Flanno's New Signings

[JubileeJeffro]

Holmes is good in attack but defensively not so good
NSW found him out in origin and so did many other sides
Lomax is a very strong defender and has a superior all round game to Val

Lomax has no attack from centre, don’t think he has even broken a line in 2 or 3 seasons. He has a poor man’s Gasnier shimmy and flick pass from centre.
He is a quality winger as his involvement from back field is way increased and he is a high quality aerial threat in attack, probably the best in the comp at the moment.

 

[maestro1]

But only highlighting reality
Atrocious recruitment/retention record
We finished 11th 1 spot worse then 2022 with a points differential of 100 worse then that year
I refuse to sugar coat reality

With the worst roster in the NRL. It was a miracle we won more than 2 games. Flanno is a magician with what he did with that squad.

A huge chunk of our top squad would not get a run at 15 other clubs.
You really need to measure Flanno on what he can do with a half decent squad. I'm already impressed with what he has done in 2024.

Be fair and Hold your judgement until he can rebuild this squad and then we can all know whether he is a good coach or not.

I wasn't expecting any great supporter moments this last season, but we got plenty and were 1 win from the semis with a squad that has no business being anywhere but fighting for the spoon.
If you look at the teams that finished below us. - Broncos, Warriors, Titans, , Rabbitohs, Eels & Tigers, I'd argue that everyone of their rosters is better than ours. Yet, Flanno had his outperform all these teams and also compete and beat 3 or 4 top 4 and top 8 teams.

Your crucification of Flanno would have more credibility if you, I'm Hornby, etc were a little bit less in a hurry to announce him as a failure. You were both bashing him before an NRL ball had been kicked. Your lack of patience only points to an agenda. Especially since it is the only message in all your posts. No one takes anything you say about Flanno seriously because of your obsession.

 

[since77]

Holmes is good in attack but defensively not so good
NSW found him out in origin and so did many other sides
Lomax is a very strong defender and has a superior all round game to Val

Zac made a few really terrible attempts at tackles this year. One in first SOO was a good example.
You're either dreaming or stoned if you think Zac has a "superior all round game" to Holmes. You should start looking for a comedy open mic night at the local pub if you're going to keep coming up with crackers like that.

 

[maestro1]

Weren’t you just complaining about not signing RCG, even though it was because Flanno wouldn’t budge on the 3 year deal he wanted. Yet, now you’re saying that Holmes who’s 2 years younger at 29, is an ageing Toyota Camry?

I think Saintmar is just in here to take the piss .......... No one could possibly write this stuff without giggling to themselves.

 

[Old Timer]

With the worst roster in the NRL. It was a miracle we won more than 2 games. Flanno is a magician with what he did with that squad.

A huge chunk of our top squad would not get a run at 15 other clubs.
You really need to measure Flanno on what he can do with a half decent squad. I'm already impressed with what he has done in 2024.

Be fair and Hold your judgement until he can rebuild this squad and then we can all know whether he is a good coach or not.

I wasn't expecting any great supporter moments this last season, but we got plenty and were 1 win from the semis with a squad that has no business being anywhere but fighting for the spoon.
If you look at the teams that finished below us. - Broncos, Warriors, Titans, , Rabbitohs, Eels & Tigers, I'd argue that everyone of their rosters is better than ours. Yet, Flanno had his outperform all these teams and also compete and beat 3 or 4 top 4 and top 8 teams.

Your crucification of Flanno would have more credibility if you, I'm Hornby, etc were a little bit less in a hurry to announce him as a failure. You were both bashing him before an NRL ball had been kicked. Your lack of patience only points to an agenda. Especially since it is the only message in all your posts. No one takes anything you say about Flanno seriously because of your obsession.

Did Flanno really out perform the coaches at Broncos, Souths, Parramatta or did they severely under perform considering what they had in their ranks?

I humbly suggest that Broncos, Souths, Parramatta immediately reacted to unacceptable performances and know that they should have finished above teams like us.

5 hit up’s and a Ben Hunt bomb in attack and being towelled up by 30 & 40 points is not a strong indicator of overachieving IMO.

 

[mattw5]

Holmes is an upgrade on Lomax. He has had two good seasons 2020 & 2024 both years Flanno was involved on the coaching staff, he made the NSW squad in 2020 & played all three this season then has a subtle swipe by saying Madge is the best coach he has had. I am glad he is gone he is an arrogant wanker.

 

[maestro1]

Did Flanno really out perform the coaches at Broncos, Souths, Parramatta or did they severely under perform considering what they had in their ranks?

I humbly suggest that Broncos, Souths, Parramatta immediately reacted to unacceptable performances and know that they should have finished above teams like us.

5 hit up’s and a Ben Hunt bomb in attack and being towelled up by 30 & 40 points is not a strong indicator of overachieving IMO.

What he did was get more out of very average footballers. This is the essence of coaching. If Flanno was in charge of any of those other squads -IMHO - they would of performed a lot better. It shouldn't be understated how well this side went by getting 10 wins when most punters thought they'd be lucky to scrape 2.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Will be keeping an eye on Christian Welch today for impact. His name has been thrown about, he may end up in QLd though.
Oregon Kaufusi is another..see what happens

 

[Dragon David]

Will be keeping an eye on Christian Welch today for impact. His name has been thrown about, he may end up in QLd though.
Oregon Kaufusi is another..see what happens

I will also have a good look at Welch in today's GF. I like Oregon Kaufusi. I think his 2 year deal with the Sharks, which started in 2023 ended this year. I'm not sure what his arrangements going forward at the Sharks are but if he is free to negotiate, would be interested to see if the Dragons get him.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

Anyone from either Panthers or Storm bench looking to play regular first grade. Even the water boy, the bathroom janitor! Anyone out of those systems will bring a winning culture to our team.
Schneider would be top of my list. Then a front rower. It’s not rocket science.

 

[since77]

Did Flanno really out perform the coaches at Broncos, Souths, Parramatta or did they severely under perform considering what they had in their ranks?

I humbly suggest that Broncos, Souths, Parramatta immediately reacted to unacceptable performances and know that they should have finished above teams like us.

OT you can't use this logic. If we do better than other teams then it's always because the opposition underperformed or underachieved. But if we lose of course we were out-coached or out-performed. You really can't have it both ways.

We had some terrible losses this year - granted. But we also had a top 8 spot in our hands with 3 rounds to go before they crumbled. We had objectively the worst roster in the NRL - this is not a fact that some of us on the forum have made up - many astute NRL commentators have noted this many times during the season (thus why we were overwhelming favourites for for the wooden spoon at the beginning of the year) - based on this SF certainly did outperform "better" teams, rosters and coaches.

More than this though I believe @maestro1 has identified a distinct difference in this years team compared to the Griffin years which you mystifyingly sometimes say were equal or better to SF's 2024 season. Maestro said he wasn't expecting any great supporter moments this last season - yet this year the team really did serve up some great performances - who'd have thought we would beat Melbourne in Melbourne?!!?!? Of course, your default reaction is probably to say Melbourne underperformed but no that's no true. We beat them fair and square. A performance to be proud of.
There were no great moments like this under Griffin. Our wins were usually as insipid as our losses. There was zero hope. This year, despite the undeniable bad performances, there was some hope. When we were good, we were actually good. And yeah when we were bad we were bad. But under Griffin there was almost no difference between our best and our worst. We were generally always bad, even when we won. I've said it a few times on this forum - that Griffin team was the worst Dragons team I've ever watched and I've been watching for a while - not as long as you - but we're of vaguely similar vintages.
Under SF this year, there was some hope - maybe not enough for your liking, but I think most fair-minded fans could see the difference this year, even though the lows were disappointing and frustrating and a few too many. Next step, raise our floor. We do this, even you might crack a smile next year OT!!

 

[Dragons4me]

With the worst roster in the NRL. It was a miracle we won more than 2 games. Flanno is a magician with what he did with that squad.

A huge chunk of our top squad would not get a run at 15 other clubs.
You really need to measure Flanno on what he can do with a half decent squad. I'm already impressed with what he has done in 2024.

Be fair and Hold your judgement until he can rebuild this squad and then we can all know whether he is a good coach or not.

I wasn't expecting any great supporter moments this last season, but we got plenty and were 1 win from the semis with a squad that has no business being anywhere but fighting for the spoon.
If you look at the teams that finished below us. - Broncos, Warriors, Titans, , Rabbitohs, Eels & Tigers, I'd argue that everyone of their rosters is better than ours. Yet, Flanno had his outperform all these teams and also compete and beat 3 or 4 top 4 and top 8 teams.

Your crucification of Flanno would have more credibility if you, I'm Hornby, etc were a little bit less in a hurry to announce him as a failure. You were both bashing him before an NRL ball had been kicked. Your lack of patience only points to an agenda. Especially since it is the only message in all your posts. No one takes anything you say about Flanno seriously because of your obsession.

Good summation. You neglected to add having a dysfunctional BOD to contend with that operates at a snail pace at anything. We've seen what Flanno can do with a good squad (scumulla in 2016). All he needs is to build one and overcome our inherent barriers.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

I

I will also have a good look at Welch in today's GF. I like Oregon Kaufusi. I think his 2 year deal with the Sharks, which started in 2023 ended this year. I'm not sure what his arrangements going forward at the Sharks are but if he is free to negotiate, would be interested to see if the Dragons get him.

believe Kaufusi is signed for next year on $400k

 

[Dragon David]

I

believe Kaufusi is signed for next year on $400k

Oh Ok, thanks JJ. The waiting game continues then. Who we actually end up with will be interesting. It is amazing that Flanno had identified that the club needs a couple of big bopper props, which to me we desperately require, and this need by Flanno has been for quite sometime. RCG, Saifiti, Horsburgh etc all tied up now so is Flanno going for lesser types or not at all? He can't start something with passion and then ease off, surely?

Give us a sign for Pete's sake - Pete has been very patient like he has been for years.

 

[jak]

Oh Ok, thanks JJ. The waiting game continues then. Who we actually end up with will be interesting. It is amazing that Flanno had identified that the club needs a couple of big bopper props, which to me we desperately require, and this need by Flanno has been for quite sometime. RCG, Saifiti, Horsburgh etc all tied up now so is Flanno going for lesser types or not at all? He can't start something with passion and then ease off, surely?

Give us a sign for Pete's sake - Pete has been very patient like he has been for years.

patience grasshopper

 

[Parko1310]

Lomax is not a good defensive centre in the slightest. I've never understood the narrative that he is. Sure, if he gets hold of them he's strong enough to stop them/maybe get them over the sideline. His decision making is absolutely horrendous though. Constantly caught out of position, planting his feet, etc and he's too slow to then cover for it. Was much better defensively on the wing where he has less decision making to do. In attack, Holmes is quicker and can actually pass a football. Plus he is a better goal kicker (arguably the best in the comp), has a better turn and chase, is still an aerial threat (albeit less in this department than Lomax), etc. To argue Lomax is a better all round player, especially as a centre, is bordering on absurd

 

[RED73V]

We should have a look at Hamlin Uelle as a big bopper from Newtown Jets . Having a good game so far today and a good game last week to win the Jets the NSW Cup

 

[JubileeJeffro]

We should have a look at Hamlin Uelle as a big bopper from Newtown Jets . Having a good game so far today and a good game last week to win the Jets the NSW Cup

Resigned with Sharks this year until end of 2026

 

[justadragon]

But only highlighting reality
Atrocious recruitment/retention record
We finished 11th 1 spot worse then 2022 with a points differential of 100 worse then that year
I refuse to sugar coat reality

Whilst I agree with you about not sugar coating anything, but your constant Flanno bashing is doing you no favours. This club has been run down for numerous reasons over a long time it will take just as long if not longer to get it right if it ever happens. I believe Flanno is doing everything in his power to achieve something, its the club management you should be homing in on with their lack of support for him.

 

[qld redvee]

Resigned with Sharks this year until end of 2026

Should offer a 3 year deal from 2025 to get him.. an upgrade on molo lawrie and has size