Ando's New Signings

[possm]

This won't happen but I actually think that is a backline with more creative potential than the one we currently are trotting out. I've never been a fan of the out of proportion Kyle bashing but he had a shocker against Parra - both attack and defence. I can forgive Atkinson's errors because he's trying something and think he'll come good with a reliable 5/8 next to him, but Kyle is providing nothing in attack. I'd even prefer Lykan at this stage - at least he offers some creativity.

The trouble is that Atkinson is not a halfback but more suited to five-eighth, and Gutherson has lost his marbles. I also don't have any real confidence that Holmes will succeed at fullback. Cook, Gutherson and Holmes all are past it. Find some good young marquee firts graders to replace them.

 

[denis preston]

The trouble is that Atkinson is not a halfback but more suited to five-eighth, and Gutherson has lost his marbles. I also don't have any real confidence that Holmes will succeed at fullback. Cook, Gutherson and Holmes all are past it. Find some good young marquee firts graders to replace them.

Who is available?

 

[True_Believer]

Who is available?

1. It doesn't matter. We should be signing them anyway.
2. Even if we do sign someone, if they don't perform immediately or have a shit game at any stage in their tenure with us, they should be sacked immediately and we go to market and recruit someone else.

 

[KogarahWarrior]

We are no chance at Tanah Boyd. Not after what Webby and the Wahs have done for him.

 

[Mickov]

We are no chance at Tanah Boyd. Not after what Webby and the Wahs have done for him.

They do have a line up with Boyd, Metcalf & Cleary, might not keep them all. in saying that whilst not questioning Boyd and Clearly playing well in their respective grades there's not a big volume of work to go from so still risks. Maybe we need to take a punt on a couple and see how they go.

 

[BIG RIG]

Just read an article from Pete Padel saying that Selwyn Cobbo had agreed to join the Dragons on a 5 yr deal last year but walked away at the eleventh hour because the club could not guarantee what position they would play him in

This club continues to make horrible mistakes when negotiating contracts

How they were able to land Koloamatangi I will never know.

Reminds me when they had all but signed Villiame Kikau but lowballed him at the last minute lmao

 

[BIG RIG]

Only silver lining i guess is I don’t think Cobbo is worth the 900k they were going to pay him

Just read an article from Pete Padel saying that Selwyn Cobbo had agreed to join the Dragons on a 5 yr deal last year but walked away at the eleventh hour because the club could not guarantee what position they would play him in

This club continues to make horrible mistakes when negotiating contracts

How they were able to land Koloamatangi I will never know.

Reminds me when they had all but signed Villiame Kikau but lowballed him at the last minute lmao

 

[dragon thomo]

Dodged a bullet with Cobbo he is a plodder and a sook. Although it shows us how useless we are. We need speed speed speed.

 

[qld redvee]

Dodged a bullet with Cobbo he is a plodder and a sook. Although it shows us how useless we are. We need speed speed speed.

And i reckon he would of wanted out at some stage due to being homesick

 

[since77]

Just read an article from Pete Padel saying that Selwyn Cobbo had agreed to join the Dragons on a 5 yr deal last year but walked away at the eleventh hour because the club could not guarantee what position they would play him in

This club continues to make horrible mistakes when negotiating contracts

How they were able to land Koloamatangi I will never know.

Reminds me when they had all but signed Villiame Kikau but lowballed him at the last minute lmao

5 years for Cobbo would be sooooooooooo risky. Year one might be great, year two might be a schemozzle. If the article is true, and that's a big "if", then it shows how desperate we were getting to land a big signing. I'm more annoyed they offered 5 years to a player with fairly well documented "issues" than the fact we missed out on him. I think any club signing Cobbo would be wise to keep the contract lengths low with options in their favour. 5 years with his background is quite the gamble.
Either way I dream of the day we sign a truly elite outside back. Was Boyd the last truly great outside back we signed?

 

[TheRev]

Dodged a bullet with Cobbo he is a plodder and a sook. Although it shows us how useless we are. We need speed speed speed.

Agree.. I mean he is an upgrade no doubt on what we have now.. but too big for fullback.. every club has moved on from big fullbacks now.. so hes either an expensive winger or possibly a very good ctr.. but 5yrs is a really long time and he could easily lose his way..

 

[Flinstone]

I'm not convinced, from memory at the time Dragons had discussions with him and after never made an offer.
'Contract machinations' really, media didn't know an offer was made if it was.
I doubt he was ever coming to the Dragons.

 

[blacksafake]

Just goes to show the club are looking to sign players behind the scenes. Yet some supporters are always saying why haven’t we or why don’t we talk-sign such & such

 

[Flinstone]

There are plenty of outside backs, fullbacks and halvs with no contract for 2027.

My understanding is they can negotiate from November 1 2025.
So we better be negotiating with some and if we are not currently talking to anyone i don't know what there waiting for.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Plenty of negotiations being done, especially outside backs and fullback. The DT reporting a maybe swap deal between Sloan and Sami for example (apologies cannot post link)
As for half back, the emergence of Reed has stymied any current talks. If Reed develops sufficiently over this year, he would be our half moving forward. A decent half from outside would demand a minimum of 3yrs to even open talks. That in turn would block Reed's path. Atkinson is and will be an asset in the halves moving forward. We also have O'Neil who was at one point touted as a very good half.

Things happening just not quickly enough to satisfy atm.

 

[Dragsters]

Plenty of negotiations being done, especially outside backs and fullback. The DT reporting a maybe swap deal between Sloan and Sami for example (apologies cannot post link)
As for half back, the emergence of Reed has stymied any current talks. If Reed develops sufficiently over this year, he would be our half moving forward. A decent half from outside would demand a minimum of 3yrs to even open talks. That in turn would block Reed's path. Atkinson is and will be an asset in the halves moving forward. We also have O'Neil who was at one point touted as a very good half.

Things happening just not quickly enough to satisfy atm.

If that's indeed the case, then at what point do you think that O'Neil gets a crack at 7 with Atko at 6?

 

[Dragonslayer]

If that's indeed the case, then at what point do you think that O'Neil gets a crack at 7 with Atko at 6?

O'Neil hasn't played Cup since round 2. I don't know if he's injured or it's something else.
Next batter up would be LKT, but he's not a 7.
O'Neil would have to play several games in a row with performances like he had in round 2 of Cup to come into calculations.

Both above scenarios do involve Kyle either moving to a 14 type role or being dropped, the latter being long odds imo.

 

[possm]

Only silver lining i guess is I don’t think Cobbo is worth the 900k they were going to pay him

If we agreed to play Cobbo at fullback at the time, it would have solved a lot of problems, money, and competition points into the future.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Just read an article from Pete Padel saying that Selwyn Cobbo had agreed to join the Dragons on a 5 yr deal last year but walked away at the eleventh hour because the club could not guarantee what position they would play him in

This club continues to make horrible mistakes when negotiating contracts

How they were able to land Koloamatangi I will never know.

Reminds me when they had all but signed Villiame Kikau but lowballed him at the last minute lmao

And what position did Dolphins guarantee...

 

[RedVee]

Thank heavens we didn’t sign Cobbo!