Atkinson

[RedV11]

Kyle Flanagan singed till 2027 WHY ?

Future lock imo

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Kyle Flanagan singed till 2027 WHY ?

The club choir needs him?

 

[BLM01]

Blatant nepotism if that happens. Kyle's a reserve grader

In your opinion

 

[Saints Forever]

Kyle was solid in 2024

Ilias is coming off a major injury.

LKT needs time to adapt to NRL.

Extending Kyle for 2 years is an insurance policy

It may well be that Reed overtakes all of them within the next 12-18 months.

 

[Parko1310]

In your opinion

Any suggestion that we’d be better off with Kyle over Liddle is completely absurd and surely people can at least see that. Kyle being a reserve grader, sure it’s an opinion, but it’s based on pretty solid evidence. He won’t be good enough to take us to another level. He’s a half who has not dominated a single game of his almost 100 game NRL career. He’s obviously too slow and the extra kilos won’t help with that. He isn’t sharp, and stifled attacking raids many times last season. I like his effort don’t get me wrong, but he’s not good enough in first grade.

 

[getsmarty]

Any suggestion that we’d be better off with Kyle over Liddle is completely absurd and surely people can at least see that. Kyle being a reserve grader, sure it’s an opinion, but it’s based on pretty solid evidence. He won’t be good enough to take us to another level. He’s a half who has not dominated a single game of his almost 100 game NRL career. He’s obviously too slow and the extra kilos won’t help with that. He isn’t sharp, and stifled attacking raids many times last season. I like his effort don’t get me wrong, but he’s not good enough in first grade.

No one is suggesting Kyle over Liddle... Cook will not be here forever and aging bodies get injured.

Good Triangle signing + competition for spots is a good thing...

 

[Squid1]

i think all comes down to how much $$$$

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Should be grateful we didn't sign Danny Levi

 

[blacksafake]

Best part of all this is we're no longer talking about what's his name.

Who

 

[Dragons4me]

Who

Shhhhh........h u n t.

 

[BLM01]

Any suggestion that we’d be better off with Kyle over Liddle is completely absurd and surely people can at least see that. Kyle being a reserve grader, sure it’s an opinion, but it’s based on pretty solid evidence. He won’t be good enough to take us to another level. He’s a half who has not dominated a single game of his almost 100 game NRL career. He’s obviously too slow and the extra kilos won’t help with that. He isn’t sharp, and stifled attacking raids many times last season. I like his effort don’t get me wrong, but he’s not good enough in first grade.

Who has suggested Kyle over Liddle?. Kyle is a fine 14 = fringe 1st grader but can fill in a few positions Liddle to 13, we have hookers coming through or even Liddle again when Cookie hangs em up

 

[Parko1310]

No one is suggesting Kyle over Liddle... Cook will not be here forever and aging bodies get injured.

Good Triangle signing + competition for spots is a good thing...

Liddle is off contract as 2026 is an option.. Kyle has bulked up 10kg out of no where.. he's clearly been told his future is in the middle, likely hooker. This whole Kyle to 13 thing is ridiculous, he will not play there. He'd be laughably bad, it'll be hooker where the positional switch happens.

My realistic assessment of this re-signing is that Kyle is being given a passage to the 9 jersey in the future, when the better thing for our team and club would be for Kyle to go to reserves, with Liddle at 14 and Cook at 9. Instead what it looks like, is Liddle will be moved on with Kyle going to 14, before then going to 9 once Cook retires. Can that be confirmed? Not at this stage, but I find it very, very convenient. I've said from the very start when we signed Kyle I am fine with it as long as Shane is willing to put his son in reserve grade where he should be. At this stage there is no evidence he'd pull that trigger. If Kyle is a depth piece, I'm happy enough with that. But I find it strange that a lot of fans don't seem apprehensive about this whole thing, and maybe that's because they don't necessarily realise Liddle can leave after 25'. If he is moved on so that Kyle has a saloon passage to NRL football, then Flano won't necessarily lose my support, but I definitely won't have the same level of trust in the process.

I've also seen the argument tossed up that if his name wasn't Flanagan, no one would have an issue with the re-signing. That's because if his name wasn't Flanagan there would be no doubt over whether he'd end up in reserves as depth behind Liddle, Cook and the halves. Plus, if his name wasn't Flanagan, people need to remember, he'd be over in england. That is the realistic, harsh truth that people shy away from. So given that, I think it's right to have apprehension about the retention because he frankly isn't good enough for NRL, and it's a realistic concern that he could be picked in preference over more deserving players in the future, like Liddle for example. It's a real possibility that Liddle leaves/gets pushed, with Kyle going to 14.

 

[Parko1310]

Who has suggested Kyle over Liddle?. Kyle is a fine 14 = fringe 1st grader but can fill in a few positions Liddle to 13, we have hookers coming through or even Liddle again when Cookie hangs em up

Do you really think Liddle could play as a starting lock week to week? I don't see him as that kind of player that could. He's not going to be a guy that can do the hard yards, which locks still need to do, not just be a link man. Touching on being a link man, Liddle is not the best ball distributor, his strength lies in coming on against tired defenders around the ruck and running the ball

 

[BLM01]

Do you really think Liddle could play as a starting lock week to week? I don't see him as that kind of player that could. He's not going to be a guy that can do the hard yards, which locks still need to do, not just be a link man. Touching on being a link man, Liddle is not the best ball distributor, his strength lies in coming on again tired defenders around the ruck and running the ball

Not yet, but working towards it. He can do both of what you say as has the size but needs a little more bulk without affecting speed. Correct his service and options from dummy half are not always the best but on his own great in running attack. There is no more real fixed positions anymore. The future robotic game is about being adaptable to multiple positions even switching during a game. You need to look past the number. Wingers are forwards now and so on and so on. Who would of thought Cotter puts the 8 or 10 jersey on and plays front row.
Yes there are some suited to a position based on physique and ability but traditional roles are changing

 

[Jubilee]

Liddle is off contract as 2026 is an option.. Kyle has bulked up 10kg out of no where.. he's clearly been told his future is in the middle, likely hooker. This whole Kyle to 13 thing is ridiculous, he will not play there. He'd be laughably bad, it'll be hooker where the positional switch happens.

My realistic assessment of this re-signing is that Kyle is being given a passage to the 9 jersey in the future, when the better thing for our team and club would be for Kyle to go to reserves, with Liddle at 14 and Cook at 9. Instead what it looks like, is Liddle will be moved on with Kyle going to 14, before then going to 9 once Cook retires. Can that be confirmed? Not at this stage, but I find it very, very convenient. I've said from the very start when we signed Kyle I am fine with it as long as Shane is willing to put his son in reserve grade where he should be. At this stage there is no evidence he'd pull that trigger. If Kyle is a depth piece, I'm happy enough with that. But I find it strange that a lot of fans don't seem apprehensive about this whole thing, and maybe that's because they don't necessarily realise Liddle can leave after 25'. If he is moved on so that Kyle has a saloon passage to NRL football, then Flano won't necessarily lose my support, but I definitely won't have the same level of trust in the process.

I've also seen the argument tossed up that if his name wasn't Flanagan, no one would have an issue with the re-signing. That's because if his name wasn't Flanagan there would be no doubt over whether he'd end up in reserves as depth behind Liddle, Cook and the halves. Plus, if his name wasn't Flanagan, people need to remember, he'd be over in england. That is the realistic, harsh truth that people shy away from. So given that, I think it's right to have apprehension about the retention because he frankly isn't good enough for NRL, and it's a realistic concern that he could be picked in preference over more deserving players in the future, like Liddle for example. It's a real possibility that Liddle leaves/gets pushed, with Kyle going to 14.

These are good points. But I certainly hope Liddle stays and I put him above Kyle as a 9.

 

[possm]

Liddle is off contract as 2026 is an option.. Kyle has bulked up 10kg out of no where.. he's clearly been told his future is in the middle, likely hooker. This whole Kyle to 13 thing is ridiculous, he will not play there. He'd be laughably bad, it'll be hooker where the positional switch happens.

My realistic assessment of this re-signing is that Kyle is being given a passage to the 9 jersey in the future, when the better thing for our team and club would be for Kyle to go to reserves, with Liddle at 14 and Cook at 9. Instead what it looks like, is Liddle will be moved on with Kyle going to 14, before then going to 9 once Cook retires. Can that be confirmed? Not at this stage, but I find it very, very convenient. I've said from the very start when we signed Kyle I am fine with it as long as Shane is willing to put his son in reserve grade where he should be. At this stage there is no evidence he'd pull that trigger. If Kyle is a depth piece, I'm happy enough with that. But I find it strange that a lot of fans don't seem apprehensive about this whole thing, and maybe that's because they don't necessarily realise Liddle can leave after 25'. If he is moved on so that Kyle has a saloon passage to NRL football, then Flano won't necessarily lose my support, but I definitely won't have the same level of trust in the process.

I've also seen the argument tossed up that if his name wasn't Flanagan, no one would have an issue with the re-signing. That's because if his name wasn't Flanagan there would be no doubt over whether he'd end up in reserves as depth behind Liddle, Cook and the halves. Plus, if his name wasn't Flanagan, people need to remember, he'd be over in england. That is the realistic, harsh truth that people shy away from. So given that, I think it's right to have apprehension about the retention because he frankly isn't good enough for NRL, and it's a realistic concern that he could be picked in preference over more deserving players in the future, like Liddle for example. It's a real possibility that Liddle leaves/gets pushed, with Kyle going to 14.

I'd say Kyle has bulked up with 10 extra Kg before transitioning to the lock position in 2026. We have some good young halves coming through plus Atkinson and Ilias

I am of the opinion that Kyle at Lock would be a masterstroke. His speed, ball-playing ability, and his solid defense will bring a different dimension to our forward pack..

 

[Jubilee]

I'd say Kyle has bulked up with 10 extra Kg before transitioning to the lock position in 2026. We have some good young halves coming through plus Atkinson and Ilias

I am of the opinion that Kyle at Lock would be a masterstroke. His speed, ball-playing ability, and his solid defense will bring a different dimension to our forward pack..

He might not be able to hold onto that 10kg through a season. It is a huge thing to put on ten kg in an off season. In fact, it is right at the limit of what is physiologically possible (without PEDs). Then to keep that weight on while playing and training is going to be tough to do.