Flanno's New Signings

[Hound of Dracula]

November 1 is a complete myth, it doesn't mean anything realistically. Nothing will be done/announced by the club that day.

Very True

Announcements on Nov 1 equate to an obvious conclusion you've been in talks prior to Nov 1

That why clubs will wait a bit before announcing though can't understand why Lodge not announced if the rumours are true (Nov 1 didn't apply to him)

 

[mattw5]

Very True

Announcements on Nov 1 equate to an obvious conclusion you've been in talks prior to Nov 1

That why clubs will wait a bit before announcing though can't understand why Lodge not announced if the rumours are true (Nov 1 didn't apply to him)

Because we are inept in recruitment. Kudos to the club being able to sign Holmes & Cook but we seriously need more.

 

[KogarahWarrior]

Because we are inept in recruitment. Kudos to the club being able to sign Holmes & Cook but we seriously need more.

Not kudos to the club, kudos to Flanno

 

[Parko1310]

Very True

Announcements on Nov 1 equate to an obvious conclusion you've been in talks prior to Nov 1

That why clubs will wait a bit before announcing though can't understand why Lodge not announced if the rumours are true (Nov 1 didn't apply to him)

My guess is they probably know the backlash they're going to get for it and rather than just coming out and announcing it might want to announce other players first to soften the blow. Issue there is, as you say, we won't see anything happen on the Nov 1 date and our negotiations with players are unbelievably slow anyway. We seriously move at a snail's pace.

 

[mattw5]

Not kudos to the club, kudos to Flanno

True

 

[RedVee]

My guess is they probably know the backlash they're going to get for it and rather than just coming out and announcing it might want to announce other players first to soften the blow. Issue there is, as you say, we won't see anything happen on the Nov 1 date and our negotiations with players are unbelievably slow anyway. We seriously move at a snail's pace.

If we still have to get Board sign off on player signings it’s no wonder we are slow

 

[Dragon David]

If we still have to get Board sign off on player signings it’s no wonder we are slow

If in fact the Board's approval needs to be obtained before players are signed up, I'm sure that Flanno would be just as frustrated as we are for the slow process. Would it mean that they have to arrange to meet and all members need to vote?

 

[RedVee]

If in fact the Board's approval needs to be obtained before players are signed up, I'm sure that Flanno would be just as frustrated as we are for the slow process. Would it mean that they have to arrange to meet and all members need to vote?

Yep no idea. I only bring it up because the JAC thread mentioned that some in the Board weren’t happy to sign him.

fo we have to wait for the next meeting due, or if it is a subcommittee

 

[The Word]

I get the feeling that there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes regarding transfers, a lot of conversations.

The main complications are for those players free to talk after 1st November for the 2026 season, and the debates about whether they can come early in 2025. The knock-on effect's of this, in terms of whether we can move players on, giving them time to find alternative clubs for the coming season complicates it further, as it does for other clubs and the general merry go round it creates.

For what it's worth, I spoke to someone who knows Flanagan personally this week. He told me not to worry, there will 100% be players arriving. Wouldn't give me any details unfortunately but he is someone who I have a high opinion of.

I don't expect fireworks, but I do expect a stronger 2025 squad than we had for 2024, and I expect us to make the 8 next year, not just challenge for it.

It was very hard to watch the finish to the season. It left me a little out for the count after my hopes had been raised by a much better effort this year. I enjoyed the more frequent wins, and I'm not as concerned by the wide loss margins, looking around at the other scores, this is simply where the game is at the moment with the refs rule interpretations / 6 agains / high contact etc.

However I'm happy with the business we've done with Holmes and Cooke, and if we can jag another 2 or 3 decent players, I'll be looking forward to next year with renewed hope.

 

[maestro1]

Don't other clubs have to have board approval before signing players? Isn't this normal? I'd imagine Parra are setup in a similar way. Tigers? Panthers? Souths? Sharks, Broncs? .......

 

[justadragon]

All this could be solved by having a distinct trade period like the AFL do. It would stop all the BS rumours and the fans would know exactly whats on the table and what deals are getting done. Its something that we will never know really what is going on but it would give us the benefit and reassurance that the club is actually being proactive in the market, or not.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

I go back to an earlier point, until there is clarity on whether Rava, Lawrie and Hunt are leaving things are likely to be stalled. That’s just under $2M of cap to spend. We either have it or we don’t.

 

[TheRev]

We already have 3 empty slots, 4 if the Ramsey rumour is true, 5 if the Ravalawa rumour is true.. 6 if the Hunt rumour is true.. 7or8 if Lawrie or Fifita go...might even be 9 if the SFinau rumour is true and we let him go early.

We will get 'players'.. I just hope we get 3 players good enough to slot into our Top 17.. maybe 2 of Lodge, Jac, Gutho at a minimum.. and if Hunts going we need to source a 6 or 7 thats an actual 1st grader also..

beyond that we will still need NSW Cup players to fill the other slots.. but thats not as important, and not as urgent.

 

[Mojo]

Yep no idea. I only bring it up because the JAC thread mentioned that some in the Board weren’t happy to sign him.

fo we have to wait for the next meeting due, or if it is a subcommittee

Whether it's the full board or a subcommittee, these things can be done via a circular resolution - or Zoom, Teams or a million other ways these days. It's 2024 - cars can drive themselves, computers can fly rockets to Mars and bring them back, mobile phones have been extant for about 30 years! - there's no reason Board meetings and resolutions can't be almost immediate..... but delegating the responsibility for the decision to the Head Coach is incredibly bleeding obvious anyway.

 

[redVinme]

Don't other clubs have to have board approval before signing players? Isn't this normal? I'd imagine Parra are setup in a similar way. Tigers? Panthers? Souths? Sharks, Broncs? .......

I'd assume it the other way. Surely competent football departments are left to do their jobs and don't need to involve the board unless for a culture reason like JAC. The fact our board is so useless and so involved is the problem

 

[56to66]

I get the feeling that there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes regarding transfers, a lot of conversations.

The main complications are for those players free to talk after 1st November for the 2026 season, and the debates about whether they can come early in 2025. The knock-on effect's of this, in terms of whether we can move players on, giving them time to find alternative clubs for the coming season complicates it further, as it does for other clubs and the general merry go round it creates.

For what it's worth, I spoke to someone who knows Flanagan personally this week. He told me not to worry, there will 100% be players arriving. Wouldn't give me any details unfortunately but he is someone who I have a high opinion of.

I don't expect fireworks, but I do expect a stronger 2025 squad than we had for 2024, and I expect us to make the 8 next year, not just challenge for it.

It was very hard to watch the finish to the season. It left me a little out for the count after my hopes had been raised by a much better effort this year. I enjoyed the more frequent wins, and I'm not as concerned by the wide loss margins, looking around at the other scores, this is simply where the game is at the moment with the refs rule interpretations / 6 agains / high contact etc.

However I'm happy with the business we've done with Holmes and Cooke, and if we can jag another 2 or 3 decent players, I'll be looking forward to next year with renewed hope.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, Flanno understands this. Hunt must go for the signing of Wishart or Atkinson, Rava, Laurie bye, bye and Sloan IMHO has the first have 6 weeks of 2025, before move to the wing or moved on completely, hopefully by mid to the end of November we have a clearer picture of what to expect in 2025.

 

[RedVee]

I'd assume it the other way. Surely competent football departments are left to do their jobs and don't need to involve the board unless for a culture reason like JAC. The fact our board is so useless and so involved is the problem

Yeah I’d expect that up to a certain value the GM Footy can just do it, above that then to a Board Committee perhaps… maybe the $1m plus marquis needs oversight of the full board.

It would be interesting to find out how we actually do it.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Teams have bought in a junior to play NRL and they have fitted in straight away like Ethan Strange, Talagi, Plath, Iro, Galvin, etc. Surely Saints in all their junior base have some kids that can be thrown into the fire and be just as good as any unwanted player from another team. Lodge, JAC and Gutho all not wanted by their clubs yet Saints see them as a good fit which scares me. I would rather Saints bring in Wishart, Thompson and Atkinson who are actually wanted by there clubs but choosing to leave them for a crack at cementing a permanent spot.

 

[BIG RIG]

Shane Flanagan wants Addo Carr to meet the chairman before offering him a contract

 

[Pleasehelpstillchoking]

Shane Flanagan wants Addo Carr to meet the chairman before offering him a contract

There is a great kid waiting in the wings (pardon the pun), Sione Finau. He's been patient, loves the club, has tons of ability and they would risk losing him to sign this flog