Flanno's New Signings

[Jubilee]

Well that is the difference between us and Storm. Wishart joined Storm beginning of 2022 (incidently from us) and he will be there until the end of 2026 (5 years) - Storm exercised the option to keep him. When he joined Storm he was a developing player.

LKT is well ahead of where Wishart was at the beginning of 2022. If he is not locked in, somebody will come in and take him of our hands.

If LKT is Galvin quality, sure. But we heard similar about Sullivan and Amone. And how many 5 year contracts can a club give out before it gets log jammed in its pathways?

 

[TheRev]

definitely not convinced on LKT.. I'd have my expectation similar to Amone at the same age... in terms of dominating at lower levels in space and a retreating defensive line.. but still needing to evolve into a game to suit NSW Cup & above.. no rush there... we will know a lot more in 6-9 months time.. there are lots of young running 6's out there btw.. including at our club... its the 7's that are the unicorns.... but it was great he got all that 1st grade time, but his place is in reserves for next season.

Galvin gives me the sh*ts, he has half the nrl fans now thinking its completely normal for teenagers to develop their games in 1st grade.. its completely not the path for the other 99% of young NRL players finding their way out of junior football into the most elite comp in the world.

 

[Jubilee]

definitely not convinced on LKT.. I'd have my expectation similar to Amone at the same age... in terms of dominating at lower levels in space and a retreating defensive line.. but still needing to evolve into a game to suit NSW Cup & above.. no rush there... we will know a lot more in 6-9 months time.. there are lots of young running 6's out there btw.. including at our club... its the 7's that are the unicorns.... but it was great he got all that 1st grade time, but his place is in reserves for next season.

Galvin gives me the sh*ts, he has half the nrl fans now thinking its completely normal for teenagers to develop their games in 1st grade.. its completely not the path for the other 99% of young NRL players finding their way out of junior football into the most elite comp in the world.

Yeh, Galvin's a freak.

 

[getsmarty]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/ben-hunt-salary-shamed-as-dragons-captaincy-crisis-exposed/news-story/6da6634165665bcda244a9751c1b1297

 

[saintmar]

The article clearly says what we all know
Clearly he should have been let go last year
Very sad that he wanted out and the decision was made to refuse to let him go
Monumental stuff up that has set us back at least 2 years and we still have to hope someone will take Benny
No point salary shaming Benny if he wanted out but he was kept here against his will
At the very least there should be an acknowledgement of this massive mistake

 

[offiah]

The article clearly says what we all know
Clearly he should have been let go last year
Very sad that he wanted out and the decision was made to refuse to let him go
Monumental stuff up that has set us back at least 2 years and we still have to hope someone will take Benny
No point salary shaming Benny if he wanted out but he was kept here against his will
At the very least there should be an acknowledgement of this massive mistake

So you’re saying anyone that wants out we should just let them walk? No one was offering anyone commensurate for him. So we should have just let him go for nothing?

 

[SnowDragon]

If we let him go last year we would have been worse off!

im not against a change, but it’s got to be for improvements not because some fans hated his display last year after hook was fired, or even because they think he isn’t a big game player, or a team player, or value…

 

[hewi]

Short term pain long term gain

 

[An Old Westie Dragon]

Short term pain long term gain

I’m not sure how much more short term pain we can take.

 

[saintmar]

So you’re saying anyone that wants out we should just let them walk? No one was offering anyone commensurate for him. So we should have just let him go for nothing?

Ben wanted a release cause he obviously had options last year.He would have been part paid,if any, by us and the remainder by his new club.
Lomax wanted out and he was allowed to walk.
Ben never wanted to be here and it showed and Flano got it wrong with his decision to keep him.
So no point in shaming Ben before self examination of the decision to keep him.

 

[possm]

i would also take either of the halfbacks.

Schnieder would be a great addition to our squad.

Ben wanted a release cause he obviously had options last year.He would have been part paid,if any, by us and the remainder by his new club.
Lomax wanted out and he was allowed to walk.
Ben never wanted to be here and it showed and Flano got it wrong with his decision to keep him.
So no point in shaming Ben before self examination of the decision to keep him.

Lomax walked mid-contract without the Dragons having to pay any freight.
Hunt wanted out but would not walk without the Dragons paying freight.

 

[Kolum Kid]

?

 

[TruSaint]

Ben wanted a release cause he obviously had options last year.He would have been part paid,if any, by us and the remainder by his new club.
Lomax wanted out and he was allowed to walk.
Ben never wanted to be here and it showed and Flano got it wrong with his decision to keep him.
So no point in shaming Ben before self examination of the decision to keep him.

I hear you.
I wanted Hunt out the moment he voiced his desire to leave.
Here is where I disagree. Flanno just came into the job, and had to navigate this mess.

Let him go with no replacement, or keep him here and hope he delivers. It's a shite sandwich.
My job isn't on the line like Flannos, and I would have let him go. Flanno had to make a hard call Im sure, against his instinct to say... " f..k off Ben".

 

[saintmar]

Although I disagree you have made a fair point

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

The argument for retaining Hunt for 2024 and 2025 was more about the ability to get Luc or Cook and Val and or better

It wouldnt have happened if we only had ressie halves

Flano also brought on some very good performance specialists which was part of the reason we achieved the 12 wins.

I also thought it was pretty clear if Jnr was on the field last 4 games or so we would have won another game and snuck into the 8..............not a bad effort.

ABOVE ALL.................We needed to signal to the market who is boss and how our list is evolving.

The opposite signalling to the market and the managers would have had us in a death spiral

we cant get our hands on a true FG half.........well we couldnt for 2024 and even 2025 will be difficult.

Sua probably would not have signed on again without a Ben Hunt in the halves............why would he

It was a rock and a hard place and Im glad for having Flano because the top5 coaches are not available and the bottom5 would have crumbled.

Flano had some seriously big personalities he managed at the Sharks on their journey to the GF...........he has some runs on the board with GF success and man management

He has some media and recruitment skills that he has built........Flano also got to step back and learn a little more from a few other coaches...............some hard lessons in his time out which no doubt make his drive "FLANNOABLE"

I mean how there is not a sign on the hilly yet that does not say " FLANNOABLE" ??? Maybe 2025 or 2026 ?

he is a survivor and I am hopeful ..............despite a very tough market to secure your ideal players. The work down prior to Flano was also very very good re bringing on board serious young talent.

yes indeed !

 

[Jubilee]

There is not a lot available esp. for the half position and we have to show the NRL that we may not be signing Dearden or Moses but at least we are not going backwards. However much we hate Hunt, the marketplace thinks he is good. If he had gone, the team would look like there was a huge gap. And that would put even more pressure on us.

This is why bringing in a cheap Lachlan Ilias could be wise. It puts a floor under us bcs he is at least a kind of recognized NRL half (along with Kyle) should Hunt evaporate for some reason. And until we can either recruit or promote a star.

By the way, Ilias It seems has had two broken legs in his career.

 

[shiloh dc]

Tigers seem to be in a much better place than us for 2025. Their spine has improved considerably with Luai joining Galvin in the halves plus they have just signed a great talent in 17 year old Heamasi Makasini from Newington College. This kid is the real deal.
Offsetting, they have lost a good junior in Onitoni Large who has been poached by Manly. Manly also recently signed Jazz Tevaga from the Warriors.

MEANWHILE - at the Dragons - ZZZZZZ - nothing happening - WTF.

 

[mattw5]

Tigers seem to be in a much better place than us for 2025. Their spine has improved considerably with Luai joining Galvin in the halves plus they have just signed a great talent in 17 year old Heamasi Makasini from Newington College. This kid is the real deal.
Offsetting, they have lost a good junior in Onitoni Large who has been poached by Manly. Manly also recently signed Jazz Tevaga from the Warriors.

MEANWHILE - at the Dragons - ZZZZZZ - nothing happening - WTF.

Yep, super frustrating but you get shot down for blowing up about it.

 

[Jubilee]

They paid big $ for Luai but it will work for them. Galvin was a junior. But the Tiges have a very, very bad record of hanging onto their star juniors.

Flanno tried to get Dearden but he did not want to move. For the spine, we are just going to have to take the development route (which we have had bad luck or judgement with in recent years). What other choice do we have?

 

[Gardenia]

I’m not sure how much more short term pain we can take.

It has been more of a case of chronic pain