Flanno's New Signings

[possm]

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.

Yes, but along with an alpha prop, we also need a very quick lock who is big and has good defense. Lawson has size and speed and could make a huge difference to our back row.

1. Gutherson
2. Allan
3. Holmes
4. Suli
5. Tuipulotu
6. Flannagan
7. Illis
8. Thompson
9. Cook
10. Molo
11. Leilua
12. Su'A
13. Lawson
14. Liddle
15. De Belin
16. Couchman
17. Sele

 

[mattw5]

Yes, but along with an alpha prop, we also need a very quick lock who is big and has good defense. Lawson has size and speed and could make a huge difference to our back row.

1. Gutherson
2. Allan
3. Holmes
4. Suli
5. Tuipulotu
6. Flannagan
7. Illis
8. Thompson
9. Cook
10. Molo
11. Leilua
12. Su'A
13. Lawson
14. Liddle
15. De Belin
16. Couchman
17. Sele

We are not getting Thompson nor will Lawson play in the forwards

 

[hewi]

One of the Couchmans is made for lock IMO, bit like Bradley Clyde

 

[St Tangles]

One of the Couchmans is made for lock IMO, bit like Bradley Clyde

Yep one at 13
One on the bench

 

[maestro1]

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.

Depends on his size from the summer. If he puts on between 5 to 8 kg without losing speed, he might surprise.

 

[maestro1]

Agree

He looks more like a centre to me

 

[Illusion]

I thought this guy went alright https://www-zerotackle-com.cdn.ampp...arschke-returns-to-north-sydney-bears-217358/

 

[pinball_collector]

Have a feeling the Ilias signing will work like Sowie signing in 2007.

Just needs some positive people around and supporting him.

 

[hook hook]

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.

Has to end up being Lawson and finau. Tui has power but no speed. Sloan has speed but no power.
both Lawson and finau have both. It must be them

 

[hewi]

Has to end up being Lawson and finau. Tui has power but no speed. Sloan has speed but no power.
both Lawson and finau have both. It must be them

Or do you take 1 of each , hedge your bets so to speak?

 

[BIG RIG]

Looks like Ilias is our man but no-one seems overly excited by this - apart from the "phew, at least we got someone" consolation.
I'm not really up to date with his injury, I googled it but found more opinions than facts. He's been a free agent since April 2024 apparently which surprised me - no-one's seriously come knocking. I thought he went ok in 22-23 at the Bunnies, played a good supporting roll to his halves partner and had a reasonable kicking game. With us he'll have to take the dominant role in the halves. Can he do that ? Not ideal coming back from a serious leg injury but it's also an opportunity to step out of the shadow of others and lead a team around the park. He'll have plenty of support from Cook, Gutho and others. Without a plan B we can only welcome him aboard and wish him every success.

I think the only murmur since April was that he was linked to swap with Hastings at the Knights but Souths went cold on the idea

 

[Sloan Ranger]

Unless we make 2 more decent signings, massive pressure on Flanno to come up with a game plan that suits a team with a very average middle, very average halves, two hookers and two fullbacks. It'll be a fun ride.

 

[Squid1]

Rubbish way better playing group than last year

 

[Sloan Ranger]

I agree the 'group' is better, not sure the team we will put on the park is much better.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I agree the 'group' is better, not sure the team we will put on the park is much better.

How does that work?

 

[Dragon Blood]

If we sign Ilias the pusti malaka, I hope he is the reincarnation of the late great Tommy Raudonikis for us.

Ahhhh, ATM it's all backdoor Greek to me, especially with Bwaiff involved.

Throw in Nick Tsougranis for 25 and we're all good for a traditional lamb spit roast. Imagine the whole team taking turns basting with olive oil and rosemary.

​

 

[BIG RIG]

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

Abit Concerning regarding our missed opportunities at going for a marquee prop this past 6 months

Big Names have come and gone and we have had a crack at a few of them :

AFB - Offered very nice contract but decided to go to the Sharks

Royce Hunt - Didn’t even express interest

Stefano Utoikamanu - Preliminary Interest then decided not to pursue

Terrell May - Rejected Contract

Daniel Saifiti - Had a medical with club but not sure why he was never offered a contract

RCG - Was our best shot but Flanno didn’t wanna offer more than 2 yrs

I’m very concerned with our forward pack for 25 and that doesn’t help with this reported halves pairing of Kyle Flanagan and Lachlan Illias

 

[Dragon David]

Abit Concerning regarding our missed opportunities at going for a marquee prop this past 6 months

Big Names have come and gone and we have had a crack at a few of them :

AFB - Offered very nice contract but decided to go to the Sharks

Royce Hunt - Didn’t even express interest

Stefano Utoikamanu - Preliminary Interest then decided not to pursue

Terrell May - Rejected Contract

Daniel Saifiti - Had a medical with club but not sure why he was never offered a contract

RCG - Was our best shot but Flanno didn’t wanna offer more than 2 yrs

I’m very concerned with our forward pack for 25 and that doesn’t help with this reported halves pairing of Kyle Flanagan and Lachlan Illias

Yes BR, all in all while the signings of Gutho, Cook, Holmes and Lawson are good, our lack of ability to sign a decent prop and having a halves pairing of Kyle F and L Ilias in '25 is very concerning to me as well. Flanno identified a big bopper middle prop was needed ages ago and had plenty of chances in a way to secure at least one of them - I thought RCG was a certainty but nothing of course is certain at the Dragons.

Hunt wanting out was simmering from 2023 so plans to sign a decent half back should have been a priority to get done for 2025 a long time back. I know that any future half back signing was made difficult with Hunt still at the club and if he knew that we were actually going to sign a half back for 2025 he could have stuck his heals in and not quit the club and his money then not available to get the new half back next year. Ilias is Cook's recommendation which Flanno has decided to go along with I think. Ilias is not a great half but maybe he has other qualities just like Ben Hornby who also wasn't a flashy half but a steady one as we know.

I'm hopeful that Flanno can get the halves we have to gel and play for the team. They could be a good balanced pairing.

Prop is next. Keep your eyes and ears open BR for some news mate. Cheers.

 

[Draginzaaar]

Yes, but along with an alpha prop, we also need a very quick lock who is big and has good defense. Lawson has size and speed and could make a huge difference to our back row.

1. Gutherson
2. Allan
3. Holmes
4. Suli
5. Tuipulotu
6. Flannagan
7. Illis
8. Thompson
9. Cook
10. Molo
11. Leilua
12. Su'A
13. Lawson
14. Liddle
15. De Belin
16. Couchman
17. Sele

Thompson? He's signed for next year. He is not coming.

 

[Draginzaaar]

If we sign Ilias the pusti malaka, I hope he is the reincarnation of the late great Tommy Raudonikis for us.

Ahhhh, ATM it's all backdoor Greek to me, especially with Bwaiff involved.

Throw in Nick Tsougranis for 25 and we're all good for a traditional lamb spit roast. Imagine the whole team taking turns basting with olive oil and rosemary.

​

Tom was Lithuanian.