Flanno's New Signings

[Mother Nature's Son]

Some really good points in there MNS

None of it original mate, just stuff I`ve read here and there, but one thing I should have mentioned, seems a lot of players had PB`s last year: Sloan, Suli, Lomax, Liddle, Kyle for starters. Really hoping Flanno can add Illias to that list this year.

 

[BigRedVee]

I’m hoping we pick up Dewey now so that we have Kyle and Illias shooting it out for the 7 and Dewey and LKT for the 6.

 

[Jubilee]

I’m hoping we pick up Dewey now so that we have Kyle and Illias shooting it out for the 7 and Dewey and LKT for the 6.

Douehi would be useful but we lack spots, I think.

 

[TruSaint]

None of it original mate, just stuff I`ve read here and there, but one thing I should have mentioned, seems a lot of players had PB`s last year: Sloan, Suli, Lomax, Liddle, Kyle for starters. Really hoping Flanno can add Illias to that list this year.

David Riccio
@DaveRic1

Two-year deal for
@SSFCRABBITOHS
Lachlan Ilias to@NRL_Dragons
now a mere formality. He will be the starting halfback in 2025. Understand a supportive push from Damien Cook played a factor in the pursuit.
@telegraph_sport

 

[Gareth67]

Regardless of the combination of Ilias and Flanagan jr. and also their level of confidence , they will still require a couple of true big boppers to make life easier for them - something which the Dragons do not possess at present.

Should their efforts not reach the expected level then I do
hope that we are able to give them both a bit of leeway more so when we take into consideration that this will be the first occasion that they have played together .

Our only other forlorn hope is that another club will need to release a good forward soon - very soon . Whether or not Lodge will be that player we as yet do not know , but I have a feeling that he will be at the wabbits .

 

[jeffdragon]

Regardless of the combination of Ilias and Flanagan jr. and also their level of confidence , they will still require a couple of true big boppers to make life easier for them - something which the Dragons do not possess at present.

Should their efforts not reach the expected level then I do
hope that we are able to give them both a bit of leeway more so when we take into consideration that this will be the first occasion that they have played together .

Unfortunately I have a feeling that Lodge will be at the wabbits with Bennett and that leaves the cupboard just about bare . Our only other forlorn hope is that another club will need to release a good forward soon - very soon .

We had chances to sign RCG and Safiti and co but nothing so far.

 

[Nutz]

David Riccio
@DaveRic1

Two-year deal for
@SSFCRABBITOHS
Lachlan Ilias to@NRL_Dragons
now a mere formality. He will be the starting halfback in 2025. Understand a supportive push from Damien Cook played a factor in the pursuit.
@telegraph_sport

Lachlan Ilias and Damien Cook...smart signings.
Cook worked really well with Koloamatangi and I predict he'll help Faitala-Mariner to to a new level. He'll hit some holes and crash balls and if players like Su'a make breaks Cooky will be hot on their tails.
I'd be optimistic about your top 8 chances next year because your coach is a hard butt and he's bought in Gutho, Holmes and Cook who are ultra competitive and that's what your team needs.
If Daniel Atkinson is still available I'd go hard for him as I'd love to see in in the red and white.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

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.

Although a little hesitant about Ilias, a great sales pitch there Jubilee.
Happy to give him a go, especially with LKT lurking.

So now the 'Elephant in the room' is our middle.
Can they improve on 2024 especially now we are down to 3 forwards on the bench?
I don't see JDB as a bookend meter eater - though gives 100%.
Are any of the juniors able to stand up week to week
Or will there be a sneaky recruit?

 

[Dragonslayer]

People still negative on signing Ilias. DA isn't available and AD is a risk.

Well, there's a guy named ben Hunt who is still without a club for '25, maybe we should ................. (pink text)

 

[possm]

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.

Halves can be most effective when a dominant forward pack sets a platform for them.

Maybe this new recruit from rugby will end up being a great lock forward.

 

[Dea]

So many variables in recruitment that result in teams not always getting what they want. May to Tigers seems like a chance for him to play with old mates close to home. Didn’t matter how much $ we offer, so we didn’t make an offer. Sharks & Storm wont release early to help us out. And of course our roster was stuffed up under past coaches and poor recruitment management se we have a few players locked in to us that we want to offload but can’t.
IMO Flanno is working through these challenges well. Gutho, Holmes and Cook are good signings bringing leadership, professionalism, and a will to win to the club. Getting rid of Hunt is another positive. His negative influence on the team, poor leadership, failure to control the game, hogging the ball, is finally gone. But we are waiting for him to decide before we can decide on who to replace him. We also have to add to our forwards. We have missed a few. The simplistic response is to say we should have offered more money. But money doesn’t always win.
We have 2 spots and 2 needs. I know what I’d like, but I also recognise where we are starting from and the challenges. So far Flanno has delivered upgrades with his recruitments and improvements in the existing playing group. I hate waiting, but have to hope he gets what we need and then improves what we get.

 

[Jubilee]

Although a little hesitant about Ilias, a great sales pitch there Jubilee.

Got to keep up the morale. Once that's gone...

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I’m hoping we pick up Dewey now so that we have Kyle and Illias shooting it out for the 7 and Dewey and LKT for the 6.

Doueihi is a similar type deal to Ilias.

Cheap (for a reason) with high potential upside

 

[Jubilee]

Maybe this new recruit from rugby will end up being a great lock forward.

I don't suppose that is the plan, but it also isn't impossible.

 

[hewi]

Competition for wing spots will be interesting, Sloan, Tulipuloto, Allen and Lawson. I still think that Fafita and LPT will be playing prop off the bench this season.

 

[Jubilee]

Competition for wing spots will be interesting, Sloan, Tulipuloto, Allen and Lawson. I still think that Fafita and LPT will be playing prop off the bench this season.

Agree. LPT will get some game time. I don't know where Sloan will be playing.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Regardless of the combination of Ilias and Flanagan jr. and also their level of confidence , they will still require a couple of true big boppers to make life easier for them - something which the Dragons do not possess at present.

Should their efforts not reach the expected level then I do
hope that we are able to give them both a bit of leeway more so when we take into consideration that this will be the first occasion that they have played together .

Our only other forlorn hope is that another club will need to release a good forward soon - very soon . Whether or not Lodge will be that player we as yet do not know , but I have a feeling that he will be at the wabbits .

Agreed I think the Ilias dollars now goes to lodge..our front row still looks very poor. Shame we cannot get rid of Lawrie or Ravalawa.
I sense the big project over the off season is getting Fifita and Tonga to some extent ready for first grade stints

 

[hewi]

Agree. LPT will get some game time. I don't know where Sloan will be playing.

Sloan in attack as a winger will be great, Sloan as a winger bringer the ball back from our red zone will be the same as if he is fullback, he will be easily dominated.

 

[Jubilee]

Sloan in attack as a winger will be great, Sloan as a winger bringer the ball back from our red zone will be the same as if he is fullback, he will be easily dominated.

Lawson with his size and speed and he has played in the forwards in union...he will become one of the regular wingers pretty quickly.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Lawson with his size and speed and he has played in the forwards in union...he will become one of the regular wingers pretty quickly.

Agree