Dragons Rumoured Signings

[hardbaby]

The RLW has announced we have signed Mike Cooper a prop from England on loan for 2 seasons. If this is correct is he any good. Cooper's signing obviously will take another prop/second row spot away from the likes of Vea, Henderson,Matthews,Weyman etc and putting pressure on Prior to getting resigned. I'm a fan of Matty Prior and I believe he has fired this year and deserves a new contract.

Hopefully we will sign Kasiano and let all of them go. I like Matt Prior and think he has found a home in the front row. But some team (Panthers?) will offer him a far better contract that we will. I expect they'll let Weyman go as well.

Our front row options will hopefully be: Kasiano, Hunt, Stockwell, DJB, Cooper and possibly Creagh my move closer to the action. Add to that a backrow of Thompson, Frizzel, Merrin and Harrison. Bloody good pack.

 

[nrlnrl]

The RLW has announced we have signed Mike Cooper a prop from England on loan for 2 seasons. If this is correct is he any good. Cooper's signing obviously will take another prop/second row spot away from the likes of Vea, Henderson,Matthews,Weyman etc and putting pressure on Prior to getting resigned. I'm a fan of Matty Prior and I believe he has fired this year and deserves a new contract.

Not having a go at you, so please take this the right way - possible signing of Mike Cooper was mentioned on pages 3 & 4 of this thread yesterday

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Prior still has his moments with his handling, but they are much improved on what they were. I'd keep him. The rest (vea, Henderson, Mathews etc) have and always will be insurance, if they go you will need to replace them with others to cover injuries, suspension, SOO etc

 

[rainman44]

Hopefully we will sign Kasiano and let all of them go. I like Matt Prior and think he has found a home in the front row. But some team (Panthers?) will offer him a far better contract that we will. I expect they'll let Weyman go as well.

Our front row options will hopefully be: Kasiano, Hunt, Stockwell, DJB, Cooper and possibly Creagh my move closer to the action. Add to that a backrow of Thompson, Frizzel, Merrin and Harrison. Bloody good pack.

gee i hope this kasiano thing is true as he would be the mr x in the pack and if we can land him i would not worry about mateo

 

[Love my Dragons]

Newcastle are chasing Weyman, how many more Dragons do they want ?

 

[Minh]

The saying that the top coaches get their man as in targeted players is a bit of a myth sometimes as you can see that Wayne usually get's the players he's worked with in the past and not necessarily the marquee players. Even Hasler misses a lot of would be signings. Wayne targets Dragons players because he knows they are good and they are easier to get since he has a good relationship with them, same with his ex Broncos players he got when he coached us.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

They need props.

I'd like to see Horse finish with us.

 

[coast_dragons]

Weyman will probably move on Stockwell has taken his place and will keep it for the amount of money he's on and the time he spends on the side lines he's not worth it mind you rumours are around he might retire.

 

[OziDragon]

Hope weyman stays. He's a great leader for the club.

 

[possm]

Surely it's time to announce our new coach and the recruitment of:
Dugan or Tomkins
Chase
J Morris

It would also be nice to hear that Rein, Creagh and Weman have signed on again.

 

[nrlnrl]

Surely it's time to announce our new coach and the recruitment of:
Dugan or Tomkins
Chase
J Morris

It would also be nice to hear that Rein, Creagh and Weman have signed on again.

one definite there - Josh Morris is staying at the Bulldogs until the end of 2015 ( might sign an extension this year, but definitely not leaving before the end of current contract )

 

[possm]

one definite there - Josh Morris is staying at the Bulldogs until the end of 2015 ( might sign an extension this year, but definitely not leaving before the end of current contract )

Yes it seems you are right.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-cronulla-sharks/story-e6frexrr-1226628934431

 

[Minh]

Josh can stay there if he loves the Bulldogs so much, a bit like Patten used to love beating us down.

 

[Gore]

I personally have been watching closely wondering if we will get Rangi Chase...

I think we can do enough with the forwards that we have/have coming, provided we resign Creigh etc...

The real question is how long before Drinkwater is ready for full time first grade?? because that should dictate who we buy and how much money we spend in other positions.... if Drinkwater plays next year, spend our money on a fullback, or if we can't resign some forwards spend it there...

 

[nrlnrl]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...gons-to-focus-on-coaching-20130426-2ik1e.html

( with actual quotes ! )

Price pulls out of roster debate at Dragons to focus on coaching
Date
April 27, 2013

Michael Carayannis

With Steve Price's short-term future secured as head coach, St George Illawarra have taken the unusual step of allowing Price to focus on day-to-day coaching as other staff members look to strengthen the club's roster beyond this year.

Price has signed a one-year contract extension plus another year option, which was announced during the Dragons game against Sydney Roosters on Thursday. With a host of players, including veterans Matt Cooper and Nathan Fien plus captain Ben Creagh, off-contract the Dragons have implemented a recruitment team, headed by recruitment manager Craig Young, to oversee negotiations.

''I'll leave that up to the executive recruitment team in terms of players we are targeting for next year,'' Price said. ''My main focus is our footy team. Our executive team will be looking after the other stuff.''

The Dragons have signed Gareth Widdop and Joel Thompson, and are in the process of adding more players following the departure of five-eighth Jamie Soward. A wrangle over salary-cap ramifications, should St George Illawarra pay a transfer fee to Castleford, is behind the hold up to the Dragons securing English half Rangi Chase. If the Chase deal falls through, the Dragons will turn their attention to Canberra halfback Sam Williams. Negotiations are continuing with Williams's former teammate Josh Dugan. New Zealand Warriors back-rower Feleti Mateo is also on the Dragons' wish list.

''We can go forward and rebuild, but my main focus is the rest of the year,'' Price said. ''It's all about the club. No one is bigger than the footy club. Nothing will change with how I carry myself. Having said that [the coaching deal] has obviously made me stronger.''

In other signing news, St George Illawarra hooker Mitch Rein said the burden of being off-contract for the first time since becoming an NRL regular had been a distraction. Fairfax Media understands Rein, who turned 23 on Friday, is close to extending his deal at the Dragons after making his debut in 2011. ''I'm reasonably close to making a decision,'' Rein said. ''I'm waiting to see what the club comes up with. I've played my junior football at the Dragons so it'll be great to stay here.''

Meanwhile, Michael Weyman could make a surprise return to the field from a calf injury with St George Illawarra's feeder club Illawarra Cutters against Wyong Roos in the NSW Cup at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon. Weyman was named on an extended Dragons' interchange bench to face Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day but did not play.

If he does not return on Saturday, he is almost certain to be available for selection alongside hooker Cameron King (knee) when the Dragons host the Sea Eagles on Monday week.

 

[jenninga]

Glad to hear Rein may be close to signing again.It wouldn't disappoint me if the likes of Weyman do go as it is clear we need to freshen the squad .Man Utd's secret to success for 20 years has been recruiting key players and offloading players not necessarily past their use by date eg Beckham,Ronaldo etc.We are looking a tired squad and desperately need some players to rejuvinate our style of play.
Love to have Chambers in the centres,Mateo's offloading skill would create 2nd phase's and Rangi at 7 will give us more direct play,another big forward like Kasiano would give our pack a more intimidating feel.

 

[Gore]

Am i correct in saying that Rangi Chase has been playing 5/8 for Castleford? I mean i consider him an absolute priority as far as future signings go... but widdop would be 5/8 in my 2014 dragons team... So Rangi plays at Halfback?

We also need to make Creagh a complete priority with signing... i have no doubt that they are close to terms with him... but i get nervous when players get close to leaving when they have served us so well...

 

[nrlnrl]

Am i correct in saying that Rangi Chase has been playing 5/8 for Castleford? I mean i consider him an absolute priority as far as future signings go... but widdop would be 5/8 in my 2014 dragons team... So Rangi plays at Halfback?

We also need to make Creagh a complete priority with signing... i have no doubt that they are close to terms with him... but i get nervous when players get close to leaving when they have served us so well...

No he plays at number 6 for Castleford, but similar to Thurston. ( attack revolves around him ) Their game against Salford is on Eurosport, 511 on Foxtel cable tomorrow morning at 3.45.

 

[Gore]

No he plays at number 6 for Castleford, but similar to Thurston. ( attack revolves around him ) Their game against Salford is on Eurosport, 511 on Foxtel cable tomorrow morning at 3.45.

Right thanks for that.. now tell me again why we aren't bending over backwards to get him back at the club??

 

[BennyV]

Right thanks for that.. now tell me again why we aren't bending over backwards to get him back at the club??

I'm pretty sure the 'red tape' being referred to is the transfer fee and what effect it will have on our salary cap - I don't know why, its not a player salary so shouldnt be part of the cap.