Flanno's New Signings

[Ronnie Dobbs]

We just cant keep Eisenhuth if we are buying 2 experienced props.. even without him we will have 5 big name props + 2 couchmans + lawrie/fifita/mmolo.

The couchmans are ready, massive motors and nearly perfect tackling records.. ideal to play that role Tom does only on much younger legs.... I dont know if Flanno is ready for 1 to be our starting 13.. or if he would give it to Jack or Sele etc..

I'm hearing u guys.... but we cant buy 2 props and keep Eisenhuth.. a) we will struggle to extend the couchies if we are signing 3 blokes in front of them and b) we are missing depth in other positions, particularly halves.

Cheers Rev. Agree on Couchies. But they're still very green. Another year watching and learning from a true pro is what I'm thinking. Won't hurt them.

MMolo I would keep for depth over Lawrie and Fifita.

 

[BIG RIG]

It would be

Holmes for Lomax
D - SAF for Lawrie
RCG for BMM
Horsburgh for Eisenhuth ( who will move back to the reserves )

 

[BIG RIG]

Obviously one of those signings relys on the ability to offload Blake Lawrie

 

[TheRev]

Obviously one of those signings relys on the ability to offload Blake Lawrie

Fifita would be much easier to offload than Blake youd think if space is the issue.. depends how much of Blakes contract we are willing to absorb for 2 more years.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

It would be

Holmes for Lomax
D - SAF for Lawrie
RCG for BMM
Horsburgh for Eisenhuth ( who will move back to the reserves )

so Holmes and Lomax $ similar

D Saf for Lawrie if guessing Newcastle would have to chip in $200k pa to make it even in 2025 and Lawrie has to move on? 2026 we would be short maybe $200k pa plus ie DSAF on more in 2026 than Lawrie.

RCG for BMM that would be easily $400k pa between their contracts

Horsburgh vs TomE another $350kpa we would have to find as the difference in contracts

so total we would need another $750k pa in 2025 minimum to bring in those 4 players

I likey !!!!

they are major adjustments to improve our squad

 

[redv13]

It would be

Holmes for Lomax
D - SAF for Lawrie
RCG for BMM
Horsburgh for Eisenhuth ( who will move back to the reserves )

Sorry but you can’t justify Horsburgh for Einsenhuth. He has been way above average this year and does a lot of big things that go unnoticed cause he isn’t a superstar. Him and JDB are our 2 best defenders in the pack by a country mile. I’d be pissing off M Molo way before Eisenhuth if your looking to free up a spot in the top 30

 

[TheRev]

I dont think we would buy 3 props, not unless were offloading someone we dont know about... we will chase them though because we might end up with 0, 1 or 2 in the process.

There is a little bit of a question in how serious the Couchmans are to our year also..

Even though the quality of the pack is crucial, its not the only thing.... the depth on the backline has to be addressed.. we are 1 or 2 injuries away from the season being toast.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

If we were always bringing in a big bopper

if we might leg go Lawrie and Fafita

thats 3 middles

I thought Corey pretty much always played 13 ?

JDB is now a prop - mostly

I do equally like TomE

he had made a significant difference to our mopping up defence.

he can’t do a hit up to save his life and vs the Storm JDB played his old role of no13 and passed out the back to his halves

I just look at Tom E and I see a body struggling a bit to sign on for say a two year contract

but Corey at his best is a 3 yr contract hands down to play lock - at his best !

if he came our way and given we are struggling to attract middle forwards > I think he trumps TomE when comparing the next few years for each and what might be

maybe the Vaughan / Weyman type signing to re kindle the fire and focus

 

[coastiedragon]

Sorry but you can’t justify Horsburgh for Einsenhuth. He has been way above average this year and does a lot of big things that go unnoticed cause he isn’t a superstar. Him and JDB are our 2 best defenders in the pack by a country mile. I’d be pissing off M Molo way before Eisenhuth if your looking to free up a spot in the top 30

 

[cussy]

Not sure why we would not keep Tom E- he has been great. Does a lot of the dirty stuff and 1% plays- great for culture

 

[Dragonslayer]

A hell of a lot of wishing and hoping going on, plus a truck load of If's.

S. Finau has been earmarked to replace Lomax. Take that as you will.

 

[True_Believer]

If we are genuinely in the hunt for these guys, I'm going say we want:

- Horsburgh
- Saifiti
- Holmes

 

[baggygreen man]

Flanno's the coach and has worked miracles with the worst overall roster in the league.

What miracles are those HoD, our For & Against, 22 matches and we have not even scored 400 points whereas 5 teams below us have, while our brittle middle and on line defense continues to leak the fourth larger points in the comp. Our coach is unable to instill a killer instinct into our players, this is borne out in our inconsistency and inability to ice close matches.

It is the BOD that appointed Flanagan to bring some quality here so of course they support him. Our coach has failed miserably as our recruiters continue to bash their heads against a brick wall trying to lure a marquee or two. All have said no thanks Mr Flanagan.

 

[baggygreen man]

S. Finau has been earmarked to replace Lomax.

As a winger or centre? Finau could slot into either, but where is Flanagan planning on putting Holmes if we snare him.

 

[RufusRex]

well he did answer that question directly ... left centre ... of course, he could have been lying.

 

[TheRev]

Re: Holmes.... Flanno did say Left Ctr, which is a good fit because Suli has always had a slight preference for Right (but obviously handles both sides if needed).

But he also mentioned that Val to fullback was possible if we needed it.... which could just be the backup for Sloan, but who knows what goes down in the off-season, especially if he retains Max as a centre option...

The thing im curious about is how much confidence Flanno has in next years 1, 6 & 7 .. I dont think he loves any of them as longterm first graders.. but I'd be shocked if he pulled the pin and recruited over them.. but he might recruit 'under' them, guys like schuster and volkman etc.. who might get bought for reserve grade.. but if they kill it.. well who knows... atleast he has a Plan B and injury cover also.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

What miracles are those HoD, our For & Against, 22 matches and we have not even scored 400 points whereas the bottom 4 have, while our brittle middle and on line defense continues to leak the fourth larger points in the comp. Our coach is unable to instill a killer instinct into our players, this is borne out in our inconsistency and inability to ice close matches.

It is the BOD that appointed Flanagan to bring some quality here so of course they support him. Our coach has failed miserably as our recruiters continue to bash their heads against a brick wall trying to lure a marquee or two. All have said no thanks Mr Flanagan

My point was more that it’s unfair for you to identify Flanno as the sole reason potential recruits are ‘basically rejects’.

And I stand by my assessment of Flanno as coach.
Emphasis on the word 'COACH' (Not recruitment officer)

At start of season our roster, on paper, generated favouritism for the spoon.
We are currently in 8th
Exactly what did you expect?
A Grand final?

Yes, we are inconsistent but it sure beats being consistently SHIT.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Still people bagging or blaming Flanno for why we are not yet perfect is becoming tedious.. surely you can see the on field improvement. We were equal favourites for the spoon, yet we now sit in eighth with likely two wins needed to play finals.
Enjoy the moment ffs, we are starting to see the light after many dark winters.
I was lucky enough to watch a spirited victory at aami on Sat night and we would have lost that type of game in seasons gone past. Flanno is turning us around.
Just need those next couple of key signatures to go to the next level in 25 and 26, which is a top 4 contender.
This squad is starting to remind me of the beginnings of the next ‘ true believers’

 

[TheRev]

Still people bagging or blaming Flanno for why we are not yet perfect is becoming tedious.. surely you can see the on field improvement. We were equal favourites for the spoon, yet we now sit in eighth with likely two wins needed to play finals.
Enjoy the moment ffs, we are starting to see the light after many dark winters.
I was lucky enough to watch a spirited victory at aami on Sat night and we would have lost that type of game in seasons gone past. Flanno is turning us around.
Just need those next couple of key signatures to go to the next level in 25 and 26, which is a top 4 contender.
This squad is starting to remind me of the beginnings of the next ‘ true believers’

Whats hard is that every loss gets death-ridden so hard in here.. literally end of world stuff.. surely this week is the best any dragons fan has felt in years.

My suspicion is dragons fans have been hurt so so bad over the years, that its some sort of self-defence mechanism.. but I also think its a fault common in most human beings.. ppl arent good at noticing or adjusting their trendlines to whats changing, its the same thing that happens in all sorts of other political/social areas.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

What miracles are those HoD, our For & Against, 22 matches and we have not even scored 400 points whereas 5 teams below us have, while our brittle middle and on line defense continues to leak the fourth larger points in the comp. Our coach is unable to instill a killer instinct into our players, this is borne out in our inconsistency and inability to ice close matches.

It is the BOD that appointed Flanagan to bring some quality here so of course they support him. Our coach has failed miserably as our recruiters continue to bash their heads against a brick wall trying to lure a marquee or two. All have said no thanks Mr Flanagan.

Nice post Hook/Doustie/Mary