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Flanno's New Signings

justadragon

Bench
Messages
4,093
Article I read today, looks like the NRL are going to consider options for a Draft system, it's being headed up by some pretty big wigs. They wont entertain any of this fair trade crap. They can finally see the light because of the new teams coming in. In my opinion should have happened years ago. If it does come in the Dragons would want to make sure they have a damn good list manager, certainly not Haran !!!
 

Dragon David

First Grade
Messages
9,285
Article I read today, looks like the NRL are going to consider options for a Draft system, it's being headed up by some pretty big wigs. They wont entertain any of this fair trade crap. They can finally see the light because of the new teams coming in. In my opinion should have happened years ago. If it does come in the Dragons would want to make sure they have a damn good list manager, certainly not Haran !!!
I hope that you guys are able to get this article and I agree with what you say justa. Many of us have thought that something like this is needed to "even" out the player quality for all teams and better their chances of winning the comp.
 

RedVee

First Grade
Messages
7,086
Article I read today, looks like the NRL are going to consider options for a Draft system, it's being headed up by some pretty big wigs. They wont entertain any of this fair trade crap. They can finally see the light because of the new teams coming in. In my opinion should have happened years ago. If it does come in the Dragons would want to make sure they have a damn good list manager, certainly not Haran !!!


I hope that you guys are able to get this article and I agree with what you say justa. Many of us have thought that something like this is needed to "even" out the player quality for all teams and better their chances of winning the comp.

I wonder what payoff the RLPA will extract for their support of any draft proposal?
 

Trifili13

Juniors
Messages
1,135
How bad is his Gutho's knee. Is it like Lomax's knee around Origin this year? Is it chronic?
I just listed Gutho as he is someone who has had knee problems. He in fact had 2 ACL ops earlier in his career and earlier this year missed about 1 month for an op on his knee to remove fluid.

Liddle and Moga are 2 more players I didn't mention who we have signed in the last couple of years that also had ACL's.

As I said, I did make my original comment as a joke but it does have a level of truth to it give the number of players I have listed. Stand to be corrected but I would be surprised if any other club has signed or have rumoured to be looking at so many with a history of knee injuries. Thankfully the players we have signed have not had a re-occurrance and someone like Liddle has actually been very good. While Gutho is at the back end of his career, he has shown himself to be a leader and wholehearted player so would wish him all the best if we sign him.

I think a function why we sign older or players with an injury history is how far we have fallen as a club as the better performing and run clubs can obviously attract better players. Hopefully Flanno has got us heading in the right direction, our juniors are able to transition to first grade and the better players will see a future in coming to us and at a decent price and not having to go 'all in' on a marquee and cross your fingers it turns out. Many a club, including us, have been burnt with this strategy.

Again, apologise if anyone took my original post the wrong way.
 
Messages
4,420
Jonah Pezet is now a free agent after he knocked back a Storm extension. Flanno said once the Hunt sacking hit the news stands he had six or seven player managers contact him. Perhaps one was repping for Pezet. But is he the best we can buy. Stats dont say so, specially his try assists. Wonder who were they repping? Like always we fans have to be patient in finding out.
 

TheRev

Coach
Messages
11,619
Here is an archived version of the NRL Rookie Draft article.

Its not a full draft but its a rly good start.. first pick at rookies for the clubs finishing last etc.. anything to help even up the talent pool.. hate the way the roosters etc stockpile talent that they will never even need..

The system always needed the ability for the development club to quarantine a certain number of kids that they get first pick on since they are a development club that produces them (the article said '1', but I think it would be more like '6').

Dont get me wrong, that will not be easy to do.. there are 50 prospects at a development club that might be 1st graders.... it wont be easy to pick the top 1 2 or 3 kids.. depends at what age they have to be picked I guess.. we have some 16-17yr olds for example that look good.... but of the 18-19yr olds... maybe Kade Reed would be our #1 because of the value of a halfback, maybe a Latu or a Tonga or a Halangahu or there is more talent coming thru this year if you wanted to focus on a forward... like it could be really hard to pick, but atleast if you had a Sam Walker or a Nathan Cleary, you get to keep them.
 

justadragon

Bench
Messages
4,093
I wonder what payoff the RLPA will extract for their support of any draft proposal?
I dont believe the RLPA deserves anything, either abide by the draft or you wont have a comp to play in. As the article mentions, it cannot keep going like this. The salary cap certainly isnt working and these TPA's are certainly bullshit that skewer everything towards the richer clubs.What is funny though is Robinson is one of the main instigators of this proposal.
 

Dragon David

First Grade
Messages
9,285
I dont believe the RLPA deserves anything, either abide by the draft or you wont have a comp to play in. As the article mentions, it cannot keep going like this. The salary cap certainly isnt working and these TPA's are certainly bullshit that skewer everything towards the richer clubs.What is funny though is Robinson is one of the main instigators of this proposal.
Yes, I found that strange that Robbo is agreeing to this. Robbo can be pro-active provided that in the end it helps the Roosters (even more).
 

dungay dragon

Juniors
Messages
1,345
Jonah Pezet is now a free agent after he knocked back a Storm extension. Flanno said once the Hunt sacking hit the news stands he had six or seven player managers contact him. Perhaps one was repping for Pezet. But is he the best we can buy. Stats dont say so, specially his try assists. Wonder who were they repping? Like always we fans have to be patient in finding out.
If we land Atkinson , perhaps that rubs out interest for Pezet
Especially if we are going all in for May
Gutho ,Atkinson/Pezet and May
Pretty fair Trifecta
Not forgetting Val n Cookie
 

BigRedVee

Juniors
Messages
739
1Lawrie
2De Belin
3Holmes
4Cook
5Finau
6Ravalawa
7Leilua
8Allan
9Couchman R
10Couchman T
11Pasifiki Tonga
12Stewart
13Feagai Mt
14Fifita
15Flanagan
16Tuipolotu
17Liddle
18Molo F
19Molo M
20Egan
21Faitala Mariner
22Sele
23Sloan
24Sua
25Suli
26Ramsey
27
28
29
30

Given what I missed and the media reports that's the official list so far.

I was confused with halangahu and late because so many lists out there in the media had them in the top squad.

We haven't had any confirmation of the 27th player, nothing announced about eisenhuth or lkt in top 30 yet
So its 5 spots remaining now that Ramsey is out of the 30?
 

TheRev

Coach
Messages
11,619
I wonder what payoff the RLPA will extract for their support of any draft proposal?
I've never rly had any interest in union/political stuff, and we do need the players to be represented.. but imo everyone needs to get their heads out of their narrow little spheres, and consider the longterm view.. which is ultimately "improving the NRL as a product = everyone keeps winning".

I've been saying the season is too long for years, Gus got slammed for his views on it.. but if we let the RLPA or Media decide the future of the NRL.. they will just squeeze the lemon to maximise their interests with short to medium term thinking about their own priorities.

The NRL needs to drive that long-term vision.. noone else can.
 
Last edited:

Auntie.Gerald

First Grade
Messages
7,267
No .. it is 4 ... you are missing Finau Latu
You could probably argue that the following players may still be off our top30 before midway 2025

Faffita
Lawrie
Sione
Rava

In for 2025 ideal world with the limited options would be a serious amount of experience and strike:

Cook - ✔️
Holmes - ✔️
Gutho - ?
Atkinson - ?
JAC - ?
Lodge - ?
Terrell May - ?
Doueihi - covers 4 positions with experience and only needed maybe 1 year plus a MO ?
 

Ronnie Dobbs

Coach
Messages
17,431

I hope that you guys are able to get this article and I agree with what you say justa. Many of us have thought that something like this is needed to "even" out the player quality for all teams and better their chances of winning the comp.
It will essentially have to take over the elite pathways from the clubs. The clubs are essentially farms at the moment and they manage their own farms from early on.

This would essentially make the clubs franchises participating in a lottery and take their farms off them to provide the prizes in the lottery.

Very interesting.
 
Messages
1,871
You could probably argue that the following players may still be off our top30 before midway 2025

Faffita
Lawrie
Sione
Rava

In for 2025 ideal world with the limited options would be a serious amount of experience and strike:

Cook - ✔️
Holmes - ✔️
Gutho - ?
Atkinson - ?
JAC - ?
Lodge - ?
Terrell May - ?
Doueihi - covers 4 positions with experience and only needed maybe 1 year plus a MO ?
JAC - no
Lodge - no
May - fk no!
 

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