Flanno's New Signings

[Veteran Dragon]

Was going fine until he asked for a release at the end of 2024. I’d say Sticky being Sticky is a reason why he only played 11 games in 2024. Stuart seems to do this when players want outView attachment 98280

I don’t put any value on Stuart’s coaching. He comes across as a person with a very bad temper

Was going fine until he asked for a release at the end of 2024. I’d say Sticky being Sticky is a reason why he only played 11 games in 2024. Stuart seems to do this when players want outView attachment 98280

I don‘t put too much stock in Stuart‘s coaching. He comes across as a coach that makes many decisions purely on emotions.

 

[Veteran Dragon]

Any updates on Flanno meeting up with Dylan Brown or is it just media speculation?

 

[Harry Bath]

I don't mind people talking up new signings but at least be realistic about it or do a bit of research.
Very promising is a stretch.
2019, Guler plays just 11 games, mostly off the bench and is lucky to make the bench for the GF.
2020, Guler plays just 8 games because Sticky sends him back to reserves to "work on a few things". Does not play in any of their 3 finals matches.
2024, 11 games off the bench, rest of the year in reserves. 2025, released.
His career trajectory has been very similar to Josh Kerr's, big body with potential but never quite making it, stuck in 2nd gear. There's no evidence to suggest he'll be anything more than another Kerr.
If he kicks on great but we still need a good prop or two.

what happened in 2022 and 2023 didn't he play?

 

[maestro1]

I've hardly mentioned Molo apart from saying we can't afford to lose props when we're desperately short in that area at the moment. I never commented on his abilities apart from saying him and our other props are mostly better than Guler, which they are. I was discussing the Guler signing so I'm not sure what you're on about with the Molo perspective thing.
As for recruitment, I know as little or as much as anyone else on here and base my opinions on 60+ years of watching rugby league. Are you trying to tell me you know better than the rest of us ? You want us to shut up and just pretend Guler is a good signing when he's obviously not ? We're going to need a prop or two with substantially more worth than Guler to have an impact on the ladder this year, that's a simple fact. As a new recruit, I rate Guler as pretty much the same level as Josh Kerr, you'll get a good game or two out of him, nothing more, a barely adequate bench player (except Kerr has a great offload). If Flanno manages to sign us a decent prop before round 1 you can bet Guler gets used sparingly, off the bench only but hopefully not blocking the progress of our young fellas coming through.

Who's opinion is it the Guler is NOT a good signing? Certainly not mine or a vast majority on this forum. So far, it is pretty much ONLY you. Guler is good to very good at the moment ..... and when availability of good middles is taken inti consideration, his signing is a bloody beauty. The fact that you keep screaming that he isn't a good signing, DOES NOT make it so. He is coming from a club that is extremely strong in middles and this has limited his opportunities. Hold your powder dry and give him a chance and then scream it. I'm guessing that you won't get the opportunity to bag his signing if he runs out for us and plays well

 

[matPORTS]

The general consensus among the punters so far regarding our seems to be:

Elite - Gutho, Val, Cookie

The rest - Lawson, Ilias, Guler ... either optimistic, average, or waste of time.

I keep saying it - if we have luck go our way RE: injuries, the playing group remaining focused on the task + meeting their markers on the training paddock, and being able to keep the same 17 on the field most weeks, we can probably sneak into positions 5-8 with the group we've got.

We are at least 5-7 years away from being a genuine top four contender again, and that's only if we stick with Flanno and his plans around us being "the big club" that we are come to fruition - i.e. that means getting the junior system firing again like it was 20+ years back.

I'm resigned to the fact that we may never be able to sign an elite level middle - and by that I mean someone in the realm of Leota, Yeo or Payne Haas (said it before AFB was really a critical signing that we missed out on - and he's probably still a rung below the other guys mentioned here). There really is no one easily available - so we are going to have to hope that the likes of LPT kick on in their development.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Flanno is pretty big on his body shapes and I think Guler fits that mould. Flanno does seem to get the best out of hs forwards so I am sure he will get Guler playing to his potential which can't be too bad seeing he was a junior Kangaroo. He is a better option than Lodge as he has no bad press and has not been to so many clubs. Hetherington at Saints will be a disaster. He just has to breath on a player if he is wearing the red V and he will get 4-6 weeks with his track record of suspensions. The Red V jersey increases you chance of suspension by double. I feel for the guy if he joins the red V as the refs will know who to target for a penalty or 2 to give the opposition a leg up.

As mentioned above Guler was stuck between 2 gun props in Papalii and Tapine. He was never going to replace them and if so he would have had to done something special.

It's around this time last year we saw big Luciano and RFM join. It seems Flanno likes to leave it late to snap up a forward or 2. Good to know so people don't panic next off season if Saints need a player this time of year as Flanno clearly likes to leave it late. Hopefully we will hear of another in the coming weeks.

 

[sammymills]

what happened in 2022 and 2023 didn't he play?

in 2021, 22 and 23 he played 19, 16 and 25 games.
Amazing how some people skew information to make whatever point they want seem valid.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Board meeting to decide fate of Dragons forward who wants out amid refusal to train

Board meeting to decide fate of Dragons forward who wants out amid refusal to train

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[kit66]

Yes, personality. I think there is a recurring pattern: guys who are team players, relatively less egotistical than average who have something to prove. In psychological / personality-type terms I think he prefers players who are ‘other centered’, especially those who have a redemption-story aspect. I think this is probably a function of his own (and possibly Kyle’s) life experiences, especially in the RL realm. He‘s intolerant of guys who are apparently somewhat self-focused or, for whatever reason, are less internally ‘driven’ (eg; those who believe they’re already ‘great’ or are interested in individual sporting achievements like boxing).

You make a good point. It could be said Flanno didn't "have the dressing room" last year, not 100% anyway with unhappy players like Hunt, Lomax and Lawrie and possibly Bird all agitating and stirring things up. He won't have that issue this year, the dressing room is his to command 100% and his troops will react to that. As I said Lawrie might settle down and get his form back with Lomax and Hunt gone (if not, he's not worth holding on to). The new recruits, Gutho, Cookie and Val are very team-oriented players and have already been given leadership roles, they'll respond in kind. The young guys will benefit greatly from that. Illias has been given a lifeline - it's make or break - so he's all in you'd think and Kyle will want to repay his dad's trust in him. The others just need to keep doing what they're doing and let Flanno and the new spine guide them around the park. They could do good things this team, no pressure, no-one expecting much of them (some writing them off yet again), just need the new combinations to click and we're good.

 

[kit66]

Who's opinion is it the Guler is NOT a good signing? Certainly not mine or a vast majority on this forum. So far, it is pretty much ONLY you. Guler is good to very good at the moment ..... and when availability of good middles is taken inti consideration, his signing is a bloody beauty. The fact that you keep screaming that he isn't a good signing, DOES NOT make it so. He is coming from a club that is extremely strong in middles and this has limited his opportunities. Hold your powder dry and give him a chance and then scream it. I'm guessing that you won't get the opportunity to bag his signing if he runs out for us and plays well

What screaming ? I made a post saying Guler is ordinary then people come at me with these ridiculous posts portraying Guler as the best signing in the world and writing bullshit assessments of his career, just making shit up and at the same time saying how all our current players are absolute shit. So I respond.
And it seems it's ok to bag out some of our players relentlessly but don't dare bag out an iffy new signing. f**k that.
If Guler turns out alright then good but he better not block our kids coming through and we'd better not think the recruitment drive is done with Guler and stop looking for a better prop or two.

 

[kit66]

in 2021, 22 and 23 he played 19, 16 and 25 games.
Amazing how some people skew information to make whatever point they want seem valid.

I was replying to a post that only mentioned 2019 + 2020. I added last year to make another point. So ead.

 

[qld redvee]

Board meeting to decide fate of Dragons forward who wants out amid refusal to train

Board meeting to decide fate of Dragons forward who wants out amid refusal to train

www.foxsports.com.au

Zero tackle "reporting" several teams interested in signing frank if we release him.. you would hope vlandys and co look into this as he does have a 2 year deal with us. And if he has health issues how could he suddenly come good and decide he wanted to play again
Maybe we should tell young molo to pack his bags also will give us another spot

 

[Jubilee]

Any updates on Flanno meeting up with Dylan Brown or is it just media speculation?

I doubt we would go for him. Too expensive when we have juniors to retain in the coming years.

 

[Jubilee]

If Guler turns out alright then good but he better not block our kids coming through and we'd better not think the recruitment drive is done with Guler and stop looking for a better prop or two.

End 2025 Eisenhuth and JDB and Michael Molo end contracts. End 2026 Lawrie, Guler, Leluia, Cook. There are enough spots for good juniors.

 

[Captain Apollo]

I doubt we would go for him. Too expensive when we have juniors to retain in the coming years.

Media reports are that Brown is currently on around $900k per season and his management have said his asking price would be $1.2 million per season. Based on his form over the last 2-3 years, he's currently on "overs" and definitely not worth $1.2 million a season.

I agree with you, he's not the caliber of player deserving that much money for your club, or much of any other NRL club for that matter (my own included).

 

[Mojo]

Board meeting to decide fate of Dragons forward who wants out amid refusal to train

Board meeting to decide fate of Dragons forward who wants out amid refusal to train

www.foxsports.com.au

“star forward“ “if he is dumped” - give it a rest … he has absented himself on the basis of mental health and has accordingly and respectfully been granted leave by the club.

I’d like to see two ‘rules’ adopted by the NRL:

1. any player appealing mental health issues - mandatory 6 months break from playing; and

2. Player manager’s commissions automatically discounted in proportion to years of early contract terminations for any player who subsequently transfers to another club - eg; 12 months early = discount 25%, 24 months early = 50% discount etc.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Who's opinion is it the Guler is NOT a good signing? Certainly not mine or a vast majority on this forum. So far, it is pretty much ONLY you. Guler is good to very good at the moment ..... and when availability of good middles is taken inti consideration, his signing is a bloody beauty. The fact that you keep screaming that he isn't a good signing, DOES NOT make it so. He is coming from a club that is extremely strong in middles and this has limited his opportunities. Hold your powder dry and give him a chance and then scream it. I'm guessing that you won't get the opportunity to bag his signing if he runs out for us and plays well

I'm keeping my powder dry till my 20/20 hindsight kicks in around July 2025

 

[SAP58]

“star forward“ “if he is dumped” - give it a rest … he has absented himself on the basis of mental health and has accordingly and respectfully been granted leave by the club.

I’d like to see two ‘rules’ adopted by the NRL:

1. any player appealing mental health issues - mandatory 6 months break from playing; and

2. Player manager’s commissions automatically discounted in proportion to years of early contract terminations for any player who subsequently transfers to another club - eg; 12 months early = discount 25%, 24 months early = 50% discount etc.

Well said, as i have said in other posts on this subject the NRL has to take the lead on this issue as they have on other serious matters impacting the game. Mental health is a very serious matter & IMO it should not be left to the club to deal with any allegations in this regard.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I don't mind people talking up new signings but at least be realistic about it or do a bit of research.
Very promising is a stretch.
2019, Guler plays just 11 games, mostly off the bench and is lucky to make the bench for the GF.
2020, Guler plays just 8 games because Sticky sends him back to reserves to "work on a few things". Does not play in any of their 3 finals matches.
2024, 11 games off the bench, rest of the year in reserves. 2025, released.
His career trajectory has been very similar to Josh Kerr's, big body with potential but never quite making it, stuck in 2nd gear. There's no evidence to suggest he'll be anything more than another Kerr.
If he kicks on great but we still need a good prop or two.

All fair points kit.

I think he’s got a lot higher ceiling than Josh, but all good man.

Definitely still need more and better.

 

[maestro1]

What screaming ? I made a post saying Guler is ordinary then people come at me with these ridiculous posts portraying Guler as the best signing in the world and writing bullshit assessments of his career, just making shit up and at the same time saying how all our current players are absolute shit. So I respond.
And it seems it's ok to bag out some of our players relentlessly but don't dare bag out an iffy new signing. f**k that.
If Guler turns out alright then good but he better not block our kids coming through and we'd better not think the recruitment drive is done with Guler and stop looking for a better prop or two.

Flanno hasn't stopped at Guler.
Hard to tell with written words that you are "screaming" but at the very least, you are banging on and all comments from you about Guler since signing, is that he is ordinary. Saying something over and over doesn't make it so. Guler, when given the opportunity, has performed well. He has a high tackle efficiency, good metres per carry, has offload ability, is big and strong, but due to Canberra being strong with their middles and Ricky doing what he does if you aren't on his favoured list, he hasn't had the opportunity to progress. Barring injury and/or suspension, I think that will change at the Dragons.

All well and good to say that Guler will block the young forwards, but a healthier environment for young forwards is always to be eased in and have some older hard heads there to help you transition into 1st Grade