Dragons want S Williams this season...

[Drain the Dragon]

Yes, Price has stated that the plan was to have Stanley at half.
Some may also recall that we pursued Cooper Cronk last year.

 

[Mr Red]

Can I get next weeks Lotto numbers too please?

so given Kyles run with injuries you felt quite comfortable with him playing 26 straight weeks of footy?
surely you cant be serious... having someone else in the first grade squad capable of playing half or five eighth was needed.. and i dont mean Fien... that isnt an acceptable backup plan.

 

[bottle]

this is why we hate Price

We do?
I don't hate anyone associated with the club I support, except neo Nazis.

... total lack of vision and planning. Sure we missed out on recruiting a few halves before season 2013 started, but too little too late IMO, Price had 2 seasons to sort this out.. he should have already started the search for a half when he was still assistant coach but knew he had the coaching job lined up.

He did? When was he announced as taking over the job in 2012? Wasn't it part way through 2011 when Bennett finally announced what he was going to do?
Are you suggesting that Price had the power whilst Bennett was still in charge to over ride or dictate to Bennett and Doust what our recruitment strategy should have been whilst still in an assistant role?

A staggering suggestion if so.

 

[Mr Red]

We do?

Are you suggesting that Price had the power whilst Bennett was still in charge to over ride or dictate to Bennett and Doust what our recruitment strategy should have been whilst still in an assistant role?

A staggering suggestion if so.

Once Bennett announced he was leaving the club of course Price from that point onwards should have been planning for 2012.
its a staggerring suggestion as you put it to assume that Price stood back and did absolutely nothing in terms of building a squad for season 2012 until season 2011 was over and Bennett left for newcastle... thats plain crazy... but given our rubbish recruitment perhaps you are right..

 

[nrlnrl]

This...SO MUCH THIS!!!
Seriously, DW can't really do much behind the Cutter's pack. I thought he looked good in the Charity Shield, and I reckon with first grade experience behind the Dragon's forwards, he will be a good investment. Give him a few games off the bench while King is out, and then worry about whether or not he's up for it. He has a good understanding with Price and knows what he has to work on.

That said, I'd like to get Keary too!

I read an interview with him recently & he sounds happy with the Rabbitohs. He's contracted with them until the end of 2014, but if the right club offered an NRL spot he might be tempted ( especially if he's stuck in NSW Cup behind Reynolds ).

 

[Owen Da Saints]

so given Kyles run with injuries you felt quite comfortable with him playing 26 straight weeks of footy?
surely you cant be serious... having someone else in the first grade squad capable of playing half or five eighth was needed.. and i dont mean Fien... that isnt an acceptable backup plan.

He is ! And stop calling him Shirley !

 

[bottle]

Once Bennett announced he was leaving the club of course Price from that point onwards should have been planning for 2012.
its a staggerring suggestion as you put it to assume that Price stood back and did absolutely nothing in terms of building a squad for season 2012 until season 2011 was over and Bennett left for newcastle... thats plain crazy... but given our rubbish recruitment perhaps you are right..

How does that equate to this -

Price had 2 seasons to sort this out

?

 

[Mr Red]

He is ! And stop calling him Shirley !

:lol::lol:

 

[Mr Red]

How does that equate to this -



?

two off seasons i meant to say (2011, 2012).. plus the last third of the actual 2011 season, and the entire 2012 season

 

[bottle]

two off seasons i meant to say (2011, 2012).. plus the last third of the actual 2011 season, and the entire 2012 season

Fair enough. But in the period you have now clarified as being relevant steps were taken to try and resolve the matter by Price.
Drinkwater was signed.
Anecdotally there have been (and as this thread indicates still are) overtures to a number of potential signings - Pearce, Williams, Miller, Keary.
On record there is the Moltzen debacle (thank whichever Lord you may pray to) Rangi Chase and Cronk.

Price hasn't been dormant, though he has been unsuccessful in securing a signature. Not all his fault I venture. There seem to be bigger issues at play than Price not attempting to sign or failing to try and plan for the future.

 

[Drain the Dragon]

Fair enough. But in the period you have now clarified as being relevant steps were taken to try and resolve the matter by Price.
Drinkwater was signed.
Anecdotally there have been (and as this thread indicates still are) overtures to a number of potential signings - Pearce, Williams, Miller, Keary.
On record there is the Moltzen debacle (thank whichever Lord you may pray to) Rangi Chase and Cronk.

Price hasn't been dormant, though he has been unsuccessful in securing a signature. Not all his fault I venture. There seem to be bigger issues at play than Price not attempting to sign or failing to try and plan for the future.

Thank you Bottle. At last - a balanced opinion with all the facts. A pleasure to read something that isn't slanted by personal bias.

 

[Mr Red]

Fair enough. But in the period you have now clarified as being relevant steps were taken to try and resolve the matter by Price. - all AFTER season 2012 nothing during 2011, end of 2011, during 2012. thats my point. it was a very reactive pursuit of a halfback, after Hornby had already retired, nothing proactive in order to have a replacement ready to step up, bringing someone into the club whilst Hornby was still around.. you know some sort of succession planning.

Drinkwater was signed.once again after season 2012.

Anecdotally there have been (and as this thread indicates still are) overtures to a number of potential signings - Pearce, Williams, Miller, Keary. once again after 2012

On record there is the Moltzen debacle (thank whichever Lord you may pray to) Rangi Chase and Cronk. Chase and Cronk yet again after 2012, i wouldnt use Moltzen as an example of smart recruiting by Price

Price hasn't been dormant, though he has been unsuccessful in securing a signature. Not all his fault I venture. There seem to be bigger issues at play than Price not attempting to sign or failing to try and plan for the future. as stated above my fault with Price is not being strategic and proactive... all very reactive.

 

[Mr Red]

Thank you Bottle. At last - a balanced opinion with all the facts. A pleasure to read something that isn't slanted by personal bias.

LOL @ personal bias statement..
nothing personal, i just see glaring weaknesses in Price's ability to turn the club around.
he seems to be one step behind the pack, when the smart coaches are one step ahead..

PS - Bennett already negotiating with Ben Hunt for 2014. A player most would agree and have mentioned many months ago that the dragons should be pursuing... i doubt Price/Doust are smart enough to realise what a good addition to the club Hunt would be... perhaps Price is happy with Fien until Fien announces his retirement... then press the panic button and scramble to recruit anyone that hasnt already been signed by the coaches that plan ahead

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Red - we hate Price?

Speak for yourself. It cheapens your argument to say it. I've said a million times that I hope he's a career coach for us, I just doubt his ability to be so.

Lets hope that if last week is what we can expect, then we can start heading in the right direction with him from here on in.

 

[Rex Terp]

LOL @ personal bias statement..
nothing personal, i just see glaring weaknesses in Price's ability to turn the club around.
he seems to be one step behind the pack, when the smart coaches are one step ahead..

PS - Bennett already negotiating with Ben Hunt for 2014. A player most would agree and have mentioned many months ago that the dragons should be pursuing... i doubt Price/Doust are smart enough to realise what a good addition to the club Hunt would be... perhaps Price is happy with Fien until Fien announces his retirement... then press the panic button and scramble to recruit anyone that hasnt already been signed by the coaches that plan ahead

That's incorrect. Saints already tried to get Hunt, Broncos wouldn't release him.

Identifying people isn't our issue. Getting them is.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Hunt is a reserve grader. Don't we have issues with not signing big names Red?

 

[Mr Red]

Red - we hate Price?

I hope he's a career coach for us, I just doubt his ability to be so.

.

yes good point.. i think the above is a better view.. well said Ronnie.

 

[Mr Red]

Hunt is a reserve grader. Don't we have issues with not signing big names Red?

no we have issues with being strategic with our recruitment. that doesnt necessarily mean big names.

Bennett was strategic with our recruitment, and that also included signing players that werent necessarily big names, but players that filled strategic voids in our roster.
this is where i see Price failing at the moment. he seems to sign players that we already have an abundance of, eg outside backs and back rowers, however has been neglecting the crucial spine roles, or a triangle bench player.

 

[coast_dragons]

Funny how Price is blamed for recruiting I thought he was just the coach and the fact Doust who controls the finances and Young who deals with managers are the two men more responsible than he is.

This signing a big name is just a cliche we keep hearing the Dragons over the years have done better signing guys and making them better players look at Thurston signs a new huge contract and at the moment is playing like shit.

Beale, Frizzel and Drinkwater are a step in the right direction but its the players who have to pull their heads in and play like we know they can they showed that against the Sharks.

Price has tried to identify where players are needed Jennings, Cronk etc etc you can't blame him if they refuse to sign for whatever reason it maybe.

Doust and Young are people of the past they think playing for the Red V would be enough the history of the club but honestly it means nothing to a player they are after the $$$ as the longevity of a playing career isn't that long.

 

[BennyV]

so given Kyles run with injuries you felt quite comfortable with him playing 26 straight weeks of footy?
surely you cant be serious... having someone else in the first grade squad capable of playing half or five eighth was needed.. and i dont mean Fien... that isnt an acceptable backup plan.

Backup Plan #1) Fien
Backup Plan #2) Drinkwater
Backup Plan #3) King/Ryan/Kennedy/Merrin (seriously, if we lost 3 halves for the season, I'd be more concerned with our training and conditioning coaches than our depth!)...
While depth is a wonderful gift for some teams, too much of it in one spot would be insane.

Besides, you can't predict Kyle slipping in the change room and putting himself out for the season! Plenty of players have gone through long injuries, come back, and continued their careers just fine.