Alex Johnston Alternative to DUGAN ?

[Frank Facer]

We should be throwing the money at Latrell Mitchell, rather than Johnston

Exactly

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

ST George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has devised a departure plan for Josh Dugan that includes the Test star grooming the club’s 2018 fullback.

Dugan has a maximum of four months remaining at St George Illawarra before he links with Cronulla next year and McGregor is determined to ensure the class of the 27 year-old is felt long after he’s gone.

McGregor has identified teenager Jai Field, 21-year-old Matt Dufty, off-contract utility Kurt Mann and Kiwi veteran Jason Nightingale as contenders for Dugan’s No1 jersey next season.

Both the fleet-footed Field and Dufty are considered the front-runners to battle for the 2018 fullback spot.

However, with Dufty yet to make his NRL debut and Field just three matches into his first-grade career, the final learnings from Dugan will prove vital to carving out their own career at the back.

Josh Dugan has a maximum of four months remaining at St George Illawarra.
McGregor said Dugan, who boasts more than 140 first grade games, seven Tests, 10 Origins for NSW and is a member of the club’s leadership group, would be asked to assist the development and readiness of the Dragons’ next-generation fullbacks.

“One thing about Josh is, he will definitely help our playing group and our roster in 2017 prepare for 2018,’’ McGregor said.

“We’ve got young Duff and Field there, Jason Nightingale is a veteran, but played very well at fullback when Josh was out.

“Kurt is obviously off-contract, but if he stays at the club, there’s another person there (that could fill the void of Dugan).

“I’ve always been a big supporter of Josh and he brings a lot to our footy team, but he’s chosen a different path going forward and his security there going to a really strong club.

“I’d love to keep every player, especially the ones that are playing quality football, but the salary cap is a complex process.

“I don’t want to sit in front of a screen and work it out every day, so I’m just happy that they’ve (departing players) got a future and can secure their future financially.

“But obviously Josh, while he’s at our club, will perform to his best.’’

McGregor, who is kept at arm’s-length from the club’s salary cap and recruitment meetings, felt the club was unlikely to pursue a fullback from a rival club to replace Dugan.

“I don’t know for certain because I don’t know where the salary cap sits,’’ McGregor said.

“But one would think if you look at the depth around that position we’re okay.’’

Dugan, who is averaging 148 metres a game this season, only needs to pull through Monday’s clash with Canterbury to be named by NSW coach Laurie Daley in the centres for Origin II at ANZ Stadium on June 21.

Using a scythe through the article's waffle, it is clear that the club cannot entice a like-for-like replacement for Dugan while McGregor remains as coach.

Ditto (I suspect) the same for Packer. Time will tell on this one.

Again, I notice with disgust McGregor's chicanery...."the salary cap is a complex process" (blah, blah, blah). This is the same recycled line used at the time of Morris's departure in 2014.

Aren't we glad Saints re-signed him for another two (undeserved) years?

Possm says it best; it (the club) is a complete friggin' mess!

On a side note, I remain sceptical that Mann will stay at the Dragons. If proven correct, this means the vital fullback role next year will be fought out between two untried rookies (Dufty/Field) and Jason Nightingale.

While loathe to vouch for anyone associated with this Forum, I don't believe many will find this outcome palatable.

As for Johnstone, I'd be all for his acquisition PROVIDED he replaces MacDonald, who unceasingly fails to impress.

 

[WardyRedV]

Possm's blue text only makes it easier to ignore his nonsense comments. You're going the same way if you don't think running a possible 2nd over halfway through the competition in one of the closer years we have seen recently is undeserved of a contract extension. How many player re-signed this year or last year without testing the market ? Widdop, Frizz, jdb etc. we have a fully stacked first grade squad, a team coming into the prime of their ability and a coach who has managed to completely turn his career around and change his principles in order to better benefit this team.. last year when I first started lurking this forum it was easy to agree with everyone because we were shit house. Now, that we have started winning, it's easy to tell who will never be pleased and will bag a top 4 team.. fmd. We've had one sub par performance against the tigers after a bye. Our only other poor performance was against the eels (and we were on the back foot from the get go) but we still played through to the 80th minute. Gus said it best "this dragons team will play for another hour after full time if they have to" and I haven't been prouder to be a red v supporter for years. I'd say our performances this year could even surpass our 2010 run.

 

[Coffs dragon]

FMD.....the thought of Johnston & McDonald in our team together, is like dual speed humps in the defence.
Mann should be our man over both these 2, yet McJetski and Dillward will stuff up his re-signing and he'll go onto another club & nail it.

 

[Crush]

FMD.....the thought of Johnston & McDonald in our team together, is like dual speed humps in the defence.
Mann should be our man over both these 2, yet McJetski and Dillward will stuff up his re-signing and he'll go onto another club & nail it.

Coffs, don't know that MacDonald is a speed hump in D. He has made some defensive errors but has saved some definite tries too.
For me the jury is still out on him, I am paying close attention to him over the coming weeks.

 

[Crush]

Possm's blue text only makes it easier to ignore his nonsense comments. You're going the same way if you don't think running a possible 2nd over halfway through the competition in one of the closer years we have seen recently is undeserved of a contract extension. How many player re-signed this year or last year without testing the market ? Widdop, Frizz, jdb etc. we have a fully stacked first grade squad, a team coming into the prime of their ability and a coach who has managed to completely turn his career around and change his principles in order to better benefit this team.. last year when I first started lurking this forum it was easy to agree with everyone because we were shit house. Now, that we have started winning, it's easy to tell who will never be pleased and will bag a top 4 team.. fmd. We've had one sub par performance against the tigers after a bye. Our only other poor performance was against the eels (and we were on the back foot from the get go) but we still played through to the 80th minute. Gus said it best "this dragons team will play for another hour after full time if they have to" and I haven't been prouder to be a red v supporter for years. I'd say our performances this year could even surpass our 2010 run.

Wardy,
I think people critical of the contract extension are stuck on the past. They cannot let last year go.
They also beleive that this start has been a bright spot but wont continue and dragons will slip back to the negative style of play like last year.
Possm who you quote is a classic example. He constantly says that the power game isn't sustainable and that the forwards will tire.
I think if you have the view that the back half of the year we will drop away then its easy to bag.
The same comments will start to look foolish though if the dragons not only continue to play how they have been but they actually improve even further and have a red hot crack at the finals.
Today is a game that will give us an indication of what the second half of the season holds. Was last week just an off game? I think so, I hope so.

 

[possm]

Now you're talking. One can dream.

The way Mary is talking, Nightingale will be there in 2018 so it is not a winger we are looking for. We have so much YOUNG depth in the centres, it would be stupid to recruit a right centre when we just let Milne go - who I believe would be a future gun. and we have Dufty/Field/Masters all lined up for the fullback position, so why are we buying Johnston or any other wing/fullback?

The problem is we have not blooded Dufty/Field for first grade fullback and will have to rely on the off-season to get them ready. As we did with Kyle Stanley and more recently Kurt Mann - both proving unsuitable at the time. The strategic planning model for our young guns is about 1 or 2 years out and so we might have to fall before we can rise up to contest a GF. This is a shame because with Hunt coming in 2018 we would have the squad to contest a GF with Dugan and Packer in the side.

 

[Crush]

The way Mary is talking, Nightingale will be there in 2018 so it is not a winger we are looking for. We have so much YOUNG depth in the centres, it would be stupid to recruit a right centre when we just let Milne go - who I believe would be a future gun. and we have Dufty/Field/Masters all lined up for the fullback position, so why are we buying Johnston or any other wing/fullback?

The problem is we have not blooded Dufty/Field for first grade fullback and will have to rely on the off-season to get them ready. As we did with Kyle Stanley and more recently Kurt Mann - both proving unsuitable at the time. The strategic planning model for our young guns is about 1 or 2 years out and so we might have to fall before we can rise up to contest a GF. This is a shame because with Hunt coming in 2018 we would have the squad to contest a GF with Dugan and Packer in the side.

Hey Poss,
I think the plan or pathway for Dufty was always to play him as starting fullback in reserve grade and let him get used to playing against men, he is only a little bugger.
I haven't seen many of the games but from reports it has been said that he struggled at first but is improving every game. If that is the case I would hate to think what would have happened to him if he was thrust into first grade this year.

 

[possm]

Exactly

Problem is that Millward and Mary have already said they will not be buying a fullback and will instead be selecting one from Dufty, Field, Nightingale or Mann. And I doubt very much that the Roosters would release Mitchell anyway. By the way, Mitchell is my preffered option after last weeks effort made by Field and Dufty. I have a feeling that both of these players are more suited in the halves and we have Widdop and Hunt lined up for many years.

 

[Coffs dragon]

Coffs, don't know that MacDonald is a speed hump in D. He has made some defensive errors but has saved some definite tries too.
For me the jury is still out on him, I am paying close attention to him over the coming weeks.

Crush as long as he scores more tries than what he lets in.....but he doesn't seem to be doing that at this stage of his Dragons career.

 

[possm]

Crush as long as he scores more tries than what he lets in.....but he doesn't seem to be doing that at this stage of his Dragons career.

In my view, the contest for left winger (2) should be between Mann and Macdonald.
This year, Nightingale should be our right side winger (5).
Our right centre (3) should be Milne.
Mary has already said that Dugan will remain our fullback (1) for the rest of the season.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

Souths have just announced the signing of Gagai for four years.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Souths have just announced the signing of Gagai for four years.

that was like 2-3days ago they announced it...

 

[protos]

I don't understand why we're not blooding Dufty at wing. Faifai Loa against Warriors didn't make sense...

 

[SaintElroy]

I don't understand why we're not blooding Dufty at wing. Faifai Loa against Warriors didn't make sense...

Dufty isn't a winger. Fai fai, played outstanding. Selection was warranted.

 

[SGMax]

Using a scythe through the article's waffle, it is clear that the club cannot entice a like-for-like replacement for Dugan while McGregor remains as coach.

Ditto (I suspect) the same for Packer. Time will tell on this one.

Again, I notice with disgust McGregor's chicanery...."the salary cap is a complex process" (blah, blah, blah). This is the same recycled line used at the time of Morris's departure in 2014.

................... As for Johnstone, I'd be all for his acquisition PROVIDED he replaces MacDonald, who unceasingly fails to impress.

I'm a little tired of the short memories of some especially regarding the B.Morris departure.
My recollections are:
1) Morris and some other long term favourites were on ridiculous money for the positions they played and would need to take less to bring them back to reality and to balance thetalent in the team.
2) Morris was given the chance to be FB and did well for a few games before it was realized he was a better winger.
3) Brett wanted more money and his manager promoted him as a FB which the Bulldogs needed.
4) He signed with the Bulldogs for way more than he could have received at the Dragons.
5) After a few games at FB for the Bulldogs, they too realized he was better on the wing and at most is FB cover when injuries occur.

I wish people would stop blaming Brett's departure on anything more than greed.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I'm a little tired of the short memories of some especially regarding the B.Morris departure.
My recollections are:
1) Morris and some other long term favourites were on ridiculous money for the positions they played and would need to take less to bring them back to reality and to balance thetalent in the team.
2) Morris was given the chance to be FB and did well for a few games before it was realized he was a better winger.
3) Brett wanted more money and his manager promoted him as a FB which the Bulldogs needed.
4) He signed with the Bulldogs for way more than he could have received at the Dragons.
5) After a few games at FB for the Bulldogs, they too realized he was better on the wing and at most is FB cover when injuries occur.

I wish people would stop blaming Brett's departure on anything more than greed.

My memory is slightly different; that is, Morris left so he could play with his brother. Of course, this was a 'smokescreen'.

However, I have read many sources that infer Morris also left because of the club's decision to renege on a previously agreed upgraded contract

(Shades of Merrin here)

I also refute the "he's only a winger" that's disposed by many. In my opinion, you pay a player commensurate to his overall worth to both club and team. This is particularly so for a side that was struggling both on and off the field. Morris isn't a bona fide winger? So, friggin' what!?! He was a prolific try scorer for a team that struggled horribly to score points between the years 2012-2014.

Hoping I'm drastically wrong, but I've got an awful feeling we are going to witness the above this afternoon.

Time will tell.

 

[Minh]

Dufty isn't a winger. Fai fai, played outstanding. Selection was warranted.

Fai Fai was indeed outstanding in that game.....

 

[Smurf]

Humble Pie
You were right Mickeylane
AJ is fast , and we need fast ....
I just watched the first half of the Souths game ---- three tries , and he scored them because he is fast .

 

[Coffs dragon]

All is not lost.....we still have Fai Fai Loffa and Old McDonald.
Can I weep now!!