Flanno's New Signings

[RedV Resurgence]

I went and watched Illias games from this year (2 in total), and he is what I found.

1) Has a long kicking game easily 50 metres on long kick.
2) has a short kicking game, just the kick near the line does not go as high as I would like.
3) good defender - not scared to tackle the big boys.
4) seems a good backer-upper up the middle.
5) He was not dominant from what I could see ( Latrell, Walker, Cook and Murray seem to dominate so he had little opportunity. they hogged the ball - not sure how any 7 could control that team.
6) Good cover defender.
7) Seems to need to be told you control the team.
8) would appear to run at the line and take a hit to create opportunities outside.

It would seem if Flanno can get him confident, he might be quite a good half. Souths really dropped him when Walker and Latrell made lost of mistakes eg kick ball out on the full, throw intercept pass to Saab; poor kickk on the 5th etc.

 

[TheRev]

Sharks will not budge on our early release request for Atkinson, so plan b is Ilias for 2025.

If we can get him locked in for 2026 I think we can revisit it.. right now though... what they are doing is encouraging him to stay since its not as our offer is not as compelling without 2025 thrown in.

I get it with guys like Ado Carr or Chrichton or Luai etc is they are part of the starting 17 of those clubs.. ofcourse those clubs need them to stay... Atkinson isnt in the sharks 17.. all be it he played 20 games in 2024... so he was valuable to them.... but they also have 3 other young 1s/6s in their extended squad who will want positions in 2026.

 

[Jubilee]

I went and watched Illias games from this year (2 in total), and he is what I found.

1) Has a long kicking game easily 50 metres on long kick.
2) has a short kicking game, just the kick near the line does not go as high as I would like.
3) good defender - not scared to tackle the big boys.
4) seems a good backer-upper up the middle.
5) He was not dominant from what I could see ( Latrell, Walker, Cook and Murray seem to dominate so he had little opportunity. they hogged the ball - not sure how any 7 could control that team.
6) Good cover defender.
7) Seems to need to be told you control the team.
8) would appear to run at the line and take a hit to create opportunities outside.

It would seem if Flanno can get him confident, he might be quite a good half. Souths really dropped him when Walker and Latrell made lost of mistakes eg kick ball out on the full, throw intercept pass to Saab; poor kickk on the 5th etc.

I am 100% behind him.

 

[56to66]

Bulldogs out of Hunt race as Broncos in box seat; rival clubs circle Cobbo: Free Agency LIVE

Bulldogs out of Hunt race as Broncos in box seat; rival clubs circle Cobbo: Free Agency LIVE

www.foxsports.com.au

I hope Flanno is sure about this signing

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

Bulldogs out of Hunt race as Broncos in box seat; rival clubs circle Cobbo: Free Agency LIVE

Bulldogs out of Hunt race as Broncos in box seat; rival clubs circle Cobbo: Free Agency LIVE

www.foxsports.com.au

I hope Flanno is sure about this signing

They were saying in the Herald (I think the Herald) that Souths are paying part of his 500k salary, so maybe 200k,we`ve signed him for 2 years, so sounds like he might be cheap.
Worth a punt IMO.

 

[jay mac]

I have always thought that he was a good quality halfback at the Sharks and also for the short duration of his time at the rorters .

Of course when Robinson had his eyes on Walker the situation changed and he was unceremoniously punted .
The lad’s confidence was shattered and he was unable to play to his true ability at the Bulldogs because of it . The Dragons rejuvenated him and I believe that he will only get better .

With the right halves partner I am sure that he will have a tremendous season in 2025

I can buy in to this take

 

[Jubilee]

Bulldogs out of Hunt race as Broncos in box seat; rival clubs circle Cobbo: Free Agency LIVE

Bulldogs out of Hunt race as Broncos in box seat; rival clubs circle Cobbo: Free Agency LIVE

www.foxsports.com.au

I hope Flanno is sure about this signing

Flanno did not have a dozen choices, so this is what we have.

Optimistically, Flanno now has a 6 and 7 who will execute his game plans and not try to play over the top of each other. They can both tackle and will have lots of experience all around them. Cook and Liddle will provide lots of ruck speed and Gutho will join in the backline. With Sua, the Couchies, Leluia and JDB, can this team get 14 wins next year? Maybe.

 

[Gareth67]

I can buy in to this take

You are more than welcome jay mac ! Quite pleasing to see yet another discerning buyer .

 

[jak]

Here's a thought. Cook is with us only until end 2026. Then we will have Liddle as hooker for 2027 but no clear back-up. So now Mulheisen is gone, who will be in the pathway?

Ilias has been scheduled in the hooker rotation at Souths. I wonder if he will be brought over to cover #9 as well as being a #7 backstop...until suitable juniors come through the pathways.

There is a young 9 that was brought over from Penrith (?) or somewhere but he won't be ready for years.

the way the game is being played i feel both llias and young flanno could both play half or lock or 14

 

[justadragon]

Lets put a few things into perspective, just having Hunt gone will make us a 20% better team. Our leadership alone improves by gazillions, our morale is back to the Dragons way, not enduring some little sniffler pining to be at another team just to win a premiership. Lets not forget this parasite was our captain FFS, the person responsible for getting the team over the line, leading by example, gluing the club together, rallying the troops when times are tough. There is no need to ask any Dragons supporter if we will be better next year, of course we will be, our f$#king anchor has gone.

 

[Illusion]

Lets put a few things into perspective, just having Hunt gone will make us a 20% better team. Our leadership alone improves by gazillions, our morale is back to the Dragons way, not enduring some little sniffler pining to be at another team just to win a premiership. Lets not forget this parasite was our captain FFS, the person responsible for getting the team over the line, leading by example, gluing the club together, rallying the troops when times are tough. There is no need to ask any Dragons supporter if we will be better next year, of course we will be, our f$#king anchor has gone.

Agree I said loooong ago if you remember , that we will not start rebuilding until the little twat was gone .......

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

After the rabbits let Reynolds go. I took much pleasure in watching Ilias play footy and pointing out to my rabbit supporting mates that he looked like a deer in the headlights every time he f**ked up (which was very often). I couldn’t believe that the rabbits would let Reynolds go for this bloke. And now the dragons are going to sign him FML. I hope this guy proves me wrong. I really do.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

After the rabbits let Reynolds go. I took much pleasure in watching Ilias play footy and pointing out to my rabbit supporting mates that he looked like a deer in the headlights every time he f**ked up (which was very often). I couldn’t believe that the rabbits would let Reynolds go for this bloke. And now the dragons are going to sign him FML. I hope this guy proves me wrong. I really do.

So you don`t think that some of this was from having a permanently angry Walker outside him, a lazy entitled slob like Mitchell demanding the ball whenever he felt like it, a coach who can`t get a first-grade gig anymore and not to mention the pressure of stepping into a club legends shoes.
But Souths did let Reynolds go for this bloke, so I`d say a lot of footy heads, including Cook now it seems, thought this bloke had it in him.
Confidence is a wonderful thing, I expect Flanno will instil it in him, let`s see how he goes then.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I went and watched Illias games from this year (2 in total), and he is what I found.

1) Has a long kicking game easily 50 metres on long kick.
2) has a short kicking game, just the kick near the line does not go as high as I would like.
3) good defender - not scared to tackle the big boys.
4) seems a good backer-upper up the middle.
5) He was not dominant from what I could see ( Latrell, Walker, Cook and Murray seem to dominate so he had little opportunity. they hogged the ball - not sure how any 7 could control that team.
6) Good cover defender.
7) Seems to need to be told you control the team.
8) would appear to run at the line and take a hit to create opportunities outside.

It would seem if Flanno can get him confident, he might be quite a good half. Souths really dropped him when Walker and Latrell made lost of mistakes eg kick ball out on the full, throw intercept pass to Saab; poor kickk on the 5th etc.

Ticks a lot of boxes, likely devoid of confidence after being the scapegoat.

Our Coach seems pretty good at building player’s confidence.

 

[blacksafake]

So you don`t think that some of this was from having a permanently angry Walker outside him, a lazy entitled slob like Mitchell demanding the ball whenever he felt like it, a coach who can`t get a first-grade gig anymore and not to mention the pressure of stepping into a club legends shoes.
But Souths did let Reynolds go for this bloke, so I`d say a lot of footy heads, including Cook now it seems, thought this bloke had it in him.
Confidence is a wonderful thing, I expect Flanno will instil it in him, let`s see how he goes then.

Some really good points in there MNS

 

[st.phil]

We have two scrap heap halves, will they prove em all wrong ? Flanno is good like that but water into wine, I dunno

 

[Dragon David]

If in the next few days it is confirmed that Ilias has signed with us then I think Damien Cook could have had a hand in getting him to join us. I honestly haven't given much consideration of Ilias as a player and whether or not he can manage the team and if Cook has talked Flanno into getting him signed, I have some apprehension about it. Much like Ben H possibly pitching for his Brisbane/Queensland buddies to join when we had Hook Griffin.

I know that the guys that we do want are tied up with contracts elsewhere and these are the ones we must go hard for. We need a top notch half who can do virtually everything (Trindall, Cleary, Walker etc type) and looking at how Wishart and Atkinson are performing, these guys we cannot lose sight of for the future.

I'm prepared to see how Ilias goes, if we do sign him and hopefully Flanno can get him to do "virtually" anything. While I'm glad we don't have Hunt now, the standard of Ilias is below Hunt in my opinion so is there any improvement in the halves that we really need for 2025?

 

[St Tangles]

I'm not against and Ilias signing, I just don't know how he and Flanno jr will work together?

 

[VodkaSaint]

Cook wants to win and he thinks Highly of Ilias.
If Ilias can get his confidence up then we are onto a winner.
Reynolds wasnt let go for this kid for nothing.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

So you don`t think that some of this was from having a permanently angry Walker outside him, a lazy entitled slob like Mitchell demanding the ball whenever he felt like it, a coach who can`t get a first-grade gig anymore and not to mention the pressure of stepping into a club legends shoes.
But Souths did let Reynolds go for this bloke, so I`d say a lot of footy heads, including Cook now it seems, thought this bloke had it in him.
Confidence is a wonderful thing, I expect Flanno will instil it in him, let`s see how he goes then.

Mate. That has a lot to do with it as well. Like I said, I was laughing at Souffs for letting a club legend go for this bloke. Like a lot of other supporters out there. Now we sign him. I’m sure Flanno knows what he’s doing. I’ll be very happy if he goes well. Always happy to be proven wrong.