2026 Progression

[Dragsters]

What's the fascination some people here have with Tannah Boyd of all people??!!?!?!?
A player who couldn't cement a first grade spot at the TITANS when they were in the running for a few wooden spoons and was in reserve grade most of the season at the Warriors?
It amazes me what some people here come up with. I trust Daniel Anderson has his sights set a whole lot higher than Tannah Boyd......

I wouldn't call it a fascination.

I'm just worried that if we sustain a long term injury in the halves we don't have much experienced depth is all.

 

[possm]

To me it looks like our halves long term will be:
6. Atkinson
7. Reed

 

[Dragsters]

To me it looks like our halves long term will be:
6. Atkinson
7. Reed

Hopefully so but I'm more concerned with the short term right now...

 

[possm]

Hopefully so but I'm more concerned with the short term right now...

Right now, it will be Kyle at 6 and Atkinson at 7. It eally should be Atkinson at 6 and the best of the rest at 7 (maybe O'Neil).

 

[Slippery Morris]

As long as Atkinson runs the show in the halves does it matter which No. is on their back?

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

As long as Atkinson runs the show in the halves does it matter which No. is on their back?

For me runs the show means “when it matters most in attack”

I dont care if the other half is shaping the hit ups and field position for the kick and or run on the 4th and 5th which Kyle tended to do ie the early hitup shape

I just want the best player handling the footy when truly in the zone to attack and straightening the line to leave defenders standing rather than sliding

 

[Kur0]

For me runs the show means “when it matters most in attack”

I dont care if the other half is shaping the hit ups and field position for the kick and or run on the 4th and 5th which Kyle tended to do ie the early hitup shape

I just want the best player handling the footy when truly in the zone to attack and straightening the line to leave defenders standing rather than sliding

This is where I really hope Atkinson shines with his confidence as a playmaker which (by some reports) he has been demonstrating during the off season with the team. We've all seen him hit that clutch FG against Melbourne a couple years back so we know he has the skill. I'm hopeful and optimistic that he can find that swagger back after a year essentially on the sidelines.

 

[Jim Dragons]

Kyle has no speed.
Cookie and Gutho are on older legs.
The only speed we have is
Sloan and they want to get rid of him.

Jeff, you have always been quick to point out that Sloan is quick and scores tries. l am pretty sure more than 90% of us all want to agree with you. We would love to see Sloan deliver on the park in FG. l am sure we would be happy to see him under a high ball and not fear his is gonna drop the thing 5-10M off our line... or that with his speed he is a chance of grassing an outside back once a break is made. Maybe you watch different games then the weeks l am there... but l never have that confidence. Sloan is a local and l would love nothing more than seeing him succeed. But the critical thing there is "succeed". We all have to be honest - this year we will have likely candidates in Fale and Setu who we hope will make not only Sloan's job difficult but also make Tuipuloto's hammies work hard to hold spots. l am told by friends at the panthers they were surprised they let Fale walk... but you can't keep everyone.
l don't want to death ride Sloan... but have to agree you learn how to play FG in the lower grades. l also expect a couple of the juniors will jump late in the year in Ressies to push for FG chances as well.

 

[Jim Dragons]

I posted several times advocating that Boyd was the type of game managing half we lacked and superior to Kyle as a 7. I got pilloried for it. So, keep your head down Dragsters.

Having said that, we recruited an organizing half in O'Neill after Flanno was quoted as saying that Atko will have first crack at 7. So it's hard to work out what is going thru his mind.

What's going thru Snr Flan's mind... well l would hope it is to have "options". l would hate for us to be looking for solutions and the coach goes 'well don't look at me'.
Personally l hate all this "we need halves" talk driven by our own supporters and player managers (yes BA in particular) which feeds the media - who are no idea about actually finding a story unless its handed to them on a plate - hell match reports now have reference to Fox commentary??? Its got so bad that even our own CEO is telling us we are gonna sign a half. But what if no half wants to come... do we forfeit until someone will?
No - we have a roster that covers our FG requirements and yes l do believe that our roster can work... IF we gel together as a team.... is it just me or has there been more of a feel of "TEAM" in feedback from the playing group?
Are we gonna win the comp? Well who honestly had the Raiders in with a hope last year. So lets have some confidence that its a new season... new hopes... new aspirations... and a team with new belief. While each preseason is a re-building time.... we are not in a re-building year - we are here to compete THIS season. Flanno will have the players believing. DA will ensure we will be a better club as a whole next year... of course that's the aim of recruitment. We don't want to be going backwards. But Flanno's job is have plans in place to win as many Finals games as we can THIS year. And of course to win Finals games, first of all you have to qualify. But winning 2 of the first 3 games may give us confidence to get thru to the ANZAC game in a good ladder spot. But first we have to win in Vegas... double up on the RED please !!!

 

[Jim Dragons]

This is where I really hope Atkinson shines with his confidence as a playmaker which (by some reports) he has been demonstrating during the off season with the team. We've all seen him hit that clutch FG against Melbourne a couple years back so we know he has the skill. I'm hopeful and optimistic that he can find that swagger back after a year essentially on the sidelines.

l haven't read it on here yet... but l am sure its been said somewhere. Sharkies may have done us a lil favour sitting Atko out for most of last season while fit to play... Listening to him talk in interviews he seems to accept responsibility. He wouldn't have taken kindly to the 'go sit in the corner' coaching... and l am sure having he's own team to run and getting the opportunity to play a game will drive him. If l was Flanno l would find out how Billy Smith is travelling. If he is up to the visit take Daniel to meet the guy who once owned that jersey and just ask him what it meant to be a Dragon. Gee's l would love it if it gave Billy a little boost along as well. But as l said you wouldn't want it to have a negative affect on anyone.

 

[SnowDragon]

Jeff, you have always been quick to point out that Sloan is quick and scores tries. l am pretty sure more than 90% of us all want to agree with you. We would love to see Sloan deliver on the park in FG. l am sure we would be happy to see him under a high ball and not fear his is gonna drop the thing 5-10M off our line... or that with his speed he is a chance of grassing an outside back once a break is made. Maybe you watch different games then the weeks l am there... but l never have that confidence. Sloan is a local and l would love nothing more than seeing him succeed. But the critical thing there is "succeed". We all have to be honest - this year we will have likely candidates in Fale and Setu who we hope will make not only Sloan's job difficult but also make Tuipuloto's hammies work hard to hold spots. l am told by friends at the panthers they were surprised they let Fale walk... but you can't keep everyone.
l don't want to death ride Sloan... but have to agree you learn how to play FG in the lower grades. l also expect a couple of the juniors will jump late in the year in Ressies to push for FG chances as well.

Sloan is our backup fullback for 26.

To me he has a high salary atm based on what he delivers, based on the potential we all see in him. I think he is developing, but clearly it’s not enough shown so far (positioning errors and reads are the biggest issue as I see it, followed by the high ball inconsistency (his defence has improved heaps for those willing to look without prejudice.

amyway, It’s clear he has to perform this year to Secure a new contract. So I assume he is FB in reserves and we see how far he has come. This is his first full pre-season in years, and Gutho has hopefully taught him heaps so I still have hope, but I think it’s clear it’s a make or break year for him, and to make it he needs a really good year.

 

[kit66]

It's great that the team look fitter this pre-season but the sheer number of injuries - particularly leg injuries - last year should be cause for concern. How is that being addressed ? The trainers need to work on both a player's strength and flexibility and their tackling technique to avoid a repeat of last year. I don't see how boxing helps that at all, Wrestling or better yet Judo yes, yoga yes but boxing ?

 

[Mickov]

It's great that the team look fitter this pre-season but the sheer number of injuries - particularly leg injuries - last year should be cause for concern. How is that being addressed ? The trainers need to work on both a player's strength and flexibility and their tackling technique to avoid a repeat of last year. I don't see how boxing helps that at all, Wrestling or better yet Judo yes, yoga yes but boxing ?

Boxing is for cardio and impact.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

As long as Atkinson runs the show in the halves does it matter which No. is on their back?

For me runs the show means “when it matters most in attack”

I dont care if the other half is shaping the hit ups and field position for the kick and or run on the 4th and 5th when just going for field position

I just want the best player handling the footy when truly in the zone to attack

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Boxing is for cardio and impact.

And mentality
I remember playing for Northshore 1sts at 18yrs old and copping this biggest punch to the face when on the ground (when the umpires ran off with the ball) from a gun senior opposition player

I said from that day fourth I would do boxing just to negate that big hit…….from the old guys

and maybe throw one back if necessary

those old bush AFL players that came to Sydney were hard as nails and u needed to protect urself. Knowing how to is priceless when taken on by big bullies and I found made u feel pretty comfortable to be in the wrestle and chin out so to speak

 

[possm]

Jeff, you have always been quick to point out that Sloan is quick and scores tries. l am pretty sure more than 90% of us all want to agree with you. We would love to see Sloan deliver on the park in FG. l am sure we would be happy to see him under a high ball and not fear his is gonna drop the thing 5-10M off our line... or that with his speed he is a chance of grassing an outside back once a break is made. Maybe you watch different games then the weeks l am there... but l never have that confidence. Sloan is a local and l would love nothing more than seeing him succeed. But the critical thing there is "succeed". We all have to be honest - this year we will have likely candidates in Fale and Setu who we hope will make not only Sloan's job difficult but also make Tuipuloto's hammies work hard to hold spots. l am told by friends at the panthers they were surprised they let Fale walk... but you can't keep everyone.
l don't want to death ride Sloan... but have to agree you learn how to play FG in the lower grades. l also expect a couple of the juniors will jump late in the year in Ressies to push for FG chances as well.

Sloan fears the collision and so, is not ever likely to be a reliable first-gradere.

 

[The Word]

Boxing is for cardio and impact.

Boxing has a number of other benefits, like sharpness, reaction time, self confidence, toughness. I think it's a great add-on to the training and both my boys enjoyed the sport. One of them also plays rugby league and I think it's been great for his confidence levels, particularly as he's one of the smaller kids on the team.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Sloan fears the collision and so, is not ever likely to be a reliable first-gradere.

i dont quite agree
I dont think he fears it
he does like maybe 10 of his 30hrs a week plus game day in and amongst collision and learning his NRL craft for faster play of the ball.

Lets be honest no one fears being hit if they play NRL, Union, AFL, NFL etc

its more so for me.......... that Sloan like Blacklock have had to learn how to make that kick return or hit up effectiv for the team to roll down the park. He isnt terrible sloan for his height build etc (forNRL standard but low in the list for sure) but he is targeted for sure which hurts for that minimal hit up metreage negates tries made which sux for our team ! I mean he is way behind who we are looking to recruit re metres gained in Sami Tualagi etc

Holmes
Tui
Suli
etc they kill it also

until we own a piece of field position (how ever we find it) we aint gunna be a top4 nor top8

Adding Sami etc would be priceless............Sami, Suli, Tui, Holmes that is serious NRL meter eaters making our kicking game a breeze

 

[possm]

Kick chasers are an important part of the equasion. Our young forwards are quick stronng and fit, so I imagine they will play an important role in 2026.

 

[SEAT 1A]

We are weaker without Klem. Thought he was great for us last year.

If we can't replace him, I'd be happy with winning the close ones, seeing the progression of the young forwards and not to be hit with the injury stick and we have some backs depth.

Really enjoyed watching the young pack together. keep them healthy with Flanno saying he wants to free our arms, hopefully, we put a few more games away.