Coach Flanno

[True_Believer]

I believe we were something like 1.3million under the cap this year due to inability to attract talent.. and with the players we let go.. it could be 2mill+ in 2024.. if Hunt goes, thats another 1mil we simply can't replace.. so letting Hunt go without legit player transfers in return makes zero sense right now, he is atleast a chip of value.

The fastest way out of this mess is the Tigers route... i.e. pick a few marquees.. and pay a bit extra.. guys like Papali'i, Koroisau, Bateman etc.. kickstart a rebuild.. but we can't even do that because we left it too late for 2024..

We are now relying on some hardcore wheeling and dealing to get players out of their 2024 contracts.. perhaps getting into bed with player agents.. or perhaps we have to wait until the early rounds next year, when those unlucky players miss out on 1st grade spots.. and then some we will just have to wait until 2025 and beyond.. the patience required is going to test all of us for sure....

Agree Rev. I really hope I'm wrong, but I don't think we'll see much difference next year - maybe some signs of life. I think 2025 we might start to see better results. But personally I'm not expecting much from next year. As you said, I think we've left it too long. Flanno seems to be doing and saying all the right things so far. But actions will speak louder than words. But I'm not going to hold him to that for 2024. I think there's a couple of battle fronts we need to overcome.

Maybe Flanno is playing the game with Hunt. I've read suggestions that Flanno is looking to replace recruitment. So maybe this whole Hunt thing is part of a larger game to force the hand of management and get some movement in there that we so badly need.

 

[Mojo]

”History never repeats”, so they say. This is how Bennett handled Hunt when he wanted out of the Broncos in 2017:

There is a shake-up at Red Hill, with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett dropping half-back Ben Hunt.

He will not play in Friday night's clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Lang Park.

Hunt has been replaced by Kodi Nikorima and Bennett said the New Zealand international would be Brisbane's first-choice half-back when Hunt moves to the Dragons next season.

"We always thought he had a long-term future here, it was just a case of where that was," Bennett said.

"But now with Ben making his decision to go, it opened up the opportunity for Kodi and there's no doubt Kodi will be the half-back here next year."
It spells bad news for Hunt for the remainder of the season, with the move bringing back memories of the same thing happening to Justin Hodges after he announced a move to the Roosters during the 2001 season.

Hunt is set to join St George-Illawarra on a lucrative five-year deal from 2018, but Bennett said he expected him to fight his way back into the side.

"He's one of the best ball runners in the game and to play rugby league, one of the criteria in your job description is run the ball," Bennett said.

 

[since77]

It was Kurt Mann who did not pass the ball I think?

Forget about that. Had Leeson Ah Mau not gifted the ball back to Souths so
Reynolds could bang another field goal over we would have been still playing at least one week later. Even then we were a soft minded team unable to close games out in the final minutes.

 

[possm]

Play him in reserve grade. That would be as difficult for him as he has made it for us supporters. He may learn some humility. He has kept this front and centre in the media. Sounds like Flanno being told one thing by him and Ben acting out a different agenda to the media. The damage he is causing is enormous Presents as a club in disarray and yet supporters see it all as a new beginning. Clearly has no care for his teammates, the club or the supporters. I actually appreciate that he has been disappointed in the way things have been managed. So are we all but to use the media is disgusting and disrespectful. Just go Ben and no thanks for your service to the Dragons. You are a major disappointment

Play him at hooker let him go and use his cap to build the team with more balance. Surely, with Hunt gone and all the other players we have let go, we can easily afford two new props, a hooker and edge forward of first-grade quality, a dynamic new center, and a replacement five-eighth for Amone:

1. Lomax
2. Sloan or talented young junior
3. New center
4. Suli
5. Ravalawa
6. New five-eighth
7. K Flannigan
8. New prop
9. New hooker
10. New prop
11. T Couchman
12. Su'A
13. De Belin

14. Bird
15. F Molo
16. Lawrie
17. M Molo

This is plenty of new culture-changing new blood for our new coach to work with.

 

[Dragon David]

I believe we were something like 1.3million under the cap this year due to inability to attract talent.. and with the players we let go.. it could be 2mill+ in 2024.. if Hunt goes, thats another 1mil we simply can't replace.. so letting Hunt go without legit player transfers in return makes zero sense right now, he is atleast a chip of value.

The fastest way out of this mess is the Tigers route... i.e. pick a few marquees.. and pay a bit extra.. guys like Papali'i, Koroisau, Bateman etc.. kickstart a rebuild.. but we can't even do that because we left it too late for 2024..

We are now relying on some hardcore wheeling and dealing to get players out of their 2024 contracts.. perhaps getting into bed with player agents.. or perhaps we have to wait until the early rounds next year, when those unlucky players miss out on 1st grade spots.. and then some we will just have to wait until 2025 and beyond.. the patience required is going to test all of us for sure.Now the gutter journos desperate for anything remotely a story will keep interviewing him all through the summer as Hooper stated until unfortunately Flanno will have to front the media again (no one else will) and put all this to bed one way or another.

My mind is exhausted over all of these never ending dramas this club has brought upon itself and them alone. I can just see us meandering along forever and a day necessitating in more frustrated patience. It's like a slow painful death to me at the moment with this ongoing mess.

 

[Kiwi Dragon supporter]

My mind is exhausted over all of these never ending dramas this club has brought upon itself and them alone. I can just see us meandering along forever and a day necessitating in more frustrated patience. It's like a slow painful death to me at the moment with this ongoing mess.

Regardless of a new coach, the lack of any prominent players likely to take up a contract with dragons is obvious. The brand has become toxic unfortunately. Any important improvements next year in the way of results will be minimal. I hope i am proven wrong. The dead wood like Bird need to be gone yesterday.

 

[Gardenia]

It was Kurt Mann who did not pass the ball I think?

Thats what I thought! But hubby was over my shoulder while I was writing it and insisted it was Aitken.

 

[Draginzaaar]

Regardless of a new coach, the lack of any prominent players likely to take up a contract with dragons is obvious. The brand has become toxic unfortunately. Any important improvements next year in the way of results will be minimal. I hope i am proven wrong. The dead wood like Bird need to be gone yesterday.

If the Tigers can get some good players, why can't we?

 

[Gardenia]

I remember 2018. Our son was 5 and cried when we lost that final to Reynolds golden boot and sorry Aitken Mann but Aitken Mann not passing the ball in the final minutes where we would have been away for a try. That was a great year and my goodness it has been a painful journey from there on in watching the roster get weaker and weaker as the years went by. Ben has had to endure all of this with us fans and like us he has had a gutful of it all.
He still annoys me how he is going about this though. And I guess selfishly he was one of the last shining lights for us long suffering fans and then he broke the ideals there and burst the bubble.
It feels like a kick in the guts.

Fixed. Thankyou I should trust I am always right. Said husband interjected and said no it was Aitken ( shit hope I am right lol)

 

[Gardenia]

If the Tigers can get some good players, why can't we?

I have often thought this myself. Ditto to the Bulldogs.

 

[Gardenia]

I believe we were something like 1.3million under the cap this year due to inability to attract talent.. and with the players we let go.. it could be 2mill+ in 2024.. if Hunt goes, thats another 1mil we simply can't replace.. so letting Hunt go without legit player transfers in return makes zero sense right now, he is atleast a chip of value.

The fastest way out of this mess is the Tigers route... i.e. pick a few marquees.. and pay a bit extra.. guys like Papali'i, Koroisau, Bateman etc.. kickstart a rebuild.. but we can't even do that because we left it too late for 2024..

We are now relying on some hardcore wheeling and dealing to get players out of their 2024 contracts.. perhaps getting into bed with player agents.. or perhaps we have to wait until the early rounds next year, when those unlucky players miss out on 1st grade spots.. and then some we will just have to wait until 2025 and beyond.. the patience required is going to test all of us for sure....

I reckon we have the right hardcore person to do this. It will not be solved the conventional way IMO. It will take someone with tenacity and smarts.

 

[BLM01]

Agree Rev. I really hope I'm wrong, but I don't think we'll see much difference next year - maybe some signs of life. I think 2025 we might start to see better results. But personally I'm not expecting much from next year. As you said, I think we've left it too long. Flanno seems to be doing and saying all the right things so far. But actions will speak louder than words. But I'm not going to hold him to that for 2024. I think there's a couple of battle fronts we need to overcome.

Maybe Flanno is playing the game with Hunt. I've read suggestions that Flanno is looking to replace recruitment. So maybe this whole Hunt thing is part of a larger game to force the hand of management and get some movement in there that we so badly need.

I am just looking forward to Flanno chucking Bellamy's in the coaches box showing some passion watching our games next year, then whingeing about the officials in the press conference and calling out the performance for what it is. No sugar coating with Flanno.
Hope he has his $10,000 fine payments ready to go saved up. We will need them.

 

[BLM01]

Thats what I thought! But hubby was over writing it with me and insisted it was Aitken.

No worries. Euie did leave that lasting effect on us.

 

[Coffs dragon]

If the Tigers can get some good players, why can't we?

One word….”.Haran”
He can’t even get the right 17 players to take the field, let alone be trusted to recruit.
How can you build a club on shit foundation.

 

[BLM01]

I believe we were something like 1.3million under the cap this year due to inability to attract talent.. and with the players we let go.. it could be 2mill+ in 2024.. if Hunt goes, thats another 1mil we simply can't replace.. so letting Hunt go without legit player transfers in return makes zero sense right now, he is atleast a chip of value.

The fastest way out of this mess is the Tigers route... i.e. pick a few marquees.. and pay a bit extra.. guys like Papali'i, Koroisau, Bateman etc.. kickstart a rebuild.. but we can't even do that because we left it too late for 2024..

We are now relying on some hardcore wheeling and dealing to get players out of their 2024 contracts.. perhaps getting into bed with player agents.. or perhaps we have to wait until the early rounds next year, when those unlucky players miss out on 1st grade spots.. and then some we will just have to wait until 2025 and beyond.. the patience required is going to test all of us for sure....

Disagree in part to para 2. Yes you need marquees but unfortunatel;y Tigers proved that route did not work this year and I cannot see improvement next. Marquees cant perform in an underperforming team. Api stood tall but he was a one man band and they still got the spoon. Bateman, Klemmer and the Papalii did not do much
You need depth, good coaching and the rest of 30 to put in the hard yards on and off the field and be on the same page. Tigers like us were far from that. Culture Culture Culture. Get that instilled first then we get moving.

 

[Gardenia]

Forget about that. Had Leeson Ah Mau not gifted the ball back to Souths so
Reynolds could bang another field goal over we would have been still playing at least one week later. Even then we were a soft minded team unable to close games out in the final minutes.

He/She is right though - it was Mann. I got it wrong - was typing Mann and listened to my silly husband lol. Back to the topic, that was a heartbreaking game. Its hard to bail out in finals after getting so excited. The Brisbane game prior was fantastic. Yeah Reynolds punished us with his boot that night. Was that the night that Widdop also did his shoulder again ?

 

[Gardenia]

Disagree in part to para 2. Yes you need marquees but unfortunatel;y Tigers proved that route did not work this year and I cannot see improvement next. Marquees cant perform in an underperforming team. Api stood tall but he was a one man band and they still got the spoon. Bateman, Klemmer and the Papalii did not do much
You need depth, good coaching and the rest of 30 to put in the hard yards on and off the field and be on the same page. Tigers like us were far from that. Culture Culture Culture. Get that instilled first then we get moving.

I agree. A proud winning culture running through the whole club is needed. Also athleticism.

 

[Gardenia]

One word….”.Haran”
He can’t even get the right 17 players to take the field, let alone be trusted to recruit.
How can you build a club on shit foundation.

Why can we not just eff him off?

 

[BLM01]

One word….”.Haran”
He can’t even get the right 17 players to take the field, let alone be trusted to recruit.
How can you build a club on shit foundation.

100%. The warning signs to the club were there 3 years with BBQ gate. They did nothing about the culture issues then around the disrespect for authority we had, except thinking sacking Vaughan would solve it all. Haran was in his first year or so as GM.
Still baffles me how he worked his way up to that role with minimal experience handling players in any capacity in coaching, recruiting or managing, especially the tough cookie of dealing with PM's. Doust, Young, Millward have all tried and failed over the past 12 years.
5 years ago + Haran was interviewing players for the media team.
It frustrates the hell out of me how our club has walked pass aiming to be a real professional outfit.

 

[Gardenia]

No worries. Euie did leave that lasting effect on us.

Yes I do recall him being a constant disappointment. Until his contract was up and then he started playing alot better!