would have though the GM of football would also have to go!